Turneffe Land Trust Agreement

On August 12, 2026, a landmark conservation agreement for Turneffe Atoll was signed by the Honorable John Briceno, Prime Minister of Belize and Craig Hayes, owner of Turneffe Flats. This agreement permanently secures environmental protections for Turneffe Atoll and its flats fishing habitats. The Agreement provides the following.

1)  It assures that more than 17,000 acres - approximately 2/3 of the atoll’s land – will perpetually remain it’s their natural

state.

2)  It protects 99% of Turneffe's seabed – inclusive of all flats fishing habitats - by prohibiting dredging, overwater

development, jet skiing, mangrove clearing and any other unsustainable development.

3) It provides BZ$2.2 million (from Turneffe Flats) to the University of Belize for a world-class marine research institute at

Turneffe.

  4) It clears the way for a major Blue Carbon Initiative at Turneffe potentially generating major revenues for marine reserve

management.

5) It strengthens the Turneffe Atoll Marine Reserve, as the Manager of the Land Trust property.