The Coral Ranger (Belize)

James Azueta

In charge of the marine reserve is biologist James Azueta, a reserved, even shy man, whose deep professional commitment has turned him into an environmental manager and policeman.

I was born two years before Hurricane Hattie actually hit this island and devestated the island. I can remember the old folks sitting down before dark, telling stories about ghosts, about fishing trips, about events that used to happen in the island at that time. Today, that generation is almost gone and I don't hear those stories anymore. I have been offered the oppurtunity to work abroad, in fact, I am also a scuba diving instructor.

I would actually make five times the money I'm earning now as a biologist and a conservationist, but somebody has to do the job of taking care of the environment. My daily works actually includes patrolling the waters to make sure that the fishermen comply with the fishing regulations. That means making sure that they don't take out the undersized lobsters, the undersized conches and doing any illegal fishing in the Hol Chan marine reserve.

The Hol Chan marine reserve is a multi-habitat system created for multiple use. The main emphasis is to use the resources as a fisheries management tool where the fishermen will benefit. It is also used as a recreation area. Today over 35,000 visitors go to the Hol Chan marine reserve. Of course, those are high numbers and we have some reservations about the impact that the area is receiving. However, just saving the environment from this new invasion may not be enough, for San Pedro's traditional fishing culture is also facing extinction. Years back, people here used to live without indoor facilities, no electricity, no telephones, no television. Everybody knew each other. Everybody helped each other. There were unwritten rules that everybody followed and the life here was very simple. But when the tourism industry started, a number of these fishermen became tour guides because it was a more lucrative way of life.
Tourism, now, is very big and membership in our coop is falling. But it's the decline in family values, a different morality, that worries us. Their way of life, to their styles and a lot of the traditions, cultural traditions, like the Carnival system, the way of baptism, even marriage has been affected. Where we now have high rates of divorce which was something unheard of many years ago. There is always a constant battle to try to accommodate this development, this catering for tourism and protection of the environment. Even the Hol Chan reserve itself, is a victim of it's own success.The tiny island of Ambergris presents us with a serious dilemma - one shared by all beautiful places on earth. On the one hand, the need to conserve a luxuriant, even paradisiacal natural environment, and on the other, the onslaught of a type of tourism destined to contaminate it. I still believe Ambergris Cay is one of the most wonderful places in the world to live. I think that changes have occurred, but the people living here are very concerned and are doing things to make it or to keep it beautiful. And I think, that if we can strike a balance between tourism, the environment and it's people, I think that we will have a beautiful place for people to be proud of."