In the past week, there's been a lot of talk about land on Northern Ambergris Caye. First there's the proposed deal for 2,700 acres of Bacalar Chico. And then there's the Beliztraide land - that's another 8,200 acres that the government has agreed to sell for US$17 million to build a mega-resort. And while those have been widely discussed, one planned transaction has gotten no attention at all. It's for the Nova land - also on Northern Ambergris Caye. It's been up for grabs since Nova went bankrupt and now a consortium of cooperatives is looking at starting a fish farm operation out there. Last week Thursday when 7NEWS went out to Bacalar Chico, we found all the principal players with the Minister of Fisheries at Tranquility Bay Resort. They discussed the project and why Northern Ambergris Caye is perfect for it.
Bobby Usher, Northern Fishermen Co-op
"We are working jointly with National and Northern to try to develop a cobia fish farm project in Belize and what we hope to do is to produce the
fingerlings for the fish farm locally. So we're looking at the possibility of acquiring some kind of interest in the hatchery that exists here."
Charles Heusner, National Fishermen Co-op
"Although it's a bit off from the other areas in Belize, this is about the only location where you can get that fresh supply of water that is quite so essential in any hatchery."
Bobby Usher,
"The reef is very close and right beyond that is just exceptional water and as Mr. Heusner said, the water quality, the content of the water quality is pristine. It's the best and it is the best to raise juvenile fingerlings for fish or for shrimp or for any other kind of marine organisms."
Kainie Manuel, San Pedro Sun
"Have you guys made any decision to put a bid for the sale or have you guys already bought the property?"
Bobby Usher,
"No we have not cemented any or closed any deal. Yes we have put in a bid and we hope our bid is looked upon favorably but at this time I cannot disclose the value or the amount of that bid until we know for certain that things are going to go the way that our board or our people will approve what we want to do."
Hon. Vildo Marin, Minister of Fisheries
"As you know our fish stock is dwindling and we have to find other avenues, diversification for our fishers and certainly we see aquaculture as being one of those businesses that our fishing cooperatives could engage in to be able to get good employment and income to our fishers."
Kainie Manuel,
"You said that the country or the island is going through this over-fishing, there's less fish in the water. Mangroves are the perfect hatchery for fish, why are we allowing them to be all cut down?"
Hon. Vildo Marin,
"If you look at it we have to have a sustainable development and certainly not all the mangroves that you see being destroyed are actually used for hatching purposes."
