BELIZE, Abalone Caye Island, Port Honduras - January 2012
Reinforcement and stabilization of the Seacology-funded Port Honduras Marine Reserve Ranger Station, Abalone Caye
(Belize 2000 project page)
Click photo to enlarge
The Port Honduras Marine Reserve (PHMR), established in January 2000, is comprised of 102,400 acres of marine and terrestrial ecosystems, including a robust belt of mangroves, coral reefs, reef banks and sandy shoals that are home to a high biodiversity. The PHMR is home to the endangered Antillean manatee, (Trichechus manatus manatus), loggerhead sea turtle (Caretta caretta), green sea turtle (Chelonia mydas), and the hawksbill sea turtle (Eretmochelys imbricata), as well as other important and rare species. The reserve was created by the Toledo Institute for Development and Environment and the Belize Fisheries Department to decrease fishing pressure in the area and build the long-term sustainability of marine resources in the southern Toledo region. Abalone Caye is a one-half acre island located within an important area of the reserve that is the most biologically sensitive as well as most vulnerable to illegal activities. Seacology funded initial construction of the PHMR Ranger Station on Abalone Caye in 2001. Abalone Caye has recently suffered severe coastal erosion, which threatens the existence of the PHMR Ranger Station as well as the safety of the rangers. Seacology is providing support to TIDE to reinforce and stabilize the ranger station, which is strategically critical to protecting the 102,400-acrea PHMR.
Project page on the TIDE website
