Belize Barrier Reef

Belize Barrier Reef Reserve System*
UNESCO World Heritage Site
State Party	Belize
Type	Natural
Criteria	vii, ix, x
Reference	764
Region**	Latin America and the Caribbean
Inscription history
Inscription	1996  (20th Session)
* Name as inscribed on World Heritage List. ** Region as classified by UNESCO.

Belize Barrier Reef
IUCN Category IV (Habitat/Species Management Area)
The Barrier Reef is clearly visible along the Belizean coast.
Location:	Belize
Nearest city:	Belize City, Belize

The Belize Barrier Reef is a series of coral reefs straddling the coast of Belize, roughly 300 meters (1,000 ft) offshore in the north and 40 kilometers (25 mi) in the south within the country limits. The Belize Barrier Reef is a 300 kilometers (186 mi)-long section of the 900 kilometers (560 mi)-long Mesoamerican Barrier Reef System, which is continuous from Cancun on the northeast tip of the Yucatán Peninsula of Mexico through to offshore Guatemala, making it the second largest coral reef system in the world after the Great Barrier Reef in Australia. It is Belize's top tourist destination, attracting almost half of its 260,000 visitors, and vital to its fishing industry. Conditions for scuba diving and snorkeling are ideal since water visibility commonly reaches 100-plus feet; water temperatures hover around 80 degrees Fahrenheit; and the barrier reef makes for calm water most of the year.

Charles Darwin described it as "the most remarkable reef in the West Indies" in 1842.

Ecology

The coastal area of Belize is an outstanding natural system consisting of the largest barrier reef in the northern hemisphere, offshore atolls, several hundred sand cays, mangrove forests, coastal lagoons, and estuaries. The system’s seven sites illustrate the steps in reef development.

The Belize Barrier Reef is home to a large diversity of plants and animals, one of the most diverse ecosystems of the world:

• 70 hard coral species
• 36 soft coral species
• 500 species of fish
• hundreds of invertebrate species

With 90 percent of the reef still needing to be researched, it is estimated that only 10 percent of all species have been discovered.

The area is a significant habitat for threatened species, including marine turtles, manatees, and the American marine crocodile.

Manatees were commonly hunted for their meat by natives of the Caribbean, although this is much less common today. The indigenous hunter would use various methods of baiting in order to attract a manatee close enough to hit the animal near the head with an oar-like pole, temporarily stunning the manatee. Many times the creature would flip over, leaving it vulnerable to further attacks. Manatees were also hunted for their valuable bones, which were used to make "special potions." Today, manatees are now considered endangered and protected. One of their main sources of mortality today is collisions with boats and propellers.

Crocodiles provide benefits for the ecosystem and for humans. Ecologically, they serve as apex predators, keeping prey populations in check. While the larger crocodiles can be very dangerous to human beings, crocodiles do provide commercial, nutritional, and aesthetic benefit. Their hide is tanned and used to make leather goods, and crocodile meat is considered a delicacy in many parts of the world.

Among the birds to be seen in coastal areas and on the islands are brown pelicans, frigate birds, gulls, ospreys, ruddy terns, brown boobies, and on Belize's first national park, Half Moon Caye Natural Monument, the rare red-footed booby.

Fishing

The Belizean Barrier Reef provides a habitat for a wide variety of fish, including tarpon, grouper, cobia, barracuda, bonefish, rainbow runners, and triggerfish. The deeper waters beyond the reef are the home of sailfish, marlin, wahoo, mackerel, bonito, pompano, blue fin, black fin, and albacore tuna.

The offshore atolls offer superb fishing due to their remote location and unique geological features. Waters plummet thousands of feet only 200-300 feet from the reef crest on all sides of the atolls.

Populations of game fish have declined over the past thirty years due to habitat destruction, pollution, and over fishing. Catch and release fishing is encouraged.

Environmental protection

A large portion of the reef is protected by the Belize Barrier Reef Reserve System, which includes seven marine reserves, 450 cays, and three atolls. It totals 370 square miles (960 km²) in area, including:

• Glover's Reef Marine Reserve
• Great Blue Hole
• Half Moon Caye Natural Monument
• Hol Chan Marine Reserve
• Cays include: Ambergris Caye, Caye Caulker, Caye Chapel, St. George's Caye, English Caye, Rendezvous Caye, Gladden Caye, Ranguana Caye, Long Caye, Maho Caye, Blackbird Caye, Three Coner Caye.

A marine reserve is an area of the sea which has legal protection against fishing or development. This is to be distinguished from a marine park, but there is some overlap in usage.

Because of its exceptional natural beauty, significant ongoing ecological and biological processes, and contains the most important and significant natural habitats for in-situ conservation of biological diversity, the Reserve System has been designated as a World Heritage Site since 1996.

Despite these protective measures, the reef is under threat from oceanic pollution, uncontrolled tourism, shipping, and fishing. Hurricanes, global warming, and the resulting increase in ocean temperatures are a particularly significant threat, causing coral bleaching.

"There is growing concern that global climate change is degrading coral reef ecosystems, with coral mortality increasing as a result of bleaching and emergent diseases: our results from Belize appear to justify this concern," said Richard Aronson of the Dauphin Island Sea Laboratory in Alabama.

It is claimed by scientists that over 40 percent of Belize's coral reef has been damaged since 1998.

Economy

Belize, because of its medley of cultural attractions, unique marine and terrestrial biodiversity, and conservation efforts, is fast becoming a hot spot for travelers seeking ecotourism and adventure vacation experiences. Sea kayakers can arrange day trips or overnight packages with licensed guides. Drop offs exceeding 1,000 feet beckon divers from around the world. The three major industries, in the coastal zone, tourism, aquaculture, and fisheries, accounted for some $600 million Belize Dollars in 2006, with tourism the largest income earner, averaging $500 million of the $600 million.

References

ISBN links support NWE through referral fees

• Mallan, Chicki and Joshua Berman. 2008. Belize. 6th ed. Moon Handbooks. Emeryville, CA: Avalon Travel Publishing. ISBN 1566915759

External links

• UNESCO World Heritage website
• UNEP-WCMC Belize Barrier Reef Reserve System
• Belize Tourism Board official website

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