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Protected Areas

The Protected Areas Management Program plays an essential role in the entire functionality of SEA. SEA co-manages two Protected Areas, Laughing Bird Caye National Park (LBCNP) and Gladden Spit and Silk Cayes Marine Reserve (GSSCMR). The protected areas act as an important food source for commercial species particularly finfish (mutton snappers) that congregate at the spawning aggregation zone (Belize Fisheries Department, 2013). It also provides regulated use areas for lobster and conch, the traditional basis of Belize’s fishing industry. Both protected areas are co-managed in collaboration with government departments; namely, LBCNP along with the Belize Forest Department and GSSCMR along with the Belize Fisheries Department.

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  • Protected Areas

Laughing Bird Caye National Park (LBCNP)

Protected Areas

Gladden Spit & Silk Cayes Marine Reserve (GSSCMR)

Protected Areas

Public Use Management and Protected Areas Visitations

SEA Enforcement Map

The Rangers at SEA play multiple roles, they conduct the day-to-day management of the Protected Areas and are considered to be tourism ambassadors as they provide vital information to guests and ensure visitor satisfaction. They are also promoters of environmental stewardship, in their care for the island, the current infrastructure and its surroundings. Some of the responsibilities under public use management includes: provision of guest briefings, logging & collection of park fees, maintenance and accountability for the LBCNP giftshop, keeping the island clean and ensuring that guests adhere to the regulations of the protected area.

Monitoring guest visitation is key in making management decision to assessing the impact on the protected areas. Majority of the guests that visit protected areas are foreigners that arrive during the high season for tourism that runs late November to about mid-April. Most of the guests that arrive at the protected areas are transported by tour operators from Placencia Village such as: GoSea, SeaHorse, SPLASH, Turtle Inn and Placencia Wild Side.

Enforcement

Quality enforcement of fisheries, tourism and development regulations is key to the sustainable management of GSSCMR and LBCNP. In compliance with SEA’s co-management agreement, the organization acts as a regulating body which has been tasked with the responsibility of executing surveillance and enforcement activities in accordance with the Belize Fisheries and Forestry Laws.

SEA Rangers also go above and beyond the call of duty by patrolling areas outside of SEA’s scope of responsibility, most often covering the southern portion of Managed Access Fishing Area 3. Several patrols are also conducted within the Placencia Lagoon which has resulted in arrests and confiscation of gillnets. Rangers and other members of SEA staff also provide assistance to government entities such as the Belize Fisheries Department and Department of the Environment in responding to vessel groundings, providing information on island developments within the Cayes and around Placencia Village and coordinating site visits. Additionally, SEA rangers respond to calls for assistance in search & rescue missions.

SEA Enforcement Map