Abstract

We describe the experiences and lessons learned from our joint trip to fishing communities and marine protected areas in Belize and Mexico, from 30 May to 9 June 2007. We visited fishing cooperatives in Punta Allen (Mexico) and Belize City (Belize). We visited the marine reserves of Hol Chan, Gladden Spit and Silk Cayes, and Laughing Bird Cay National Park, in Belize, as well as the Sian Ka’an Biosphere Reserve, in Mexico. We witnessed snapper spawning and whale shark aggregations at Gladden Spit. Along the trip, we stayed in fishing villages, increasing our opportunities to exchange experiences with fishers and their families. We observed the design and construction of “casitas” in 5 different locations, which are used for lobster captures. We learned a great deal about the biology and sustainable management of spawning aggregations and spiny lobster. Also, we met with sport fishing guides and visited sport fishing lodges. Now, we are sharing our experiences with fellow fishermen and marine protected areas managers in our home countries. We are grateful to the United Nations Caribbean Environment Programme (UNEP), who funded the trip through a grant called “Sustainable management of multi-species reef fish spawning aggregations: exchanging fisher experiences”. We were accompanied by Juan M. Posada (Univ. Simón Bolívar and Fundación Científica Los Roques, Venezuela), Lindsay Garbutt (Friends of Nature, Belize, and Will Heyman, Texas A&M University, USA), who served as organizers and guides through the entire trip.

PDF Preview