Unsustainable Tourism of Turneffe Atoll

Tourism is now the largest sector of Belize’s economy making it absolutely vital that Belize’s tourism resources are protected.  The Turneffe Atoll is widely recognized as a World-Class Scuba Diving destination and also as one of the World’s premier saltwater flyfishing destinations.  Additionally, eco-tourism visits to Turneffe have increased over the last decade.

Turneffe’s tourism dates to the 1960’s with modest increases occurring in the 1970’s and 1980’s.  Currently, three small resorts are in place on the Atoll.  Over the period from 1988-1993, Belize experienced rapid economic growth, a significant part of which was due to the increase in coastal tourism (World Bank 1996).  The Atoll has recently drawn the attention of real estate developers and land speculators.

The Government of Belize is caught in a struggle between the desire to encourage economic development and the need to preserve the environment.  Pertinent research, combined with appropriate education, is needed to establish the right combination leading to sustainability for the tourism industry on the Turneffe Atoll.  In particular, research is needed to establish carrying capacities for Scuba diving, sport fishing, snorkeling and land development.

Protection of Turneffe’s spectacular coral reef is vital.  Coral reefs are declining across the world (Hallock, 1993) due, in part, to such influences as sedimentation, pollution, over fishing, and destructive fishing. Additional dive moorings are needed in the near future.  Live-aboard dive boats regularly anchor/moor and dive at Turneffe, and any single accident with one of these large vessels could destroy a large area of coral reef. 

Perhaps most importantly, research is needed to ascertain the sustainable level of land development on the Atoll.  The vast majority of Turneffe is covered with mangroves (Catterall et al. 1996), with the remainder covered by productive back reef flats, extensive sea grass beds and some of the last remaining littoral forest in Belize.  The ecology and the economy of the Turneffe Atoll require that these habitats remain unharmed.  Developable land on the Atoll is quite limited and the dredging often associated with land development is not a valid option, as it will damage adjacent reef and sea grass habitats.

Examples of improper development are already evident.  Of particular note are a number of small cayes adjacent to the reef that were cleared of their native mangrove stands and then totally washed away in recent hurricanes.  Additionally, a large-scale dredging project has recently been authorized and indications are that it is already having a substantially negative impact on “The Elbow”, one of the most popular dive sites in Belize.  More important, the Elbow is an important spawning aggregation sites mentioned above for grouper and snapper.            

Crocodile Bay, thought to be one of the Caribbean’s major nesting sites for the American Crocodile (Crocodilus Acutus) is leased to 5 or 6 individuals with plans for development.  This area is not a suitable area for any type of development, and this must be clearly documented to the appropriate authorities in Belize.

In short, research is needed in the near future to ascertain sustainable carrying capacities for Scuba diving, sport fishing, boat traffic and land development; as well as to determine which key need to be removed from harms way before they are destroyed by improper development.