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Southern Environmental Association
Southern Environmental Association formerly Friends of Nature on September 14, 2009 made five arrests under its Special Enforcement in the Southern Barrier Reef Complex Project. The arrests netted some 5,587 conch during the closed season, some of which were also undersized, making it perhaps the largest bust of its kind in Belizean history.
The Special Enforcement patrol was a multi-agency team comprised of Rangers, Police, and Fisheries Officers. At approximately 3:53am, while returning to Placencia from a routine night patrol, the team intercepted a commercial fishing vessel about a mile east of False Caye near the Village of Seine Bight. On board the vessel they were five persons and crocus bags that were filled with what later turned out to be conchs.
The team, led by Shayne Pech, immediately detained the vessel and its occupants while they completed their routine inspections. On discovery of the conch, the boat and its occupants were taken into custody and escorted to Placencia were a detailed search and inventory was conducted. Four of the five persons possessed valid commercial fishing licenses. A total of thirty (30) bags were discovered containing five thousand, five hundred and eighty seven conchs (5,587). On completion of the search and inventory, all the members of the crew were formally charged with one count each of committing the offence of “Possession of conch during the closed season”, contrary to section 6(1) (a) of the Fisheries Act, Chapter 210 of the Subsidiary laws of Belize R.E. 2003. The captain was additionally charged with committing the offence of “Employing a person to conduct commercial fishing whilst not in possession of a valid commercial fishing license”, contrary to section (7) of the Fisheries Act. One person was charged with the offence of “Conducting commercial fishing without a valid boat license”, contrary to Section 6 (1), of the Fisheries Act.
In Dangriga Magistrate’s Court one person pled guilty to the charges of possession of conch during the closed season and using a vessel to do commercial fishing without a valid boat license. The total of all fines was $112,500.00, to be paid in the amount of $500.00 monthly. The charges against the other four persons were withdrawn by the prosecutor.
On the instructions of the court a portion of the confiscated conchs was distributed among the local schools to help with their feeding program and the remainder was released to the Belize Fisheries Department.
Southern Environmental Association is committed to maintaining sustainable fisheries practices and to significantly reducing illegal fishing in those areas not presently within the boundaries of the five marine protected areas in Southern Belize. While committed to working with the communities, the organization is serious about its enforcement responsibility. SEA will continue to work with its local stakeholders and community members in executing surveillance, patrols and prosecution of anyone who violates the Belize Fisheries Laws and deny honest and law-abiding Belizeans the use of the resources to improve their economic wellbeing.
