Reducing Recreational Damage

The installation of mooring buoys, like this one in Hol Chan Marine Reserve, helps to protect reefs from anchor damage. 

Photo credit:  Miguel Alamilla

Improving Business Practices: CORAL's Environmental Walk-Through Program provided assessments that advised marine recreation providers on how they can improve their environmental practices and reduce impacts on coral reef ecosystems. CORAL provided assessments for tour operators in Belize City and San Pedro, giving them a better understanding of the potential negative effects tourism may have on the health of the reefs and how to improve their environmental performance.

Reducing Anchor Damage: CORAL microgrants have supported the installation and maintenance of dozens of mooring buoys in Placencia, San Pedro, and Belize City, greatly reducing anchor damage from tour boats. A further CORAL microgrant funded the creation of "mooring flashcards," which instruct boat operators in the proper use of mooring buoys to avoid damaging the moorings and the reefs. 

Mesoamerican Reef Voluntary Standards for Marine Recreation: This CORAL-led effort provided detailed requirements for environmentally friendly and safety-conscious marine tourism businesses in the areas of diving, snorkeling, and boating. These standards have been the focal point of most CORAL projects in Belize, and have been embraced and promoted by the MPAs and tour guide associations in our project sites.

Raising Awareness

Participants in the Kids in Action Program learned about reef conservation on a field trip to the Hol Chan Marine Reserve. MPA mangers agree that such awareness programs create a greater sense of ownership for local stakeholders and significantly benefit the overall management of the marine resources.

Photo credit: Ambergris Today Newspaper [1]

Educating Tour Operators: CORAL held Sustainable Marine Recreation workshops in all of our Belize project sites to educate tour operators about sustainable practices and why they're important. More than two dozen marine recreation companies have participated in the workshops.

Reaching Out to the Next Generation: A CORAL microgrant funded the Kids in Action program in Belize, which taught school-aged children about coral reef, mangrove, and sea grass ecosystems, and the importance of supporting marine protected areas. It also provided both teachers and students the opportunity to take educational trips to the MPAs, through collaborations with the Hol Chan Marine Reserve and many tour operators. 

Supporting Reef Monitoring: Belize's CORAL Reef Leaders facilitated the MAR Coral Reef Watch program [2] by teaching tour guides how to contribute their observations.

Reducing Harmful Impacts

The rapid development of mangroves in Belize is threatening the entire marine ecosystem.

Photo credit: The [3]San Pedro Sun [4]

Support for Local Conservation: CORAL supported local conservation groups that are working to counter the rapid unsustainable developments and destruction of mangroves in Belize.

Developing  Sustainable Tourism: CORAL's Voluntary Standards for Marine Recreation and Enviornmental Walk-Through Program helped local tourism operators create eco-friendly destinations and practices.