Fisherfolk Association Questions Government’s Ocean Management Agenda

As Belize moves to meet commitments tied to its Blue Bond agreement, the Sustainable Oceans Plan has cleared the House of Representatives. But for many fishers, the issue isn’t conservation itself. Instead, they argue that a final round of consultations never happened before lawmakers approved the legislation. While fisherfolk leaders say the process left those most affected feeling sidelined, the Fisheries Department maintains that the new law simply creates a framework for better ocean management and says stakeholders still have opportunities to engage, seek clarification and help shape its implementation. Here’s what both sides had to say.

 

Jorge Aldana, President, San Pedro Fisherfolk Association

“Don’t wait to the eleventh hour and say well I have until November, the ending of November or the beginning of November to ensure that we put this amount of waters in some sense of protection. We said to the government and police in all our consultations, we believe in conservation. Fisherfolks are not against conservation. What fisherfolks is against is the way they do things. If you are going to do things, do it with us, hand in hand, cup in hands. We will have a problem if you come and consult with fisherfolks about these things.”

 

Adriel Castanedas, Acting Fisheries Administrator, Fisheries Department

“What the BSOP is doing is creating a framework,   platform through which we can be more efficient at what we do. And I leave it at that, because then it’s more complex. There’s a lot of pieces to it, but I think it’s a good plan and it’s a good way of moving forward. And I invite people to read. It’s available online. Read it, understand it. If you have questions, come and ask us. Coastal zone is the main leading entity, and I would recommend for them to approach it.”

 

 

Attention readers: This online newscast is a direct transcript of our evening television broadcast. When speakers use Kriol, we have carefully rendered their words using a standard spelling system.

 

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