Belize Passes Milestone Law to Safeguard Fisheries

• by Jewel Fraser (port of spain)
• Wednesday, February 26, 2020
• Inter Press Service

On Feb. 14, the Belizean Parliament passed into law the Fisheries Resources Act that establishes legal safeguards for marine protected areas and that country's managed access programme for fishers.

The Central American country of Belize was a pioneer in 2016 in bringing its entire territorial waters under a system of licensed fishing rights that gave fishers designated spots.

Doug Rader, chief ocean scientist at the EDF, tells Voices from the Global South that this new law is a win-win for all, since the marine protected areas and the managed access programme reinforce each other, ensuring the livelihood of Belizean fishers.

In this Voices from the Global South Podcast, IPS Caribbean correspondent Jewel Fraser speaks to Rader about the problems the law will solve and the ways Belize and neighbouring countries will benefit.

© Inter Press Service (2020) — All Rights ReservedOriginal source: Inter Press Service

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