Aquaculture and Mariculture

Current Capture Fisheries Species:

• • Belize’s capture fisheries encompass a variety of species, including spiny lobster (Palinuridae), queen conch (Strombus gigas), sea cucumber (Holothuroidea), and finfish. The spiny lobster and queen conch fisheries are considered mature.
  • The market destinations for Capture Fisheries Species include the USA, Canada, Asia, Mexico, and CARICOM markets.

Current Culture Species:

• • The species currently in culture in Belize are the Pacific White Shrimp (Litopenaeus vanammei), the Nile Tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) and Cobia (Rachycentron canadum).
  • The major Shrimp farms are located along the coastal plain of Belize and stretch from just north of Dangriga in its most northerly extent, to a little south of the Big Creek Port in its southerly extent.
  • The market destinations for Belizean Farmed Shrimp include the USA, Europe, Mexico, and CARICOM, with the potential to be expanded to include other markets.

Competitive Advantages:

Belize is focusing on sustainable export expansion, diversification, and value addition, with an emphasis on the ocean, or blue, economy. This focus is being implemented through its Ocean Economy and Trade Strategy under the Ocean Economy and Trade Strategies Project. The project aims to support developing countries in reaping economic benefits from the sustainable use of their marine resources. (Source: UNCTAD)

Belize is geographically located between 15°53′ and 18°30′ North Latitude, and 87°15′ and 89°15′ West Longitude.

The country is subdivided into two climatic regimes: subtropical conditions in the northern lowlands and central inland areas, and tropical conditions in the southern mountains and coastal plains.

Mean monthly maximum air temperatures range from thirty-three (33)°C in the summer to 28°C in the winter, and mean monthly minimums range from 16°C in the winter to 24°C in the summer.

Seawater temperatures off the coast of Belize range from 26.9°C to 30.5°C.

Investment Opportunities

Several species can be farmed in Belize, including native stocks such as river lobster ( Macrobrachium spp.), blue-eye catfish (Ictalurus furcatus), common snook (Centropomus undecimalis), mutton snapper (Lutjanus analis), Nassau grouper (Epinephelus striatus), and blue crab (Callinectes sapidus). Exotic species suitable for farming include Australian red claw crayfish (Cherax quadricarinatus), channel catfish (Ictalurus punctatus), flounder (Paralichthyidae spp.), American oyster (Crassostrea virginica), Malaysian prawn (Macrobrachium rosenbergii), and Florida pompano (Trachinotus carolinus).

The aquaculture and mariculture sector offers diverse investment opportunities, such as farming seaweed, sea cucumber, finfish, and Florida stone crab, as well as developing value-added products.

Bioprospecting for the cosmetics industry is another promising, largely unexplored opportunity, given Belize’s abundant natural resources.

Commercial aquaculture investment in Belize is best suited to the following production systems:

• • Marine cage farming within the inner Barrier Reef Lagoon, protected from hurricanes by the surrounding cayes and reefs.
  • Raft and rope culture for oysters and seaweed, respectively, offers immense potential.
  • Earthen embankment ponds are suitable for aquaculture along the coastal plain and inland areas.
  • Freshwater cage farming is viable in inland lagoons.

Belize’s main aquaculture export markets are the US, Mexico, Guatemala, and CARICOM nations. A key competitive advantage is proximity to these markets, especially the US, which is only two hours away, enabling weekly delivery of fresh products.