Type: Wildlife Sanctuary
District(s): Belize
Size: Acres: 8,972 approximately
Hectares: 3,631 approximatelyPerimeter: 25.5 km
Legislation: National Parks System Act – Chapter 215
Year Established: July, 2002
Gazette Reference: 2002/102
Management: Fisheries Department and Friends of Swallow Caye.
Commonly known as the Manatee Reserve, the protected area was established in July, 2002 and comprises of nearly 9,000 acres of sea and mangrove.
This mangrove island is located a few miles east of Belize City in an area known as Drowned Caye Range. Due to its proximity to Belize City, there is commonly heavy traffic from water taxis, tour boats and barges. Normally this wouldn't be cause for concern, but Swallow Caye also happens to be a critical feeding and breeding site for the West Indian Manatee, as the ocean floor is covered with turtle grass beads.
As most are aware, throughout the world the manatee population is severely threatened and in some places even endangered. According to the Coastal Zone Management Authority and Institute, the organization responsible for conducting annual aerial manatee surveys, the current population of manatees in Belize hovers in the 700 - 900 range. Reports of declining manatee populations date back to 1883, when hunting of these docile and slow-moving creatures was rampant. Illegal hunting still occurs (mostly in southern Belize), but today the greatest threat to manatees results from boat traffic. Due to collisions with boats, propeller-scarred manatees are becoming an increasingly common site and propeller injuries are one of the chief causes of manatee deaths. Moreover, as boat traffic increases, manatees are left with fewer undisturbed creeks and channels for calving and resting areas, thus they are forced to seek out less suitable habitats to avoid such harassment.
The sanctuary is co-managed by Belize Fisheries Department and the Friends of Swallow Caye, which is a community based non-profit conservation association focused on the protection of manatees in the Swallow Caye area. Their mission is "to safe guard the future of manatees and other marine life by reducing threats to their health and their habitat."
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