Belize Fund Awards $643K to Boost Fisheries and Coastal Livelihoods

The Belize Fund for a Sustainable Future has unveiled more than six hundred and forty-three thousand dollars in new grant funding for projects aimed at protecting the country’s marine resources while strengthening coastal livelihoods. At its fourth Awards Ceremony held today in Dangriga, the Belize Fund announced funding for four community-based initiatives focused on sustainable fisheries, small enterprises, and Belize’s growing blue economy. The biggest share, half a million dollars, went to the Turneffe Atoll Sustainability Association to boost fisheries management through enforcement, education, and better data collection. Smaller grants will support fishers and coastal businesses across southern Belize. Barranco Botanics received a grant to expand production of marine-based soaps made with locally farmed seaweed. The Wabafu Fishermen Association also secured funding to strengthen governance and promote sustainable fishing practices. In Hopkins, the Yugadan Fisherfolks Association received nearly fifty thousand dollars to support skills training and alternative livelihoods for fishers. Executive Director Dr. Leandra Cho-Ricketts said sustainable financing is key to protecting Belize’s marine ecosystems while supporting the communities that depend on them.

 

Dr. Leandra Cho-Ricketts, Executive Director, Belize Fund

“It was less than four years ago, that the Belize Fund opened its doors and awarded grants under its first grant cycle and that grant cycle focused a lot on marine protected areas, ocean conservation and giving support to those, primarily to our co-managers and well-established entities. So all of our four community grantees from our first cohort have successfully completed their projects, these were one-year projects and there were no delays, no extensions in anything. They have done amazing jobs. And so, we’re excited to begin working with our new grantees as we look forward to more amazing work coming out of our community grants window. That said, we’re also happy that our longstanding partner, TASA, has designed a sustainable fisheries project that has fishing communities at its core and they will be working closely with the fishing communities that depend on the Turneffe Atoll Marine Reserve. TASA is also one of our stalwart partners.”

 

Since its creation, the Belize Fund has continued investing in local organizations and fishers to build a resilient blue economy and meet national conservation goals.

 

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