Riversdale Family Lives by the Sea, for the Sea

In the quiet village of Riversdale, hidden away at the northern tip of the Placencia Peninsula, the sea isn’t just scenery, it’s a way of life. For the Martinez family and their close-knit crew, the Caribbean Sea is where they work, but it’s also where they dream, dive, and thrive. From spearfishing and lobstering to farming seaweed and studying marine life, this group shares a deep love for the ocean. And now, that passion is being passed down to the next generation. In this week’s edition of Belize on Reel, meet the faces behind Belize’s salt life legacy, where sustainability and tradition go hand in hand. Here’s News Five’s Isani Cayetano.

 

Isani Cayetano, Reporting

Tucked away at the northern end of the Placencia Peninsula is the quiet village of Riversdale. It’s a small coastal community with just over a hundred residents, but what it lacks in size, it makes up for in heart. Most folks here make their living from the sea, working in fisheries or welcoming visitors through the tourism industry. It’s a place where the ocean isn’t just a view, it’s a way of life. For sixteen-year-old Hallie Faux, the Caribbean Sea is all she knows. For sixteen-year-old Hallie Faux, life begins and ends with the sea. The Caribbean isn’t just her backyard, it’s her playground, her classroom, and her passion.

 

Hallie Faux, Resident, Riversdale Village

“From ever since I small, dat da all my dad taught me fi do, you know. My dad teach me. I have a brother but he noh do it, so I become the one that takes over the driving, the spearfishing, the diving and all of that.”

 

She’s closely related to Hector Martinez, Vice Chair of the Belize Shark Fishers Association. Like Hallie, Hector has spent his life riding the waves and reeling in the catch. For the Martinez family, the salt life is a legacy, passed down from one generation to the next.

 

Hector Martinez, Vice Chair, Belize Shark Fishers Association

“One of them is my brother. So he works with my dad and a lot of what I know I learned from my dad, and so he’s learning those same things from my dad. He’s a really good free diver, does a lot of lobstering. So, I think he’s learning the importance stuff when it comes to lobstering, release the small lobsters, release the lobster with eggs, the lobsters with hard spots. He’s learning all of that from my dad and he comes out with us every now and again, and so he’s learning the science side of it.”

 

Anderson Martinez doesn’t just dip his toes in the water, he dives deep. He’s Hector’s younger brother and a skilled free diver who spends most of his days beneath the surface, spearfishing and harvesting lobsters in the crystal-clear waters off Riversdale.

 

Anderson Martinez, Resident, Riversdale Village

“I was born into this life, from very young I came out to sea. My dad, this is a trade he learned and so he taught me all about the sea. I’m a lobster fisher and also, I love doing spearfishing. So the love for the sea, it means a lot to me because with the sea, it’s all about sustainable fishing because you’ve gotta keep this going for years and sustainable fishing is going to make that happen.”

 

Isela Martinez is their sibling. She’s no stranger to the sea, but she’s taking her love for marine life in a fresh direction. She’s a seaweed farmer, working with one of the ocean’s most powerful superfoods. And while most folks dry seaweed the old-fashioned way, out in the sun, Isela’s trying something new. She’s experimenting with greenhouse drying to see if it can boost her harvest, and maybe even her profits.

 

Isela Martinez, Cofounder, Riversdale Sea Moss

“The main purpose for this greenhouse is because, I mean, you know, we have a lot of rain. But then, apart from that, we are providing the country and also internationally, we’re providing a more high-quality seaweed because, as you can see, the cover; whatever bird or anything, leaves or anything that could contaminate it won’t be contaminated due to this structure that we have here.”

 

And then there’s Fernando Castaneda, better known as Nando. He’s part of the Martinez clan and, like the rest of the family, the sea runs in his veins. Nando’s a seasoned fisherman who knows the waters off Riversdale like the back of his hand. If it swims, he’s probably caught it.

 

Fernando Castaneda, Fisherman, Riversdale Village

“From ever since I got memory, I know we live da Riversdale. But they had a time that lived about one year at a caye named Cypro Caye. And there, I was like eight, nine years old and I would be diving with my dad all those time and then back to Riversdale and I’ve been here.  All the twenty-three years that I have been here, every single day da head out, dive lobster or fish, coming back to Riversdale. Dat da basically weh we do ya.”

 

For the Martinez family, life revolves around the sea; and now, Jessica Quinlan has joined that tradition. Together, they study the marine life just off the coast of Riversdale, harvesting everything from seaweed to seafood. But it isn’t just about making a living, it’s about doing it responsibly. Sustainability is at the heart of everything they do, making sure the ocean’s bounty is there for generations to come.

 

Hallie Faux

“When I started working with Hector and Jess, I get fi like being a part of the science team and my dream now is to become a doctor, marine biologist, and I also study a lot of ocean stuff. I study corals, fish. I just finished my advance scuba and I just keep on. I like it, I love the ocean. Without the ocean, I noh know weh I could do. I love the ocean so much. It’s just my dream fi keep on working with the ocean and stuff like that.”

 

Isani Cayetano for News Five.