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| From the Field:
Belize
The marine ecosystems in Belize are varied; coral
reefs, seagrass beds and mangrove
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Belize is a small Central American country with a
population of around 250 000. It is bordered by Mexico to the north,
Guatemala to the west and south, and the Caribbean Sea to the east.
With a tropical climate, Belize has two main seasons: wet and dry.
The dry season is from February 1 to June 1 and the wet from June to
January. Hurricanes batter the coast from July to November.
forests dominate the shallow coastal waters. Belize boasts
the second longest barrier reef in the world in addition to a number
of coral atolls and smaller reefs. Many Belizeans rely on a healthy
marine environment for their livelihood. Fishermen catch lobster,
conch, and many types of fish including snapper, barracuda and
grouper. Others benefit from the thousands of tourists drawn to
Belize to visit the reef and the cayes (pronounced "keys") for
diving, snorkeling, fishing and other water sports.|
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© Vancouver Aquarium Marine Science Centre 2003
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