Our Mission

To Manage, Restore and Conserve.

To maintain a sample coral reef ecosystem in its natural state, restoring the earlier beauty of the Hol Chan area. To preserve areas of critical habitat for several endangered species such as the reef and turtle grass beds for turtles and the mangrove areas for manatees and regulate the use of the area by tourists and fishermen to prevent its over exploitation.

To provide recreational and tourism services while preserving the value of the area for sustainable fisheries. To provide an undisturbed area for tourism and recreation, but in a controlled and well-informed manner. To promote use that is compatible with conservation and sustainable development objectives, primarily through zoning, providing protected habitat for commercially important species.

To provide an area for education and research, fostering general interest in and knowledge of the coastal environment through education and interpretative programs. To encourage scientific research in all sections of the reserve.

To conserve genetic resources, providing an undisturbed area which will result in increased recruitment to the fisheries of the adjacent areas. To conserve an ecosystem i.e., mangroves, turtle grass beds and coral reef, which is representative of the reef complex and which functions as an ecological entity.

Research and Monitoring

Marine protected areas in Belize are established as fisheries management tools.  They are zoned into no-take areas (areas of no fishing) and general use areas (areas with some extractive uses).  Two economically important fisheries product that Reserves play a major role in protecting their populations are conch and lobster.

Education and Outreach

Hol Chan provides ecology and conservation lessons to tertiary and primary schools each year, making an effort to educate all on topics such as Marine reserves, Coral reef ecology, Mangroves, Seagrass, Queen conch, Sea turtles and Manatees.

Management and Conservation

The preservation of areas of critical habitat for several endangered species such as the reef and turtle grass beds for turtles and the mangrove areas for manatees. To regulate the use of the area by tourists and fishermen to prevent its over exploitation.