Caribbean reef sharks are one of the major apex predators in coral reef ecosystems in the Caribbean region. These sharks can grow up to 3 meters (9.8 feet) long.
Belize, a country in Central America, is home to one of the largest coral reef ecosystems on Earth. In 2022, scientists found evidence that the number of Caribbean reef sharks had fallen in Belize between 2009 and 2019. Overfishing is one reason for this decline.
Demian Chapman is a shark expert at Mote Marine Laboratory and Aquarium in Florida. Demian explains what happened when the decline of Caribbean reef sharks was discovered: “We showed this data and the Fisheries Department wanted to do something because it is an important species, and the fishers wanted to do something because obviously they don’t want to see their livelihood go away.”
In 2021, a group of fishers, scientists, and Belize government officials met and formed the National Shark Working Group. Their goal was to stop the decline of the Caribbean reef shark in Belize.
In Belize, the Caribbean reef sharks’ known home ranges and mating grounds are around three areas: Lighthouse Reef Atoll, Glover’s Reef Atoll, and Turneffe Atoll. An atoll is an island or chain of islands formed by coral reefs.
Working together, the team of fishers, government workers, and scientists decided to set up no-take zones (zones where fishing is banned) for Caribbean reef sharks. These zones are 2 nautical miles (3.7 kilometers or 2.3 miles) around each of Belize’s three atolls.
The no-take zones for Caribbean reef sharks have been successful, and the number of Caribbean reef sharks has increased. Shark populations tripled in number at both Turneffe and Lighthouse atolls.
David Brown adapted this story for Mongabay Kids. It is based on an article by Marco Lopez, published on Mongabay News.
