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(Stop 14 of 21)
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HOL CHAN MARINE RESERVE (Stop 14 of 21) |
| The Hol Chan Marine Reserve, established in 1987, is Belize's first marine park. The reserve focuses on the Hol Chan ( which means "little channel" in Mayan) cut which is a break or quebrada in the reef. The reserve is located approximately 4 miles southeast of San Pedro. | ||
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| The reserve was formed primarily as a community-based initiative due to concern over the high level of uncontrolled fishing and diving activities in the area. But the reserve is also protecting a unique formation of the channel, the abundant fishery resource, and the feasibility of interlinking the three major habitats in Belize - mangrove, seagrass, and coral reefs. | |||
| The walls of Hol Chan channel are lined with corals such as elkhorn coral, staghorn coral, and brain coral. The channel is well known by local fishermen as one of the richest areas on the reef for large fish school. The channel is also well known for the large green morays which live in the small caves and crevices along the walls of the channel. |
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| The reserve which covers about five square miles, has been divided into three zones, allowing the maximum use of the area while emphasizing its preservation. The zones are clearly marked by bouys at the site. These zones are laid out according to the three main habitats - mangroves, seagrass, and coral reef. | |||
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Hol Chan's one square mile coral reef zone is the most highly protected as well as the most heavily visited by tourists. No fishing or collecting is permitted within this outer Zone A. Boats are required to use the mooring bouys and an entrance fee is required to snorkel or dive here. | ||
| Large schools of snapper and jacks continually cruise through this zone. Big groupers sit on the bottom completely at ease with the human presence. Lobster populate the caves and crevices of the channel's heavily pockmarked walls. Currents here can be strong at times and special attention has to be paid to the tides. | |||
| The seagrass beds in Zone B cover the largest portion of the park, physically linking the mangrove and coral reef habitats into one continuous ecosystem. The dominant plant is turtle grass. Large populations of conch feed in these seagrass fields. Many of the fish species which spend the day in the channel, will migrate to the seagrass beds at night for feeding. |
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The mangrove habitat in Zone C contains seven mangrove cayes and several navigable channels. The primary mangrove species is the Red Mangrove, a tree that grows very well in salt water. The red mangrove lines many of the channels and cayes of this zone. Located very close to the reserve boundaries in Zone C is the Mayan archaeological site of "Marco Gonzalez". Although a small ruin, studies have shown it was a very important trading center and had close links to the Mayan ruin of Lamanai. |
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