Belize gets rave reviews for fishing policy

Belize gets rave reviews for fishing policy

Belize is famous for its ancient Maya ruins and Caribbean shoreline. It also has hundreds of little islands, or cayes, that make it a fisherman’s paradise. Known for its bonefish and tarpon, Belize also has an overwhelming supply of snook, barracuda, snappers, and jack. Lately, anglers around the world are praising the country’s new legislation that combats illegal fishing and preserve the country’s marine ecosystem. 

Тhе Fіѕhеrіеѕ Асt аnd Маnаgеd Ассеѕѕ Рrоgrаm, adopted in 2019 and implemented in 2020, led to a new ecosystem-based management system. It farther provided an advisory council to get fishing communities involved in fishing laws, and helping to manage the pristine marine reserves. According to the Environmental Defense Fund, the new program has joined forces with the Managed Access Program set up in 2016 and 2017 to reduce illegal fishing and improve reefs.

The results have been positive. In one week, Belize rose in the Reef Health Index from 3 to 5, the highest rating among countries in the Meso-American Reef System, which also includes Mexico, Honduras, and Guatemala. Eric Schwab, ЕDF Осеаnѕ Рrоgrаm Ѕеnіоr Vісе Рrеѕіdеnt, praised Belize for its international commitment to marine conservation and making oceans less susceptible to climate change. 

Since 2011, the EDF has worked with the Bеlіzе Fіѕhеrіеѕ Dераrtmеnt аnd Wіldlіfе Соnѕеrvаtіоn Ѕосіеtу to reform the industry. Schwab says the new rules will create a more efficient system of managing fisheries, maintaining populations of fish and enabling science-based monitoring, including vessel monitoring systems.

In a press release, Веlіzе Fіѕhеrіеѕ Аdmіnіѕtrаtоr Веvеrlу Wаdе said the new law will help fishing villages sustain their livelihoods while offering greater protection of the country’s fragile, one-of-a-kind marine environment. According to Wade, the change represents a new way of thinking about the fishing industry, extending the focus from harvesting to greater environmental oversight of marine and freshwater.

The legislation will spotlight the social impact achieved by responsible enforcement of the laws. This will have a positive impact on governmental, non-governmental and fishing agencies. It will also improve the lives of the people and of the strength of the agencies that work with the fishing industry. 

For thousands of Belizean fishermen concerned about the effects of the diminishing fish populations on their trade, this offers a ray of hope. By reducing illegal fishing, fishermen can look forward to an ample supply of fish, conch, and lobster. Likewise, they can help with the preservation of a delicate ecosystem that makes the country special.

If you are a fishing enthusiast looking for a unique and unforgettable fishing experience, check out our Belize fishing packages.

For more information about Belize, feel free to chat with our Concierge at: concierge@chabilmarvillas.com or contact our Reservations Manager at:reservations@chabilmarvillas.com. Or perhaps you would like to call toll free from the US or Canada: 1-866-417-2377.

Getting Rid of Single Use Plastics in Belize  

GETTING RID OF SINGLE-USE PLASTICS IN BELIZE

The recent signing of the Environment Protection Regulations for the year 2020 signals the end to single-use plastics within the country of Belize. While this legislation will not see its enforcement begin immediately, people will have one year to phase out of using any sort of product that features plastics only good for a single-use. One year is seen as more than sufficient time for businesses to find and implement suitable plastic replacements for their business operations.

Godwin Hulse, Belize’s Minister of Environment (DoE), notes that Belize cannot continue to use single-use plastics if it hopes to keep its natural beauty for decades and centuries to come. Hulse went on to say that he did not want to panic Belizeans into thinking the DoE was coming after them. The concept comes first and that concept is that people need to be educated about how plastic can pollute the water, harm the Belize Barrier Reef and ruin facilities.

Hulse went on to comment about how plastic used to be perceived by the Belizean public of his youth. In Hulse’s time, a plastic bag was seen as a great multitasker for purposes like use as a school book bag. Hulse also commented on the past in order to highlight just how prevalent plastics have become within Belize in just a few decades to the point that they are a major problem.

The goal of the new ban is to remove Styrofoam and plastics in favor of materials like hemp, which is known for its biodegradability. The Belizean government is ready for the transition to more environmentally viable materials if only to curtail complaints that they would be more expensive; the real cost paid by the continued use of such materials is the loss of beauty Belize would suffer. Hulse believes that framing the discussion in this light will turn most Belizeans over to the idea of preferring renewable, multi-use materials.

Hulse closed his speech about the transition by stating that the Government of Belize fully supports those businesses that can create goods with non-plastic resources. Furthermore, it encourages other businesses to look through their operations in order to come up with workarounds to the phasing out of plastic.

As one of Belize’s leading resorts, Chabil Mar commends the effort at keeping Belize’s natural beauty intact. If you need a place to stay while visiting Belize, consider booking a villa with us.

For more information about Belize and Chabil Mar, chat with our Concierge at: concierge@chabilmarvillas.com or contact our Reservations Manager at: reservations@chabilmarvillas.com. Perhaps you would like to call toll free from the US or Canada: 1-866-417-2377.

Will You Be the Lucky Winner of a 2020 Belize Vacation?

 

belize vacations

What motivates you to enter contests? How about your desire for a luxurious Belize getaway? We’ve got the details. You’ve got the swimsuit!

Are you a fan of science? Research published by scientific journals on the topic of competition and contests could give you a clue about your own motivations. Contests allow curious people to see if they have what it takes to win; they get a chance to test their luck and it’s fun to hope about how it would feel to land that prize.

Want to put that theory to the test? An exotic tropical getaway is the prize offered by Luxury Latin Magazine for one extremely lucky person and a companion-—a contest coveted by those who live in climates where the sun rarely shines!

Mull the possibilities awaiting you

This seven-night Belize vacation is more than just an ordinary trip prize. Plan to spend 4 nights at Chabil Mar Villas perched along the shore of the Placencia peninsula followed by 3 nights on a private island that’s so close to the world-famous Belize Barrier Reef, you can almost touch the coral emerging from the turquoise sea.

Chabil Mar staff will escort the winner to a luxury one-bedroom villa that gives occupants around 1,000 square feet of living space for the duration of the stay. A private dinner for two on the resort’s pier is included in the prize.

You’re likely to leave Chabil Mar wishing for more time there, but once you see the oceanfront cabana awaiting you on Ray Caye, a lush example of the way ecotourism and luxury coexist, you’ll fall in love and wish you could stay longer, say guests frequenting this island.

Two locations: double the fun

For the winner of this contest, perks don’t stop with luxury digs. You and your plus one get land and boat transfers to/from both resorts and the Placencia airport, and both resorts will make available to you a selection of non-motorized water toys plus snorkel masks and fins while you’re on Ray Caye.

There’s so much more to tell you about, but why waste valuable time reading about it when you can enter the contest right now? No purchase is necessary, though you will be asked a few short questions to complete your entry which must reach contest organizers no later than midnight on February 29, 2020.

Start your journey here

Visit this link. Zip through your responses and start shopping for round trip tickets to Belize City via an aggregator like Kayak. If you’re the winner, you can book your stay any time before December 15, 2020, so why not save on flights?

The clock’s ticking. You want to win this easy-to-enter contest, so review the terms and conditions at https://www.luxurylatinamerica.com/contest_belize_rules2020.html so you know what to expect. Your next step? Imagine yourself relaxing with a cocktail in hand at two posh resorts far from home, without a care in the world!

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