The Sustainable Angler: Turneffe Flats Owner, Craig Hayes

Rick Crawford

Belize is a beautiful country and just so happens to have some of the best salt water flats fishing on the planet.  I am sure you have heard how amazing the fishing is on the Turneffe Atoll, but what truly sets Turneffe Flats apart is their commitment to protecting the environment.  In fact, Turneffe Flats is a model for fly fishing lodges as it relates to sustainable business. 

You see, a sustainable business takes a triple bottom line approach, meaning you not only measure the economic bottom line, but the environmental and social bottom lines as well.  For example, Turneffe Flats is a 1% for the Planet Member and donates 1% of their sales to Turneffe Atoll Trust, who works  to ensure “the sustainable use of Turneffe Atoll and similar coastal marine environments through conservation, research and education.”  By donating money to protect the local environment, they are enhancing their social bottom line by giving back.  One of the ways Turneffe Flats measures its environmental bottom lines is by conserving energy with solar water heaters and solar panels, which minimizes their environmental impact by decreasing the amount of greenhouse gas emissions they emit.  Finally, their economic bottom line is enhanced by energy cost savings, but also benefits society by protecting Turneffe Atoll from over development and making sure future generations are able to live off the land while making a living from their pristine natural resources.

I had the opportunity to interview the owner of Turneffe Flats, Craig Hayes, about how they got started and some of the amazing things his lodge does to protect the environment.  I hope you enjoy….

How did you discover Turneffe Flats?

I had been coming to Belize for a number of years with some friends, and we started Turneffe Flats back in 1981.  We decided, probably late one night at a bar, that if we started a business in Belize we could write it off when we came down to fish, and through some Belizean friends, discovered Turneffe Atoll.  We decided that a bonefish lodge is what we wanted to do.  Frankly, we had no idea what we were doing and it has been an evolution since then!

What makes Turneffe flats such a unique lodge and fishery?

One special thing is just because it is located at Turneffe Atoll, which is the gem of the Mesoamerican Reef system, which is the second largest reef system behind the Great Barrier Reef.  To give you an idea of its size, Turneffe is about 30 miles long and ten miles wide, which is a big area and surrounded by deep water (over a 1,000 feet on the sides), so it’s an isolated coastal marine ecoystem with reef surrounding the atoll and the most extensive mangroves in Belize as well as two large lagoon systems.  As far as the fishing goes, the whole coastal marine ecosystem is relatively isolated, which makes it special, and also the extensive firm-bottom wadable back reef flats are really exceptional.  To cap it off there’s a great diversity of fishing for bonefish, permit and tarpon.

Because Turneffe Atoll is so remote, and by creating the Marine Reserve in 2012, we have kept a lot of development away.  Our nonprofit, Turneffe Atoll Trust, funded the consultations for the Marine Reserve project.  Then there’s also the practice of catch and release, which helps with the management and long term sustainability of the fishery.

Can you tell me more about what Turneffe Flats is doing related to sustainable business?

I’ve always been a conservationist at heart and back in 2002 I decided to be more formal about our conservation efforts and formed a 501(c)(3) organization called the Turneffe Atoll Trust.  As part of that project, we joined 1% for the Planet as a charter member and since joining we donate 1% of our sales to Turneffe Atoll Trust.  We’ve also tried to make Turneffe Flats an example of how to do things sustainably.  We have the highest Green Globes rating in Belize and we want to set an example.

I’ve always felt doing things sustainably was something the general pubic appreciated and it’s something that can be marketed, and should be marketed.  We’ve always advertised the fact the we are 1% for the Planet Members, are Green Globes certified and it’s an important marketing tool for us.

What have been the greatest benefits of a sustainable business model for your lodge?

First of all, it makes me happy and proud to be associated with Turneffe Flats, and makes my life more enjoyable in that regard.  Secondly, it has been a good marketing tool.  We have been recognized in the fly fishing world as a leader in this area, so it’s been good for our business.  Some of the things we have done with the Marine Reserve as well as catch and release will have long term positive effects for the fishery which is very important.

Has climate change been a driving force in adopting your sustainability efforts?

Well, I think we developed our interest in sustainability before climate change became an issue, but certainly at this point it’s something we are paying attention to.  We are actually doing a big study through Turneffe Atoll Trust about climate change impacts at Turneffe and what indications might be useful.  For instance, looking at the carbon sequestration value at the atoll, and also storm mitigation value for Belize City.  The mangroves are what create the storm mitigation protection, of course, so we are looking at those things and paying close attention to the impacts climate change is having at Turneffe.

Have you seen first-hand the impacts of climate change?

I don’t think there is any doubt that we have seen sea level rise.  It used to be that a beach would erode in one place and build up in another place and now it seems like its eroding everywhere.  And I have heard the same thing from others in Belize.

What is Turneffe Flats doing to mitigate its impact on climate change?

We have done what we can without having to add new infrastructure.  We switched to LED lights and lessened our energy demand.  We do have solar hot water, but the big thing is that this Fall (2018) we have plans to embark on a big renewable energy project.  It will be an 80 kWh solar array, which is about 300 solar panels, and our goal is for it to cover 80% of our energy needs, and we will run generators for the remainder.  By installing the solar array, we will significantly reduce our impact on climate change.

What has been one of the biggest challenges of implementing a sustainable business model?

For our solar project, we are not tied to a grid, so we can’t sell our energy back and there are no financial incentives from the government.  We are also in between a household system and a commercial system, so we are kind of in the middle, and there has been substantial red tape getting this project approved in Belize.  We would have done solar sooner, but another hurdle was the payback period which would have been 25 years, but with improvements in the solar technology and battery life we have gotten the payback down to 10 years, which we are thrilled about.

What is something you wish other lodges new about sustainability and the benefits it can bring?

It’s a great marketing tool and there’s an economic benefit to doing things in an environmentally sensitive way.  The big picture is that our industry depends on a healthy environment and without it there is no sport fishing.  I feel everyone should do their part to protect the fishery beyond just doing less damage, but actually making it better.

How is Turneffe Flats using its business to affect positive change?

I don’t think Turneffe Atoll Trust would be in existence and I think the Trust has done a lot of great things and that’s all because of Turneffe Flats.  Hopefully, we set some sort of example by doing our part, and I hope that has a positive impact.

TAKE ACTION

I’d like to thank Craig for taking the time to do an interview for The Sustainable Angler, and also for leading by example at Turneffe Flats.  I really believe that Turneffe Flats is a model that other lodges should look to as an example of a sustainable fishing lodge.  Here a few ways you can use a triple bottom line approach and take action today:

• Support environmental nonprofits by way of volunteering, or making  financial contributions.  Turneffe Flats and Emerger Strategies are both 1% for the Planet Members, which means we donate 1% of our annual sales back to environmental nonprofits, but there are a number of other ways to get involved and support those organizations that are working to protect what you love.  For example, attend a beach sweep or clean-up in your area.
• Conserve energy any way you can because most of your power comes from burning fossil fuels, which contributes to climate change and negatively impacts our fisheries.  Make sure your home or business is properly insulated, which helps to reduce energy demand; install LED light bulbs, which conserves energy; when buying appliances, make sure they are Energy Star Rated to save energy and money; and if financially viable, consider installing solar panels to significantly reduce, or even eliminate your energy costs and greenhouse gas emissions.
• Market your sustainability achievements!  Consumers everywhere are looking to buy products and services that align with their values, and there has never been a better time to market your sustainability achievements.  That said, please be sure to make sure your claims are credible in order to avoid greenwashing.  For example, Turneffe Flats has made their claims credible through third parties such as 1% for the Planet and Green Globes.

Thanks for taking the time to read The Sustainable Angler!  If you enjoyed this interview, we would encourage you to like and share as the intent of these interviews and our blog is to not only educate and create more awareness about environmental threats to our fisheries, but also highlight how individuals and brands are tackling these challenges, and sharing their success stories in an effort to protect what we all love.

Stay tuned as we will continue to release more interviews in Q&A format, and don’t forget to check out the NEW The Sustainable Angler Podcast!