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The Coastal Zone Management Authority & Institute in the Ministry of Forestry, Fisheries & Sustainable Development completed marine mammal aerial surveys along the entire coast of Belize. Nicole Auil Gomez led manatee surveys on April 3rd - 4th, and cetacean (dolphin and whale) surveys on April 13. The Oceanic Society carried out the surveys for the Turneffe Atoll on April 10th - 11th, led by Dr. Holly Edwards.

Eighteen national manatee surveys have been carried out since 1977, and the last count was done in 2007. The surveys provide information on distribution and relative abundance, which are applied to management strategies, including the national Coastal Zone Management Plan. The coastline, all rivers, large lagoons, and a sample of cayes were surveyed using standard protocol. A total of 507 manatees were sighted, with 10% of them being calves. This is the highest count recorded for Belize, still known globally to have the greatest number of the endangered Antillean manatee. Some key areas were in and around the Belize River; the river itself had 25 manatees; the Turneffe Atoll had 14 manatees, Placencia Lagoon had 31 individuals, and the Southern Lagoon (Gales Point) had a remarkable 52 animals. The count is a minimum population size, as for every animal seen, others present are missed.

Cetacean aerial surveys were conducted for the first time, and extended between 17 and 50 miles from the coast. The survey team searched for pods of dolphins or whales, such as rough-tooth dolphins, killer whales, pilot whales, and sperm whales which have been seen in Belize's waters. The observers were thrilled to make two sperm whale sightings at the southern end of the barrier reef, swimming southward towards Honduras. This was not the first recording of sperm whales in Belize, but very little is known of their ecology here.
Other species spotted during the surveys were 33 dolphins, 11 turtles, and four crocodiles. The public is asked to report any known sightings of large dolphins or whales to the CZMAI.

The flights for the surveys were donated by the conservation organization LightHawk. LightHawk has provided flights at no cost to various organizations in Belize for the past 31 years, including most of the CZMAI manatee aerial surveys. In Mesoamerica, from January to June each year, LightHawk volunteer pilots fly missions to enhance regional conservation efforts. In this case, aerial surveys allowed scientists to spot marine mammals to effectively monitor a large area in a short amount of time.

Press Release - Coastal Zone Management Authority

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Awesome! We love the guys from Lighthawk. They stay with us every year and do a tremendous job with the environmental studies being done in Belize.


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Belize's Manatees Numbers Improving

An aerial survey of Belize's coastline conducted a month ago has confirmed that Belize's manatee population is on the increase.

A total of 507 manatees were sighted; 10% of them were calves. According to a release from the Coastal Zone Management Authority & Institute, "this is the highest count recorded for Belize, still known globally to have the greatest number of the endangered Antillean manatee." The Southern Lagoon at Gales Point had an impressive 52 manatee.

An aerial survey was also conducted for dolphins and whales in mid April. They searched an area between 17 and 50 miles from the coast, looking for rough-tooth dolphins, killer whales, pilot whales, and sperm whales which have been sighted in Belize's waters. The observers made two rare sightings of sperm whale sightings at the southern end of the barrier reef, swimming southward towards Honduras. Other species spotted during the surveys were 33 dolphins, 11 turtles, and four crocodiles.

In other, related news, Manatee Researcher Jamal Galves has been recognized for his work with manatees in Belize. Galves was selected for the inaugural 2012-2013 class of "Caribbean Emerging Wildlife Conservation Leaders." He now gets to participate in a two-year training programme.

And that's not all, the talented Galves received an award of $30,000 Belize dollars from the Conservation Leadership Programme for a project called "Ameliorating Threats to the Manatee in the Heart of Belize."

The project will see a threat assessment carried out in the Belize River mouth area, where most of the manatee deaths and injuries are observed.

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MARINE MAMMAL AERIAL SURVEY ON THE COAST OF BELIZE COMPLETED

The Coastal Zone Management Authority and Institute and the Ministry of Forestry, Fisheries and Sustainable Development have completed a marine mammal aerial survey of the entire coast of Belize. Led by consultant Nicole Auil Gomez, the surveys were conducted last month. She gave Love News the findings of the survey.

Nicole Auil Gomez - Consultant

"In April we did a national countrywide survey for manatees and � with the manatee survey resulted in the highest number that we have ever gotten for Belize at 507 animals and that included the entire coast, cayes, lagoons, rivers and turneffe atolls. Some of the remarkable areas were around and in Belize River which we normally expect to have a lot. Even Turneffe Atoll had 14 animals, Placencia Lagoon had 31 and Gales Point had a whopping 52 animals. This is almost twice as many animals as we have seen prior in the highest survey previously with 332 animals counted in 2002 so this is very good. We can't statistically say we have an increase in population but we certainly are moving in the right direction and with 10% of them being calves we know we have a good reproduction rate going on."

According to Auil Gomez, the survey also looked at other marine species inhabiting the coastal waters of Belize.

Nicole Auil Gomez - Consultant

"Well we did a special survey for dolphins and whales. We normally record the dolphins that we see during manatee surveys but we don't go really beyond the reef and we don't go in the blue waters. We did a special survey, I coordinated a flight that went beyond the reef, up to 50 miles off the coast and I was thoroughly thrilled to spot a sperm whale swimming outside of the reef and it was swimming southward and shortly after that particular sighting I spotted another sperm whale in the same direction heading southward so it really opened a door. The objective was really to start looking at what do we have in Belize, we have a lot anecdotal reports of various types of dolphins and whales but we have not put in a concerted effort to actually do survey or research for these species other than bottle nosed dolphins. This is the first time we really started looking for large animals and we ask the general public to report anything that they see.

In other news from the conservation field, Belizean Manatee Researcher Jamal Galvez has received two international awards for his work with manatees in Belize. Auil explains what the citations are.

Nicole Auil Gomez - Consultant

"He's right now in Antigua with the Caribbean Emerging Wildlife Conservation Leaders, there were 12 persons selected throughout the Caribbean and this is the first time it's being done for the Caribbean; it is usually worldwide, they look at people globally, this ii the first one specifically for the Caribbean and he is one of the first winners. He is doing a training course learning different types of wildlife conservation techniques and methods that he is going to be using when he returns and he is going to be working on a project with other winners. They are going to develop a two year project to do regionally and the second one he received he will be going at the end of June to Canada to receive a $30,000.00 professional development grant from the Conservation Leadership Program."

Auil Gomez says she is happy for the achievement of her colleague and the awards are a good thing for the entire country of Belize.

LOVEFM


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Research shows thriving manatee population


Aerial Survey

The Coastal Zone Management Authority and Institute and the Ministry of Forestry, Fisheries and Sustainable Development have completed a marine mammal aerial survey of the entire coast of Belize. Led by consultant Nicole Auil Gomez, the surveys were conducted last month. She gave Love News the findings of the survey.

According to Auil Gomez, the survey also looked at other marine species inhabiting the coastal waters of Belize.


In other news from the conservation field, Belizean Manatee Researcher Jamal Galvez has received two international awards for his work with manatees in Belize. Auil explains what the citations are.


Auil Gomez says she is happy for the achievement of her colleague and the awards are a good thing for the entire country of Belize.

Consultant with the Coastal Zone Management Authority and Institute Nicole Auil Gomez.

LOVETV



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