Enforcement

Patrols were designed to uphold existing Belizean fisheries law, and ensure all fishing activities were conducted in a legal manner. Violators were prosecuted for fishing in aggregation sites during the spawning periods, poaching lobster out of season, gill-netting, collecting juvenile conch, harvesting protected fin fish, or for not releasing all bonefish, permit and tarpon.
With the opening of the Turneffe Atoll Marine Reserve, enforcement duties have now been transitionsed to the reserves co-manager, the Turneffe Atoll Sustainability Association (TASA). Eventually, three patrol boats will patrol Turneffe from Ranger Stations located on the Atoll.