And outside of the pomp, the BCG is patrolling the seas now more than ever with the opening of lobster season. And while there are complaints by some fishers that there need to be even more patrols to combat piracy, the commandant pointed out that coastal piracy has actually reduced significantly. He explained that there used to be many cases of kidnappings and killings, and that while it's still a problem, it's nowhere near what it used to be.
Admiral Elton Bennett, Commandant, Belize Coast Guard
"I actually think it's reducing, you know, if you look in the past, the coastal piracy incidents were very high. We used to have murders. We used to have Fisher folks going missing. We had so many acts of violent coastal piracy years gone by. We are at a point now where we've been able to manage that to a very good degree. We have been able to reduce the violence. And yes, there is still that threat that that exists in between the different factions of the fishing industry. You have the sailing fleet that you have those who deals with traps and camps. So there will always be that friction. Our responsibility here to try to get involved or try to mitigate, those friction from becoming violent. So that's what we've been doing. We've been working very closely with the fisheries Department to identify those high risk locations off the coast of Dangriga, out at Turneffe and off the coast of Belize City in particular. Where these fisher folks will be vulnerable because of the value of their fishing products."
Reporter:
"Have these operations increased now that lobster season is open? I know we had two recent incidents that were specifically regarding lobster."
Admiral Elton Bennett, Commandant, Belize Coast Guard
"Yeah, indeed. Every time, this time of the year, once the lobster season is open, we know this well in advance so we try to get out and provide that necessary security protection for our for fishing fleet. In one of the incidents, last week, we were called out to one of the fishing vessels that was threatened towards Goff's Caye. We received that information and we went over there and escorted them into Belize City. So that's what we were doing and trying to maintain that that relationship and that communication, direct communication with the fishing fleet so that we can respond to provide that necessary protection that they need."
