Sustainability Management Plan and Environmental Policy

At all levels of operation, Turneffe Flats pursues the highest level of service for our guests while attempting to minimize our impact on the environment. This has been done by establishing policies and procedures to manage our business sustainably.  

Our core values include reducing energy usage, preventing pollution and conserving our natural resources.  We feel this can best be accomplished through cooperation with all Turneffe Atoll stakeholders and through our support of the Turneffe community.

Over the past 30 years Turneffe Flats has been the leader of most conservation efforts at Turneffe Atoll. Some of our efforts are listed below.

                2002 - Turneffe Flats became a charter member of 1% for the Planet and committed to donating 1% of all revenues to conservation efforts. To date, Turneffe Flats has donated nearly $2.5 million to Turneffe-related conservation efforts.

Turneffe Atoll Trust was formed. A 501(c)(3) conservation organization registered in both the United States and Belize, the mission of the trust is to "Drive conservation and other efforts leading to a healthy ecosystem at Turneffe Atoll supporting sustainable social and economic benefits for Belize and serving as a model for similar coastal marine environments throughout the world."

To date, Turneffe Atoll Trust has contributed nearly $2.5 million towards this mission. Key successes include the passage of legislation mandating catch-and-release fishing for bonefish, permit and tarpon in Belize - a law which is now being emulated by other countries, and driving efforts to establish the Turneffe Atoll Marine Reserve, Belize's largest marine reserve.

                2003 - Chaired the Turneffe Islands Coastal Advisory Committee which drafted Turneffe Atoll Development Guidelines for Belize's Coastal Zone Institute and Authority.

                2009 - 2012 - Drove efforts to establish the Turneffe Atoll Marine Reserve, a process which included nearly 10,000 hours of consultation among Turneffe Stakeholders and the drafting of a 300-page sustainable management plan for the reserve.

2010 - Chaired the reorganized Coastal Advisory Committee to update the Turneffe Atoll Sustainability Guidelines for the Coastal Zone Institute and Authority.

                2011 - 2013 - Chaired the Turneffe Atoll Sustainability Association, the organization designated to co-manage the Turneffe Atoll Marine Reserve for the initial two years of operation.

2019 - 2020 - Led efforts to ban gill nets throughout Belize signing an Binding Agreement with the Ministry of Fisheries to establish a ban by January, 2022.

2020 - With the help of Turneffe Flats, Turneffe Atoll Trust purchased all remaining National Land at Turneffe (approximately 18,000 acres) to form the Turneffe Land Trust. This land will be for the benefit or the Government and People of Belize to be protected and kept in its natural state in perpetuity.

2022 - 2023 -Turneffe Flats has adopted a new and unique Sustainable Tourism Model for our business. We have committed to providing resources to effectively manage Turneffe Atoll allowing low-impact, environmentally sustainable tourism to thrive.

We have committed more than US$1,000,000 to the Turneffe Atoll Marine Reserve over the next six years. 40% of these funds will be used for general operations of the Reserve and the remainder will be utilized for Marine Reserve efforts approved by Turneffe Flats. Initial projects funded include a comprehensive re-evaluation of the queen conch population at Turneffe for development of a scientifically-based management plan for this important commercial fishing resource.

Additionally, we have committed to perpetually providing 60% of our companies net resources to conservation efforts at Turneffe Atoll and in Belize. For our environmentally-based business to thrive, we feel strongly that a new model for tourism is needed - one in which tourism operators (and indirectly our clients) provide substantial financial resources for sustainably managing our unique and valuable natural resources. We feel this is the only way to ensure low-impact, environmentally sensitive tourism, as opposed to the high volume, destructive tourism alternative we hope to avoid.

Please visit the Turneffe Atoll Trust website at www.turneffeatoll.org for details of the sustainable management plan for Turneffe Atoll.

Turneffe Flat Sustainable Business Plan

This is a comprehensive Sustainable Management Plan for Turneffe Flats Resort.  It is reviewed yearly to ensure compliance with Green Globe Certification Standards and to ensure that we are continually decreasing our environmental impact and improving our level of sustainability.  These concepts have been integrated throughout our company with all departments working together toward this end.

Turneffe Flats is an activity-based resort with nearly all guests staying with us enjoying ecology-based tourism activities.  Turneffe Flats guest services will continue to focus on low-impact, environmentally sustainable guest activities.  Our primary guest activities include catch-and-release sport fishing, low impact Scuba diving and a marine eco-tour program designated as our Atoll Adventure. 

We insist upon catch and release sport fishing believing that this is the only way to maintain a sustainable sport fishery.  Our Scuba diving program emphasizes eco-friendly diving with a strict no-touch policy related to the reef as well as ongoing education about reef ecology and the threatened nature of our reefs.  Likewise, our Atoll Adventure emphasizes nature education and low-impact activities seeking to educate our guests about the marine ecology while they enjoy their activities.

We provide complimentary trips for conservation organizations and support local NGO’s who support sustainable ecological practices in Belize.  In particular, we will continue to be the primary supporter of Turneffe Atoll Trust whose mission is to see that the Turneffe Atoll is managed sustainably for the economic, social and environmental advantage of Belize

Turneffe Flats Sustainable Business Plan

Customer Satisfaction – Customer satisfaction is our top priority which we monitor closely.  Daily management meetings are used to rapidly identify and resolve any potential guest issues.  Shortly after guests depart Turneffe Flats, a detailed Welcome Home Survey is emailed and they are prompted to provide feedback on all aspects of our service. This information is monitored closely and reviewed with pertinent departments.

Business Relationships - Turneffe Flats seeks to do business with like-minded organizations that also have an eco-friendly perspective.  This applies to booking agents as well as suppliers who have been asked to supply our goods in an environmentally friendly manner. 

Legal Compliance - Turneffe Flats complies with all legal and licensing requirements in Belize and supports the establishment of Best Practice Standards for the newly formed Turneffe Atoll Marine Reserve.

Communications – Turneffe Flats makes a substantial effort to communicate Turneffe’s conservation and sustainability issues to our guests.  This is done through a myriad of written and verbal communications which are distributed to our guests in a welcome packet upon arrival. 

Handicapped Access – For a number of reasons, our buildings are elevated with access requiring stairways.  We have easily addressed handicapped access in the past by offering people in need the additional individual help they require.  This has worked well for many persons with significant disabilities, including guests from Healing Waters, who enjoyed their stays with us.

Language – Belize is an English-speaking country and the primary language spoken at Turneffe Flats is therefore English.  We have several bilingual employees and can easily accommodate Spanish-speaking clients.

Food Choices – Our meals are served family-style and include a variety of continental and Belizean meals.  We readily provide special meals at clients' request including vegetarian, vegan alternatives and gluten-free alternatives.

Sustainable Environmental Plan

Water Usage: Rainwater is our primary source of fresh water and our water storage capacity has been increased over the past two years to approximately 250,000 gallons. Water usage is closely monitored and rainwater collection systems are continually maintained to maximize rain water collection.  Water quality is closely monitored with weekly tested to ensure that drinking water is safe.  Guests are encouraged to conserve water through non-offensive written notifications.

Gray water is utilized for watering plants and we will seek to improve the recycling of this water to allow additional uses.  

Toilets use brackish water from a shallow well to minimize our fresh water usage and our septic system recycles most toilet water to the toilet water system without discharge to the environment. Low flush toilets are installed in guest rooms and laundry facilities policies reduce consumption. 

Waste Management - Waste management and recycling are a priority with no trash left or buried on the atoll.  All feasible materials are composted including kitchen waste and shredded paper from our office. We continually monitor and improve our composting processes looking to maximize composting operations.  Compost is utilized around the property for landscaping.

All soda and beer are purchased in returnable bottles and we use no plastic bottled water. All single-use plastic products have been eliminated. Glass waste is ground into small chips which are saved and used percentage as aggregate in concrete. Nontoxic combustible materials are burned and other trash is compacted with our commercial compactor and taken to the mainland for recycling. 

Our fuel is safely contained with a fuel spill containment area and all fuel products are stored within this compound including used oil and fuel filters.  We utilize triple-walled fuel pipe from our storage tanks to our fuel pumping station on our dock to ensure no leakage. Our fueling systems exceed Fuel Station Standards for Belize.

Waste Water:

Over the past three years, our waste water treatment has been upgraded significantly. On the north half of our property, all sewer water is treated anaerobically and subsequently discharged to a separate aerobic system and then to a chlorination system.  Discharge from this three-stage processing is put directly into our toilet supply tank, creating a closed loop with no discharge to the environment.

On the south half or our property, final processing to our toilet supply tank is not yet possible. Sewer waste on this end of our property is also treated anaerobically, then aerobically and finally with chlorination. This nearly-clear water is then discharged to appropriately-sized drainfields. 

Water for our toilets is supplied from a brackish water from a shallow well to further minimize our fresh water utilizations. Low volume toilets have been installed in all guest rooms.  We have added bulk laundry facilities and utilize policies that minimize our water consumption for laundry.

Waste water from our kitchen is first treated with a “food trap” which removes all small food particles. Following this process, a three-stage grease trap is used to remove oils generated in the kitchen. This is then discharged to an aerobic processor and to a separate drainfield.

All discharges are monitored quarterly with a multitude of laboratory tests.

Landscaping – At the turn of the 20th century, the area where Turneffe Flats is located was a coconut plantation.  Over the past 30 years, we have allowed the coconut trees to thin naturally and have replanting native plants, including many of the littoral forest species, which would have originally covered our property. 

Due to obvious sea rise, we have installed short sea walls along the front of much of our property. A mangrove hedge has been planted behind the physical seawall, and this will eventually provide a more natural sea wall.

Our garden/greenhouse, provides fresh herbs and vegetables for our kitchen.

Energy – Turneffe Flats is “off grid” and totally dependent upon our own power sources.  In 2019, we engineered and installed the largest off-grid solar/lithium battery power system in the Caribbean, generating 110 kW of power which provides 75-80% of our energy needs. Diesel generators are utilized for backup power and recharging batteries. Numerous energy saving measures have been in place for several years including low energy LED lighting throughout our property with motion sensors where applicable. Innovative "ice battery" air conditioning is utilized in new construction and we anticipate retrofitting much or our air conditioning with ice batteries systems. Pathways are lit with low-voltage or solar lighting and smart thermostats are utilized wherever possible. Guest air conditioners are turned off when not in use. A state-of-the-art remote monitoring system is in place to monitor our power usage allowing us to minimize our power usage at all times.

In 2021 we were awarded the prestigious Energy Globe Award for our off-grid solar project..

Marine Engines – As a water-based facility, Turneffe Flats depends on marine engines operating approximately a dozen outboard engines and several diesel engines.  Approximately 15 years ago, we led the way in Belize by changing to 4-stroke outboard engines.  Going forward, we will purchase engines from the US with improved emission standards. We continually monitor our fuel usage and minimize usage through fuel-efficient use of our vessels.  We will continue to use the most fuel efficient and pollution free marine engines available.   

Sustainable Social and Cultural Plan

Local Employment – Turneffe Flats is noted locally and internationally for our top-quality staff.  All but one employee is from Belize and nearly all of our guides were previously commercial fishermen who have become tour guides.  Our salary scale is above average and many employees have worked for us for nearly 20 years.  We hire and train local men and women in high-level management positions as well as entry level positions.  

Employee Training – We emphasize promotion from within our employee ranks and many of our highly-paid guides and top skill personnel have been trained onsite.  Employee training is largely carried out by supervisors or senior staff in an on-the-job manner. Employee training is continual, and, when possible, we utilize remote training programs for specific purposes. 

All employees are fully informed about company policies and perspectives on sustainability and also educated about the environmentally sensitive issues related to their particular area.  Employees are encouraged to discuss the company’s environmental policies with guests and frequently do so.

Community Development – Particularly through the process of establishing the Turneffe Atoll Marine Reserve, Turneffe Flats has been very involved with the Turneffe Atoll community. 

The local community at Turneffe consists primarily of commercial fishermen who live in “fish camps” or on small commercial fishing vessels.  Turneffe Flats has emphasized the need to build a community atmosphere at Turneffe with ecotourism and the commercial fishing sector working together for the community good and to jointly maintain the healthy marine environment upon which we both depend.  Turneffe Flats owner, Craig Hayes, has lectured at ecotourism gatherings on the Symbiosis Between Ecotourism and Commercial Fishing and we will continue to promote this as a major way forward for sustainable management of the coastal marine ecosystem.

Turneffe Atoll Trust formed and funds the Fishermen and Ecotourism Alliance (FETA) which brings local fishermen and our ecotourism people together to support environmental conservation.

Housing - Due to our remote location, employees are not able to travel to and from their homes on a daily basis. On-site housing is provided for employees, and we ensure that employee facilities are as comfortable as possible. This includes staff internet and satellite television access. All meals are provided on site with a healthy and tasty menu for staff.

Health and Safety - For many years Turneffe Flats has provided emergency assistance and transportation for local fishermen in need of these services, and we will continue this practice. We have formally analyzed the feasibility of providing remote medical, and other services, for commercial fishermen.