Draft Belize Sustainable Ocean Plan Open for Public Review

The Draft Belize Sustainable Ocean Plan is now open for public inspection nationwide, the sweeping initiative outlines how Belize’s ocean space will be managed and protected by dividing marine areas into designated zones for activities such as fishing, tourism, shipping, and conservation. Covering Belize’s entire marine territory, including internal waters, territorial seas, and the Exclusive Economic Zone, the plan forms a central part of Belize’s Marine Spatial Planning process, which was developed in 2022 following the landmark Blue Bond agreement, a financing mechanism that provides both funding and technical support for marine protection and sustainable ocean management. Marine Spatial Planning Process Lead Samir Rosado explained that the process focuses on mapping current ocean use to better organize activities at sea and strike a balance between conservation and economic activity. 

Samir Rosado, Marine Spatial Planning Process Lead, CZMAI: “So the Belize Sustainable Ocean Plan is Belize’s Marine Spatial Plan. Now, what the Marine Spatial Plan is from the name you can kind of get it, it’s planning the marine space. And so the Coastal Zone and the Government of Belize at large have started this process or been undergoing this process for the past three and a half years almost since October of 2022. And really where we are know in the process is that we are near the end. And so we’re finalizing the plan and we are now at that point where we want people to see what we’ve been working on for the past three and a half years and to weigh in. Because really what the marine spatial plan does is that it rationalizes the way we use the space. And the idea of this process is to engage with everybody and to understand what happens where and what can happen together and what absolutely cannot. The vision is to have thriving equitably shared oceans. But the heart of this plan is to ensure that people are still, or they still have access to the spaces that they utilize now, that blue economy is essentially developed around an understanding of what those areas are. And then as well, to sort of signal to people who are participating within the space that you know, these are the opportunities that exist. This is the space that would accommodate it and you know, if you are interested in that, then these are the areas where you can do those types of activities.”

Acting Director of the Blue Bond and Finance Permanence Unit Safira Vasquez, and Communications and Public Relations Officer Kelsie Garbutt also shared that the Belize Coast Guard and the Fisheries Department have contributed spatial data showing where ocean activities take place, helping planners make informed decisions on ocean use and protection priorities. They say the plan is intended to maintain access to marine areas while ensuring long term sustainability, with a target of protecting 30 percent of Belize’s ocean territory by November 4, 2026. The process is being shaped by public feedback and is not solely a government-led decision. The plan will remain in effect for five years and will be reviewed and revised every five years.

Safari Vasquez, Acting Director, Blue Bond and Finance Unit: “The Blue Bond and Finance Permanence Unit we actually do high level coordination for the implementation of the Belize Blue Bonds program where under the Blue Bonds Agreement we had several conservation commitments that were made that is bonded based on the agreement. And so the delivery of the marine spatial plan is one of these key deliverables that is under the Blue Bonds Agreement.”

Kelsie Garbutt, Communications and Public Relations Officer: “Because we’re working on the plan now and this is a year that the plan will be finalized. So that’s our main priority right now as well as milestone six which is essentially two components that we’re trying to deliver. The first is to cover or reach that 30% target up to 30% ocean protection. And so that is one aspect of it. So we’re focusing on the deep sea protection at the moment and then the second component is to legalize the plan. So by the end of the year it needs to be gazetted. It’s important that we plan out the space because right now a lot of what we see is that we have gentleman’s agreement and so we need to formalize what those agreements are and that’s what the plan does. It says okay we’ve done all these consultations, this is where people are using the space and then now we’re sensitizing the draft plan because all that information is in there. So we go, so from May 25th to July 24th the plan, the draft plan is available for all stakeholders and the general public to review. We want to make it very accessible to the public so that they understand what exactly is in the plan and then they have the opportunity to provide that feedback.”

Safari Vasquez, Acting Director, Blue Bond and Finance Unit: “We’re also working along with the Fisheries Department and the Coast Guard as well to develop a national fisheries enforcement and conservation monitoring strategy and action plan. A part of the Blue Bound commitment is not only to put these things in place but is also to sustain the different milestones and conservation commitments that we are achieving under it.”

Kelsie Garbutt, Communications and Public Relations Officer: “So we incorporate all that feedback that we’ve received from the public and our stakeholders and we revise the draft plan then it needs to go under several other high-level reviews and then I think we end up having to do a validation session as well. So after we’ve incorporated all of this….”

Troy Gabb, Host, The Morning Show: This requires cabinet approval too? 
Kelsie Garbutt, Communications and Public Relations Officer: “Yes. Yes. So it will go to the Senate and the House.”

The draft plan is available for public review from May 25 to July 24. During that period, share that the consultation teams will visit coastal communities across Belize to engage directly with people who depend on the ocean and gather feedback on the proposal.