Celebrating

of conservation work in CBWS

WatchIssue: 01 | 2019

Inside the IssueAbout SACDOur mission, vision, goal, and how we got started

Corozal Bay Wildlife Sanctuary Explore our four key themes to support a healthy Corozal Bay

News & EventsHighlights of current activities and events we are undertaking

2019-2023 Strategic PlanLearn about our new 5 year plan

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Quarterly Report on SACD Activities

Corozal Bay

Foundation of SACD in Sarteneja, Corozal

‘07

Signed agreement with the Belize Forest Department to co-manage

Corozal Bay Wildlife Sanctuary (CBWS)

Registered as a fully established non-governmental organization under the

NGO Act with four core themes

Registered as community non-pro�t organization

under the Companies Act

‘08 ‘12 ‘18

72,000hectares of

marine protected area*

A healthy, biodiverse Corozal Bay Wildlife Sanctuary in the larger northern seascape that supports and nurtures communities and sustainable livelihoods

SACD, as a community-oriented NGO, is dedicated to ensuring effective management and good stewardship of Corozal Bay Wildlife Sanctuary in the larger seascape, in partnership with its stakeholder communities.

Vision

Mission

Promoting conservation actions that benefit biodiversity and peopleGoal

History

About SACD

SACD works with key stakeholder communities

2 • Corozal Bay Watch

Mangrove warbler

*This size is subject to change depending on the upcoming realignment and re-designation of zones in the protected area

Sart

enej

a

Cons

ejo

Copp

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ank

Chun

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Coro

zal

Community dependency on �sheries in CBWS

Corozal Bay Wildlife Sanctuary

CBWS lies within the Northern Belize Coastal Complex (NBCC) seascape. Together with the Santuario Del Manatí in Bahia de Chetumal, Quintana Roo, Mexico, it forms a highly biodiverse transboundary system. CBWS is part of an interconnected system that connects rivers to reefs and the ecosystems in between (mangroves, seagrass, and estuaries). The shallow waters provide critical habitat for the threatened Antillean manatee and the bottlenose dolphin, both of which use the area for feeding, mating and calving. CBWS is a regionally key pupping area for bull sharks and bonnethead sharks, and was once home to the smalltooth sawfish, which is now considered nationally extinct.

The surrounding coastline consists of mangroves and shallow lagoons which provide nursery habitat for a number of important fish species (commercial, local and sport fishing industry) including snappers (pargo), snook (robalo), striped mojarra (chiwa), and tarpon (sabalo). Mangrove canopies create nesting and foraging habitats for numerous birds such as egrets and herons. The mangrove coastline also plays an essential role in protecting our villages from storms and other climatic effects.

Why is it important?

Community Engagement & Stewardship

Research & Monitoring

The River to Reef Seascape

Natural Resource Management

SACD Program ThemesSACD has outlined four key themes that are designed to preserve the quality of CBWS and its resources. With these programs, SACD tackles the threats of unsustainable fishing, habitat loss through coastal development and dredging, and decreased water quality from land-based pollution.

Mangroves

Manatee Populations

Nesting Bird Colonies

Corozal Bay Watch • 3

Conservation Targets

Water Quality

Commercial Fish Stocks

News & Events

In November, SACD conducted its seasonal water quality monitoring for the norte season in collaboration with ECOSUR (El Colegio de la Frontera Sur, based in Chetumal, Mexico). A total of 53 sites in Corozal Bay were sampled. ECOSUR worked with us to develop the research methods we used for sampling, and they will also be assisting us with the analysis of the data. These physical parameters and contamination measures will give us an idea of the ability of CBWS waters to maintain a high quality habitat for seagrass beds and marine species.

This research will be critical in addressing the threat of pollution in CBWS which may be due to untreated wastewater and / or chemicals found in agricultural runoff. SACD aims to identify these areas of excess pollution and use this information to effectively address any negative impacts on CBWS biodiversity.

Through its independent research activities, SACD has also been contributing to the efforts to understand larval connectivity and availability of fish stocks in CBWS. In October, SACD collected ichthyoplankton samples. Ichthyoplankton are the eggs of fish and their presence in CBWS would tell us which fish species are using the bay for reproduction. Once the data from this study, as well as ECOME 7, has been analysed, it will be published for the general public to view.

4 • Corozal Bay Watch

A Clean and Healthy Corozal Bay

Pu�er�sh post-larvae found during survey

Hach Water Testing Kits Training

To continue building our staff capacity in water quality monitoring, our Natural Resource Program Manager and Intern participated in a two day training at the ECOSUR laboratory to learn how to operate Hach Water Testing Kits - technology which will assist in data analysis.

SACD continues to build strong partnerships to better understand the different ecological processes occurring in CBWS and the connected ecosystems. 2018 has been our third year participating in the Regional Connectivity Exercise for the Mesoamerican Reef Countries (ECOME 7). With the support of the Fisheries Department, SACD was able to establish one of the two Belize research stations for ECOME 7 in Bacalar Chico Marine Reserve (BCMR) for the surveys in October. Other Mesoamerican Reef (MAR) countries participating in this initiative includes Honduras, Guatemala, and Mexico. The purpose of this nine-day long exercise was to determine the patterns of fish post-larvae (juvenile fish) dispersal and recruitment. A total of four fish families were identified including cardinalfish, pufferfish, damselfish, and frogfish. This research contributes to an existing database on larval connectivity in the wider Caribbean region by identifying key areas for ecologically and economically important fish species in Belize.

Creating Connections Across Mesoamerica

From November 28th to 30th the SACD Executive Director and Natural Resource Program Manager participated in the Reddish Egret Workshop held in Merida, Yucatan, Mexico. During the workshop, the Central American Management Plan for the Reddish Egret was revised with input from participating partners from the U.S. and Central American countries.

CBWS is home to the only recorded nesting sites for the Reddish Egret in Belize - making it an important focus for the global population of this species. With its habitat distribution restricted to mangrove forests, the Reddish Egret is a key indicator species for coastal habitat loss.

During the last quarter (Sept-Dec) the SACD patrol team conducted 48 patrols. Seven of these patrols were conducted jointly with the Forest Department and four transboundary patrols with el Instituto de Biodiversidad y Areas Naturales de Quintana Roo (IBANQROO). These patrols have been effective in reducing the level of illegal activities in CBWS and have increased protection

Endurance of the Egrets

Patrolling for Biodiversity

for our conservation targets such as manatees and commercial fish species. To strengthen our surveillance efforts in CBWS, our Natural Resource Program Manager and Head Ranger attended the National Fisheries Enforcement Workshop in December. This workshop addressed various topics such as patrol operating procedures, Fisheries Laws and Regulations, officers code of conduct, equipment needs and trainings refreshers, and addressing the international wildlife trade.

Adult Reddish Egretdisplaying its dark morph

Transboundary patrols with IBANQROO

Corozal Bay Watch • 5

Advisory Committee (CBAC), had the opportunity to visit the renowned fishing cooperative of Vigía Chico in Punta Allen, Quintana Roo, Mexico. Through exclusive fishing rights and selective harvest techniques, the Sian Ka’an Biosphere Reserve has become a model for sustainable lobster fishing. It was an excellent opportunity to learn from one of our neighbouring protected areas and discover more about their history, management, fishing practices, and regulations. The group also had the chance to eat some delicious local lobster and go on a kayaking and trekking tour with the women’s ecotourism cooperative of Orguídes de Sian Ka’an.

On October 24th a group of 13 stakeholders and community members from CBWS, including local fishermen, their wives and members of the Corozal Bay

Learning from our Neighbours

Fisher’s Exchange Participants

Munoz joined us for three months from Sept - Nov and went above and beyond expectations to support SACD. We are excited to continue this program into 2019. Keep an eye out for our next round of applications!

SACD believes strongly in community empowerment, especially for youths who will become the future ambassadors for our environment. Through our Community Researchers Program, we have engaged community youths and young adults in biodiversity monitoring activities such as bird and manatee surveys. In 2018, SACD increased its Community Researchers Program to nine participants. To build on this positive response from the community, SACD piloted its Internship Programme. With this new initiative, we will be offering youths from the communities of Sarteneja, Chunox, Copper Bank, Corozal, and Consejo the opportunity to gain hands on work experience in the field of environmental sciences and biodiversity conservation. While working with SACD, interns will have the advantage of increasing their knowledge of natural resource management and protection in Belize while also generating funding towards their tertiary education. We received many excellent applications from qualified individuals, finally identifying two candidates to assist with the Education and Outreach and Research and Monitoring Programmes. Mr. Honorio Santos and Ms. Inerie

6 • Corozal Bay Watch

2019-2023 SACD Strategic Plan

Training the Next Generation

Our intern and SACDsta� working togetherwith Wildtracks to rescue an injured sea turtle

Community Development in Ecotourism On December 15th, 22 individuals successfully completed the General Tour Guide Course. With this training, these graduates are equipped with the tools they need to pursue future opportunities in the tourism sector and to promote and participate in environmentally friendly tourism practices. We trust in the ability of these young men and women to become environmental stewards for CBWS and increase awareness for the need for sustainable use of natural resources in Corozal Bay. A special thanks to all the partners that collaborated to make this course possible - MCCAP, TASA, BTB, and the Chunox St. Viator High School, as well as MAR Fund who supported SACD’s contribution - thank you for your support!

Our Executive Director congratulates 2018 graduates

2018 marked ten years of SACD’s establishment and six years of presence in CBWS as formal co-managers. With this milestone achieved, it was time to review our Strategic Plan, which expired in 2017. We are confident that the 2019-2023 Strategic Plan will effectively guide SACD’s activities for the next five years as we work to strengthen our ability to provide concrete conservation outcomes for biodiversity and our stakeholders, while also taking into account the critical need to improve long-term financial sustainability. Our rejuvenated vision, mission, and goal (see page 2) are designed to represent the values of our organization and to help you better understand our role in CBWS. We are happy to end 2018 with a sense of hope as we embark on another five years of hard work and dedication!

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