Oceana Celebrates 15 Years of Community Empowerment in Support of Economic Stability and Marine Conservation in Belize
Together we create a future where people and special places thrive
Press Release Date: October 30, 2024
Location: City of Belmopan, Belize
Contact:
City of Belmopan, Belize – Oceana is proud to celebrate its 15th anniversary in Belize, a significant milestone in support of empowered Belizean stewardship of our unique national assets and cultural identity. Since 2009, Oceana has amplified national calls for safeguarding livelihoods and bolstering marine conservation through habitat protection and best practices in fisheries management. The legislated results have benefited the environment and communities, with protections now in place for over 13,970 miles (618,200 hectares or 36,182 km²) of Belizean waters and tens of thousands of marine-based livelihoods.
Alongside the people of Belize, our advocacy efforts have:
- Protected Belize’s barrier reef and sovereign waters from harmful practices of trawling and gillnet use.
- Established the Petroleum Operations (Maritime Zone Moratorium) Act in 2017, which placed an indefinite moratorium on the prospect of offshore oil activities.
- Strengthened informed decision making, meaningful public consultation, transparency and accountability through the amendment of the Referendum Act, which empowers Belizeans to decide the future of our marine resources if there is any future proposal on offshore oil.
“Together we’ve witnessed the positive changes that happen every time we work together as Belizeans for Belize. The relationships we’ve built across the country carry the team and I into the next fifteen years full of optimism, despite the long list of challenges yet to be overcome,” said Janelle Chanona, Vice President, Oceana in Belize. “If we face the future as one, we will achieve the Belize we deserve.”
Oceana remains resolute in our commitment to empowering communities, safeguarding marine ecosystems, and creating a future where people and special places thrive together. Please visit our social media pages or website to watch our commemorative anniversary video, produced as a tribute to the beauty of collective effort, the power of meaningful change, and the strength of unwavering support from our fellow Belizeans.
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Oceana is the largest international advocacy organization dedicated solely to ocean conservation. Oceana is rebuilding abundant and biodiverse oceans by winning science-based policies in countries that control one-quarter of the world’s wild fish catch. With more than 300 victories that stop overfishing, habitat destruction, oil and plastic pollution, and the killing of threatened species like turtles, whales, and sharks, Oceana’s campaigns are delivering results. A restored ocean means that 1 billion people can enjoy a healthy seafood meal every day, forever. Together, we can save the oceans and help feed the world. Visit www.belize.oceana.org to learn more.
