Turneffe is the largest atoll in the Mesoamerican Reef and the largest marine reserve in Belize. This Marine Protected Area, or MPA, is facing serious threats as the ten-year old TASA implements Global Conservation's Global Park Defense, a test-proven methodology for protecting the world's most vulnerable national parks, UNESCO World Heritage Sites and marine reserves.

A land and seascape consisting of a network of highly productive flats, creeks, and lagoons dotted by more than 150 mangrove islands, Turneffe Atoll in Belize is home to more than 500 species of fish, 65 species of stony corals, sea turtles, manatees, dolphins, seabirds, and other wildlife. This is one of the most important and pristine marine ecosystems in the Mesoamerican Reef, and also serves as a model for other coastal and island MPAs.

Its diverse marine and terrestrial ecosystems are considered outstanding globally. Surrounded by deep ocean, most coastal and marine ecosystems are well-represented, with seven broad ecosystems and thirteen fine ecosystems identified and mapped.

Turneffe is an excellent example of the high degree of ecosystem interconnectivity that is key for healthy, productive reef systems, with reefs, seagrass, and mangroves all growing in close proximity. 

Within the conservation zone of the Marine Reserve, commercial fishing is not allowed. No-take recreational activities, such as snorkeling, SCUBA diving, and kayaking, are permitted within this zone. Sport fishing is allowed, but only with a valid license, and only as catch and release. 

UPDATE: GC Secures $100,000 Grant from the Bonefish & Tarpon Trust for TASA

This incredible acquisition will help fund our partner, the Turneffe Atoll Sustainability Association, to fulfill their long-term project.

The project's goals is to advance the protection of biodiversity, contribute to sustainable fisheries in the Turneffe Atoll Marine Reserve (TAMR), and contribute to a proof of concept in one MPA for securing ecosystems and building economic resilience.

The Turneffe Atoll Sustainability Association (TASA) is piloting a blended finance and adaptive management model as a new approach to Marine Protected Areas management. This model takes a sustainable development approach where several income streams, including donor funds, visitor contributions, and an impact investment, are combined to obtain financial, environmental (biodiversity), and social returns on investment.

The purpose of this proposed 24-month project is to harness digital technology to enhance the management effectiveness of TAMR. With the recent expansion of the replenishment zones of the TAMR, this project will protect biodiversity and ensure sustainable fisheries management as key milestones and commitments of the Belize Blue Bonds.

It will contribute to at least two BFSF strategic objectives:

1. Protection for Biodiversity

2. Sustainable Fisheries, which form the two main components of this project. It is aligned with and contributes to the newly developed management plan for TAMR, the National Fisheries Policy & Plan, and the multispecies finfish management plan for Belize.

Global Conservation Supports Turneffe Atoll with $300,000 a Year for Protection and Enforcement

GC is supporting the deployment of Marine Monitors on the North and South ends of Turneffe Atoll to provide 24/7 monitoring for real-time response to potential illegal activities, both day and night.

Update (August 28th, 2023): GC also helped Turneffe Atoll secure an additional $100,000 to impliment conservation actions, with an emphasis on creating a sustainable future and replicating financial success.

In order to monitor the four types of vessels permitted in the marine reserve, the M2 system has been installed at the Caye Bokel base, which is a private property managed by Turneffe Atolle Sustainability Association (TASA) staff. Alerts of potential illegal activities, along with photos and videos, are sent to the Director and Head of Protection, ensuring threats can be quickly evaluated and ranger teams can respond quickly.

The Caye Bokel Conservation Area is part of the larger Turneffe Atoll Marine Reserve, designated in 2012 to improve management of local resources. Located 50 kilometers east of the central coastline of Belize in the Mesoamerican Reef region, there is little development on the atoll. Tourism directly benefits the larger economy of Belize, and fishing has significant social value for nearby communities. Fishing with the appropriate license and permitted gear is allowed in the majority of the reserve, but smaller zones prohibit extractive fishing. In the Caye Bokel Conservation Area, catch and release sport fishing is allowed with a valid license, and one traditional fisher is allowed to extract lobster, subject to catch limits and sharing catch data with management. Within the conservation area, there is a multi-species spawning aggregation site critical for sustaining commercial fish species where all fishing is fully prohibited.

The Turneffe Atoll Sustainability Association (TASA) was formed by Turneffe Atoll stakeholders in 2012. TASA was incorporated under Chapter 250 of the Substantive Laws of Belize for the purpose of co-managing the Turneffe Atoll Marine Reserve (TAMR) and was designated to serve in that capacity in October 2013. In November 2016, TASA was registered under the Non-Governmental Organization Act. The primary goal of TASA is to promote the sustainable use and conservation of the TAMR through the management of natural resources, education and outreach, and scientific studies. 

TASA currently has sixteen full-time Conservation Officers on-site who perform daily enforcement activities to ensure stakeholders’ compliance with the TAMR and fisheries regulations. With twenty-seven full-time staff, TASA has been actively working with all the stakeholder groups, Government Organizations, and other partner NGOs focused on marine protected areas management in Belize. TASA works very closely with the six buffer communities of the marine reserve, namely, Copper Bank, Chunox, Sarteneja, San Pedro, Caye Caulker, and Belize City.

Turneffe Atoll Sustainability Association Accomplishments:

1. The Financial Sustainability and Tourism Program has been established, with a Marine Protected Areas Business Developer and initial team in place.

2. A highly skilled and experienced technical and business team has been assembled.

3. TAMR has secured significant investments to develop a mooring and channel marker network, a terrestrial and underwater trail, visitor facilities and amenities, and three conservation posts.

4. A business plan has been developed to generate predictable and unrestricted revenues of $500,000 BZD per year in support of the program.

5. A new website (www.visitturneffe.org) has been launched to increase marketing and donations to the reserve by connecting with past and potential visitors to Turneffe.

6. TASA has designed a Conservation Partnership Agreement and Conservation Contributor Program that will yield voluntary contributions per guest from each resort based on a partnership model beginning January 2023.

7. A core Adaptive Management Program has been established, with some support. This team is critical for tracking KPIs and guiding and supporting the Enforcement, Technology Solutions, and Tourism Program.

8. An experienced Enforcement Director has been hired to structure the enforcement program. Several technology solutions have been piloted to aid the enforcement program for TAMR and will be fine-tuned to improve efficiency and effectiveness, with the financial goal of reducing fuel consumption and minimizing the number of personnel needed to patrol the reserve.

9. The Belize Marine Protected Areas Network has been established, with support from TIDE and TASA, to enable system-level management and impact. This network serves as a platform for building collaborative fundraising efforts, technical support, and collaborative management across core programs.

10. Technical teams have been trained to participate fully in each program.

TASA Offers Four Enticing Programs that
Center Around Marine Sustainability

OPERATIONS

Patrols and enforcement play a crucial role in preventing illegal activities such as overfishing, poaching, and damaging the environment. By monitoring the activities within the Turneffe Atoll Marine Reserve, patrols can detect and prevent any violations, while enforcement ensures that those who break the rules are held accountable. This deters others from engaging in such illegal activities, which helps to protect marine ecosystems and promotes compliance with regulations.

Joint patrols with the Belize Coast Guard have been effective in targeting high-pressure areas within the atoll and resolving issues created between fishermen.

Commercial fishing vessels and fishing camps are continuously monitored and inspected during enforcement patrols deployed from the three conservation outposts, while the use of drones plays a role in the surveillance of key areas within the atoll.

In the Enforcement Program, with the support of the Protected Areas Conservation Trust and Global Conservation, the conservation field team of 16 Conservation Officers did a stellar job taking on the daunting task of enforcing the fisheries regulations of Turneffe, fishing area number 6 under the national managed access regime, which now has 1,300 plus fishers registered. This represents 45% of the national fishermen in Belize. A total of approximately 5,000 patrol hours were conducted, with an average of 25 patrol days a month from each base, resulting in over 45 logged infractions. This team braved the sun, rain, and rough seas to hold the fort. In total, 12,000 hours of patrols for enforcement, science, and education purposes were conducted in 2022.

PATROLLING BY THE NUMBERS

• A total of 1420 patrols were conducted from January 1st to December 31st, 2022.

• A total of eight-night patrols were carried out during the same time period.

• 45 infractions were logged during the first seven months of 2022.

• A total distance of 66,712.08 km was covered over 5,594.48 patrol hours.

• A total of 2,678 commercial vessel inspections were conducted, with a total documentation of 1,573 commercial licenses.

EDUCATION AND OUTREACH

Education and outreach are essential components of effective management and conservation of marine protected areas (MPAs). These efforts aim to raise awareness, educate, and engage the public and stakeholders about the importance of marine biodiversity and the benefits of protecting and conserving these resources. Through education and outreach, individuals can gain a better understanding of the critical role that MPAs play in preserving and sustaining marine ecosystems, including the ecological, social, and economic benefits they provide.

SCIENCE AND MONITORING

Science and monitoring are critical components of effective Marine Protected Areas (MPAs). It allows us to track changes in marine biodiversity, measure the effectiveness of conservation efforts, and identify any threats or challenges that need to be addressed. Monitoring data can be used to inform management decisions, such as adjusting fishing quotas, implementing new conservation measures, or expanding protected areas. By tracking the health and abundance of marine life within protected areas, experts can determine if conservation efforts are having a positive impact on marine ecosystems.

ECOTOURISM PROGRAM

Sustainable tourism practices ensure that tourism activities are managed in a way that minimizes negative impacts on the environment while providing economic benefits to local communities. This includes limiting the number of visitors, controlling access to sensitive areas, and promoting responsible behavior among tourists. In the TAMR, sustainable tourism provides funding for research, monitoring, and enforcement of conservation measures, as well as creating awareness among visitors about the importance of protecting these areas.

In 2022, TASA collaborated with Blue Finance to launch its Eco-Tourism Program. This program, which followed a Blended Finance approach, aimed to generate reliable and unrestricted funding sources for the sustainability of Turneffe Atoll Marine Reserve. Through this program, TASA offered a range of high-value, low-impact signature Turneffe experiences to approximately 7000 visitors, generating over BZ$500K in revenues in the first year of operations. The program raised funds through visitor fees, Blue Talk contributions, and educational presentations and experiences for visitors to Turneffe Atoll.

The objective of the Tourism program was to achieve financial sustainability for TASA and Turneffe. In 2022, the program made significant achievements, including the official launch of new tourism products and experiences, the introduction of a new destination website and online park fee reservation system, and the launch of the conservation contribution package. The program also hosted over 30 familiarization visits for strategic partners and special interest groups, and increased capacity building opportunities for programmatic staff. Overall, the Eco-Tourism Program played a crucial role in supporting TASA’s conservation work and ensuring the long-term sustainability of Turneffe Atoll Marine Reserve.

FISHERIES CATCH DATA

TASA piloted a Fisheries Catch Data Program in 2022, which focused on fishing activities in Turneffe Atoll Marine Reserve (TAMR). Data was collected directly from fishermen in the General Use Zone. This data is used to determine fishing pressure, landing trends, and establish baseline Catch per Unit Effort (CPUE) data.

It also serves as an indicator of the effectiveness of management strategies, including No-Take or Replenishment Zones. The program collects information on species composition, quantity, and size of harvested products, gear type, fishing effort, vessel type, fishing crew, depth, and spatial data. In March 2022, TASA started piloting Vericatch, a customized fisheries application that collects data using specific protocols and rugged tablets.

SPAWNING AGGREGATION MONITORING (SPAGs)

SPAGs play a critical role in preserving fish populations in Belize, but they are susceptible to overfishing and the effects of climate change, such as warming waters. To ensure the resilience of fisheries, it is crucial to collect fishery-independent SPAG data and use it for science-based management decisions within Belize’s adaptive management framework.

However, SPAGs are not well understood or adequately prioritized by resource managers, and monitoring and protection efforts are under-resourced. To address this, TASA took on the monitoring of SPAG sites at TAMR in December 2022. In collaboration with the Environmental Defense Fund (EDF), TASA secured funding from MarFund to reactivate the SPAG working group, ensuring that fishermen were represented while being able to update the SPAG public awareness video. In-water monitoring continues until May 2023.

LONG-TERM ATOLL MONITORING PROGRAM (LAMP)

LAMP is a program designed for fishery-independent monitoring to track physical and biological parameters in the Turneffe Atoll Marine Reserve over an extended period. The program involves habitat sampling to estimate population sizes of target species in their natural environment, which enables comparison of impacts in different management zones and detection of changes in a fished population. The program aims to monitor and analyze the viability of fished populations, identifying trends in population increase, decrease, or stability, and has several objectives, including gathering data on population size, the number of adults reproducing, and any major changes in habitat quality that may affect the species. The program also aims to compare the effectiveness of the different management zones and make recommendations for management decisions based on the results of the data gathered, including enforcement and monitoring, education and outreach activities, fishing quotas, length of season, size limits, and other regulations to make the fishery is both profitable and sustainable.