According to Kirah Forman-Castillo, the national coordinator of MarAlliance’s Belize programme, fishers have reported seeing more sharks than ever in the waters of Belize, including in areas where they were previously rare.

One of the most important species for Belizean fishers is the Caribbean reef shark, which has been heavily fished and is now considered endangered. A study from 2022 revealed that, between 2009 and 2019, the population of reef sharks in Belize’s marine protected areas had severely dropped as a result of overfishing.

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Caribbean reef shark

The study’s findings led to action by the Belize Fisheries Department, the fishing community and researchers. In 2021, a National Shark Working Group recommended establishing no-take zones around Belize's three atolls: Lighthouse Reef, Glover’s Reef and Turneffe Atoll. These zones, totalling over 3,800 square kilometres, serve as safe havens where sharks can thrive.

Fishers help

Fishers played a key role in this effort. Though the new regulation was not officially passed until 2021, many fishers voluntarily agreed to avoid fishing sharks in these areas even before the law was enacted. This trust and collaboration were crucial to the success of the initiative.

Kenneth Esquivel, head of the Fisheries Department’s Capture Fisheries Unit, noted that the fisherfolk themselves acted as enforcers, reporting illegal shark fishing activities to the authorities. Their intimate knowledge of the waters helped ensure compliance with the new protections.

Success of no-take zones

The recovery of shark populations is clear. Caribbean reef shark numbers have more than tripled at Turneffe and Lighthouse atolls, according to Forman-Castillo. Surveys conducted by MarAlliance and other research teams at Glover’s Reef and Turneffe Atoll have also shown positive trends.

Experts credit the combination of the 2021 no-take zones, a 2020 ban on gillnets and increased enforcement efforts for the shark population recovery. "It’s a combination of things," said Forman-Castillo, highlighting the importance of ecosystem management.

Challenges remain

However, balancing the growing shark populations with the needs of fishers remains a challenge. As sharks rebound, there has been a noticeable decline in some commercial fish species, and efforts are underway to ensure that fishers can continue to make a living without overfishing.

Despite these challenges, the success of the shark recovery in Belize demonstrates the power of collaboration. As Chapman, a leading shark expert, put it, “When people come together, agree there is a problem, and find solutions together, that’s how change happens.”

Looking ahead, scientists and local communities remain committed to working together to protect Belize’s marine ecosystems and ensure a sustainable future for both sharks and fishers.