Assessment of reef and fisheries management in Belize using a social-ecological systems approach

Belize's implementation of Territorial User Rights for Fishing (TURFs), known as Managed Access (MA), has shown promise in addressing overfishing and promoting sustainable fisheries management. A study applying Ostrom’s social-ecological systems framework found that Belize's marine resource management is institutionally robust, with nested and decentralized enterprises that could overcome collective action problems often seen in common-pool resource systems. The research also revealed significant declines in coral cover and increases in macroalgae over 20 years, attributed to ocean warming and local human impacts. Interviews with fishers indicated a strong understanding of MA license requirements but highlighted enforcement as a key challenge. This comprehensive study provides science-based recommendations for balancing fisheries livelihoods with coral reef conservation in a changing world.

Alves, Catherine Lawrence. (2020). Assessment of reef and fisheries management in Belize using a social-ecological systems approach [The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill University Libraries]. https://doi.org/10.17615/9F51-JW21