New Belize Fisheries Council holds inaugural meeting

By Rubén Morales Iglesias: The new advisory body to the Ministry of Blue Economy and Civil Aviation, the Belize Fisheries Council, held its inaugural meeting on Monday headed by Minister Andre Perez.

According to a GOB Press Office release, “the Belize Fisheries Council (BFC) is focused on improving coordination for the sustainable growth of the fisheries sector of the nation’s blue economy and overall economic development.”

“Every decision we make is based on the science of the blue economy geared at sustainable development to benefit all, now and for the years to come,” said Minister Perez. “The council is critical for our success as it brings together all sectors and most importantly our stakeholders who earn their livelihoods from the fisheries sector making recommendations and guiding policies for the use and management of our marine resources.”

The BFC is comprised of ten members and is chaired by Kennedy Carrillo, chief executive officer in the Ministry of Blue Economy and Civil Aviation.

The BFC has representation from government agencies, fisherfolk and fishing cooperatives, nongovernmental organizations, civil society, academia, and researchers/fisheries.

According to the GOB Press Office, the sectors represented in the BFC “include the Ministry of Blue Economy, Fisheries Department, Belize Coastal Zone Management and Authority, economists from the Ministry of Economic Development, technocrats from the tourism, environment and conservation public sectors, marine researchers, resource users and stakeholders, environment and conservation management.”

The virtual inaugural meeting looked at the progress in the development of the Blue Economy Strategic Management Plan.

This plan is being formulated through a consultative approach with partners which include the United Kingdom Government, the Inter-American Development Bank, local and international NGOs, World Wildlife Fund, The Nature Conservancy, MarFund, and fisherfolk associations and cooperatives in Belize.

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