A team from the UK’s Marine Management Organisation (MMO) is working closely with the Belize Fisheries Department, Ministry of Blue Economy & Marine Conservation to engage local fishers and gather feedback on Managed Access Committees (MACs), a key part of Belize’s Managed Access Programme. This collaboration reflects a shared commitment by the UK and Belize to protect marine ecosystems, support fisher livelihoods, and strengthen a resilient Blue Economy. By reinstating MACs, both nations aim to empower communities with greater ownership of marine resources, foster inclusive decision-making, and safeguard Belize’s Barrier Reef System for future generations.
Managed Access, introduced nationally in 2016, is a community rights-based fishing programme that transitioned fisheries from open access to a territorial user-rights system. Its objectives include boosting Belize’s economy, improving fisher livelihoods, and conserving the ecology of the Barrier Reef. MACs serve as the cornerstone of this system, providing fishers with a platform to act as stewards of marine resources and collaborate with fisheries managers.
Fisheries stakeholders have expressed strong support for the reinstatement of MACs, emphasizing the need for inclusive representation, particularly involving youth, women, and participants across the wider fisheries supply chain. MACs are recognized as an effective platform for improving communication between government authorities and local communities.
Acting British High Commissioner to Belize, Alistair White, highlighted the UK’s commitment to ocean health, climate resilience, and sustainable livelihoods. He noted that initiatives such as the reinstatement of MACs strengthen fisheries governance and empower communities to actively protect marine resources, complementing broader UK support for Belize’s Blue Economy, biodiversity conservation, and climate action.
Isabel Martinez, Fisheries Officer at the Belize Fisheries Department, stated that, with support from the MMO through the Ocean Country Partnership Programme (OCPP), Belize conducted an independent evaluation of the Managed Access Programme and is advancing a Sustainable Blue Economies (SBE) Project to operationalize the MACs. The OCPP partnership has been essential in transforming the evaluation into actionable steps, enhancing community participation in fisheries governance and supporting sustainable livelihoods.
A second phase of engagement is planned between January and March 2026, focusing on fishing communities in Northern and Central Belize. Joseph Peters, MMO Integrated Marine Manager, emphasized the importance of collaboration with Belizean communities and the government, marking a significant step in enhancing the Managed Access Programme and ensuring local communities play a central role in sustainable fisheries management.
This partnership underscores the importance of combining technical expertise with local knowledge to achieve sustainable ocean governance. By working together, the UK and Belize are setting a benchmark for inclusive, community-driven fisheries management, advancing a thriving Blue Economy that safeguards marine biodiversity, strengthens coastal livelihoods, and ensures the long-term resilience of Belize’s Barrier Reef System.
