Abstract

Belize’s commercial and subsistence fisheries are important to the livelihoods of over 3,000 fishermen and their coastal communities. Belize’s National Fishery, currently an open access fishery, faces the threat of resource depletion clearly indicated by fishermen whose catch is constantly declining. In an effort to address this situation and the threat of overexploitation of our fisheries resources, the Belize Fisheries Department in partnership with Toledo Institute for Development and Environment (TIDE); Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) and Environmental Defense Fund (EDF) has embarked on the implementation of a managed access pilot project for fishermen in two of Belize’s Marine Reserves. Managed access establishes limited dedicated access for fisheries in Belize – also known as territorial user rights fisheries or TURFs. The project is designed to empower traditional fishers by ensuring greater participation in the decision-making process that impacts their livelihood, and by improving the benefits to be derived from the fish stocks in terms of increased fish landings, reduction in fishing effort, larger size classes and increased prices and revenues. In addition, there will be benefits accrued to the ecosystem, contributing to the maintenance of the overall health and sustainability of the Belize Barrier Reef complex. Key to the success of this project is the reduction in the number of users at the project site coupled with a good monitoring program, a dedicated presence of enforcement personnel but most importantly, a greater participa-tion of fishers themselves in the program. The pilot project is being implemented by a coalition of managers, NGOs and fishermen at Glover’s Reef Marine Reserve and Port Honduras Marine Reserve; however the Government of Belize has indicated a commitment to expand the initiative to other areas and fisheries.