Belize marine conservation internship
How Belize marine conservation internship makes a difference
Environment
We are a not for profit marine conservation company that focus on conserving the environment by using recreational divers to sustain the organisation.
We are working alongside the Belizean Department of Fisheries and local NGO’s to monitor and maintain the marine environment of the Sapodilla Cayes Marine Reserve, Southern Belize. Work includes the surveying and monitoring of commercial species such as lobster and conch, surveying and helping to protect the spawning fish aggregations, water quality testing, turtle conservation, MBRS surveys and Reef Check surveys for long term global studies and analysis. We are active members of PADI Project AWARE Coral Watch and Whale Shark programmes and also work with Belizean based Ecomar to help remove the invasive non-native lionfish from Belizean waters. Not only are we removing the lionfish from Belizean waters (and feeding our guests) we are also trying to introduce them to the local food chain and are currently having success with large groupers, triggerfish and moray eels. We have also managed to get lionfish on the menu at an exclusive restaurant and are hoping this inspires other restaurants to follow suit. Therefore making a market for the local fisherman.
Community
We are located in Punta Gorda, a small non touristy basic fishing town in Southern Belize where there is a 75% poverty rating. We bring tourists to the area who would not ordinarily visit bringing with them much needed revenue. They spend money in restaurants, local stores, hotels and with tour guides. All of our supplies are bought locally from the market and general stores.
We are very aware of our environmental impact and have taken many measures to reduce it. Rain water is our main source of water on the island, bicycles are our preferred mode of transport in town and by eating fresh locally produced food our carbon footprint is reduced.
It is also important to us that our guests integrate into the local community. We employ Belizean people and we run a training program for the youths of Toledo where we give young people the chance to become Dive Masters and thus obtain well paid jobs in the touristy resorts such as San Pedro, Ambergris Caye.
Belize marine conservation internship
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