CEO Wade Defends Sustainable Ocean Plan

Another issue the Ministry of Blue Economy is working through with fishers is Belize’s Sustainable Ocean Plan. Officials say it will balance economic development, conservation and the many uses of the country’s marine space. Some fishers have raised concerns that it could affect their livelihoods. CEO Beverly Wade explains what the plan will require.

 

Beverly Wade, CEO, Blue Economy and Marine Conservation

“The Belize Sustainable Ocean Plan in our view, is something that we should be very proud of. Belize is probably one of the first countries regionally to actually have a plan for its total ocean space. And what it is, it’s a spatial depiction of our ocean space and to now look at that ocean space with a view to identify various uses, best use for the space. And that’s based on social considerations, it’s based on economic considerations, and it’s based on conservation considerations. And I often when I talk about it, I tell people, “Think about it like a blueprint for building your house.” And what it is saying is that these areas are the best areas for certain activities to happen. And so it’s a rational approach to the access and the use of Belize’s oceans- ocean space, and it allows us to plan better and it allows us as a people to look at our ocean space as a space that we just don’t approach in an ad hoc manner and that we approach it from an informed standpoint. Implementation means now working with the stakeholders and the various regulatory bodies that operate within this space, because it’s not about just the sectors that come directly under the Ministry of the Blue Economy, but it entails all your other regulatory sectors your private sector, your user base and to now look at how we now jointly implement the Sustainable Ocean Plan.”

 

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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