Sustainable Fishery Framework and Community-based Tourism in Sarteneja, Belize

Coastal communities in northern Belize rely heavily on both fish stocks and tourism for their livelihoods.

After the COVID-19 pandemic crushed tourism revenue across the Caribbean including in Belize more community members turned to fishing to meet their food security needs depleting the local stock. The IAF supports community-led solutions to expand economic opportunity and protect natural resources.

Our grantee the Sarteneja Alliance for Conservation and Development (SACD) will work with organized groups in Sarteneja in northern Belize to adopt a sustainable fishery model to recover fish stocks through structuring and regulating local fishing.

It will also expand income-generating opportunities in tourism by helping community members to improve their services refine their products and market their eco-tours collectively.