46-year-old Elias Chavez a Guatemalan fisherman pleaded guilty to Illegal Fishing in the Blue Hole. According to the Director Clifford Cadle, he was on routine patrol in the Belize Audubon Society vessel in the Blue Hole Natural Monument when he spotted Chavez fishing and approached him. Chavez, who was unrepresented spoke little English, was provided with a translator through whom he pleaded guilty to the charge. he appeared in the Belize City Magistrate’s Court where magistrate Hamilton imposed a non-custodial sentence since it was Chavez’s first conviction. For the offense, he was fined $200 to be paid by September 28, 2013 or spend time in jai for two months. on Januarary 13, 2013 he was caught searching for conchs and fishing insidethe Blue Hole.
