By Chalsey Gill Anthony
Scientists, economists and coastal communities all have a role to play in shaping the future of Belize’s marine resources.
In the coastal communities, before dawn breaks, the fishers are already preparing their boats. But these days, alongside their nets and hooks, some carry something new: measuring tools, identification guides, and data collection forms. They take on a new role as fisher scientists, gathering crucial information to answer the question: Can we still have a healthy ocean filled with lots of fishes while sustaining the livelihoods of those who depend on it?
The Wildlife Conservation Society Belize Program (WCS Belize), with BZ$800,000 grant support from the Belize Fund for a Sustainable Future (Belize Fund), has completed a 24-month initiative, titled “Enhancing Sustainable Fisheries Management for Sharks and Finfish through Collaborative Community-Based Data Collection,” using science, local wisdom, and shared responsibility.
The project’s first data collection exercise shows that approximately two-thirds of measured species displayed indicators of overfishing, with large fish like barracuda, mutton snapper, and the critically endangered Nassau grouper being caught before they were old enough to reproduce, threatening future populations.
What makes this project interesting is not just the findings, but who’s doing the research, many of them retired fishers with decades of experience on the water, trained on how to weigh and measure different species, and learning that catching, measuring and then throwing fish back actually protects the species from declining.
This relationship-building creates trust that traditional conservation approaches often lack. WCS’s community engagement runs deep, from helping establish marine protected areas to developing the “managed access” approach that ensures traditional fishers maintain access to their fishing grounds.
WCS has also highlighted women’s critical role in fishing. The organization, along with a team from the Marine Conservation and Climate Adaptation Project, established the first Women in Fisheries Forum eight years ago, now evolved into seven forums nationwide. They are now forming a National Women in Fisheries Association, giving voice to this overlooked fisheries segment.
As WCS looks to the future, this science and community-led approach provides a way forward for marine conservation in Belize, creating a model where those who depend most directly on the sea become its most dedicated protectors.
Restoring the Reef
An equally important marine resource is coral, and the restoration of coral reefs got an important boost in 2001, after Category 4 Hurricane Iris left the coastal community of Placencia battered and devastated. Lisa Carne, a marine biologist who had been living in Belize since 1995, found herself grappling with the aftermath of the hurricane. “That year, there was no tourism because everything was flattened,” she recalls.
On the beach, Lisa stumbled upon a fragment of hope — broken pieces of corals lying still alive but detached from their home. “I thought, wow, maybe we could reforest the reefs like they do onshore,” she muses, igniting a passion that would lead to the birth of Fragments of Hope, an organization dedicated to coral restoration.
When Lisa first began her coral restoration work in Belize, she faced skepticism. But older fishermen, observing the natural process of coral fragmentation and regrowth during storms, started to understand and endorse Lisa’s work. This local validation spread like wildfire, fostering a sense of community ownership that remains central to Fragments of Hope’s principles.
Today, Fragments of Hope is recognized for success in coral restoration, not just in Belize but globally. The organization’s work at some restoration sites has yielded notable results, with restored sites showing significantly higher survival rates during recent bleaching events.
Despite facing mass global bleaching and rising water temperatures, Fragments of Hope reported a remarkable four percent mortality rate among the 342 Elkhorn corals the group outplanted. In contrast, natural stands in the same area experienced a staggering 31 percent mortality rate.
Climate change poses an ever-present threat to coral ecosystems, which propelled Fragments of Hope to work with experts to formulate a national restoration plan. This comprehensive strategy aims to coordinate efforts across Belize, maximizing the impact of coral restoration initiatives.
Looking ahead, Fragments of Hope is exploring the possibility of relocating more resilient coral genotypes from southern Belize to northern sites that have struggled with restoration efforts. This approach is based on the understanding that genetic diversity plays a critical role in the survival and adaptability of coral species.
The work being done by Fragments of Hope in Belize serves as a model for coral reef conservation worldwide. By prioritizing community involvement, focusing on education and training, fostering climate resilience through genetic diversity, and adapting strategies in response to environmental challenges, the organization is contributing to the health of marine ecosystems in Belize and the global ocean space.
Long-Range Funding
Sustainable financing is vital for the longevity of marine conservation efforts. The Belize Fund provided BZ$801,370 to Fragments of Hope for a three-year project focused on restoring critically endangered coral species. This funding supports Fragments of Hope in meeting its commitment to build local capacity through increased staff support and workshops aimed at improving the skills of community members in conducting bleaching surveys and understanding coral species.
And funding continues to be at the center of all environmental causes. Approximately three years ago, Belize made big promises on the global stage to the ocean and to its people.
Through a bold debt-for-nature agreement known as the Belize Blue Bonds, our country secured funding to protect its marine resources in exchange for debt relief. It was a historic move, and one that sparked questions: Could Belize really pull this off? Would the money help real people in real places?
Today, it is possible to show just how the approved funding is being used.
The Belize Fund, the private conservation trust fund established in 2022 to manage and distribute the funds from the Blue Bonds, plays a critical role in realizing those promises. In just three years, the Belize Fund has approved nearly BZ$12/US$6 million in conservation grants, trained hundreds of Belizeans, supported local jobs, and engaged with over 48 communities to care for the coastal and marine areas that sustain us all.
Fund managers understand that protecting and conserving the ocean is essential, but so is making sure it creates real opportunities for the people of Belize. That’s why a wide range of projects are funded, combining environmental action with jobs, skills, science, and local leadership.
Here’s a snapshot of the impact:
- 223 Belizeans employed through conservation jobs, from rangers to researchers, community outreach officers to tour guides.
- Over 200 people trained in skills like coral restoration, fisheries enforcement, manatee rescue and rehabilitation, and seaweed farming.
- More than 5,700 marine patrols conducted to protect our fish stocks and deter illegal activities.
- 13 marine protected areas (614,424 hectares) supported, including iconic spots like Gladden Spit and South Water Caye.
Funding is also helping to:
- Outplant over 11,000 coral fragments.
- Survey 521 marine species.
- Train 20 young shark fishers on how to protect endangered reef sharks.
- Launch new seaweed-based products and aquaculture businesses led by women and local communities.
And new projects are being developed. In 2024, the Belize Fund launched a special Community Grants funding window, making it easier for small, grassroots groups to access funding.
In the village of Chunox, fisherfolk are building a new training center. In the north, the Three Lagoon Sustainability Program is helping locals protect and restore mangroves. In schools and villages across Belize, a youth-led animation series will be teaching kids (and adults!) why our reefs matter.
The fund’s partnership with the government of Belize ensures that national agencies also have the resources they need to deliver on the conservation commitments. To date, here’s what’s already been accomplished:
- Marine protected zones expanded to cover 25 percent of Belize’s ocean.
- Drone squads trained to patrol our coasts.
- Enforcement officers trained in compliance, safety, and monitoring.
- Over 4,000 stakeholders engaged through national marine spatial planning efforts.
While some critics questioned the Belize Blue Bonds deal when it was first announced, Belize is proving that sustainable financing can work if it’s transparent, fit-for-purpose, inclusive, and locally led.
The author is the communications officer for the Belize Fund for a Sustainable Future.
