 |
|
 |
| Members of the SPTGA discuss
SI
|
At an organized and well conducted meeting of the San Pedro Tour Guides
Association (SPTGA) last Thursday evening, many recommendations for
amendments to a recent Statutory Instrument (SI) were suggested. The
recent signing established Shark Ray Alley as a protected zone and part
of the Hol Chan Marine Reserve. Although the SI has already been in
effect since August
31st, President of the
SPTGA, Billy Leslie stated, "These laws are not written in stone, they
are made, but they can be amended." Miguel Alamilla, Manager of Hol Chan,
explained the main objective of this workshop was to come to a collective
understanding and appreciation and to voice concerns or suggestions about
the newly appointed annex. Before the meeting commenced, Mr. Jose
Gonzalez volunteered as facilitator in an effort to streamline
discussions. A brief presentation by Hol Chan's Peace Corp Volunteer
Brandon Kitigawa started the meeting. Presented were the results of a
survey of 28 fishermen and tour guides of their concerns regarding Shark
Ray Alley. It was found that 71% of those surveyed used the area at least
once a day thus information provided was first hand. As many as 89% were
satisfied with the decision to make it a protected area while the
remaining 11% did not respond to the questionnaire. Conclusions of the
survey produced the following: to continue management of the area; a need
for additional rangers, mooring and marker buoys; and continued
communication with user groups. Other concerns included damage to coral,
touching/mishandling of fish, litter and speeding boats. After the
presentation, people in attendance at the meeting added their comments
about the depletion of sardines due to the feeding of fish. It was
decided by the group that further studies were needed and a suggestion
was made to use fish remains instead. Another mentioned concerns of how
feeding affects the stingrays and sharks, i.e., dependency and behavior
changes such as aggression when they have not been fed. One other comment
involved engines running too long when moored at the site as an
alternative method of attracting the fish.
In the second part of the meeting
President Leslie read a letter from SPTGA to the Departments of Fisheries
and Environment in support of Zone D. Parts of this letter recommended
that the conditions of Zone C include Cangrejo Caye as a multi-purpose
area. It also stated that regulation 8A be amended so that "no" fishing
gear should be read as, no "visible" fishing gear allowed on boats
visiting the reserve. Mr. Leslie explained that the SI regulations had
been decided upon by government before the survey or meetings with the
user groups. Now was their chance to make recommendations to amend these
laws.
To set this discussion into motion, Mr. Alamilla then
proceeded to read the Shark Ray Alley regulations with pause for concerns
from the group between each part. Results of this discussion produced
some of the following recommendations or amendments: 1) that user groups
combine to make recommendations on the exact measurements of the Zone D
area for the placing of marker buoys, 2) that the grouper bank in front
of the Amigos del Mar wreck be closed during spawning season to
commercial fishermen, and in conjunction with this it was further
suggested that the amount of catch be limited, 3) that periodic studies
be performed regarding fish counts and research into the behavior of fish
that are fed such as they are in this reserve area, 4) that Hol Chan
rangers monitor tourist briefings by tour guides to ensure compliance
with regulations and that rules be laminated for multiple use, 5) that
fees be changed to Zones ABC - $5BZ per person per day plus an extra $5BZ
per person per day for Zone D. Wrapping up this segment, Mr. Leslie
reiterated the fact that "the reserve needs to be economically
sustainable without damaging our resources."
Other conversations during the reading of
the regulations brought up the Divers Down flag that should be displayed
at all times. The importance of this was stressed and it was revealed
that the Fisheries Department will be enforcing this heavily. It was also
announced that Park Rangers now carry the title of Fisheries Officer as
well. On the subject of fish feeding, there was a suggestion that Hol
Chan feed the fish 4 or 5 times per day to limit the interaction between
people and fish or in the least, feedings be done off of the boat and not
in the water. Establishing another similar recreation area was another
idea as a solution to the overcrowding and waiting at both sites. On the
subject of scuba diving, it was recommended that permission be given
through Hol Chan and not the Belize City Fisheries Department.
Mr. Alamilla concluded the workshop speaking of the
setbacks that have kept Hol Chan from moving forward. One of their patrol
boats is being repaired and an engine is needed for their smaller boat.
They have a vacancy for two rangers and markers buoys are needed to
define the new areas. On the up side, they do have additional mooring
buoys that are ready to be installed so more people can take advantage of
the sites.
The meeting ended with the presentation of second
rotation Tour Guide Training Certificates and refreshments were served.
All present were thanked for their support.
|
| |
|
