Introduction and Special Considerations Greetings! If you are reading this manual that means you have been selected by the Belize Fisheries Department, Fragments of Hope or another Belizean NGO or entity to participate based on your existing experience and skill set. You may be a fisherfolk, a licensed tour guide, or work in one of the many MPAs here either for the government or an NGO. In some exceptions you may be a qualified student or community member. While SCUBA certification is not mandatory, it is most useful, and experience and knowledge of Belize’s marine ecosystems is a must. This manual is not a stand-alone tool for certification.
It is to be used in conjunction with the training videos and a three- day hands-on training workshop conducted by Fragments of Hope, Ltd. While no one shoe fits all feet, what we present here are the coral restoration methods that have been working successfully in southern Belize since 2006. Many other methods and manuals exist, and these can be accessed at fragmentsofhope.org. Specific protocols (growth rates, fish surveys) and sample data sheets are provided separately, and also accessible at fragmentsofhope.org Fragments of Hope pioneered reef restoration in Belize and currently holds the only Research Permit for the work here.
As the work expands, we need many more qualified Belizeans to assist, and you are part of the first true certification course vetted by the Belize Fisheries Department. You will not find long paragraphs on the importance of coral reefs and the justification for this work in this manual; if you are here, you know this already. However, below is a brief list of facts you should know in your sleep. If any of it sounds unfamiliar please alert your instructor/trainers. Coral reef ecosystem services include shoreline protection, fisheries and nursery habitat, and aesthetic value for tourism. These services are valued at over US$3million/year in Belize alone.
Corals are animals, living in symbiosis with single-celled algae called Symbiodinium . Corals are fully protected in Belize (no live export) and only a Research Permit and/or successful completion of this course allows for any handling of corals. The Caribbean acroporids are listed as Critically Endangered on the IUCN Red List, which is just one step away from Extinct in the Wild. Finally, the knowledge and information shared in this course is the culmination of over 10 years of experience, a process of trial by error and learning as we go. New eyes and input are valid, and no question is a bad or dumb question, we want your feedback!
Thank you for taking an interest in protecting and actively restoring the critically endangered acroporid corals in Belize. More corals=more fish! Lisa Carne Executive Director/Founder Fragments of Hope, Ltd.