By Belize Live News Staff: A long-running dispute over Will Bauer Flats, a prime fly-fishing spot in southern Belize, has ended with the government acquiring the land for marine conservation and development, according to official notices posted at the site.
The move comes after months of protest by tour guides who raised alarms in February when dredging equipment appeared near the flats. The guides feared the dredging would harm the ecosystem and disrupt their livelihood.
Notices dated August 24th state that the properties are being acquired “for the public purpose of enhancing the conservation and sustainable use of the marine environment, and the development of the Belize Barrier Reef for a national park and/or protected area…”
The current owner, Angelfish LLC, will be compensated for the land, according to the notices.
The acquisition is not yet official, as it must be published again in the government’s official gazette.
