Oceana Launches Office in Belize

Oceana marked the official opening of its first Central American office in mid-November with a series of activities in Belize City. 

In addition to Oceana CEO Andrew Sharpless, two internationally-known members of Oceana's board of directors traveled to Belize for the opening: César Gaviria, a former president of Colombia and Secretary General of the OAS, and Dr. Daniel Pauly, a world-renowned marine scientist.

The activities included a private reception with members of Belize's NGO community and members of the National Assembly.  Hon. Gaspar Vega, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Natural Resources and the Environment, and Mrs. Carolyn Trench-Sandiford, Representative of the Opposition party, both gave remarks, and a keynote speech was given by Hon. Godwin Hulse, the Business Community Representative in the Senate.

"Belize's marine environment is vulnerable to the impacts of coastal development, overfishing, pollution from land-based sources and of course, natural disasters and climate change," Hon. Gaspar Vega told the crowd.

"It is my hope that Oceana will work with Belize's governmental agencies and other NGOs to help Belize in promoting the sustainable development of our natural resources in ways that are in synchrony with our national economy, social and environmental policies."

In addition, there was an official ribbon-cutting ceremony and a special lecture by Dr. Pauly open to the general public.

 "Oceana is hosting the public lecture," noted Matura-Shepherd, "to increase awareness about ocean issues in Belize, and to help ensure that the Belizean people are part of the decision-making process on how to best preserve our invaluable marine resources."

Dr. Pauly's lecture, "World Fisheries at Risk - Causes and Solutions," was attended by students from the University of Belize and as well as from 13 area high schools. Also in attendance were fishermen from Belize City, members of the tourism industry and law enforcement officers, including from the Coast Guard.

Finally, the Oceana team went on a working tour on the island of San Pedro hosted by the Minister of Tourism in collaboration with the Belize Tourism Board. The team also paid courtesy calls on the Prime Minister of Belize, Hon. Dean O. Barrow; the Minister for Fisheries Hon. Rene Montero and the Leader of the Opposition, Hon. Johnny Briceño.

"We're going to focus on the things that will help the ocean through policy," Oceana CEO Andy Sharpless said. "I'm confident and I'm excited that together in three or four years we'll be looking back and saying, ‘That was a great day for the oceans and a great day for Belize.'"