'was there last night...

Present were a good mix of folks from across the board, tour guides, etc... As JZD said, all present were in unanimous agreement that the establishment of all three areas would be of great benefit for the island as a whole. One interesting point illustrated was how the addition of the two marine reserves and Mata/Cayo Francis National Park, when viewed along with Hol Chan Marine Reserve, Bacalar Chico & the Corozol Bay Wildlife Sanctuary, would form a pretty continuous loop/route of protected areas around Ambergris Caye. It's a great step. Everyone with any interest on the island should applaud the efforts of all involved. Let's hope this can get presented to the cabinet sooner than later and that approval is just as quick.

Yes, lot's of issues and logistics to work out, but all projects like these start off with a first step and this step is a great one.

Excellent recap Jeff.

I have to say that I'm a big fan of multiple use areas in these kinds of preserves. I've seen total closure areas as applied in the ABC's particularly in Bonaire, an amazing marine reserve for sure and appropriate for that country but the mix of areas similar to what exists now in Hol Chan would allow some areas for fishing and total closure in others suits the nature of the Caye better than total closure (and infinitely more palatable I'm sure). You still get the benefit of the closed areas feeding the adajacent open areas within the overall reserve. Of course enforcemnt is key and I hope they can adequately fund the resources to do that.

We were there as well. My only concern was that a portion of the area was to be a "no take" zone, with areas on both sides of Mexico Rocks were supposed to be for "commercial fisherman" who purportedly already fish there. Now, that's a problem to me, but then I am not a park ranger. I am with the majority here that thinks that any time we can secure a "reserve" we should do it. I just think there might be some issues with the "lines" between the no take zone and the fishing area. Seems to be that would be hard to differentiate between the three separate areas.