In a significant enforcement operation within the Sapodilla Cayes Marine Reserve, Belizean authorities have successfully disrupted a major illegal fishing scheme. The coordinated effort, initiated after the grim discovery of a three-mile longline laden with deceased marine life, culminated in the arrest of two Honduran nationals on December 2nd.
The operation was spearheaded by a multi-agency task force comprising the Toledo Institute for Development and Environment (TIDE), the Belize Coast Guard, and the national Fisheries Department. This joint action was a direct response to an incident the previous day where TIDE’s enforcement patrol encountered the extensive illegal longline, which contained numerous dead species, including protected hammerhead and reef sharks.
According to Florencio Coc, Project Manager at TIDE, the discovery prompted an immediate escalation in surveillance, leading to intensified day and night patrols. The subsequent operation successfully intercepted the two individuals who were found in possession of illegally harvested marine life. The seized contraband included thirty-seven bonefish, a species whose harvest is strictly prohibited within the reserve’s protected waters.
The suspects faced multiple charges at the Punta Gorda Magistrate Court, including illegal harvesting of marine life without a commercial license, possession of an illegal gillnet, possession of protected bonefish, operating a vessel without a valid Belizean license, and immigration offenses related to their illegal entry into Belizean territory. This case highlights the ongoing challenges and proactive measures in protecting critical marine ecosystems from transnational illegal fishing activities.