Port Honduras Marine Reserve – Management Plan – 2011 to 2016 4 Acknowledgments
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Management Plan Port Honduras Marine Reserve 2011 - 2016 Completed by the Toledo Institute for Development and Environment For the Belize Fisheries Department Contributing authors: Nicola L. Foster, Matthew Mosher, Alastair Daly, Avra Heller, Zoe Walker 1 PORT HONDURAS MARINE RESERVE GOAL “the sustainable management of coastal ecosystem functions and natural resource values for the benefit of present and future generations of Southern Belize, within the wider ridge to reef landscape” TIDE Advisory Board, 2011 …promoting the sustainable use of the biological resources and the identification and development of integrated conservation and development activities related to the ecosystems and species associated with the reserve, and compatible with ecosystems functions and services for the buffer communities. OBJECTIVES . To promote sustainable marine resource use for the continued benefit of all users . To ensure continued sustainable resource extraction through effective management mechanisms for the benefit of traditional fishing communities . To promote community stewardship of the marine resources through effective communication, education and outreach . To provide a sustainable recreational and tourism environment that will enhance the economic and social benefits of the area . To engage in effective research and monitoring within PHMR to guide and inform management decisions TIDE Advisory Board, 2011 2 TABLE OF CONTENTS PORT HONDURAS MARINE RESERVE ........................................................................... 2 TABLE OF CONTENTS .................................................................................................. 3 Acknowledgments ...................................................................................................... 5 1. INTRODUCTION ...................................................................................................... 6 1.1 Background and Context ..................................................................................... 6 1.2 Purpose and Scope of Plan .................................................................................. 8 2. CURRENT STATUS ................................................................................................. 10 2.1 Location .............................................................................................................. 10 Access 10 Communities Adjacent to Port Honduras Marine Reserve 11 2.2 Global and Regional Context ............................................................................... 11 2.3 National Context ................................................................................................. 15 2.3.1 Legal and Policy Framework 15 2.3.2 Land and Sea Tenure 22 2.3.3 Evaluation of Protected Area 23 2.3.3.1 Biological Importance 23 2.3.3.2 Local and National Importance 24 2.3.4 Socio-Economic Context 27 2.4 Physical Environment .......................................................................................... 35 2.4.1 Climate 35 2.4.2 Geology 38 2.4.3 Bathymetry 39 2.4.4 Tides and Water Movement 39 2.4.5 Water Quality 42 2.5 Biodiversity of Management Area ....................................................................... 51 2.5.1 Ecosystems 51 2.5.2 Flora 52 2.5.3 Fauna 53 2.5.4 Past and Present Research 53 2.6 Cultural and Socio-Economic Values of Management Area .................................. 55 2.6.1 Archaeological Sites 55 2.6.2 Recreation and Tourism Use 56 2.6.3 Educational Use 60 2.6.4 Other Economic Use 62 3 3. ANALYSIS OF CONSERVATION TARGETS AND THREATS .......................................... 64 3.1 Conservations Targets ......................................................................................... 64 3.1.1 Identification of Conservation Targets 64 3.1.2 Assessment of Conservation Target Viability 64 3.2 Threats to Biodiversity ........................................................................................ 68 3.2.2 Prioritizing Threats 77 4. MANAGEMENT PLANNING .................................................................................... 78 4.1 Management and Organizational Background ..................................................... 78 4.2 Review of Previous Management Programmes ................................................... 82 4.3 Management Goals ............................................................................................. 85 4.4 Management Constraints and Limitations ........................................................... 87 4.4.1 Enforcement 87 4.4. 2 Personnel Management 87 4.4. 3 Stakeholder Involvement in Management Decisions 88 4.5 Management Strategies ...................................................................................... 90 4.5.1. Management Zones 90 4.5.2 Potential Changes in Zonation during the timescale of the Management Plan 95 4.5.3 Managed Access 97 4.5.4 Limits of Acceptable Change 99 4.6 Management Programmes and Objectives ........................................................ 101 4.5.1 Resource Protection Programme 103 4.5.2 Research and Monitoring Programme 115 4.5.3 Environmental Education and Outreach Programme 129 4.5.4 Infrastructure Management Programme 140 4.5.6 Administrative Programme 143 4.5.7 Management Policies 150 4.6 Timeline, Evaluation and Review ....................................................................... 150 4.9 Financing .......................................................................................................... 151 6. REFERENCES ....................................................................................................... 152 Port Honduras Marine Reserve – Management Plan – 2011 to 2016 4 Acknowledgments We would like to thank the Board of Directors, Programme Directors and staff of the Toledo Institute for Development and Environment, and more specifically of the Port Honduras Marine Reserve, for their participation and input into this management plan. Special thanks also go to the fishers and tour guides of Punta Gorda, Punta Negra and Monkey River, the Port Honduras Advisory Council and the Belize Fishery Department Financial support towards this management planning process was provided by NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration) Port Honduras Marine Reserve – Management Plan – 2011 to 2016 5 1. INTRODUCTION 1.1 Background and Context The Mesoamerican Reef is the largest contiguous SITE INFORMATION reef system in the western hemisphere, spanning Size: Total: 100,000 acres (40,468 ha) 1000km from the tip of the Yucatan in Mexico to the Preservation Zone: 0.805km radius around Middle Bay Islands of Honduras (Wilkinson & Souter 2008). Snake Cayes Conservation Zones I, II and III: 0.805km radius The largest portion of the Mesoamerican Reef around West and South Snake Cayes, East Snake System is located within Belizean waters, running Caye and West Cane Caye parallel to the coastline. In the south of Belize, General Use Zone: 93,731, acres (37,932 ha) Statutory Instrument: SI 9 of 2000 (Order) where Belize waters meet those of Guatemala and SI 18 of 2000 (Regulations) Honduras, lies the Gulf of Honduras. This semi- IUCN Category: IV Management Authority: Fisheries Department enclosed bay, bordered by Southern Belize, Co-Management Partner: Toledo Institute for Guatemala and Honduras, is considered a critical Development and Environment Contact Email: [email protected] nursery and feeding area for many coastal and reef Website: www.tidebelize.org species. Within southern Belize, an area of these rich Location: Port Honduras Marine coastal waters has been designated as a marine Reserve is located directly offshore, in the coastal waters of protected area – the Port Honduras Marine Reserve southern Belize, extending from (Map 1). Covering an area of 160 square miles Monkey River at its northern 2 extent, to beyond the Rio Grande (100,000 acres / 414 km ), the borders of the Marine in the south Reserve extend along the coastline from just south of the Rio Grande River to north of the mouth of the Uses: Extractive and non- extractive – fishing, tourism, Monkey River, and East to the edge of the eastern education and research edge of the Snake Cayes. The Marine Reserve was Management Plan: In revision (2011) Biodiversity information: TIDE - ongoing and long term established to protect the physical and biological research, Rapid Environmental Assessments lead by resources of the Port Honduras region, and provides TNC; (1993 and 1994) and incorporating earlier work by protection for mid-lagoonal reefs, unique in Belize, Coral Caye Conservation. Ongoing work on goliath grouper, sharks and rays (R. Graham / WCS); with characteristics of both inshore reef and independent researchers offshore barrier reef environments. It also Visitor Facilities (2009): Ranger’s Station / Visitors Centre (Abalone Caye), Tide Office (Punta Gorda) encompasses important seagrass beds and Visitation (2008): 771 visitors surrounds over 138 mangrove cayes, supporting an On-site Staff (2009): 1 site manager, 5 rangers, 2 biologists important fishery for the local traditional users. As an integral part of the Maya Mountain Marine Corridor, the Port Honduras Marine Reserve focuses on the conservation of marine biodiversity, with connectivity to the landscape through the six watersheds that empty into it. This landscape includes the coastal wetlands, the matrix of private protected areas managed under TIDE and Ya’axché Conservation Trust, and the mosaic of mangrove, lagoon and savannas of Payne’s Creek National Park.