Belize: Advancing Ocean Accounting for Sustainable Development

Background and Objectives

Belize’s coastal and marine ecosystems are vital to both the country’s ecological health and economic stability. Mangroves cover half of the mainland coast, while coral reefs protect two-thirds of the coastline, acting as natural barriers against storms and supporting the livelihoods of over half the population through tourism and fisheries.

Belize’s UNESCO World Heritage barrier reef is the largest in the northern hemisphere and the second largest globally. Managing these complex, interconnected marine systems requires robust data that links environmental health with economic and social outcomes — making ocean accounts a powerful tool for evidence-based decision-making.

Belize has demonstrated a long-standing commitment to building an inclusive, sustainable, and data-driven blue economy, taking significant steps towards conservation and sustainable development, including:

The adoption of the Belize Integrated Coastal Zone Management (ICZM) Plan in 2016
The establishment of the Ministry of Blue Economy in 2020
The issuance of the Belize Blue Bond for Ocean Conservation in 2021, designed to measure whether conservation investments deliver tangible community benefits and local resilience
The development of the Belize Blue Economy Plan in 2022, which includes the National Blue Economy Development Policy, Strategy and Implementation Plan (BEDPS) 2022–2027
Belize’s first Maritime Economy Plan (MEP) in 2022
The Belize Medium-Term Development Strategy 2022-2026

As part of these continuing efforts, Belize is now in the process of developing a comprehensive national marine spatial plan, known as the Belize Sustainable Ocean Plan (BSOP), which provides a science-based foundation for incorporating social and cultural dimensions into national marine spatial planning, serving as a roadmap for marine spatial planning and sustainable resource use while tracking social impacts over time.

Objectives

Building on these foundations, Belize is now developing ocean accounts to provide an integrated data framework linking environmental, economic, and social information for evidence-based ocean governance.

Since 2024, the Ministry of Blue Economy and Marine Conservation (MBEMC), the Statistical Institute of Belize (SIB), the Coastal Zone Management Authority & Institute (CZMAI), and the University of Belize Environmental Research Institute (UB ERI) have partnered with GOAP to develop Belize’s ocean accounts. The project is overseen by a multi-stakeholder Project Steering Committee chaired by the Blue Bond and Finance Permanence Unit (BBFP). This project aims to:

Build capacity in creating a robust framework for ocean accounting within Belize’s maritime area, thereby supporting sustainable Blue Economy development and informed decision-making
Develop coral reef extent and condition accounts for the Ambergris Caye Reef, with a plan to expand nationwide
Produce a National Ocean Economy Satellite Account and Ocean Tourism Satellite Account to provide insights into the contributions of the ocean economy and tourism sector to the economic wellbeing of Belize

These activities are outlined in the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), which was signed by the Ministry of Blue Economy and Disaster Risk Management (now MBEMC) and the Global Ocean Accounts Partnership (GOAP) Secretariat on 6 November 2024. This partnership supports Belize’s blue economy and informed decision-making in ocean resource management.

The project is building local expertise through the GOAP Fellows Program and ensures widespread involvement across government agencies, research institutions, and community groups.

The project is funded by the UK Government through the Overseas Development Assistance grant under the Blue Planet Fund.

Activities

October 2025 | Workshops on Blue Economy Monitoring and Ocean Accounts Compilation | Belize

In collaboration with IDB, Stanford Natural Capital Project, BBFP, and MBEMC, a workshop advanced the integration of ocean accounts with Belize’s Blue Economy Monitoring, Reporting, and Verification (MRV) system.

Participants prioritized key performance indicators across environmental, social, economic, and governance dimensions, linking each directly to ocean account components. A dedicated session on building the social dimension of ocean accounts explored unmeasured aspects of people’s relationship with the ocean—including livelihoods, equity, and cultural values, and developed a shared vision for Belize’s pilot social account.

GOAP followed with in-depth technical training to further advance national capacity. Sessions focused on ecosystem account compilation and OESA methodology validation, equipping Fellows with practical skills for ocean accounting development.

These workshops marked a pivotal moment of integration, demonstrating how ocean accounts and MRV workstreams are converging to create a unified approach to measuring progress in Belize’s blue economy.

9-13 June 2025 | Belize Signs the Pledge to Advance Ocean Accounts at the UN Ocean Conference (UNOC3) | Nice, France

Belize’s delegation, led by Prime Minister Hon. John Briceño, participated in UNOC3. Key moments include:

Belize joined 19 countries and 7 international organizations in signing the global Pledge to Advance Ocean Accounts by 2030
Prime Minister Briceño delivered interventions at key events including “SIDS Coalition for Nature: Perspectives and Achievements on Ocean Action” and the “SIDS DOCK” side event
Belize played a leadership role in launching “Actioning Blue: 30x30 Vision for the Ocean,” a landmark political declaration by Caribbean nations committing to protect 30% of the region’s marine ecosystems by 2030

December 2024 – April 2025 | Launch of Ocean Accounts Fellows Program | Belize

To build long-term institutional capacity, GOAP worked with MBEMC, CZMAI, SIB and University of Belize to establish the Ocean Accounts Fellows Program. Three Belizean professionals were recruited and embedded within key national institutions:

Jefte Ochaeta (Statistical Institute of Belize) – Account compilation and data analysis
Caisha Fermin (Coastal Zone Management Authority & Institute) – Data management and hosting
Wilbert Castillo (University of Belize Environmental Research Institute) – Data collection and protocol standardization

Following onboarding, the Fellows participated in an intensive training workshop tailored to each institution’s role within the ocean accounts framework. Sessions covered the SEEA framework, Ocean Economy Satellite Accounts methodology, and technical training on ecosystem extent, condition and services accounting.

5-7 November 2024 | Workshop: Ocean Accounts Data Pathways and Visualization Tools | Belize

Immediately following the MOU signing, GOAP conducted a pivotal 3-day workshop that brought together 25+ participants from 10+ organisations including national ministries, government departments, research institutions, and environmental organizations dedicated to advancing sustainable ocean management.

This workshop focused on critical data considerations for developing Belize’s ocean accounts, including identifying necessary data, establishing storage and communication systems, and mapping out data-sharing channels among stakeholders. Participants engaged in discussions on enhancing data accessibility, standardising data collection practices, and exploring visualisation tools like dashboards and platforms to make ocean accounts data user-friendly and actionable.

The outcomes of this workshop laid the groundwork for a sustainable, collaborative ocean accounts framework, and informed the design and scope of the Ocean Accounts Fellows Program.

6 November 2024 | MOU Signing to Advance Ocean Accounting for Sustainable Development in Belize

The partnership between MBEMC (formerly the Ministry of Blue Economy and Disaster Risk Management) and GOAP was formalised through the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), marking a pivotal step towards developing robust ocean accounts for the sustainable management of Belize’s marine resources. The MOU outlines a two-year collaborative framework (2024-2026) funded by the UK Government’s Blue Planet Fund, with clearly defined deliverables, governance structures and institutional responsibilities.

20 August 2024 | Inaugural Project Steering Committee Meeting | Belize

Following a year of planning and consultation, the project was formally established through the inaugural Project Steering Committee meeting convened by the Ministry of Blue Economy and Disaster Risk Management (now MBEMC). The meeting was attended by ten organisations in-person and virtually. Key outcomes included:

The Committee agreed on the scope of the project, implementation mechanisms and approaches
The governance structure was confirmed, with the Belize Blue Bond and Finance Permanence Unit (BBFP) designated as Chair and MBEMC as Co-Chair
Members include representatives from CZMAI, Statistical Institute of Belize (SIB), University of Belize Environmental Research Institute (UB ERI), Ministry of Economic Development, Hol Chan Marine Reserve, and GOAP

August 2023 | Workshop: Introduction to Ocean Accounting in Belize

The introductory workshop united 20 diverse stakeholders, including government officials, experts in marine science, and representatives from non-governmental organisations, to provide comprehensive training on ocean accounting and marine spatial planning. Sessions were facilitated by representatives from the GOAP Secretariat, and overviews of the status of sustainable development in Belize were provided by CZMAI, the Director of the Blue Bond & Finance Permanence Unit, and the Ministry of Blue Economy and Disaster Risk Management. Learn more here.