Belize expeditions

Find out more about our expeditions to Belize

The first exploratory expedition will be heading out to Belize from the start of March 2010, and will last for 6 weeks (although you can stay for longer if you wish). If you want to know more about this incredible opportunity, or want to pre-apply to join an expedition, please complete our application form, or get in touch with us.

Watch the video below, or read on for more information!

With numerous marine species on the IUCN endangered species list found in Bacalar Chico, including the Goliath and the Nassau Groupers, fish species and abundance surveys are one of the priority monitoring activities presently carried out by Blue Ventures in the region. Research teams are actively involved in collecting baseline data for the area and establishing sites for long term monitoring. This will assess the sustainability of fishing practices and the effectiveness of the existing Marine Protected Areas. Surveys of benthic community composition, coral species diversity, and the size and health of coral colonies are additional priorities of the Blue Ventures team at present, assessing the long term health and resilience of the region’s reef ecosystems to future environmental disturbance and climate change.

The huge expanses of mangrove and seagrass ecosystems and the region’s extensive seagrass beds are also being monitored by Blue Ventures teams in order to improve our understanding of the status of – and threats to – these vulnerable ecosystems. Northern Belizer’s mangroves are one of the few remaining strongholds for the west Indian manatee and the American saltwater crocodile, while the region’s seagrass beds provide a key food source for both manatees and the 5 species of turtle found in Belize’s waters,

All data are collected in collaboration and guidance of the Fisheries Department and in line with the methods detailed in the Mesoamerican Barrier Reef Systems Project (MBRS).

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