Current, Specific Threats for Turneffe Atoll

Big Flat: Over-the-Water Tourism Development

This proposed over-the-water development on one of Turneffe’s prime backreef flats is a major threat to Turneffe Atoll. Big Flat is arguably the most important sport fishing area on Turneffe Atoll. This backreef flat, and others along the eastern side of Turneffe Atoll, are widely recognized by the sport fishing industry as some of the most unique and productive bonefish and permit flats in the world. This development, as described in their assessment, would destroy one of Turneffe’s essential sports fishing areas and one of Belize’s most valuable environmental assets.

We have mobilized apposition from a variety of concerned organizations and individuals and several have written letters of concern to the Tourism Board, the Department of Environment and the Prime Minister. Those expressing concern have been Turneffe Flats, Turneffe Atoll Trust, Turneffe Island Resort, Turneffe Atoll Sustainability Association, Yellow Dog, Front Range Anglers, Tailwaters Fly Fishing and Bonefish Tarpon Trust.

A team of environmental consultants have been contracted to proactively assess the likely environmental consequences of this project, and a key study related to the economic impact for bonefish, permit and tarpon for Belize is being updated by Dr. Anthony Fedler.

Big Flat Update - December, 2022

The Developers, MDL Investments, Ltd., filed an Environmental Impact Assessment for this project in November, 2022 and a Public Consultation was held on November 17, 2022. This was a short time after Hurricane Lisa passed directly over Turneffe Atoll and Turneffe stakeholders had inadequate time to prepare. The Consultation was attended by key stakeholders including TAT and Turneffe Flats, who raised numerous issues about the development..

Following the Public Consultation, we were given approximately two weeks to respond in writing to their 300 page EIA. At our request, the date was extended slightly. TAT, Turneffe Flats and TASA worked to put together a fairly powerful response to their EIA, which is deficient in many ways.

Our EIA Response was filed on December 8, 2022 along with approximately 90 letters from Turneffe Flats clients (thank you!), a cover letter and an addendum from Dr. Ed Boles, an aquatic biologist. We are now awaiting a decision from the Department of Environment about issuing Environmental Clearance for this development.

Below are links to relevant documents:

Big Flat Environmental Impact Assessment - November, 2022 —- (File too large to Link) Please call if interested.

Big Flat Environmental Impact Assessment Response

Response to a Review of the “Final Environmental Impact Assessment, Ed Boles PhD, Aquatic Biologist

Belize Dive Haven Hotel Expansion

Belize Dive Haven is an environmental catastrophe having destroyed a prime bonefish and permit flat on the eastern side of Turneffe Atoll and used these dredge spoils to fill a large area where mangroves were deforested. Originally begun in 2004, an out-of-place 96 room hotel now operates as Belize Dive Haven.

In 2017, Turneffe Atoll Trust commissioned an in-depth analysis of the environmental, economic, and sociological ramifications of this development by Dr. Valentino Shal and Osmany Salas named Risking the Atoll.

RISKING THE ATOLL

An Analysis of Environmental and Economic Effects of improperly Regulated Development at Turneffe Atoll

Recently Belize Dive Haven requested a large expansion which would deforest another large area of Turneffe Atoll mangroves adding to already-substantial environmental consequences.

The team of environmental consultants, who are also working on the Big Flat development, will evaluate the environmental consequences of this project - both the impacts of the existing project and those likely to be seen with the proposed expansion.