Nicole Auil Gomez, MSc. National Consultant, Coastal Zone Management Authority & Institute nauilgomez@gmail.com Manatee By-Catch Pilot Project Holbox, Mexico ~ June 26-28, 2012
The Menu Geographic Reference Belize s Marine Mammals Status of Manatees in Belize Legislation Management Research Challenges to Population Strandings Recommendation Marine Mammals NAG 2
W H E R E is B E L I Z E Marine Mammals NAG 3
Marine Mammals NAG 4
Belize s Marine Mammals Manatees Dolphins / Whales Marine Mammals NAG 5
Status of Manatees in Belize Manatees are listed as threatened by IUCN Became a species of special concern for Coastal Zone Management in 1994 Manatee Management Plan 1999 Largest population of Antillean manatee Belize remains one of the last strongholds in Wider Caribbean
Belize Manatee Recovery Plan 1998 Objectives 1. Decrease the number of manatee deaths countrywide 2. Monitor species population change and its causes 3. Educate officers, tour guides, students, and the general public 4. Increase enforcement of national and international laws relating to manatees and their habitat 5. Develop a formal salvage group CZMI
Legislation Manatees are protected by national legislation: Wildlife Protection Act 1981 CITES Appendix II Protected through a system of reserves 8
Management Laws administered under the Forest Department Issue research permits No active management of species, determining management strategies, nor sanctuary presence Infraction has maximum $1000 penalty &/or 6 months incarceration Logistics for investigation often left to CZMAI & Fisheries Department Protected through a system of reserves Marine Mammals NAG 9
MPAs CZMI
Manatee Protected Areas Corozal Bay WS May 1998 180,508 ac Gales Point (West Indian Manatee WS) August 1998 9096 ac Swallow Caye WS September 2002 8970 ac Marine Mammals NAG 11
Management CZMAI has historically taken lead roll in marine mammal conservation, up to 2004 then Wildlife Trust Currently joint initiative between CZMAI & Sea to Shore Alliance The Manatee Working Group formed in 1996 to steer national manatee work Currently meets biannually Members update group on their activities; the group makes collective decisions and recommendations concerning some issues related to national issues Marine Mammals NAG 12
Research: Aerial Surveys National Manatee Aerial Surveys: 18 [CZMAI] 2012 survey had highest count 507 First offshore surveys for Cetaceans [CZMAI & OSE] Two Sperm Whales observed Marine Mammals NAG LightHawk sponsored 13
Research: Distribution Coastal species Utilize rivers, lagoons, cayes, & coastline Need access to freshwater Found from Rio Hondo to Sarstoon
Research: Captures Capture, Medical & Tagging [Sea to Shore Alliance] 144 manatees captured from 1997 Travel between Mexico & Belize Genetic study suggests offshore and inshore subpopulations; low genetic diversity (Hunter et al. 2010) Marine Mammals NAG 15
ARGOS (Satellite) Tracking Super-K Belize to Mexico Travel to Bahia de Chetumal January 2007 Tagged Nov. 13, 2006 North of Belize City Tag detached Corozal, BZ February 2007 Travel to Southern Lagoon Late November 2006
Morales Vela (ECOSUR)
Challenges to Population Historically hunted Small population size 1000 in Belize Low reproductive rate Sexually mature ~5 yrs 1 year gestation 2 years with mother Low genetic diversity Lower than other marine mammals Lower than endangered or bottlenecked populations Live in coastal areas impacted by man
Habitat Alteration Habitat fragmentation: dredging & filling Nutrient loading smothering seagrass Industrial runoff Aquaculture effluent in Placencia Lagoon 76% reduction of vegetation cover (Ledwin 2010) Tim Smith
Strandings / History of BMMSN Stranding refers to any marine mammal that is found helpless or dead (Geraci and Lounsbury 1993) National assessment began August 1996 under CZMP In 1999 Belize Marine Mammal Stranding Network formed volunteer members from government and nongovernment entities 4 district teams; 12 organizations, & 3 veterinary clinics Manatees are the primary species reported
Strandings 2011 had 19 manatee strandings; watercraft primary COD Two manatees currently at Belize Rehabilitation Centre Marine Mammals NAG 21
Watercraft Threats
Poaching
Causes of Death Diseases, sometimes caused by anthropogenic pollution Habitat alteration Fishing: caught in nets, swallow hooks and lines, or get caught in traps. Natural causes
Manatee Strandings 2005-2010 Live 7% Perinatal 3% Poached 5% Unverified 29% Watercraft 17% Undetermined 38% Other 1% Total 76 Manatees
Room for Improvement An annual allocation of funds [$10,000] towards the BMMSN that would be used for transport, equipment and personnel to respond to strandings nationally. The enforcement agency, Forestry Department, taking an active role in day-to-day sanctuary management. Update the Belize Manatee Recovery Plan, and include updated protocol for rehabilitation and reintroductions. Standardize data collection methods, where applicable, to have comparative results. Training in implementation should be done beforehand. Publication of results of research activities. Marine Mammals NAG 26
Implementation of By-catch Questionnaire Strengths Coordination through CZMAI Database / GIS in-house Established National Manatee Groups NMWG: GOB, NGOs, researchers BMMSN: NGOs MPA System Fisheries Staff Co-management Staff Weaknesses Lack of funding for national training [~$3500] Lack of individual institutional funding for dissemination at sites Marine Mammals NAG 27
Questions?? Marine Mammals NAG 28