L R Spencer

Whaleshark Reef L R Spencer

Walt Wilson thought he had found paradise when he moved to Caye Flea in the Manatee Islands off the Caribbean coast of Belize. He had his boat, his island house, and his fishing. In 2004 he began a romance with Kate Phillips, a Canadian expatriate. His dream of paradise was somewhat tarnished by 2012. The world had discovered the Belize coast. Luxury resorts were sprouting like toadstools after a rain, and private islands commanded millions on the real estate market. Jorge McKenna, the owner of Caye Flea, resisted the trend for years, but finally decided to cash in. Leasing it to an animal rights organization seemed to be his best option to make money while keeping title to the island. But there were other parties vying for control of the Manatees. The conflicting interests of Oklahoma oilmen, Russian mobsters, European eco-activists, and local fishermen created a volatile situation. It was no surprise when the islands erupted in violence. The bonefish flats would never be the same.