Western Caribbean
large atolls further offshore: the Turneffe Islands.
Lighthouse Reef and Glovers Reef All three show distinct
differences between the leeward and windward slopes,
with the development of spur and groove formations on
the windward (eastern) sides, but also some of the most
highly developed reef structures. Lighthouse and Glovers
Reefs are exposed to higher wave energy on these eastern
slopes and as a result they have a higher coverage of
Acropora palmata and Lithothamnion than Turneffe. Both
of these atolls also have deep lagoons with numerous
patch reefs and very little land cover. Turneffe, by
contrast, has a land area of 22 percent of the atoll and a
shallow lagoon with only a few patch reefs in the north.
Hurricanes have regularly impacted Belize's reefs.
Hurricane Hattie in 1961 was reported to have reduced live
coral cover by 80 percent in some places, although the reefs
subsequently made a good recovery. As elsewhere in the
region, Acropora cover has fallen dramatically since the late
1970s, linked to the impact of white band disease. In 1998,
the El Nifio-related coral bleaching event, followed by
Hurricane Mitch, hit the reefs of Belize particularly hard.
Corals remained bleached for a considerable period, but by
early 1999 mortality was high, with a 62 percent loss of live
coral cover in the south, 55 percent in the north, 45 percent
in the atolls and 36 percent in the central reefs.
Belize has a long history of human activities in the
coastal zone, which can be traced back to 300 BC. The
Mayan Indians used cays in the lagoons as stations for
fishing conch, finfish, turtle eggs and manatees, as well as
ceremonial centers and burial sites. Nowadays the major
threats to the reefs of Belize are fishing, sedimentation,
agrochemicals, sewage, solid wastes and dredging.
Fishing occurs on a relatively small scale given the reef
area, but in 1998 employed 2 000 fisherfolk with 350
boats. The dominant fisheries are lobster (mainly
Pamdirus argiis). which was considered to be near to its
maximum sustainable yield in the early 1980s, and conch
(mainly Sirombus gigas). The latter produces catches
averaging 180 tons per year The adults aggregate in the
shallow back reef and seagrass areas and although there
are signs that the populations may be overexploited,
catches have remained consistent. A deeper and unfished
reproductive population could be responsible for maintaining the catch. Nearly two thirds of lobster and conch
are exported to the USA. By contrast 80 percent of
^^^^^^^P
-m
General Data
1
Population (thousands)
2i9'
GDP (million US$1
50/i
Land area (km'l
22 169
Marine area (thousand km-')
31
Per capita fish consumption (kg/year)
8
Status and Threats
Reefs at risk (%)
63
Recorded coral diseases
A
Biodiversity
m
Reef area (km^)
1 330
Coral diversity
46/57
Mangrove area (km^j
719
No. of mangrove species
5
No. of seagrass species
na
30 km
Left: Soft corals and a tubular sponge. Rig fit: Chetumal Bay, on the border between Belize and /Mexico. To the right is
Ambergris Cay where the Belize Barrier Reef connects to the Yucatan Peninsula and becomes a fringing reef tlSSOOlESC-5317,2001L
large atolls further offshore: the Turneffe Islands.
Lighthouse Reef and Glovers Reef All three show distinct
differences between the leeward and windward slopes,
with the development of spur and groove formations on
the windward (eastern) sides, but also some of the most
highly developed reef structures. Lighthouse and Glovers
Reefs are exposed to higher wave energy on these eastern
slopes and as a result they have a higher coverage of
Acropora palmata and Lithothamnion than Turneffe. Both
of these atolls also have deep lagoons with numerous
patch reefs and very little land cover. Turneffe, by
contrast, has a land area of 22 percent of the atoll and a
shallow lagoon with only a few patch reefs in the north.
Hurricanes have regularly impacted Belize's reefs.
Hurricane Hattie in 1961 was reported to have reduced live
coral cover by 80 percent in some places, although the reefs
subsequently made a good recovery. As elsewhere in the
region, Acropora cover has fallen dramatically since the late
1970s, linked to the impact of white band disease. In 1998,
the El Nifio-related coral bleaching event, followed by
Hurricane Mitch, hit the reefs of Belize particularly hard.
Corals remained bleached for a considerable period, but by
early 1999 mortality was high, with a 62 percent loss of live
coral cover in the south, 55 percent in the north, 45 percent
in the atolls and 36 percent in the central reefs.
Belize has a long history of human activities in the
coastal zone, which can be traced back to 300 BC. The
Mayan Indians used cays in the lagoons as stations for
fishing conch, finfish, turtle eggs and manatees, as well as
ceremonial centers and burial sites. Nowadays the major
threats to the reefs of Belize are fishing, sedimentation,
agrochemicals, sewage, solid wastes and dredging.
Fishing occurs on a relatively small scale given the reef
area, but in 1998 employed 2 000 fisherfolk with 350
boats. The dominant fisheries are lobster (mainly
Pamdirus argiis). which was considered to be near to its
maximum sustainable yield in the early 1980s, and conch
(mainly Sirombus gigas). The latter produces catches
averaging 180 tons per year The adults aggregate in the
shallow back reef and seagrass areas and although there
are signs that the populations may be overexploited,
catches have remained consistent. A deeper and unfished
reproductive population could be responsible for maintaining the catch. Nearly two thirds of lobster and conch
are exported to the USA. By contrast 80 percent of
^^^^^^^P
-m
General Data
1
Population (thousands)
2i9'
GDP (million US$1
50/i
Land area (km'l
22 169
Marine area (thousand km-')
31
Per capita fish consumption (kg/year)
8
Status and Threats
Reefs at risk (%)
63
Recorded coral diseases
A
Biodiversity
m
Reef area (km^)
1 330
Coral diversity
46/57
Mangrove area (km^j
719
No. of mangrove species
5
No. of seagrass species
na
30 km
Left: Soft corals and a tubular sponge. Rig fit: Chetumal Bay, on the border between Belize and /Mexico. To the right is
Ambergris Cay where the Belize Barrier Reef connects to the Yucatan Peninsula and becomes a fringing reef tlSSOOlESC-5317,2001L