Rangers Hot on the trail of Illegal Fishers

After a blistering hot day early during summer, three rangers were conducting a night patrol in the Port Honduras Marine Reserve (PHMR).  Shortly past 10:00 p.m. while approaching East Snake Caye they spotted a vessel and stealthily approached. 

PHMR Rangers conduct their investigation and search the vessel of a suspect illegal fisher.

Upon reaching the vessel they initially spotted in the area, they identified a known fisherman (name withheld) - a regular user of the reserve - and a minor who also identified himself.  The alleged suspect was caught red handed holding on to what appeared to be gill net.  

The rangers identified ourselves as Fisheries Officers (TIDE rangers have been vested with the powers of Fisheries Officers by the Belize Fisheries Department) and initiated dialogue with the fisherman who claimed to be using a hand line and that the buoys he was holding onto was his anchor rope.

The rangers knew better and their investigations lead to the discovery of a 3 ½ inch mesh plastic gill net with orange buoys and blue rope.  The GPS location of the gill net was given the name“ESNA01” and coordinates are 16Q0338632 UTM 1792260.  After confiscating the net, the suspect was informed that he was under arrest for “Fishing with a Gill Net within a Conservation Zone of Port Honduras Marine Reserve.”  The fish caught in net were recorded as follows: Grunts - 58, Yellow Tail Snappers - 82, Mackerel - 15, School Master - 3, Groupers - 2 and taken to the Fisheries Department as evidence for the prosecution of the illegal fisher.

The fisherman was transported along with his vessel and fishing equipment to ranger station at Abalone Caye and shortly afterwards to the Punta Gorda Police Station where a report was made.

In a previous, but separate incident sometime around 6:30 a.m. during the dry season; just before the summer rains carry an abundance of snook and other fish down the rivers entering the PHMR, rangers conducting their routine surveillance, spotted some buoys in the water.

Their search of the area revealed 3 ½ inch mesh white gill net with orange buoys and Blue and Green rope.  They proceeded to retrieve the net from

The evidevce (gillnet) was confiscated and taken to the ranger station at Abalone Caye to be logged.

the water and while doing so an individual arrived at the scene claiming the net that was being retrieved.  

The lead ranger identified himself and explained to the fisherman that it is illegal to set gill nets within the PHMR.  The use of gill nets causes many marine species like the manatee, sea turtles and juvenile fish to perish when they get strangled or are starved.

The infuriated individual was adamant and clearly upset claimed that he will report this matter to Management.  He went to the other end of the net and untied the anchor even though he was cautioned against no doing so.  The GPS location of the gill net was given the name “Net” and coordinates are 16Q031020 UTM 1783828.  The 320ft. long and 15ft. wide gill net was then taken to the PHMR ranger station to be logged as evidence.