Three Illegal Gillnets Removed Near Belize-Guatemala Border
Three illegal gillnets were removed from Belizean waters near the southern maritime border on Friday, according to the Belize Coast Guard.
The operation was conducted on November 6 near Corona Reef, where the Coast Guard joined forces with Toledo Institute for Development and Environment (TIDE) Rangers on a joint maritime enforcement patrol.
During the same patrol, officers also detected a suspicious vessel and attempted to intercept it. However, the vessel evaded the patrol and was visually observed entering Guatemalan waters. Officers discontinued the pursuit.
The Coast Guard described the removal of the nets as “another important effort to combat illegal fishing and protect Belize’s valuable marine resources.”
The use of gillnets is illegal in Belize.