On Saturday, October 5, 2026, Oceana in Belize gathered over 300 marine conservation advocates from across the nation at its annual general meeting held at the St. Catherine’s Academy Mercy Center in Belize City, to celebrate the outstanding contributions of grassroots activists and partner organizations dedicated to safeguarding the country’s rich marine ecosystems.
At the event, the environmental nonprofit presented district-level Wavemaker Awards to six local champions who have driven conservation action in their respective regions. Leslie Rodriguez took home the honor for Corozal, Joesie Castillo claimed the award for Orange Walk, Monique Garbutt received recognition for Belize District, Ranai Gonzales was honored for Cayo, Cianna Garbutt won the award for Stann Creek, and Ymanoli Garcia was recognized for Toledo. For Castillo, the recognition holds deep personal meaning. In a public social media post following the ceremony, the Orange Walk activist explained that her work as a mother has shaped her commitment to marine protection, noting that her core mission is to leave a healthy, sustainable environmental footprint and preserve Belize’s natural marine heritage for future generations to experience and enjoy.
Beyond the district honors, the organization named Zeidi Vellos, a long-time advocate based in Corozal District, the 2026 National Wavemaker of the Year. Vellos has been an active member of Oceana’s Wavemaker network since 2022, consistently contributing to a wide range of conservation initiatives including community educational workshops, public environmental outreach events, public awareness presentations, and youth engagement programs that cultivate the next generation of environmental stewards.
In addition to honoring individual activists, Oceana recognized Community Health Workers from Southern Belize as its 2026 Partner of the Year. The award acknowledges the group’s ongoing collaborative work with Oceana, as well as their overlapping efforts to advance both community well-being and marine conservation across southern coastal and inland communities in Belize.
Eworth Garbutt, President of the Belize Flats Fishery Association and a prominent voice for sustainable fishing practices and marine protection, served as the event’s guest speaker. During his address, Garbutt highlighted two high-impact community-led conservation projects as proof of what collective, persistent action can achieve: the successful grassroots campaign to halt unsustainable development along Will Bauer Flats, and ongoing restoration work to reverse severe erosion and revive the fragile ecosystem at Silk Caye. He emphasized that consistent, community-centered commitment remains the most powerful tool for protecting Belize’s irreplaceable marine resources for years to come.