On Friday, January 31, 2019, the Belize Coast Guard busted three fishermen in the Manatee Bar Mouth area who were in possession of illegal gillnets and fisheries products.
These fishermen, one Belizean and two Guatemalans with naturalization documents, were also operating with expired fisherfolk licenses.
They were in possession of a variety of nets, three of which exceeded the legal limit of 1,000 feet per net. Also found in their position were 9 barrels and several coolers of varied marine product, including shark meat. The total marine product is estimated to be worth over $40,000.
We cannot continue to have illegal fishing destroy our food security and the source of our fishing based and tourism livelihoods. It’s time to stop the nets.
A gillnet ban would ensure that fishers can continue fishing and that there would always be a sustainable source of protein available to all Belizeans. – Article by Oceana Belize – Photos Courtesy Belize Coast Guard
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