SCI/230: A Brief Note On The Belize Barrier Reef System

Belize Barrier Reef System
SCI 230
January 13, 2013

Belize Barrier Reef System
The Belize Barrier Reef System is located just off the coast lines of the country of Belize. The reef system is the largest in the northern hemisphere, and it is the second largest reef system in the world. The largest is the Great Barrier Reef found in Australia. The reef system in Belize consists of coral reefs that are 186 miles long and are 1,000 feet off shore to the north and 25 miles to the south of the country of Belize. “Charles Darwin described the Belize Barrier Reef as "the most remarkable reef in the West Indies" in 1842” (New World Encyclopedia, 2009, para. 1). This reef system is in danger because of human interactions and something must…show more content…
“The reefs within the Hol Chan area near San Pedro Town are showing signs of stress caused by over collecting and damage from boat's anchors” (Encyclopedia of Earth, 2011). Besides the obvious damage caused by boats, the reefs are also over fished and not just by the locals. The Encyclopedia of Earth (2011) states that “for decades, the Sapodilla Cayes and Glover's Reef areas have been illegally fished by Guatemalan and Honduran fishermen. Since there are no closed seasons or size limits for conch and lobster in those countries, much of the area has been depleted of its conch and lobster populations” (Management…show more content…
(2009, February 21). New World Encyclopedia. Retrieved from http://www.newworldencyclopedia.org/p/index.php?title=Belize_Barrier_Reef& oldid=932529. UNESCO World Heritage Centre. (1992 - 2013). Belize Barrier Reef Reserve System. Retrieved from http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/764.
United Nations Environment Programme-World Conservation M (Lead Author);Langdon D.
Clough, Mark McGinley (Topic Editor) "Belize Barrier Reef Reserve System, Belize". In: Encyclopedia of Earth. Eds. Cutler J. Cleveland (Washington, D.C.: Environmental
Information Coalition, National Council for Science and the Environment). [First published in the Encyclopedia of Earth June 22, 2009; Last revised Date October 25,
2011; Retrieved from http://www.eoearth.org/article/Belize_Barrier_Reef_Reserve_System_Belize. Young, C. 2008. Belize's Ecosystems: Threats and Challenges to Conservation in Belize. Tropical Conservation Science 1(1):18-33. Retrieved from