Hol Chan Marine Reserve Zone Expansion Project

Beneficiary:         Belize Fisheries Department

Funds Awarded: $349,720.00

Project Location: Hol Chan Marine Reserve

Summary:           The Hol Chan Marine Reserve (HCMR) was expanded from 55.4 km2 to 414.5 km2 in March 2015 and includes four new zones including a complete no-take zone.  This expansion requires considerable investment to ensure that proper management is undertaken in the areas recently annexed.  This project will be implemented over the course of two years and the overall goal is to build responsible and sustainable management of tourism, fishing and conservation activities under an effective zoning scheme; the aim is to ensure that HCMR is able to maintain its biological integrity while providing tangible economic benefits to buffering communities.