Enhancing marine conservation in Belize with the participation of local stakeholders,
for wider regional benefit
INTRODUCTION
The Belize Marine Fund (BMF) is an initiative and financial mechanism established within the Mesoamerican Reef Fund (MAR Fund). The BMF, launched in November 2016 at the 18th RedLAC Annual Assembly in Brasilia, Brazil, was created through a US$ 10 million endowment challenge grant from the Oak Foundation, owing to the transition of the Foundation’s own Mesoamerican Reef Programme from the region. MAR Fund must raise US$ 15 million as a match to mobilize the Oak Foundation commitment. In addition, Oak Foundation provided a grant of US$ 2.5 million (US$500,000 annually for 5 years) to support key marine conservation initiatives in Belize.
The vision of the BMF is to provide long-term financial sustainability for addressing high-priority marine resources management and conservation issues in Belize for greater impact throughout the Mesoamerican Reef Eco-region.
The desired impact of the BMF is to improve the status of marine resources in Belize, contributing to the increased health and resilience of the Mesoamerican Reef and strengthening ecosystem services for the benefit of all stakeholders.
Key marine conservation initiatives funded through small and targeted grants finalized in December 2024 and were guided by the Strategic Investment strategy, focused on achieving the improved status of marine resources in Belize, contributing towards increased health and resilience of the Mesoamerican reef, while strengthening ecosystem services for the benefit of all stakeholders.
Photo: Wildtracks
The Mesoamerican Reef remains the largest trans-boundary reef ecosystem. It is recognized for its biodiversity and the source of livelihoods for nearly three million people living along the Caribbean coasts of Mexico, Belize, Guatemala, and Honduras. The Mesoamerican Reef region is internationally known for being at the forefront of cutting edge and innovative reef management efforts. The region has made significant advancements in marine resources management and conservation over the years. However, there is still much more that needs to be accomplished.
Continued efforts are essential to ensure the protection of fish replenishment zones, spawning aggregation sites across the region, among other strategic conservation needs. Therefore, we must maintain our collective regional and global quest for sustained and vibrant marine resources and oceans. The effort of the BMF in working to sustain some of the most globally important marine resources is a vital step towards realizing our collective goal.
| INVESTMENT | 63 PROJECTS | 27 PARTNERS |
| The Belize Marine Fund has invested US$1,797,919 in supporting initiatives that strengthen marine conservation outcomes in Belize. | The Belize Marine Fund has funded 63 projects, to achieve the outcomes and impacts identified in the BMF’s strategic Theory of Change. | The Belize Marine Fund has partnered with 27 organizations in the implementation of marine conservation initiatives across Belize. |
The BMF makes investments guided by its Investment Strategy (2019 -2021). This is implemented through three thematic areas as follows:
Thematic Area 1: Effective Marine Protected Areas Contributing Towards a Functional National Protected Areas System
Thematic Area 2: Reduced Pressures on the Marine Resources
Thematic Area 3: Effective Marketing of Belize’s Reef at National and International .
Effective Marine Protected Areas Contributing Towards a Functional National
Protected Areas System
PROJECT |
ORGANIZATION |
| Developing model sustainable management for Turneffe Atoll (2017) | Turneffe Atoll Trust |
| Increasing the effectiveness of sustainable marine resource use and management in SEA’s co-managed protected areas (2018) | Southern Environmental Association |
| National Management Effectiveness Assessment for Belize’s Protected Areas System (2019) | Wildtracks |
| Monitoring Effectiveness of the Turneffe Atoll Marine Reserve through Long-term Monitoring of Marine Megafauna (2019) | MarAlliance |
| Contributing to the Knowledge, Monitoring and Protection of Mesoamerican Reef’s Fish Spawning Aggregations and Replenishment Zones (2019) | Toledo Institute for Development and Environment |
| Towards the Knowledge, Monitoring and Protection of MAR Fish Spawning Aggregations and Replenishment Zones (2020) | Toledo Institute for Development and Environment |
| Improving management of fish spawning aggregation zone in Gladden Spit and Silk Cayes Marine Reserve (2020) | Southern Environmental Association |
| Towards Sustainability for the Turneffe Atoll Marine Reserve (2020) | Turneffe Atoll Sustainability Association |
| Increasing Financial Sustainability and Generating Income Diversification Opportunities for the Improved Management Effectiveness of Corozal Bay Wildlife Sanctuary (2022) | Sarteneja Alliance for Conservation and Development |
| Consolidating the Revenue Generation and Commercial Offer under the Blended Finance Approach for the Turneffe Atoll Marine Reserve (2022) | Turneffe Atoll Sustainability Association |
| Strengthening surveillance and enforcement in Port Honduras Marine Reserve, Belize (2022) | Toledo Institute for Development and Environment |
| Strengthening monitoring and protection for fish spawning aggregations at Turneffe Atoll, Belize (2022) | Environmental Defense Fund |
| Construction of a Tourism Expedition Hosting Facility (TEHF) as a Critical Component of Community Tourism Development in Sarteneja (2023) | Sarteneja Alliance for Conservation and Development |
| Re-establishing the Gales Point Wildlife Sanctuary in Belize, Through Community Engagement, Research, and Conservation Interventions (2023) | Clearwater Aquarium Research Institute |
| UB-ERI Core Support: Building National Scientific Capacity for the Effective Management, Sustainable Use and Conservation of Belize’s Natural Resources (2023) | University of Belize – Environmental Research Institute |
Reduced Pressures on the Marine Resources
PROJECT |
ORGANIZATION |
| 2017: Promoting sustainable fishing practices within Lighthouse Reef Atoll (Area 7) through Managed Access | Belize Audubon Society |
| 2017: Mesoamerican Reef Sustainable Finfish Initiative in Belize | Environmental Defense Fund |
| 2017: Continued Reef Replenishment with the Critically Endangered Acroporid Corals in Southern Belize | Fragments of Hope |
| 2017: A Financial Platform for Sustainable Seaweed Production in Belize | The Nature Conservancy |
| 2017: Resilience Analysis of Belize Marine Protected Areas System to Climate Change | World Wildlife Fund |
| 2018: Protecting Belize’s Marine Resources | Oceana |
| 2018: Stakeholder Participation in Sustainable Fisheries Management | Wildlife Conservation Society |
| 2020: Establishing Effective Lionfish Management in Belize’s Fish Replenishment Zones | Blue Ventures Conservation |
| 2020: Managing Responsible Fisheries in Belize | Oceana |
| 2020: Exploration of Sea Cucumber Mariculture Potential in Belize | University of Belize – Environmental Research Institute |
| 2020: Continued Reef Replenishment in Southern Belize with an Emphasis on Mapping and Quantifying Natural Replenishment Acroporid Cover | Fragments of Hope |
| 2020: Stony Coral Tissue Loss Disease Monitoring and First Response in Belize | World Wildlife Fund / Healthy Reefs Initiative |
| 2021: Safeguarding Replenishment Zones Within the Belize Barrier Reef Reserve System | Wildlife Conservation Society |
| 2021: Building Resilience and Environmental Stewardship Among the three Fishing Communities of Hopkins, Independence and Placencia | Southern Environmental Association |
| 2021: Investing in Crisis-Resilient Fisheries by Strengthening Managed Access Committees across Belize | Environmental Defense Fund |
| 2021: Assessment of Agro-pesticides bioaccumulation in Belize marine species to reduce impact to the Mesoamerican Reef | World Wildlife Fund |
| 2021: Discretionary grant – Equipment Purchase (laptop) | Federation of Fishers |
Effective Marketing of Belize’s Reef at National and International Levels
PROJECT |
ORGANIZATION |
| 2017: Capacity Building of Fishing Communities youth in Northern Belize as a Fisheries Management Tool | Belize Audubon Society |
| 2017: Safeguarding Critical Habitat for the Endangered Antillean Manatee in Belize | Sea to Shore Alliance |
| 2017: Shifting Attitudes and Behaviors in Belize’s Fishing Community to Maximize Marine Conservation Impacts | Wildlife Conservation Society |
| 2018: Towards A Brighter Future: Highlighting Belize’s Commitment to Sustaining the Belize Barrier Reef Reserve System (BBRRS) World Heritage Site (WHS) | World Wildlife Fund |
| 2018: Reef Week | Belize Audubon Society |
| 2019: Building capacity of fishing stakeholders for participation in marine conservation, through education, public awareness and collaboration | Belize Audubon Society |
| 2019: Engaging Belizean Youths as the Next Generation of Conservation Leaders | Ecology Project International |
| 2019: Safeguarding Manatees and Community Livelihoods in Placencia and Belize City through Research and Education | Sea to Shore Alliance |
| 2019: Branding for Change—Enhancing National and International Awareness of the Importance of the BBRRS WHS | World Wildlife Fund |
| 2019: Reef Week | Belize Audubon Society |
| 2019: Fostering A Green Belize in the 21st Century: 2019 Belize International Film Festival (Green Globe) | National Institute of Culture and History |
| 2019: Toledo Exposure and KREM TV/Radio’s participation and live coverage of the UN Climate Change COP 25 | Toledo Exposure Documentary Films/KREM TV/Radio |
| 2019: Participation in the Gulf and Caribbean Fisheries Institute 72nd Annual Conference | Turneffe Atoll Sustainability Association |
| 2020: Reef Week | Belize Audubon Society |
| 2021: Re-imagining Belizean Tourism in the Wake of the COVID-19 Pandemic | Belize Tourism Industry Association |
| 2021: Conserving Manatees and Habitats in Belize Through Research, Monitoring, and Community Engagement | Clearwater Aquarium Research Institute |
| 2021: Building Knowledge and Understanding, Managing Perceptions, and Engaging Fishing Communities of the North Eastern Coast of Belize Towards Improved Stewardship of Marine Resources | Belize Audubon Society |
| 2021: International Day for Biodiversity | National Biodiversity Office / Association or Protected Area Management Organizations |
| 2021: Reef Week | Belize Audubon Society |
| 2021: IUCN World Conservation Congress | National Biodiversity Office / Association or Protected Area Management Organizations |
| 2022: Support for Clearwater Marine Aquarium Senior Scientists | Clearwater Aquarium Research Institute |
| 2022: Belize Barrier Reef 100th birthday celebration | World Wildlife Fund |
| 2022: International Day for Biodiversity 2022 “Building a Shared Future for All Life” | National Biodiversity Office / Association or Protected Area Management Organizations |
| 2022: Find the Whales game | Thought Generation Society |
| 2023: UNBELIZEABLUE – Showcasing Women’s Leadership in Marine Conservation in Belize | International Documentary Association |
| 2023: BIOPAMA Action Component–5th International MPA Congress, Vancouver Canada (February 3 -9, 2023) | Toledo Institute for Development and Environment |
| 2022: South Water Caye Marine Reserve Community Stewardship, Mangrove Awareness and Nursery Pilot Project | Reefkeeper Belize |
| 2023: Advancing Implementation of the Branding, Marketing and Communications Strategies for Belize’s Barrier Reef Reserve System—A UNESCO World Heritage Site | Coastal Zone Management Authority and Institute |
Sustainable Tourism that Benefits All – Sarteneja Alliance for Conservation and Development
Restoring Coral Reefs – Fragments of Hope
The Reef Protectors Program – Belize Audubon Society
Key results of the tematic areas. Click on the buttons to open the collapsible content:
- BUILDING CLIMATE CHANGE RESILIENCE:
Contribution towards a better understanding of the resilience potential, and adaptation capacity of MPAs to identify strategies to increase climate change resilience - BUILDING FINANCIAL SUSTAINABILITY:
Innovation towards MPA financial sustainable financing - IMPROVING EFFECTIVE MANAGEMENT:
Enabling MPA inclusion in the National Management Effectiveness Assessment for Belize’s Protected Areas System - IMPROVING COLLABORATION:
Fostering collaboration between MPA managers in the seascape.
Some of the examples of indicators achieved are:
| 114,540 additional hectares of Belize's marine environment under protection | 2 models for protected areas financial sustainability | Protocol for addressing invasive lionfish |
- REDUCING FISHING PRESSURE:
Support towards addressing the issue of destructive fishing gear - IMPROVING ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY:
Contribution towards expansion of SCMR replenishment zone - IMPROVING EFFECTIVE MANAGEMENT:
Enabling MPA inclusion in the National Management Effectiveness Assessment for Belize’s Protected Areas System - IMPROVING COLLABORATION:
Fostering collaboration between MPA managers in the seascape.
Some of the examples of indicators achieved are:
| 25,000ft of destructive fishing gear removed from Belize's waters | 31,277 Acropora coral out-planted in coral restoration areas | Coral colonies treated for SCTLD with a 71% success rate |
- IMPROVING GLOBAL RECOGNITION OF BELIZE’S REEF:
Support National multi-sectoral participation for development and adoption of effective branding and marketing of the Belize Barrier Reef Reserve System (BBRRS-WHS) - IMPROVING NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL AWARENESS OF BELIZE’S REEF:
Development of the Wealth Untold Documentary to raise national and international awareness of the efforts being undertaken by women leaders from various walks of life to preserve Belize’s Barrier Reef Reserve System - IMPROVING NATIONAL AWARENESS OF BELIZE’S MANATEES:
Increased level of national awareness and recognition of manatees - SUPPORTING CROSS-CUTTING STRATEGIC DEVELOPMENT:
Support towards the development of Belize’s Blue Economy Policy and Strategy - COST-SHARING, COLLABORATIVE YOUTH ENGAGEMENT:
Consistent support of multi-collaboration for youth engagement.
Some of the examples of indicators achieved are:
| 2,695 students exposed to information on Belize's mangrove, reef and biodiversity | 9,936 people engaged on social media in promoting good reef stewardship | Nationally adopted Belize Barrier Reef Reserve System World Heritage Site branding and marketing strategy |
BMF 1st Biennial Conference – October 2019
Agenda
Proceedings of the Belize Marine Fund 1st biennial conference
Presentation – BMF 1 Wildtracks Management Effectiveness
Presentation – BMF 2 SEA Effective Resource Management
Presentation – BMF 3 MAR Monitoring Megafauna
Presentation – BMF 4 FoH Reef Restoration
Presentation – BMF 5 WWF Coastal Resilience
Presentation – BMF 6 BAS LHRA Managed Access
Presentation – BMF 7 WCS Sustainable Fisheries
Presentation – BMF 8 TNC Seaweed Production
Presentation – BMF 9 BAS Reef Protectors
Presentation – BMF 10 Engaging Youths
Presentation – BMF 11 S2S Manatees in Belize
Presentation – BMF 12 OCEANA The Belizean Voice
Presentation – BMF 13 FUNDAECO Financial Sustainability
Presentation – BMF 14 TASA Blue Carbon
Presentation – BMF 15 TNC Impact Investment
BMF 2nd Biennial Conference – May 2022
Agenda – Belize Marine Fund 2nd Biennial Conference
BMF 2nd Biennial Conference Proceedings
Theme 1 – Resilience Analysis of Belize’s MPAs System to Climate Change-Nadia Bood-WWF
Theme 1 – Expanding Belize’s Network of MPAs-Ralna Lewis-WCS
Theme 1 – Contributing to Resilient Fishereies by
Strengthening MA Committees – Nicanor Requena-EDF
Theme 2 – Rebuilding Abundance-Janelle Chanona-Oceana
Theme 2 – Building Capacity for Effective Lionfish Management in Belize’s FRZs-Fabian Kyne-Blue Ventures
Theme 2 – Building Knowledge of FSAs at Cayman Crown Through Monitoring and Protection-Cecilia Guerrero-TIDE
Theme 3 Ongoing Reef Replenishment in Southern Belize-Lisa Carne-Fragments of Hope
Theme 3 Efforts to Safeguard Belize’s Endangered Antillean Manatees -Jamal Galves-CMARI
Theme 4 – Creating the Next Generation of Conservation Leaders Reef Protectors – Dareece – BAS
Theme 4 – The Importance of Belize’s Marine Resources to Our Tourism Product –
Linette Canto – BTIA
Theme 4 – Branding for Change – Enhancing National and International Awareness of the
BBRRS WHS-Nadia Bood-WWF
Theme 5 – Developing Belize’s Blue Economy Policy and Strategy – Maxine Monsanto – MBECA
Theme 5 – Investing in a Resilient Coastal Economy – Project Finance for Permanence for Belize –
Osmany Salas – WWF
Theme 5 – Game Changing Finance Solutions – Finding a Way to Making MPAs Work –
Valdemar Andrade – TASA
Theme 5 – Blue Economy Regional Protocol–An Opportunity to Enhance Regional,
National and Local Coordination – Carlos Rodriguez-MAR2R
Theme 6 – Belize Marine Fund (BMF) Investments – Angeline Valentine – MAR Fund – BMF