Belizean authorities have cracked down on illegal fishing within the Sapodilla Cayes Marine Reserve following the discovery of a three-mile-long fishing line loaded with dead marine species, including sharks.
The Toledo Institute for Development and Environment (TIDE) together with the Belize Coast Guard and Fisheries Department have since conducted a special operation resulting in the arrest of two Honduran nationals and the seizure of dozens of illegally harvested fish.
Hammer head shark among fishes caught illegally in the Sapodilla Cayes Marine Reserve
The foreign nationals were fined BDZ$6,000 (One Belize dollar=US$0.49 cents) each.
TIDE project manager, Florencio Coc, said earlier this month, they conducted a special operation as a result of a previous incident on December 1 where the authorities came across a long line spanning three miles long.
‘ And on that line, they retrieved numerous species, including one hammer head shark and several reef sharks. Unfortunately, when these guys retrieved the long line, these fish were already dead,’ Coc said, adding that as a result, it led to an increase in patrols day and night. He said another joint operation operation was conducted ‘where we apprehended two Hondurans and found in their possession several species of marine life, which include 37seven bone fish which we know is illegal to harvest within the reserve.
‘They were brought in and formally charged at the Punta Gorda Magistrate where they were charged for illegal harvesting of marine life without commercial license. They were charged for possession of gillnet, for possession of bone fish and for boat vessel without valid Belize license and immigration offense, which is illegal entry,’ Coc added.
The Sapodilla Cayes Marine Reserve is an expansive protected area in southern Belize, protecting the southernmost tip of the Belize Barrier Reef, featuring 14 mangrove and sand cayes, clear lagoons, and rich biodiversity, crucial for fisheries and supporting marine life like turtles, manatees, and sharks.
It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site component managed for sustainable use, tourism, and conservation.