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And, finally tonight, the May 8th Referendum is less than 2 weeks away, and while you contemplate whether you will vote yes or no to taking the Guatemalan territorial claim to the ICJ, the NGO community says that you should be very concerned about the “pillagingâ€￾ of Belize’s fisheries resources from foreign fishermen. 

A lengthy press release from the Belize Network of NGO’s says, quote, â€œBelizeans everywhere should be concerned about the pillaging of our fisheries resources by foreign fisherfolk and poachers given these illegal activities represent millions of dollars in economic loss and irrevocable damage to our world renowned marine environment.â€￾

They’re referring to the Guatemalan gillnet fisherfolk who fish in Belizean territorial waters. They also refer to the suspected large-scale, illegal shark fishing that has been studied in the last decade.

The release states, open quote, “Belize’s fishermen are acutely aware of these massive incursions by Guatemalan gillnetters. They indicate that Guatemalan fishing boats operate at night in Belizean waters (including within Marine Protected Areas) with miles of gillnets…

We… call on the Government of Belize, through the Ministry of Fisheries, Forestry and the Environment and the Ministry of National Security to address illegal fishing activities as a matter of national priority and to immediately undertake all necessary steps to safeguard the Belizean jobs that are at risk.â€￾ End quote.