Wouldn't it be nice!
I began diving in the area in the early 80's when work started on the formation of Hol Chan Marine Reserve by 1987 it had been established but only after a huge contribution from the USAID and the World Wildlife Fund.
Mexico Rocks is the next logical step but its been only talked about and wished for since 1990.
Its over 20 years later and we still only have a proposal.
Citizen Committees and Business Associations have little to no funds for such a project.
Despite recent hype I remain skeptical.
Without a large injection of funds from heavy weights like the World Wildlife Fund, The National Audubon Society or USAID its highly unlikely a Citizens Group will pull this off!
WWF is out of money, USAID comes with Hillary Clinton telling Belize how to run the country and if the Audubon society kicks in its going to benefit the birds as well, so addition of wetlands is a smooth move...Good Luck!

Please explain why it takes so much $$?

Yes I also would like to know what all the costs would be to make Mexico Rocks a Marine Reserve. Is this possible at the municipal
level (town counsel)or only at the GOB level ? Could you just connect all the buoys with caution rope , and add some no fishing,no anchor signs , marine reserve signs.Would that help? We all could make contributions to purchase those signs to help establish this as a reserve.

Acquisitions of private lands within the proposed reserve areas, surveys,Marine Reserve office,Staff salaries, Boats for rangers,fuel for boats, salary for rangers, etc.
Hopefully the park fees will eventually take over and they can use the sustainable word honestly but not for years.

Why can't private business handle all this and charge an appropriate fee to cover those costs,instead of the government.White sands or Costa maya or whoever could bid on the exclusive rights for a 2 or 3 year time frame , and be responsible for all activites at the site,with maintenance and improvements , and profit from the reserve .

A reef is more than the pretty spot everyone visits.The life support system extends across the island and includes mangroves and lagoons, these are a part of the reserve as well and must be acquired from government and private land holders. You can't just say this is reserve, put up some buoys and start collecting tickets.
The pretty spot on the reef with the colourful fish is like a beautiful rose after its cut its going to wilt and die with out the bush.
Look at this map of The Hol Chan marine Reserve

Zone 'A' is the rose, look how big the bush has to be to support it.
Acquiring the bush is going to be the problem!

All good points , but starting with the reef area , then let it grow to land acquisitions over time is I think better than nothing being done at all .

Of course, all the efforts are good but we can't fool ourselves into thinking the rose in a box will last.
The mangal in the afore reef at mexico rocks has been cleared of almost all of its mangrove already and that's what produces the fish for the reef crest that's visited, residential lots have been sold for development in its entire length, sea bed has been dredged and its being destroyed faster than you can say ,'lets form a committee!'

So if U can't have it all U say do nothing????

Nope I didn't say that, Take a look at the box drawn around the mexico rocks area by the latest effort to make a Reserve there,
http://ambergriscaye.com/forum/ubbthread...html#Post426415
why not make it include the 'Bush' so the rose will live?
It should include all the way back to the lagoon.
No one has the money to buy the wall of residential lots separating the rose from its roots but lets have a practical plan at least and not a false one. If its ever to be funded buy a big money group they certainly will be smart enough to see the reserve isn't sustainable with out it.
A no fishing sign won't make it a reserve it will have to be the whole Enchilada.
Lighthouse reef is a good example the Audubon Society kicked in millions but the didn't draw a box around the rookery of the endangered Boobys, they did the whole atoll, because its all a support system for the birds.
I'm not saying the whole island either , just a slice from front to back so that it will thrive.