On Tuesday February 16th, I attended the quarterly meeting of the Belize National Spawning Aggregation Working Group in Belize City where TIDE was nominated as the new chair of the group for the next two years. 

The Belize National Spawning Aggregation Working Group was established in July 2001 in response to a nation-wide survey of spawning aggregations of the Nassau grouper in early 2001 that revealed very low numbers of spawning fish. In 2002, a coalition of seven NGOs worked successfully to protect 11 of the Nassau grouper spawning sites and to introduce a four-month closed season. Since early 2003, the Working Group has been revitalized and has met regularly on a quarterly basis to share data and develop management strategies. 

The Spawning Aggregation Working Group’s goal is:

“To manage spawning aggregation sites and gather data that can be used to develop strategies to maintain these as viable sites for the protection, conservation and sustainable use of the fishery.”

Presently, the Working Group’s members are representatives from the following organizations: Belize Audubon Society, Belize Fishermen Co-operative Association, Belize Fisheries Department, Coastal Zone Management Authority and Institute, Green Reef Environmental Institute, Hopkins Fishermen Association, Placencia Fishermen Co-operative, The Nature Conservancy, Southern Environmental Association, Toledo Institute for Development and Environment, University of Belize, Wildlife Conservation Society, and World Wildlife Fund.

The main activities of the Working Group include regular site monitoring for spawning aggregations, data storage and analysis, public awareness and training.

 For more information and regular updates, visit the Working Group’s website (click link) Or cut and paste: http://collaborations.wcs.org/spag/Home/tabid/87/language/en-US/Default....