Jonathan Triminio
The New River watershed is one of the most beautiful and biodiverse ecosystems in Belize. It is the largest watershed entirely confined to the borders of Belize and boasts a rich diversity of wildlife species, including the Morelet's crocodile, a keystone species in the ecosystem. However, decades of uncontrolled contamination and an extended dry season have resulted in a catastrophic pollution event in 2019, which caused an extensive fish kill and a high epidemic mortality of crocodiles. The severity of the pollution issue is alarming, and it calls for immediate action to save the New River and the Corozal Bay Wildlife Sanctuary into which it flows.
In response to this issue, we initiated a project to identify the root of the pollution issue and to provide information to prevent such a catastrophic pollution event from happening elsewhere in the country. The project utilizes the Morelet's crocodile as a sentinel species. We intend to conduct population count and capture surveys in the New River to determine the population and health status of Crocodylus moreletii. The results of the survey will indicate the state of the river ecosystem as well as Corozal Bay.
Additionally, we will obtain tissue samples, which will assist in identifying contaminant(s) of the New River and Corozal Bay. This project is expected to provide valuable data on the principal contaminants causing the poor water quality that caused the rapid morbidity and mortality of wildlife in the New River watershed. Furthermore, the research will provide the government of Belize and other key stakeholders with the necessary data to update and enforce environmental regulations that could initiate a new management plan to ensure the long-term survival and health of this crucial ecosystem, not just for the wildlife but also for the multiple communities that depend on this river and bay for their livelihoods.