Swimming in the Gulf

Now if that sounds remote, just think about the mountains of garbage and filth that wash up on the shore in Punta Gorda and Placencia from time to time. Most of the garbage originates elsewhere, but pollution respects no border, so soon enough, everything that’s over there will be over here.

Special correspondent Janelle Chanona found out how this project hopes to make that a thing of the past:

Omar Martinez, Facilitator, Gulf of Honduras Project
“We want to reverse the pollution in the whole area among Belize, Guatemala and Honduras.”

According to coordinators, the Environmental Protection and Maritime Pollution Control Gulf of Honduras Project is designed to create regional environmental benefits through public education campaigns in Belize, Guatemala and Honduras as well as launching technical initiatives with the five ports operating in the Gulf of Honduras. And the regional ports are starting with themselves, implementing best management practices to reduce solid waste, water and air pollution at their facilities.

Gustavo Carrillo, Manager, Big Creek Port
“We have done everything to make sure that we have all the implementation in place to reduce any environmental accidents or hazards and that raise the environmental consciousness of all the employees within the port – Even the stevedores, we have had trainings and sessions with them trying to educate them into why we do certain things so that it’s easier to have a smoother operation.”

Continue Gulf of Honduras article here.