Oceana Highlights Year of Marine Advocacy

Oceana Belize is highlighting a year of major advocacy, community engagement, and policy-driven conservation efforts, as outlined in its 2025 Annual Report.  Central to its work is the recognition that fisheries and marine ecosystems are critical to the livelihoods of more than fifteen thousand Belizeans and play a vital role in the country’s economy, particularly through tourism and food security.  A key highlight in 2025 was Oceana’s push for constitutional reform to safeguard Belize’s offshore oil moratorium. The organization supported recommendations for a binding referendum requirement on any future offshore oil activity, ensuring that Belizeans have a direct say in decisions impacting the marine environment. That process remains ongoing, with further developments expected in 2026.  The report also points to continued progress in fisheries management, including efforts to formalize fisher associations and strengthen their role in national decision-making. Oceana says empowering fishers as advocates remains a cornerstone of sustainable marine governance.  Community outreach remained a major pillar of the organization’s work. Throughout the year, Oceana engaged schools, municipalities, and civil society groups across Belize, promoting awareness on marine conservation and reducing plastic pollution. Initiatives such as Reef Week, World Oceans Day cleanups, and the annual Ride to the Reef brought together hundreds of Belizeans in support of protecting the country’s barrier reef.  On the regional and international stage, Oceana Belize representatives participated in key environmental forums, sharing Belize’s conservation success stories and advocating for stronger policies across the wider Caribbean.  The report also highlights strong partnerships with the private sector and educational institutions, including collaborations that support youth engagement, environmental education, and funding for conservation initiatives. One such partnership translated into over thirteen thousand dollars in direct support for marine conservation efforts in 2025.  Additionally, Oceana continued to recognize local champions through its Ocean Hero Awards and Wavemaker initiatives, celebrating Belizeans who are actively contributing to the protection of the country’s marine environment.  Overall, Oceana Belize says its 2025 work reflects a growing movement driven by public participation, with thousands of supporters, known as “Wavemakers”, using their voices to influence policy and safeguard the nation’s natural resources.