🦁 Special Spotlight: The Lionfish
Did you know? The lionfish, with its stunning stripes and venomous spines, is one of the most destructive invasive species in the Caribbean. 🦁🌊
Native to the Indo-Pacific, lionfish are harming local ecosystems by over-consuming native fish, damaging coral reefs, and reproducing rapidly.
At ReefCI, we’re on the front lines of lionfish removal to protect our marine habitats. Join us in the fight to save the reefs by learning more about lionfish and their impact! 🌍
Fun Fact: Lionfish can eat prey up to half their size with their huge, expandable stomachs!
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#reefci #belize #belizeawaits #staycurious #tomowenscaye #protectourplanet #islandlife #conservation #environment #island #adventure #travel #ecotourism #scuba #scubadiving #belizeunderwater #unbelizable #belizevacation #divebelize #travelbetter #adventuretravel #belizediving #caribbeansea #snorkelbelize #belizebarrierreef #youbetterbelizeit #caribbeanlife #travelbelize
🌟 Special Spotlight: Dolphins!
Playful, intelligent, and a crowd favorite—dolphins are the true acrobats of the ocean! 🌊💙 These amazing creatures communicate through clicks and whistles and are vital to keeping marine ecosystems balanced.
Fun Fact: Dolphins can recognize themselves in mirrors, a sign of their incredible intelligence!
At ReefCI, we love encountering dolphins during our dives, in front of our dock, and on our trips to and from Tom Owen’s Caye!🐬
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Ready for a virtual escape? 🌊 Take a tour of our dive stations on our private island, Tom Owens Caye, home to ReefCI’s marine conservation efforts. From breathtaking ocean views to eco-friendly accommodations, this island is the perfect blend of adventure and relaxation.
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p.s. Dude says hi! 🐶
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#reefci #belize #belizeawaits #staycurious #tomowenscaye #protectourplanet #islandlife #conservation #environment #island #adventure #travel #ecotourism #scuba #scubadiving #belizeunderwater #unbelizable #belizevacation #divebelize #travelbetter #adventuretravel #belizediving #caribbeansea #snorkelbelize #belizebarrierreef #youbetterbelizeit #caribbeanlife #travelbelize #tour #touroftheisland
Staff Feature: Mike
Meet Mike, one of our amazing Caretakers and Divemasters and at ReefCI!
Mike is an integral part of our program. Checkout what he loves most about living and working on Tom Owen’s Caye. From his passion for diving to all the big and little projects he does daily, we can’t thank Mike enough for everything he does! 🏝️
If you have any more questions for Mike, drop them in the comments 💙
🌊 Meet Another One of Our Amazing Volunteers!
Before coming to ReefCI, Brian hadn’t been diving for 5 years. He’s back and better than ever. It was a pleasure to dive with him and we hope to see him again!
Thanks for a great week, Brian!
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#reefci #belize #belizeawaits #staycurious #tomowenscaye #protectourplanet #islandlife #conservation #environment #island #adventure #travel #ecotourism #scuba #scubadiving #belizeunderwater #unbelizable #belizevacation #divebelize #travelbetter #adventuretravel #belizediving #caribbeansea #snorkelbelize #belizebarrierreef #youbetterbelizeit #caribbeanlife #travelbelize
🌊 Meet Our Amazing Volunteer, Lena!
It was an honor to host Lena who completed her PADI Open Water Diver training at ReefCI. She’s now equipped and ready to start mitigating lionfish. Congratulations, Lena! 🤿🌟
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#reefci #belize #belizeawaits #staycurious #tomowenscaye #protectourplanet #islandlife #conservation #environment #island #adventure #travel #ecotourism #scuba #scubadiving #belizeunderwater #unbelizable #belizevacation #divebelize #travelbetter #adventuretravel #belizediving #caribbeansea #snorkelbelize #belizebarrierreef #youbetterbelizeit #caribbeanlife #travelbelize
🌟 Special Spotlight: The Eagle Ray
Gliding through the ocean like nature’s flying carpets, eagle rays are both graceful and fascinating! 🏞️
Eagle rays can be found in shallow coastal waters, and despite their intimidating stingers, they are generally gentle creatures, using their barb only in self-defense.
Fun Fact: Eagle rays are known for their majestic, graceful swimming. They move through the water by flapping their large pectoral fins like wings, making them appear to "fly" underwater. 🌊✈️
Unfortunately, Eagle Rays face threats like habitat loss and pollution, so protecting their natural environments is crucial. At ReefCI, we work to ensure these majestic creatures thrive in their marine habitats.
#reefci #belize #belizeawaits #staycurious #tomowenscaye #protectourplanet #islandlife #conservation #environment #island #adventure #travel #ecotourism #scuba #scubadiving #belizeunderwater #unbelizable #belizevacation #divebelize #travelbetter #adventuretravel #belizediving #caribbeansea #snorkelbelize #belizebarrierreef #youbetterbelizeit #caribbeanlife #travelbelize
Dive into the crystal-clear blue waters of Belize with us! 🤿🐬
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Coral bleaching is a reminder of our impact on marine ecosystems. When corals lose their vibrant colors, it's not just an aesthetic loss—it's a sign of stress and a threat to marine life. Bleached corals can no longer support the diverse marine species that rely on them, disrupting the entire ecosystem. Let’s be better humans and end coral bleaching!
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#reefci #belize #belizeawaits #staycurious #tomowenscaye #protectourplanet #islandlife #conservation #environment #island #adventure #travel #ecotourism #scuba #scubadiving #belizeunderwater #unbelizable #belizevacation #divebelize #travelbetter #adventuretravel #belizediving #caribbeansea #snorkelbelize #belizebarrierreef #youbetterbelizeit #caribbeanlife #travelbelize
Staff Feature: Dive Instructor Luis
Meet Luis, one of our amazing dive instructors at ReefCI!
Luis is passionate about protecting our oceans and educating others, from guiding dives through vibrant coral reefs to contributing to marine conservation efforts. 🌊🌍
If you have any more questions for Luis, drop them in the comments!
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#reefci #belize #belizeawaits #staycurious #tomowenscaye #protectourplanet #islandlife #conservation #environment #island #adventure #travel #ecotourism #scuba #scubadiving #belizeunderwater #unbelizable #belizevacation #divebelize #travelbetter #adventuretravel #belizediving #caribbeansea #snorkelbelize #belizebarrierreef #youbetterbelizeit #caribbeanlife #travelbelize
Tomorrow is International Women’s Dive Day! How are you celebrating?
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We know many of you are staying dry at home this year, but you can join in the celebrations by sharing some of your favorite dive photos and videos tomorrow by using #padiwomensdiveday. Don’t forget to tag @ReefCIbelize in your pictures for a shoutout!
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#padiwomensdiveday2020 #reefci #belize #belizeawaits #staycurious #tomowenscaye #protectourplanet #islandlife #conservation #environment #island #adventure #travel #ecotourism #scuba #scubadiving #belizeunderwater #unbelizable #belizevacation #divebelize #travelbetter #adventuretravel #belizediving #caribbeansea #snorkelbelize #belizebarrierreef #youbetterbelizeit #caribbeanlife #travelbelize
we love what we do. dive with us and help, learn and enjoy what's there is to see:
#shark #sharksofinstagram #sharkweek #sharklove #sharksome #awesome #adventure #padi #mypadi #nature #ocean #reef #sea #underwaterphotography #tauchen #scubalife #reefci #belize #caribbean #pearl #mood #community #citizenscience #volunteer #today
Commercial Fish Survey
And this is how a commercial fin-fish survey is done. We conduct a weekly survey to support sustainable fishing and Managed Access - Belize Fisheries Department
Learn more about the economic value of the fishing industry of Belize:
The Fishing and Aquaculture Industry in Belize
The Belizean fishing industry dates back to the time of the Maya when snappers and anchovies were the most important food from the sea.
The modern fishing industry in Belize revolves around the capture of lobster and conch and to a lesser extent finfish such as snappers and groupers. The Aquaculture sector grows Pacific White Shrimp primarily although the country has the capacity to grow tilapia.
Belize has regulated its lobster industry by implementing a closed season which lasts from February 15 to June 14. During this time, it is illegal to catch, sell or be in possession of lobster meat. Annually about 500,000 pounds of lobster are exported, primarily to the United States. The average price per pound of lobster hovers around $ 16 US. Between 2009 and 2011 the earnings from lobster increased from $13.0 million to $17.7 million.
Conch is the second most valuable fishery in Belize. Annually, between 600,000 and 900,000 pounds of conch are exported. Price per pound is around $5 US. The open season for conch is between the dates of October 1st to June 30th. A pound of conch on the international market fetches close to $5 US.
Shrimp trawling is another economic activity that has been carried out in Belize. Recently this subsector has been inactive due to low shrimp prices and high costs of fuel. Shrimp trawling was made illegal by the government of Belize in 2011.
Belize also exports a limited amount of whole fish or fish fillet which earns between $2 million and $2.5 million annually.
Aquaculture
Aquaculture in Belize was started soon after Independence when finances of the country were scarce due to the cost of gaining independence. Aquaculture was an industry with a lot of potential for di