30% Marine Protection Plan Meets Strong Opposition

This resistance from the fishing community is serious. According to the Blue Bond agreement, the Briceño administration has just about a year to protect thirty percent of Belize’s ocean space. By November 2026, the National Assembly must approve, and the government must formally sign the protected areas into law. Not meeting this deadline could see the government facing some serious penalties.

 

Eworth Garbutt, President, Belize Flat Fishery Association

“What do you think is more important, I will ask the prime minister, reaching an agreement with international souls that do not vote for you or reaching an agreement for the success of a country. Everything I know on earth, unless it is dead, you can change it, you can tweak it, you can work with it. The first thing I will ask the prime minister, even when you make a bad deal is to win the hearts of the Belizean. The only unstoppable force in this world is to get a community with you, not against you.”

 

Nigel Martinez, Director, Belize Federation of Fishers

“We know that the Blue Bond, the debt for nature swap has significant penalty clause if any of those milestones are missed. But what he is saying, we understand the government back was against the wall. They mortgage our seas for thirty percent. We understand that. But what we are saying is that the areas that are recommended for the high biodiversity zone, we can go back, look at it, tweak it and ensure that we are looking out for the grassroots people.”