Abstract

The sustainable use of flats species and their habitats are socio-economically and ecologically important to coastal communities of Belize (Perez et al. 2019, 2021). However, coastal development activities that include mangrove clearing and dredging threaten changes in the ecosystems and human dynamics that depend on them. One of many cases are threats to the flats fishery (as a recreational fisheries) and habitats Rosary Caye (RC) better known by locals as “Cayo Rosario”, a small island surrounded by flats within Hol Chan Marine Reserve. This growth in comparison from the previous study shows the importance of the flats fishery in northern Belize and calls for resource managers and government to consider maintaining the ecological integrity of CR and similar habitats to sustain the significant socio-economic benefits of the flats fishery, other fisheries and non-fisheries activities. The approach (socio-economic and ecological sampling techniques) used in this study should be considered and applied to conduct Environmental Impact Assessments to improve conservation and spatial management in marine protected areas in Belize, the Caribbean and Latin America that share similar inshore and non-coral reef ecosystems and alternative livelihoods such as guided fishing.

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