A Growing Manatee Death Toll in Waters Shared with Mexico

The growing number of manatee deaths in Chetumal Bay is raising concerns about whether Belize and Mexico are doing enough to monitor and protect a species that moves through waters shared by both countries.

Joel Verde of the Sarteneja Alliance for Conservation and Development (SACD) says the organisation has observed an increase in manatee deaths over the past two years. Yet, there is still no confirmed explanation for the losses, and suspected pollution has not been established as the cause.

“Over the last two years we have noticed an increase in the number of manatee deaths, and the causes have not been determined. There is speculation that pollution is responsible, but it is not yet confirmed,” Verde told Rivera Maya News.

For SACD, the problem extends beyond identifying what is killing the animals. Verde says research efforts and agreements between conservation partners have lacked continuity, which has left important monitoring work vulnerable to funding gaps and inconsistent cooperation. 

Marie Sharp’s and Clearwater Marine Institute Join Forces to Protect Belize’s Manatees

SACD has partnered with Mexico’s Quintana Roo Institute of Biodiversity and Protected Natural Areas (IBANQROO) and has secured international donations and funding to pay for studies carried out by the Mexican agency.

But Verde says more formal arrangements between both governments are needed to sustain the work. He also points to differences in how the countries engage civil society organisations 

“We have to follow up on these cross-border collaborations, including to attract financing that can support the system,” Verda said.