Lowell “Japs” Godfrey, marine stalwart, dies of cancer

By Aaron Humes: This week, Belize lost environmental advocate and former commercial fisherman Lowell Godfrey, alias “Japs,” of Placencia, Stann Creek District.

Godfrey was reportedly suffering from complications of cancer at the time of his death.

A biography of Godfrey reposted by Oceana Belize from October 2020, when the organization named Godfrey one of its annual Ocean Heroes, states that he fished for over 40 years, but turned to seaweed farming after coming to terms with the decline of fishery stock and the destructive nature of gillnets.

Godfrey served as chairman of the Placencia Producers Cooperative, overseeing the development of the seaweed farming industry which has now become one of the seaside tourist resort town’s top industries.

He told Oceana as part of his short video in honour of becoming an Ocean Hero, “An Ocean Hero to me is someone that is out there in the marine environment [that] takes care of it, educate people about it, go about physically trying to make a difference in how you approach or address problems facing the ocean,” adding that physical participation gives one a “point of knowledge” from which to speak.

Condolences have been pouring in. From the Southern Environmental Association (SEA): “Your love, work, and care for the Marine Environment will not be forgotten but embraced with continuity.”

Former Placencia Village Chairman Charles B. Leslie, Jr., wrote, “Placencia has lost another tourism industry pioneer. My deepest condolences to the Godfrey family, to his children [and] friends. The entire village of Placencia mourns this great loss.”

Godfrey is survived by wife Lee Nyhus and daughters Jenna and Joelle and other relatives and friends. May he rest in peace.

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