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Since last week we've been reporting on government's decision not to outright ban gillnets. The conservationists and even licensed gillnet users have come forward to urge a rethink and an outright ban. In the middle of all this is the Belize Coast Guard, which had come out stridently in support of a complete ban. 

Captain Elton Bennet - Commander, Coast Guard
"So the Belize Coast Guard is very environmentally friendly, we're very much in support of marine products and marine life because that is the environment we operate in. The coast guard position is for anything that promotes that healthy marine life. So with recent decision by Cabinet to phase out gill nets and we think it is a good move and we do understand the challenges that come along with enforcing gill nets from the coast guards perspective obviously, is really a tedious task to know exactly who are those gill-nets licensed fisherfolks, where they operate and so we certainly appreciate the move towards to phasing out gill nets, I think we are heading in the right direction."

Jules Vasquez
"Do the particularities of the new regulation make it even more difficult for you all to inform?"

Captain Elton Bennet 
"Not really, once we are up to speed to what those new regulations are in terms of the exact location where the ban is in effect and the new mesh size for those nets, once we are up to speed with what those new regulations are, we will be able to enforce. And of course it will be easier to enforce a complete ban but we do understand the phase out process."

Jules Vasquez
"Is it that, your ethos may have dictated a certain extremely liberal position but the government is more conservative stance have forced you to step back you position?"

Captain Elton Bennet 
"As an enforcement organization, that is what we do, we enforce whatever laws are in place, we are very much into marine life, along with government, see the impact that these destructive areas have had overtime and that move towards phasing out, is in line with what we want to achieve."

But, now, does the BCG have to backpedal, since government fell far short of that mark? Yesterday we asked the new Coast Guard Commander where he stands now: