Belize’s ‘Manatee Man’ Named Global Marine Conservation Leader

A Belizean marine conservationist is being recognized on the global stage. Jamal Galves, known worldwide as the ‘manatee man,’ has been awarded through the New England Aquarium’s prestigious Marine Conservation Action Fund. Galves has spent his life protecting the endangered Greater Caribbean manatees, and now he’ll join an international community of conservation leaders, sharing knowledge and strategies to safeguard marine life both at home and around the world.

 

Zenida Lanza, Reporting

From a little boy in Gales Point to a global ocean conservation leader. Jamal Galves went from playing Manatee Rescue with his cousins on his grandmother’s lawn, to a life-long mission of protecting the Greater Caribbean manatees. He spoke about the journey and the people who helped him along the way.

 

Jamal Galves, Program Coordinator, CMARI Belize

“But coming from a poor coastal community like Gales Point and the interest of becoming a researcher or scientist felt like an ocean away from me. But I’ve swam, I’ve had people that helped me along the way, dropped me, pushed me, kept my head above water when I needed to. And so for me, this is a journey of many people. Many people have been a part of this. So if you ask me who influences me the most, I can’t say one person. But really, it’s a vision. It’s work that many people have started. I’m just continuing that. And my goal is to spark not just one or two individuals, but many individuals to take that mantle because I won’t be able to do this forever. But I want to ensure that Belize’s marine species and the ecosystems are always looked after.”

 

Galves also shared what being named a Marine Conservation Action Fund awardee means to him.

 

Jamal Galves

“My boss who just passed away, he was the one that encouraged me to apply for this. He has been there for the entire journey since I was 11 years old. People may look at that in the initial sense and say, oh, Belize probably won’t qualify for something like this. But to be honest, you can have influence even coming from a small country like Belize. We’ve been having influence, and we’ll continue to do so. And for me, it’s to be among scholars, be among people that have large success in this field, people that have been recognized in many different departments. So for me, it’s just, it’s not really the award, but the opportunity, the platform, the resources that I have access to, and the ability for not just myself, but to take the knowledge that I gain from it to share with my local so that I can help to build capacity here in Belize as well.”

 

The program provides funding and access to global partners. Galves says the support will help build a rescue and rehabilitation center in Gales Point. Beyond rescue and research, he says the bigger mission is to influence policies and raise global awareness of how climate change impacts small, developing states like Belize.

 

Jamal Galves

“We’ll be supporting the rescue center that we’re building currently in Gills Point. Some of the funds will be used to purchase medical equipment, whether it’s X-ray machines, ultra sounding machines, that we will need and in terms of providing care for animals in need in rescue and rehabilitation. But not just the equipment, but it also provides funding to support capacity building. So it’s training local students, training local individuals how to use this equipment. Because the center that we’re building is not just a rescue center, it’s an educational center. So we’re hoping to mold the next generation of conservationists, not just in Belize, but in the region, but priority given to our Belizean people.”

 

While he never dreamed of being a National Geographic Explorer, Galves says there’s no requirement. You don’t need an associate’s degree or a PhD, only a dream and passion to follow that dream.

 

Jamal Galves

“Society have written a different script for us, but you don’t blame your current situation. You don’t make excuses for yourself. Find solutions to your problem. Think of an idea, create a dream, and you fight for that dream every step of the way.”

 

Reporting for News Five, I’m Zenida Lanza