BELIZE, Abalone Caye Island, Port Honduras - September 2006
Repair of the TIDE sailboat and purchase of boat engine used to transport rangers in the Port Honduras Marine Reserve
(Belize 2000 project page)
The sailboat will enable local NGO TIDE to transport their rangers between posts and to patrol the Snake Cayes area, a crucial area of the reserve where key fish species have successfully rebounded.
UPDATE January 2007 - In late 2006 a small engine was purchased for the boat and a professional sailboat builder replaced sails, repaired masts and repaired small leaks in the hull.
UPDATE June 2007 - Major repairs to the patrol sailboat were completed in 2006 and a small outboard engine was purchased for the boat. Due to lack of sailing expertise among rangers, the boat is not scheduled to start patrolling the reserve until sailboat training is conducted and some minor maintenance of the boat is completed. The sailboat is scheduled to be operable for overnight patrols by the end of 2007.
