Welcome to Friends of Turneffe Atoll (FOTA)

Belize’s Turneffe Atoll is the largest and most biologically diverse coral atoll in the Caribbean. Its diversity of marine habitats creates one of the most productive and ecologically sensitive marine ecosystems in the Hemisphere.

Help support Friends of Turneffe Atoll With your help, we can develop sustainalbe management practices to protecti sensitive marine habits at the Turneffe Atoll and elsewhere.

Sustainability of the Turneffe Atoll Ecosystem is important to both the ecology and the economy of Belize. Until recently, Turneffe’s location, 30 miles from the mainland, has mitigated many destructive forces that have impacted other coastal maine areas.  Although the Turneffe Atoll remains relatively unspoiled, it has come under increasing pressure from over-fishing, land speculation and inappropriate development practices.  Without the institution of sustainable management practices, based upon sound scientific information, , Turneffe Atoll could quickly suffer irreparable damage. 

Friends of Turneffe Atoll was founded in 2002 as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit company. The purpose of FOTA is to further scientific understand and educate the public about the ecological and economic value of sensitive tropical marine habit.  To date, FOTA has taken minimal administrative costs allowing nearly 100% of contributed funds go directly to designated educational and scientific projects.