The University of Belize Calabash Caye Field Station
The Calabash Caye Field Station (CCFS) was established on September 27, 1995 and is Belize’s first nationally owned and managed marine research facility. Since 2009, the University of Belize Environmental Research Institute (UB ERI) has been in charge of the field station providing marine science education to both Belizean and foreign students, and continues to host numerous visiting groups and researchers.
Mission
To build scientific capacity and provide sound science for the sustainable use and management of Turneffe Atoll Marine Reserve
Vision
A centre of excellence for marine science providing research, monitoring and education programs for the sustainable management of Turneffe Atoll
Mission
To build scientific capacity and provide sound science for the sustainable use and management of Turneffe Atoll Marine Reserve
Vision
A centre of excellence for marine science providing research, monitoring and education programs for the sustainable management of Turneffe Atoll
Location
The CCFS is located in the Turneffe Atoll. Turneffe is the largest of three offshore atolls within the Belize Barrier Reef system. The barrier reef stretches 280 km, and is the second longest in the world. The Atoll is approximately 33 miles east of Belize City and covers approximately 850 sq. km.
The field station sits on a 5 acre plot on Calabash Caye in the south eastern portion of Turneffe. Travel time from Belize City to the field station varies from 1-2 hours, depending on the vessel and weather conditions.
Environment
Calabash Caye has a dense cover of coconut trees, mature palm and littoral forest, and is fringed by red, black, and white mangroves. On the eastern, exposed side, there is a well-developed fringing reef separated from the shore by shallow seagrass beds. The mangrove, seagrass, and reef habitats within the atoll are still relatively healthy and intact.
The atoll provides habitat for a number of threatened and endangered species including the American crocodile, Hawksbill sea turtle, Antillean manatee and Nassau grouper. It also has endemic species such as the White Spotted toadfish found nowhere else in Belize or the world.
Facilities
The CCFS facilities consists of a large kitchen and dining room, lecture hall, Staff and Visitor Quarters, a dorm and 2 cabanas which can accommodate up to 36 persons. It has a small dry lab and a wet lab with a constant water flow, a shower house, composting toilet facility, dive locker, tool and compressor sheds, a small reference library and multimedia equipment, including a LCD projector.
It is advisable that visiting researchers bring their own specialized equipment.
There is also a 180-foot pier and docking space for up to eight boats. The station has a 24 hour power supply system produced by solar panels, wind turbine and a backup generator.
Existing nature trails provide access to the mangroves and lagoon.
The CCFS is located in the Turneffe Atoll. Turneffe is the largest of three offshore atolls within the Belize Barrier Reef system. The barrier reef stretches 280 km, and is the second longest in the world. The Atoll is approximately 33 miles east of Belize City and covers approximately 850 sq. km.
The field station sits on a 5 acre plot on Calabash Caye in the south eastern portion of Turneffe. Travel time from Belize City to the field station varies from 1-2 hours, depending on the vessel and weather conditions.
Environment
Calabash Caye has a dense cover of coconut trees, mature palm and littoral forest, and is fringed by red, black, and white mangroves. On the eastern, exposed side, there is a well-developed fringing reef separated from the shore by shallow seagrass beds. The mangrove, seagrass, and reef habitats within the atoll are still relatively healthy and intact.
The atoll provides habitat for a number of threatened and endangered species including the American crocodile, Hawksbill sea turtle, Antillean manatee and Nassau grouper. It also has endemic species such as the White Spotted toadfish found nowhere else in Belize or the world.
Facilities
The CCFS facilities consists of a large kitchen and dining room, lecture hall, Staff and Visitor Quarters, a dorm and 2 cabanas which can accommodate up to 36 persons. It has a small dry lab and a wet lab with a constant water flow, a shower house, composting toilet facility, dive locker, tool and compressor sheds, a small reference library and multimedia equipment, including a LCD projector.
It is advisable that visiting researchers bring their own specialized equipment.
There is also a 180-foot pier and docking space for up to eight boats. The station has a 24 hour power supply system produced by solar panels, wind turbine and a backup generator.
Existing nature trails provide access to the mangroves and lagoon.
Research & Monitoring
Research activities at the CCFS are varied depending on the focus of the Institute and visiting researchers, but are centered around a 5-year national research agenda for Belize that will provide critical information for management and decision making.
The UB ERI conducts research at the CCFS to provide a sound scientific basis for the management of the Turneffe Atoll Marine Reserve under a number of priority areas including:
· Sustainable fisheries and aquaculture
· Coral reefs
· Climate change
· Coastal ecosystems
· Invasive species
· Ocean research
· Endangered marine species
In addition to research, the Institute monitors the health of coral reefs, seagrass and mangrove ecosystems, coral bleaching, sea turtle nesting, fish spawning aggregations, reef herbivores, and commercial species populations on an annual basis.
Opportunities are provided for undergraduate and graduate interns and volunteers to gain practical experience during these research and monitoring exercises.
Under its sea cucumber aquaculture partnership agreement, the UB ERI is looking at larval and juvenile rearing under controlled conditions.
Research activities at the CCFS are varied depending on the focus of the Institute and visiting researchers, but are centered around a 5-year national research agenda for Belize that will provide critical information for management and decision making.
The UB ERI conducts research at the CCFS to provide a sound scientific basis for the management of the Turneffe Atoll Marine Reserve under a number of priority areas including:
· Sustainable fisheries and aquaculture
· Coral reefs
· Climate change
· Coastal ecosystems
· Invasive species
· Ocean research
· Endangered marine species
In addition to research, the Institute monitors the health of coral reefs, seagrass and mangrove ecosystems, coral bleaching, sea turtle nesting, fish spawning aggregations, reef herbivores, and commercial species populations on an annual basis.
Opportunities are provided for undergraduate and graduate interns and volunteers to gain practical experience during these research and monitoring exercises.
Under its sea cucumber aquaculture partnership agreement, the UB ERI is looking at larval and juvenile rearing under controlled conditions.