Belizean Marine Scientist joins Oceana Dr. Isani Chan relocates from Taiwan to assume new role

Press Release Date: December 15, 2014

Location: Belize City, Belize

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Oceana, the world’s largest conservation based organization, is pleased to announce that Dr. Isani Chan joins our team in Belize as the Marine Scientist effective December 3rd 2014. Originally from Punta Gorda Town, Toledo, Chan’s experience and expertise will bolster Oceana’s efforts to protect Belize’s precious marine resources.

“It is my honor to return to Belize after eight years of being overseas to continue my personal commitment to protecting the world’s oceans,” says Chan. “Being a part of a dynamic team that is dedicated to both protecting and restoring the world’s oceans has always been one of my utmost goals. Our marine environment continues to be negatively impacted by an increase in anthropogenic activities including overfishing and carbon dioxide emission. In my new role as Oceana Belize’s marine scientist, I will work to enhance the policies governing Belize’s unique and economically important marine ecosystems.” 

Chan holds doctoral degrees in both Marine Biology and Philosophy from the National Taiwan Ocean University in Taiwan as well as a Bachelor’s Degree in Natural Resource Management from the University of Belize. For the past eight years, he has been working in Taiwan in the field of natural resource management and conservation. Chan has also worked as a Marine Biologist for the Coastal Zone Management Authority and Institute and as a Fisheries Officer and Marine Biologist at the Bacalar Chico National Park and Marine Reserve for the Belize Fisheries Department. Chan’s work has been published in several respected science based platforms and his most recent projects include studies on the impact of polluted environments on coral as well as the population and growth of the Queen Conch.

“To say that we are excited to have Isani on board would be an understatement,” shared Oceana’s Vice President for Belize, Janelle Chanona. “His impressive educational background, extensive field work and patriotic passion to advocate for the sustainable management of our marine environment are the perfect trifecta of talent we’ve been looking for in a staff scientist.”

Welcome Isani!