3 minute read
Q&A with Conservation Captain Jeovani Ortega
Ambergris Caye, San Pedro, Belize
How long have you been a fishing guide?
I’ve been guiding for the past 19 years. I was born and raised in a commercial fishing family. I was 15 years old when I started to fish, when I was taught by fly-fishing instructor Mr. Omar Arceo.
Do you have a specialty as a fishing guide?
Honestly speaking, I do not have a specialty, I just enjoy fishing everything. Having many different species to fish for and the crystal waters of the flats makes Belize so special. My favorite species to fish for are permit.
What is your favorite guiding story?
My favorite guiding story is the time when a 60-pound tarpon free jumped into my boat! Apart from that, every day is a new journey for me.
What kind of work have you done with BTT, and what did you learn from the experience?
I have helped with bonefish tagging and tarpon tagging with Dr. Aaron Adams and Dr. Addiel Perez. From them I learned about the spawning behavior of these fish: where they lay their eggs and how they travel.
What changes to the fishery have you witnessed?
When I was younger, there was a wide variety of fishes, and because of the many infrastructures on the coastlines, it has caused a decline to the number of fish that used to come and go.
Why is conservation important to you?
The conservation of the environment is important to me because I want my grandchildren to see what I saw when I was growing up. The protection of the fish I catch is important to me and my livelihood because this is what provides my family and me with food and shelter.
What concerns do you have about how ongoing development will impact Belize’s marine resources?
What concerns me the most is that it will drive all the species away from their natural habitat, and it will also prevent tourists from visiting our beautiful Belize. Coastal development is bad for tourism because it often leads to the destruction of natural habitats such as beaches, coral reefs, and mangroves, which are key attractions for tourists interested in eco-tourism and marine activities.
What can guides like yourself do to improve conservation and management?
We guides should unite as a family and stand up against any infrastructure that may affect our marine ecosystems. I try to be environmentally friendly as a guide by not littering, and by protecting the main ecosystem from the development of more infrastructure. Preserving natural habitats, biodiversity, and ecological processes is essential for sustaining life. By doing this we are maintaining a balance between human activities and environmental conservation to prevent habitat destruction and the extinction of species.
