A new chapter in conservation is unfolding in Belize! This morning, the Clearwater Marine Aquarium kicked off the construction of a cutting-edge facility focused on rescuing and rehabilitating endangered marine life, including the beloved Antillean manatee. The Belize Marine Rescue and Educational Center is being built at Southern Lagoon, Gales Point, an area renowned for its vibrant manatee population. News Five’s Britney Gordon was on the scene for this exciting unveiling.
Belize boasts the largest population of Antillean manatees in the world and the most manatees in Central America. These gentle giants thrive in Belize’s rivers, which offer abundant vegetation and protection. However, they face daily threats from climate change and human activities. For over twenty years, the Clearwater Marine Aquarium has been dedicated to rescuing and releasing manatees in Belize. Today, they broke ground on a new Marine Rescue and Educational Center in Gales Point Village. Program Coordinator Jamal Galvez shared how this new facility will benefit both Belizeans and the wildlife they cherish.
Jamal Galvez, Coordinator, Belize Manatee Conservation Program
“This area of Gales Point has lacked livelihoods, economic activity for many years due to the road was inaccessible. But now, the pavement of the road. From construction phase, villagers will have jobs. Some of these villagers haven’t had a salary or paycheck for years. So from construction phase to, to the concept and to the development and the final stage when this center is actually completed, it will be one hundred percent Belizean employed. So students from far west, south to north you bring your credentials and we’re open to accommodate you to share that knowledge and to provide that employment. This center will be open for visitors, locally and internationally. So we’re hoping that it will support livelihood, it will help to be a part of ensuring that Belize’s marine ecosystem thrives.”
The center will welcome the public, offering a firsthand look at the efforts to preserve Belize’s precious marine wildlife. Minister of Sustainable Development and Climate Change, Orlando Habet, explained that the ministry will collaborate with Clearwater Marine Aquarium to support the project’s growth.
Orlando Habet, Minister of Sustainable Development
“It is important because of the conservation of the manatees during the studies. Very importantly, it’s not only the part of the handling and managing the manatees, especially when they get hurt and bringing them for rescue, but also the research component, which is absolutely essential, and the educational component where you can bring in students from the different schools and universities. Not only in the region, but regionally and internationally to come and do some research and to do that part of the education process. For the Ministry of Sustainable Development and Climate Change, I think what we have going with them is that we recently signed a co-management agreement with the team, and so we are now looking to await for their proposals.”
The Belize Tourism Board and the Ministry of Tourism are also teaming up on this project, as the new institute is expected to become a popular attraction for visitors.
Anthony Mahler, Minister of Tourism
“ This will give them another attraction to come and visit. I’ve spoken to some of the cruise lines already, they are willing to support and the overnight sector, I’m sure they’re going to come here. And there are similar facilities across the Caribbean, especially in Cayman and other parts. whereby they have a rehabilitation center for turtles. We are doing manatees and all marine creatures.”
The project is slated to take a year to complete and is estimated to cost up to six million dollars. Britney Gordon for News Five.
