involvement and shared responsibility of the local people, and most importantly it simply doesn't effectively conserve natural resources. The alternate strategy we propose requires significant social and economic change and no small amount of courage. Over the past several decades a virtual sea of excellent technical and detailed information concerning the biology of coral reef ecosystems has been assembled by the world's scientific community. American researchers have played a major leading role in this pursuit of knowledge. Sadly though, too little of this vital knowledge is translated and made readily available to those whose job it is to conserve and protect these resources. Furthermore the design of many scientic studies of coral reefs with conservation objectives implicit by the very nature of the disciples involved, often exclude most people who do not have the training, specialization or expertise in a particular field of coral reef biology. We believe this approach to conservation research must change. It must be multidisciplinary and encourage the participation of all user groups (fishermen, landowners, government, etc.) in the design, implementation, and conclusion of the study. Basic research on coral reef communities by itself, void of any connection to the socio-economic issues of local people, will fall short of saving these vital resources. Therefore, as the particulars of this legislation unfold, we invite those responsible for its implementation to take a careful look at what we are trying to do in Belize. We stand ready to contribute in what ever way we can to the process of this legislation. Should you be interested in more detail regarding the specific design of our proposed studies in Belize, or simply want further information or input, please don't hesitate to contact me. Again, I commend the work of the subcommittee and take pride in such efforts by my government to improve the quality of live for us all. Sincerely, Enclosure Jacque Carter, Ph.D. T HE SEA HAS ALWAYS aroused the human spirits of adventure and discovery. I can still recall the first time I descended into the crystal clear waters of Belize's spectacular barrier reef. As I tried to get my bearings, I was swarmed by dozens of wildly assorted fishes appearing as if by magic from among forests of branching corals: Drifting clouds of brilliant blue and yellow wrasses. Big-eyed squirrelfish hovering in the dark recesses of coral crevices. Fluorescent neon gobies perched atop coral heads. Schools of gaudy parrotfish crunching coral with their beaklike jaws. At that moment I felt an irresistible attraction to my watery surroundings. As fate would have it, several years later, in May 1984, I returned to Belize with the support of Wildlife Conservation International to study the sex life of the Nassau grouper (see Animal Kingdom, November/December 1986) and to help the Belizeans lay the groundwork for a string of reserves to protect the barrier reef. A small Mesoamerican country, Belize sits on the western shore of the Caribbean Sea. It is bordered by Mexico on the north and Guatemala to the west and south. Centuries ago, Belize comprised the eastern frontier of the great Mayan civilization, but by the early 1600s, swashbuckling pirates and British loggers had opened the country to Europeans. After 119 years of British rule, Belize achieved independence in September 1981. Sparsely populated and lacking the great disparities of wealth that have led to civil unrest elsewhere in tropical America, Belize has emerged a poor but culturally diverse and democratic nation. Its barrier reef, the second longest in the world, runs in a nearly continuous ribbon from the tip of Mexico's Yucatán Peninsula southward some 180 miles into the Gulf of Honduras. More than 35 species of reef-building corals thrive in the sun-drenched waters, sheltering the coastline against REEF ECOLOGY IN BELIZE A PROJECT OF WILDLIFE CONSERVATION INTERNATIONAL 58 WILDLIFE CONSERVATION SWARMS OF FISH APPEARED AS IF BY MAGIC FROM AMONG FORESTS OF CORALS: DRIFTING CLOUDS OF BRILLIANT BLUE AND YELLOW WRASSES, BIG-EYED SQUIRRELFISH, AND FLUORESCENT NEON GOBIES. erosion and providing sustenance and refuge for manatees, porpoises, loggerhead turtles, tarpons, sponges, and a host of other marine organisms. Because the reef covers so much territory and crosses political boundaries, it is virtually impossible to conserve the entire length of it. But Belize, recognizing the reef's intrinsic as well as economic value, has established two marine reserves and plans to create more. Half Moon Caye was designated a natural monument in 1982. Part of Lighthouse Reef, Half Moon is home to such diverse creatures as crocodiles, red-footed boobies, spiny lobsters, and purple reeffishes. More recently, in May 1987, the Belize government set aside a naturalist's paradise of more than five square miles of ecologically linked coral reefs, lagoons, sea-grass meadows, and mangrove swamps in the Hol Chan Marine Reserve. The crown jewel of this reserve is a natural break in the reef that gives rise to unique and unusual coral formations. (The name Hol Chan derives from a Mayan term meaning "little cut in the river.") Hol Chan is remarkable not only because of the breathtaking natural splendor of the barrier reef and the nearly 500 species of fish that live there, but also because of the management issues at stake. At issue is how to achieve greater economic benefit from the reef while maintaining its integrity in the face of rapidly expanding tourism, fishing, and agriculture. The designation of Hol Chan Marine Reserve signals the Belizeans' readiness to merge development and conservation as well as their understanding that to guarantee their children lasting benefits from the marine environment, they must manage their natural resources wisely. rates and buccaneers who looted Spanish and British ships for booty. In more recent times, the small population of Belize-200,000-has placed modest demands on the reef. A local fishery, a small tourist industry, small-scale shipping, and scientific researchers have been its principal users. Now the pressures of progress loom on the horizon. Tourism and fishing are Belize's largest industries. Each year, increasing numbers of tourists throng to the reef and its waters for sailing, fishing, diving, snorkeling, and sightseeing. Unchecked, these activities could seriously harm the ecosystem. There has already been talk of dredging to accommodate harbors and yacht marinas, and of building large hotels to attract still more tourists. Commercial fishing has rapidly expanded in response to lucrative markets for lobster, conch, grouper, snapper, and other seafood products. High demand and steadily rising prices abroad (U.S. $10 per pound for lobster) encourage further exploitation of commercial stocks. Not surprisingly, there is growing conflict between the various users of the reef and the conservationists who wish to see it maintained in its pristine state. Commercial fishing, in particular, has reached the maximum production level in some areas. Stock depletion-already in evidence-is reversible when wise management plans are adopted early enough and strictly enforced. Fortunately, Belize Fisheries has deployed government patrol boats to monitor the amounts taken. The agency also is encouraging more-sustainable fishing practices and diversification into other areas, such as mariculture (literally, farming the sea). Shrimp are being raised commercially, and plans are under way to farm conch, grouper, and snapper. A much greater problem is the effect of rapidly expanding agriculture and industry on the mainland. The Belize barrier reef ecosystem is inextricably linked to mainland activities via the numerous rivers and natural drainages that transport runoff to the sea. The runoff often contains suspended solids, herbicides, pesticides, and other hazardous materials as well 60 WILDLIFE CONSERVATION |