Offshore Oil

Protecting Belize’s natural resources from the inherent dangers of offshore oil

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The Campaign

Oceana remains committed to ensuring that the legislation offshore drilling in Belize’s waters remains in force.

In February 2010, a map was released by the Geology and Petroleum Department confirmingthat massive oil exploration concessions had been granted throughout the country of Belize — including in marine reserves and national parks.

Offshore drilling of this magnitude would be devastating to Belize’s tourism and fishing industry, our marine food security and the viability of coastal communities. Oceana believes the process should be transparent, with input from all relevant parties and the general public.

In December 2011, The Belize Coalition to Save our Natural Heritage through Oceana in Belize triggered the Referendum for offshore oil exploration and drilling by delivering over 18,000 signatures to the Governor General’s office. In a historic response, the second step in the referendum process had been approved, as the 18,000 plus signatures were forwarded to the Chief Elections Officer for vetting.

In February 2012, approximately 30,000 Belizeans voluntarily turned up to 51 polling stations across the country to make their position on offshore oil exploration in Belize known – an event now known as ‘the People’s Referendum’. Out of all the persons polled, 96% voted NO to offshore oil drilling in Belize’s waters.

In May 2015, the Government of Belize withdrew its appeal against Justice’s Oswald Legall’s April 2013 legal ruling that oil concessions are null and void andruling in favor of Oceana, COLA and the Belize Coalition in their law suit challenging six (6) Production Sharing Agreements allowing offshore oil drilling.  This withdrawal by the GOB, demonstrated its commitment to protecting marine resources and Belizean livelihoods.

In June 2015, Oceana suggested several conditions to the Government of Belize for consideration before the moratorium would be lifted. These conditions sought to ensure that any and all measures would be taken in the event of any offshore petroleum operations, including a referendum for the people of Belize to approve lifting the moratorium.

In December 2015, the Government of Belize announced plans via press release to permanently ban offshore oil exploration along the Belize Barrier Reef System. The decision taken by the Government of Belize reflected its recognition of what the people of Belize have been asking for years: the protection of job security, food security and cultural identity.

In August 2017, the Government of Belize announced its commitment and plan to legislate an indefinite moratorium on offshore oil activity in Belize’s territorial sea including its Exclusive Economic Zone.

In October 2017, Belize made history by introducing legislation to enshrine an indefinite moratorium on offshore oil in its marine territory, including territorial seas and Exclusive Economic Zone.

In December 2017, Belize made history once again by unanimously passing the Petroleum Operations (Offshore Zone Moratorium) Bill, 2017 which placed an indefinite moratorium on offshore oil in Belize’s marine territory.

This action continues to safeguard Belize’s invaluable marine environments including the second longest barrier reef in the world, which runs along Belize’s coast. Just as importantly, this law recognizes and respects the collective leadership and persistent involvement of tens of thousands of Belizeans for more than seven years on the issue of offshore oil.

Oceana has been an unwavering supporter of this call of the Belizean people since it began in the aftermath of the BP oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico in April 2010 and within the reality that Belize’s entire offshore area had already been sold as oil concession licenses. Following the announcement in 2017, Oceana’s Vice President for Belize Janelle Chanona said, “This is truly ‘The People’s Law’. Belizeans have remained steadfast in their opposition to offshore oil since they became aware that marine assets were at risk of irreversible damage from the offshore oil industry.”

Oceana remains committed to ensuring that the legislation remains in force.

Victories

November 1, 2023

People’s Referendum on Offshore Oil Exploration and Exploitation in Belize is Now Law

Having passed through all stages of the National Assembly, the REFERENDUM (AMENDMENT) BILL 2023 was assented to by the Governor General of Belize, Her Excellency Dame Froyla Tzalam, on Thursday November 9th and published in the Gazette on November 11th, converting the Bill into Law.

This amendment to the Referendum ACT Chapter 10 of the Substantive Laws of Belize 2020, expands the circumstances in which a referendum must be held to include any proposed amendment or repeal, whether express or implied, of the Petroleum Operations (Maritime Zone Moratorium) Act or to any proposed legislation affecting the carrying on of petroleum operations within the limits of the maritime zone of Belize.

This amendment is a direct response to the voices of 22,090 Belizean voters who called for legislative amendments that would require a referendum should government contemplate lifting the moratorium on offshore oil exploration. The amendment has laid the foundation for a profound shift in people’s participation in our Belizean democracy.

Read the Press Release

December 31, 2017

Belize Says “No!” to Offshore Oil

Belize made history by unanimously passing the Petroleum Operations (Offshore Zone Moratorium) Bill, 2017 which will place an indefinite moratorium on offshore oil in Belize’s marine territory. This decision was welcomed by Oceana, WWF, and other members of the Belize Coalition to Save Our Natural Heritage as a landmark step forward to protect the Belize Barrier Reef and strengthen marine conservation worldwide.

This action is historic given Belize’s economic dependence on its natural resources and will safeguard invaluable marine environments including the second longest barrier reef in the world, which runs along Belize’s coast. Just as importantly, this law recognizes and respects the collective leadership and persistent involvement of tens of thousands of Belizeans for more than seven years on the issue of offshore oil.

Read the Press Release

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