The islands of the Sapodilla Caye range...they're treasures in the waters of Southern Belize that are enjoyed by more Guatemalans and Hondurans than Belizeans. But this country established a strong presence there today with the opening of a research center. It is funded by the Meso-American Barrier Reef Project and it will be the center for multi-agency and multi-national research initiatives the area. I went south for the opening of the centre and Beverly Wade of the Fisheries Department explained how this facility will help to ensure better management of the reef system.
Beverly Wade,
"Such a facility provides for us a place where we could house our whole staff of the reserve and it also provides a place for us to have the necessary interactions between stakeholders and management that are necessary for the day to day management and to ensure that the marine reserve serves as that very important refuge for the ecosystems to remain healthy and to continue to support our very important fishing industry."
On Monday, we'll take you inside the centre's operations to show how it will work.
