Established in 2000, The Port Honduras Marine Reserve is 160 square miles of coastal waters located just north of Punta Gorda Town.
The Port Honduras Marine Reserve is co-managed by TIDE, the Toledo Institute for Development along with the Fisheries Department. TIDE's work in protecting the Reserve has successfully reversed the decline in species, coral degredation, and the sea grass beds.
There are 135 small mangrove islands in the area, including the Snake Cayes, which are located on a fringe coral reef system and are home to abundant species of fish and coral. You'll see fan, brain, and fire coral, sponges and crabs, lobster, and numerous fish, from grunts, parrot fish, trumpet fish, blue tang, snapper, angel fish, yellow-tail damsel fish, and many more!
It is recognized for high biodiversity, with a robust belt of unaltered mangroves and sandy coasts that provide a critical link between terrestrial and marine ecosystems. The crystal clear, blue Caribbean waters are home to various endangered and vulnerable species, including the West Indian Manatee, the American saltwater crocodile, and the Morelet's crocodile.
Approximately 4,500 people live in adjacent communities, with additional fishing pressure stemming from poachers. The reserve encompasses estuaries near shore communities and extends to protect fringing reefs. There are over one hundred small, mangrove-fringed cayes and benthic habitats comprised of soft-bottom seagrass beds, reefal banks and fringing reefs which are unique to the country.
The above content is only part of all the information on this topic!
To access all the content on this page as well as all the sections on this site you will require a paid membership. Please use the registration link under the login form to chose your desired mambership options and sign up. The site has more than 200 pages of content for Mega Yachts and information on cruising in Belize, From Docking, Bunkering, Anchoring, Aerodromes, to GPS information on all!
