Tag:
Oceana
Conservation
Reef Week 2023 hosts educational fair in San Pedro
On Friday, March 10th, a group of non-governmental organizations, tourism partners, and members from the business community came together to host a fair celebrating Reef Week 2023. The event is celebrated in different areas of the country each year. This year’s reef fair was held in San Pedro Town, featuring educational booths, games, activities, music, food, and drinks.
Community and Society
Reef Week 2023 to be celebrated under the theme: For health, wealth and pleasure, our reef is a treasure!
In March 2023, local non-governmental organizations, tourism partners and allies from the business community will host a series of fun, educational and civic-minded events to celebrate the many ways the Belize Barrier Reef contributes to the national economy and to the Belizean identity.
Community and Society
Beach clean-ups and educational campaigns mark Earth Day 2022 on the island; sea turtle nesting areas again overwhelmed with garbage
Earth Day 2022 was celebrated on Ambergris Caye with an environmental fair and beach clean-ups on the island's northern side over the weekend of April 23rd. One of the beach clean-ups tackled an area known for sea turtle nesting, which was filthy and unsafe for these endangered creatures to nest.
Community and Society
Belize’s vessel monitoring system is now live; fishing vessels can now be monitored in real-time
In June 2021, the Belize High Seas Fisheries Unit (BHSFU), Oceana, and Global Fishing Watch signed a memorandum of understanding to make vessel tracking data public, demonstrating Belize’s commitment to greater transparency in fishing activities at sea. On Monday, March 28th, it was announced that the platform showing this tracking data is now operating through a live map at https://globalfishingwatch.org/. The BHSFU can now monitor activities Belize’s fishing vessels are engaged in, in real-time.
Environment
Oceana and Global Fishing Watch Applaud Belize’s Leadership on Fisheries Transparency
The agreement signed by the Belize High Seas Fisheries Unit (BHSFU), Oceana, and Global Fishing Watch, demonstrates Belize’s commitment to greater transparency in fishing activities at sea and is the result of Oceana’s collaboration with the government to increase transparency of Belizean-flagged fishing vessels on the high seas.
Community and Society
Port of Magical Belize gets Environmental Clearance from DOE; NGOs disappointed
An official note from the Department of Environment (DOE) approving the cruise port project Port of Magical Belize has caused concern across the country. The DOE letter, dated Friday, April 9th, signed by Chief Environmental Officer Martin Alegria, states that Environmental Clearance is granted to Portico Enterprise Limited for the cruise port's construction and operation.
Conservation
Agreement signed between the Government of Belize, the Coalition for Sustainable Fisheries, and Oceana to Support Gillnet Fishers to Transition to Alternative Means
In a demonstration of its commitment to sustainable fishing, Dr. Hon. Omar Figueroa, Minister of Fisheries, Forestry, the Environment and Sustainable Development, for and on behalf of the Government of Belize, entered into an agreement with the Coalition for Sustainable Fisheries and Oceana. The agreement will see support rendered to gillnet fishers to transition to alternative income-generating opportunities and to support the voluntary surrender of gillnets. With a successful transition programme in place, the planned phase-out will proceed with the aim of banning the use of gillnets in Belize’s marine territory and Exclusive Economic Zone.
Business & Economy
Blue Water Grill donates nearly $11K to Hope Haven
Hope Haven Children’s Home was the recipient of a monetary donation from Blue Water Grill (BWG) on Wednesday, January 8th. The donation, totalling $10,989.90, was collected from July through December in 2019 via the efforts of BWG and their sister companies, Wine de Vine, Red Ginger in Belize and The Phoenix Resort, including patron contributions.
