Corozal Bay Wildlife Sanctuary

Corozal Bay Wildlife Sanctuary
Ecosur, Chetumal
13th March, 2012
SACD
Sarteneja Alliance for
Conservation and Development
the largest estuarine system flowing
into the Belize Barrier Reef Reserve
System
an important transboundary drainage
system, shared by Mexico and
Belize
a priority site under the Ecoregional
Assessment of the Mesoamerican
Reef, based on the importance of
the estuarine system, manatee
habitat, and extensive mangrove
systems.
GUATEMALA
MEXICO
BELIZE
Size: 178,000 acres (72,000 ha)
Statutory Instrument: SI 48 of 1998
IUCN Category: IV
Management Authority: Forest Department
Co-management Partner: Sarteneja Alliance for
Conservation and Development (SACD)
Hol Chan Marine
Reserve
Provides critical connectivity
between watersheds and the reef
Mangrove-lined coastal lagoons are
identified as critical nursery areas for
local commercial fish species –
snapper (Lutjanidae), stone bass
(Gerridae)
The lagoons are also identified a
important nursery areas for sport
fishing species – eg. snook
(Centropomus undecimalis) and
permit (Trachinotus falcatus)
Hol Chan Marine
Reserve
High connectivity with other
protected areas
Bacalar Chico
Sanctuario del Manate
Critically Endangered
Consejo Shores
Goliath Grouper
Epinephelus itajara
Hawksbill Turtle
Small tooth Sawfish
Endangered
Important
Critical
Key
Large
area
bird
shark
expanse
for
nesting
the
and
West
and
of
ray
intact
foraging
Indian
pupping
Potential
remnant
sawfish
mangrove
manatee
/nursery
sites
population
Eretmochelys imbricata
Pristis pectinata (?)
Corozal Bay Wildlife Sanctuary
Corozal
Chelonia midas
Green Turtle
Sarteneja
Vulnerable Copper
Bank
West Indian Manatee
Trichechus manatus
Chunox
Mutton Snapper
Lutjanus analis
Cubera Snapper
Lutjanus cyanopterus
Hogfish
Lachnolaimus maximus
IUCN, Redlist, 2012
Spanish
Point
Rocky
Point
Natural Resource
Management
Programme
Surveillance and
Enforcement
Management of
Conservation Targets and
Threats
Conservation Targets:
Commercial Fish
Species
West Indian manatee
Mangrove
Seagrass
Nesting Bird Cayes
Elasmobranchs
Water Quality
Commercial Fish Species
Developing a sustainable fishery with local fishermen,
through participatory planning and implementation
Natural Resource
Management
Programme
Surveillance and
Enforcement
Management of
Conservation Targets and
Threats
Conservation Targets:
Commercial Fish
Species
West Indian manatee
Mangrove
Seagrass
Nesting Bird Cayes
Elasmobranchs
Water Quality
Commercial Fish Species
Dependent on the connectivity between sea and
coastal mangrove
Natural Resource
Management
Programme
Management of
Conservation Targets and
Threats
Conservation Targets:
Commercial Fish
Species
West Indian manatee
Mangrove
Seagrass
Nesting Bird Cayes
Elasmobranchs
Water Quality
West Indian Manatee
Natural Resource
Management
Programme
Surveillance and
Enforcement
Management of
Conservation Targets and
Threats
Elasmobranchs
An important ray nursery area and Belize’s only
known bull shark nursery area.
Potential remnant sawfish
population
Conservation Targets:
Commercial Fish
Species
West Indian manatee
Mangrove
Seagrass
Nesting Bird Cayes
Elasmobranchs
Water Quality
Bull Shark
Whiptail ray
Photos Above: Rachel Graham
Natural Resource
Management
Programme
Surveillance and
Enforcement
Management of
Conservation Targets and
Threats
Conservation Targets:
Commercial Fish
Species
West Indian manatee
Mangrove
Seagrass
Nesting Bird Cayes
Elasmobranchs
Water Quality
Water Quality
The importance of
understanding how
the system works –
how everything
connects
- seasonal salinity
- freshwater
influences
- the wind-driven
currents that
connect
Ecosur / L. Carillo
Natural Resource
Management
Programme
Surveillance and
Enforcement
Management of
Conservation Targets and
Threats
Conservation Targets:
Commercial Fish
Species
West Indian manatee
Mangrove
Seagrass
Nesting Bird Cayes
Elasmobranchs
Water Quality
Water Quality
Collaboration with Ecosur – baseline assessment of
Corozal Bay and installation of permanent salinity /
water depth / temperature data loggers
In-house monthly
transect being
established using YSI
Professional Pro 3probe for point
sampling
Thank you!
Questions?
?Preguntas?
SACD
Sarteneja Alliance for
Conservation and Development