Protecting Turneffe Atoll

By William Ysaguirre (Freelance Writer)

BELIZE CITY, Thurs. Aug. 20, 2026

   The pristine natural beauty and marine resources of 17,000 acres of national land at the Turneffe Atoll will be preserved for future generations of Belizeans and visitors alike, through the Turneffe Conservation Land Trust Deed of Mutual Release, Compromise and Settlement. The Government of Belize signed this agreement, which covers approximately 365,000 acres of marine space, with conservation partners and non-governmental organizations at the Best Western Biltmore Plaza Hotel in Belize City on Wednesday afternoon, August 19.

   Valdemar Andrade, executive director of the Turneffe Atoll Sustainability Association (TASA), explained, “This secures vast amount of mangroves that is a critical part of the whole ecosystem dynamics between mangrove, seagrasses and the coral reefs to produce that. So, as we protect these lands in perpetuity, you can look at what other benefits there are. Currently, in terms of the world market, you’re looking at biodiversity credits, new blue carbon credits, at how can you, beyond what it produces economically, for the government, the fishers, the tourism stakeholders and in terms of recreational value.

   “It can also produce a market value in terms of blue carbon credits and biodiversity the credits into the future. So, it’s very, very significant, and this is for the entire country, for the entire world, and it’s another model that should be brought from the north to south of Belize.”

   Andrade made reference to the economic benefits that will be derived from the initiative. “The importance also is that it’s protecting flats fishery areas. You’ll have seen many local Belizeans now, who are ex-fishers or who have been trained in flats fishery, earning a significant wage in a flats fishery industry,” he said.

   “At the end of the day, it is very important that people understand that while in 2022 when we did that study, when the Turneffe Atoll Trust did that study, it said that flats fishery was 6.7 percent of GDP. Today probably is 10% the GDP, you’re talking about $240 million. So, it’s comparable to the fishing industry, and those are the type of jobs that you want Belizeans to have, because now you’re earning a living wage. You can earn anything from $300 per day through $1,000 at the end of the day. So, protection can yield benefits in terms of those economic values to the people of Belize, and we have to start preparing the next generation of flat fishers across the country and in Turneffe as well. So, again, it is with immediate effect,” he said.

   “Also, the value of what is being done here, and it’s something that is important—$2.2 million is going to be put into a research facility at Turneffe through the University of Belize. I sit on the UB board, and it is an important investment in the future researchers of Belize. Now, why is that important? We make management interventions based on science, so it is only when we have the science information from monitoring and research, that we can say, ‘okay, only so much fishers should be in this area; or only so much visitors can come to this area; or this is the amount of conch or lobster you should be taking out of the area.’ So, science is important to the management,” Andrade added.

   Prime Minister Hon. John Briceño signed on behalf of the government and explained the rationale of the accord. “When we got into government, this was already signed by the previous government. But in their haste, there were certain legal issues that we needed to correct. I want to really … want to thank Dr. Craig Hayes for not giving up, and to be able to sit down with us, and to find how we can make changes, and to improve on it, but never lose sight of what it’s all about; it’s about conservation,” he said.

   “They made a deposit on the land; it was about $2.2 million. And, since it was removed from the original trust fund to another trust that is being managed and owned by Belizeans, in the discussions, they came up with the idea of what … instead of them getting a cheque or refund, to use that money to be able to help the University of Belize to set up research facility in the area. So, it’s a win-win … what we have just done by signing this,” the Prime Minister remarked.

   “I told Dr. Palacio, now his work begins to ensure that we can put this in a world class, marine research facility for the University of Belize, in an area where you have great universities with billions of dollars in trust funds, but they don’t have that, what we own, and so the university is being challenged and tasked to be able to put that into place,” he said.    The UB facility will also help forge partnerships with universities and research institutions abroad. Craig Hayes, PhD, serves on the board of the Turneffe Atoll Trust and also established the Turneffe Flats Resort in 1981. He has advocated for the area to be protected for decades. UB president Vincent Palacio, PhD, represented UB chairman Godfrey Smith, and delivered the closing remarks.