In a landmark step toward advancing Belize’s blue economy and marine conservation goals, the Belize Fund for a Sustainable Future has announced $643,000 in new grant financing for four community-led projects that balance marine resource protection with economic opportunity for coastal populations. The funding was officially presented at the fund’s fourth annual Awards Ceremony, held April 30, 2026 in the coastal town of Dangriga, with all initiatives centered on expanding sustainable fisheries, supporting small local enterprises, and strengthening the country’s fast-growing ocean-focused economy.
The single largest allocation, totaling $500,000, has been awarded to the Turneffe Atoll Sustainability Association (TASA), a long-standing partner of the Belize Fund. The funding will enable TASA to expand sustainable fisheries management across the Turneffe Atoll Marine Reserve through increased enforcement of conservation rules, public education for local fishing communities, and improved systematic data collection on fish populations and ecosystem health. Unlike earlier grant cycles that prioritized established conservation entities and marine protected area management, this round of funding spotlights grassroots community groups working across southern Belize to lift coastal livelihoods while protecting natural resources.
Three smaller grants will directly benefit local fishing cooperatives and small marine-based businesses. Barranco Botanics, a local craft producer, will use its award to scale up production of natural seaweed soaps, manufactured from locally harvested marine algae to create income for coastal residents. The Wabafu Fishermen Association secured financing to strengthen its internal organizational governance and expand outreach to promote sustainable fishing practices across its membership. In the coastal community of Hopkins, the Yugadan Fisherfolks Association will put nearly $50,000 toward professional skills training for local fishers and the development of alternative, low-impact livelihood options that reduce overreliance on overfished stocks.
Belize Fund Executive Director Dr. Leandra Cho-Ricketts noted that the organization has made significant progress since it began awarding grants less than four years ago. All four community projects from the inaugural grant cycle, which focused on marine protected area support and ocean conservation for co-management bodies and established entities, were completed successfully within their scheduled 12-month timelines with no delays or extensions required. “We’re excited to begin working with our new grantees as we look forward to more amazing work coming out of our community grants window,” Cho-Ricketts said during the ceremony. She added that TASA’s new project is particularly notable because it centers the needs and input of the fishing communities that depend on the Turneffe Atoll Marine Reserve for their incomes, placing local stakeholders at the core of conservation action.
Since its founding, the Belize Fund has prioritized long-term investment in local organizations and artisanal fishers to build a more resilient, inclusive blue economy that aligns with Belize’s national marine conservation targets. This latest round of grants reaffirms the fund’s commitment to a community-led model that recognizes sustainable financing as the critical link between protecting fragile marine ecosystems and supporting the coastal communities that rely on those resources for their survival and prosperity.