In a landmark step for global marine conservation, the Central American nation of Belize has formally committed to sustainably managing 100% of its jurisdictional ocean territory by 2030, joining an expanding global alliance that now protects nearly two-fifths of the world’s national waters.
The government announced its official membership in the 100% Alliance for Sustainable Ocean Management during a formal announcement on August 21, 2026. Coordinated by the World Resources Institute, the alliance works to secure binding political commitments from coastal and maritime nations to advance comprehensive, science-based sustainable ocean governance across all their national waters.
Belize’s entrance into the alliance does not represent an entirely new policy direction, but rather a formal consolidation of years of existing marine conservation work already underway in the country. These pre-existing efforts include the national Belize Sustainable Ocean Plan, the country’s Blue Bonds conservation financing commitments, and ongoing marine spatial planning initiatives that map out sustainable use of different ocean zones.
To support Belize’s work under the new alliance framework, the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) has signed a formal cooperation agreement with the Belizean government to deliver targeted support for the country’s national ocean agenda. Under the terms of the agreement, IDB will provide specialized technical assistance to strengthen core foundational systems for Belize’s ocean conservation efforts, including policy development, marine data collection and analysis, governance structures, and sustainable financing frameworks. This support will directly advance the existing Sustainable Ocean Plan and enable the rollout of a broader, cross-sector National Oceans Programme.
In an official statement following the announcement, Belize Prime Minister John Briceño emphasized that the alliance membership aligns with the country’s long-term priorities for both people and the environment. “Belize’s decision to join the 100% Alliance is about ensuring that every part of our ocean is managed with purpose, for our people, our economy, and future generations,” Briceño said. “It gives us an opportunity to bring our existing commitments and investments together under one national ocean vision, supported by strong science, clear planning, and sustainable financing.”
The upcoming National Oceans Programme is designed to coordinate sustainable development and conservation priorities across key ocean-reliant sectors in Belize, including commercial and artisanal fisheries, coastal tourism, natural disaster and coastal erosion resilience, and marine pollution reduction. Beyond coordination, the programme will also position Belize to attract additional investment from public, private, and results-based financing sources to fund high-priority ocean conservation and sustainable development projects across the country.
With Belize’s membership, the alliance now includes the 19 member states of the Ocean Panel, alongside fellow new entrants Colombia, Panama, and the Republic of Korea, bringing the total share of the world’s national waters covered by alliance commitments to 40 percent.