For this latest issue of The Rising TIDE e-newsletter, our Development Director interviews another new member of the TIDE team, Mr. Seleem Chan, who serves as our new Marine Manager responsible for the management of the Port Honduras Marine Reserve and adjacent areas in the Maya Mountain Marine Corridor (MMMC).

Jonathan (JLa) – Greetings Seleem. It’s great to welcome you officially to TIDE.

Seleem Chan

Seleem Chan (SC) - Thanks Jonathan, good to be here.

JLa – You’ve been working at TIDE now for a few weeks or so. What is your first impression?

SC – My first impression - I must say TIDE has a group of committed staff members that are very good at what they do.  I have had the opportunity to meet the rangers and I am confident they are capable of getting the work done.

JLa - For the past 3 years you worked as the Manager of the Sarstoon Temash National Park along the southern border of Belize and Guatemala.  How will your experience there help prepare you to manage a marine reserve with TIDE and its stakeholders?

SC – Good question. Working directly with communities was one of my greatest

PHMR Coastline

experiences working as the Manager for the Sarstoon Temash National Park.  TIDE manages three protected areas, and they all have stakeholders who will be negatively or positively affected by the work that we do.  I strongly believe that keeping a close relationship with our stakeholders is very important; giving them the opportunity to be a part of the work that we do as well.  This is something I see TIDE doing.  In regards to the Marine aspect, I have worked with the Fisheries Department in the past in the capacity of Marine Biologist and am really looking forward to get back into the water.  At SATIIM, I was also active in a lot of community projects, especially to provide alternative livelihoods for the people in the community; this experience I feel will also help me to accomplish the goals of TIDE.  It was also with the Fisheries Department & Coastal Zone Management Authority where I was able to participate in a lot of training such as in sea grass monitoring, coral and fish monitoring and mangrove monitoring methods.  So this will assist me in this new post as well.  

JLa – There are quite a few conservation NGO’s in Toledo, and in Belize in general.  As a local guy, born and bred in PG, what is your take on the conservation movement in Toledo and Belize, and how has it impacted your life?   

SC –The conservation movement has really opened my eyes as a Belizean to appreciate what we rightfully own as Belizeans - our natural resources.  I love nature, especially the sea.  Abusing and destroying nature is like causing harm to ourselves.  Listening to the older folks, and hearing of how rich our land and sea once was, I feel committed to this new movement to build and maintain the natural resources we have. 

JLa – What do you anticipate will be the biggest challenge in managing the Port Honduras Marine Reserve and adjacent waterways? 

SC – Illegal harvesting of marine products will be the biggest challenge in managing

Spiny lobster

the Port Honduras Marine Reserve.  The Reserve has healthier stocks of fish than other parts of the tri-national Gulf of Honduras, and so it is targeted heavily by fishers from Guatemala and Honduras, as well as Belize.  This will not be an easy problem to fix, but I look forward and will try my best to help resolve it.

JLa - What will you expect to do most in your new job, and how can local people get involved in your work?

SC – For the first question, I see myself working closely with the staff in the field, assisting them in getting the needed materials for us to get the job done, and managing the team to make sure that everything is running smoothly.  For the second question, I believe local people can get involved through programs like the community rangers initiative, which equips local fishers with a radio and equipment so they can call us to report illegal activities; attending and contributing in community meetings that are held each month in the different villages; and pledging support to play an active role in the management of the protected area on a whole.  We have a number of projects that will need the involvement of many community members to accomplish, and we are trying to get the word out to raise interest.  Community education is the key!  If people know how they can help, they will help.

JLa - If you could think of one reason why someone reading this newsletter should support TIDE's work, what would it be?

SC - TIDE is preserving both our Marine and Terrestrial natural resources for future generations.  TIDE is committed and serious about the work we do to preserve our natural heritage.  An investment in TIDE is an investment in the future of our beautiful country of Belize.

JLa - And finally, the question everyone is dying to ask you… if you were a fish living in the Port Honduras Marine Reserve, what kind would you be? ; )

SC – This is a good one, let me see. Well, if I was a fish out in PHMR, what would I be? A Barracuda, I just like their behavior. You never know when they are going to strike. 

JLa – Wow, watch out for this guy!  Very cool, Seleem. Thanks and welcome again to the rising TIDE!   We are lucky to have you on the team.