| The Government of Belize has successfully negotiated a ban for gillnet fishing in Belize with the NGO's: the Coalition for Sustainable Fisheries, and Oceana Belize.
The agreement was finalized yesterday between Dr. Omar Figueroa, the Minister of Fisheries and the Environment, and representatives of the two organizations. This agreement will see support for gillnet fishermen, which will allow them to transition to alternative income-generating opportunities, and to support them in the voluntary surrender of gillnets. There is a transition program that will be implemented for a planned phase-out of gillnets.
A joint press release from the Government and the NGOs say that this collaborative agreement between GOB, the Coalition, and Oceana Belize follows in line with the Cabinet's decision, passed in December 2019, and it replaces the previous agreement signed in March 2020 with the Coalition for Sustainable Fisheries.
That press release also says, quote, "This agreement reiterates the conditions and timelines for a successful phase-out and livelihoods transition that would conclude in a ban to be instituted throughout Belize's maritime waters by January 2022, at the latest or earlier, when the livelihoods transition of fishers is successfully attained.
...The implementation of the transition programme and the voluntary surrender of gillnets will be overseen by an oversight committee appointed by the Minister of Fisheries, comprising Government, the Coalition, and Oceana." End quote.
Of important note is that the 2 million dollars that these two organizations raised will feature prominently in the phasing out process of gillnets in Belize.
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