Reef Conservation International (ReefCI)
ReefCI offers several types volunteer opportunities. While on the island we met volunteers who spent a month or more with ReefCI. During our time with ReefCI we learned about the destructive power of the lionfish, an invasive species in the Caribbean and Atlantic. To help conserve coral and the reef, we responsibly removed 217 lionfish on our dives. We also learned about and performed fish identification, queen conch surveying and much more during our 5-days of being volunteer citizen scientists.
The main building on the tiny islet of Tom Owens Caye is rustic with simple rooms that provide the essentials, except hot water! The staff kept the rooms clean. The second floor includes a wonderful shared balcony space with doors that brought the sea breeze into the rooms.
We ate lovingly prepared meals with a vast variety of flavors that sauntered from a tiny kitchen. The chef and kitchen staff are magic makers, serving delicious, nourishing and conscientiously planned meals. Among the fabulous main course options we enjoyed were lionfish ceviche and baked lionfish. They creatively accommodated vegan, vegetarian and gluten-free options which were all yummy.
The ReefCI team includes a cast of committed characters including Anthony Saner, holding down the fort in the US headquarters, Frank Hachmann, leading the Tom Owens Caye operations in Belize and Willie Zalidivar, ReefCI marine biologist. It takes more people to keep things going on the island like boat captains, dive guides and others who help guest volunteers and keep things running. The operations we witnessed ran smoothly with sparse setup; a testament that money raised for ReefCI largely went to the research and reef work.
ReefCI is in the process of acquiring a Coral Restoration licensing from the Belizean government which will expand their ability to help the reef and its inhabitants, which in turn brings more tourist income into the country and helps all of us enjoy this naturally beautiful marine habitat for years to come. Most importantly it will help the reef grow and recover from pollutants and climate change.
During interviews in Jan/Feb of 2020 with C.L. Wanderings, Anthony shared the vision and mission of ReefCI as well as the struggles they commonly encounter as a small NGO (non-government organization). ReefCI is committed to sharing information about how the reef systems benefit us not only economically, but also as a critical part of our terrestrial environment. The organization believes it is important for Belizeans to understand and embrace the value of their reef, educating locals as well as people from all over the world who volunteer at ReefCI.
ReefCI’s top concepts according to Anthony and Frank include:
Individual actions and choices make a difference
Educating divers, non-divers and locals
Working with local communities to understand the value of the reef system
Helping scuba divers become conservationist or expand their concepts of conservation
ReefCI’s challenges:
Tom Owen’s Caye is small and has maintenance issues
The cost of operating the current location is funded through volunteerism, paying divers and donations. This causes budgeting challenges due to travel and economic unpredictability.
Although the ReefCI team is providing valuable research, they could do more with a license from the Belize government to restore and grow coral. This would be a powerful addition to the work ReefCI is doing. ReefCI is working with the Belize Officials to obtain the proper permits and licenses.
How can you help ReefCI?
Volunteer – Go to the ReefCI site and book a week or more!
Spread the word – Let others know what ReefCI is doing.
Learn more at www.reefci.com
Monetary Donation – Not able to volunteer? No problem, donate.
ReefCI’s Brazil operations are located on Tom Owens Caye.
