Coastal Zone Management Authority and Institute

Stakeholders from the tourism and fishing sectors attended a community outreach held on Wednesday, June 14th, at the San Pedro Lions Den to discuss the Marine Spatial Plan (MSP). This initiative under the Belize Sustainable Ocean Plan (BSOP) was hosted by the Coastal Zone Management Authority and Institute (CZMAI), who have been spearheading community meetings across the country and inviting the community to participate in the process that aims to bolster biodiversity protection in Belize's seas.

On December 20th, 2022, Tuesday, December 20th, 2022, the Coastal Zone Management Authority and Institute (CZMAI), in partnership with The Nature Conservancy (TNC), revealed the logo for Belize’s Marine Spatial Planning process, during a live Facebook event. Previously, in September of this year, through an electronic voting poll hosted on the CZMAI’s Facebook page, the Belizean public selected the “Belize Sustainable Ocean Plan” (BSOP) as a fitting name for Belize’s Marine Spatial Plan. On Tuesday, December 13th, 2022, the public was once again invited to participate in creating a distinctive brand for this all-important planning process by selecting a unique and memorable logo that aptly reflects the purpose of the BSOP.

The Coastal Zone Management Authority and Institute, in partnership with The Nature Conservancy, is inviting the public to choose a logo for the Belize Sustainable Ocean Plan (BSOP)- Belize’s Marine Spatial Plan (MSP). The development of the BSOP is a principal milestone in achieving Belize’s conservation commitments under the Blue Loan Agreement and the Conservation Funding Agreement signed between the Government of Belize and The Nature Conservancy (TNC) in November 2021.

Hol Chan Marine Reserve, the Coastal Zone Management Authority and Institute, and the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) recently hosted a virtual workshop on the Smart Coast Project. Many of the participating stakeholders and environmentalists registered their disappointment in the lack of enforcement to protect Belize’s natural resources. The workshop presented modeling results and proposals for adaptation options and management scenarios in the northern communities of Ambergris Caye and Caye Caulker.

The Ministry of the Blue Economy and Civil Aviation has introduced its five-year strategic management plan to achieve sustainable economic development for healthy marine environments and a strong economy derived from the wealth within the sea. The ministry counts with the support of an advisory body known as a ‘Cluster,’ providing high-level guidance and direction during the initial stages of establishing a framework and successfully executing a sustainable blue economy for the country.

On Thursday, January 23rd representatives from the Coastal Zone Management Authority and Institute (CZMAI) along with members from the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) engaged with stakeholders in San Pedro Town to present a project entitled ‘Climate Smarting Marine Protected Areas and Coastal Management in the Mesoamerican Reef Region.

Coastal Zone Management Authority and Institute (CZMAI) in partnership with Hol Chan Marine Reserve (HCMR) and the San Pedro Tourist Guide Association (SPTGA) conducted the first-ever Sports Fishing Summer Course for island youths from Monday, July 15th to Monday, July 22nd.

Representatives of Coastal Zone Management Authority and Institute (CZMAI) will be participating in the workshop “Major aspects of the coastal environmental management” to be held from 17th to 20th October in Kingston, Jamaica.