This study has been prepared in connection with the project “Evidence-based and Policy Coherent Oceans Economy and Trade Strategies” implemented by the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) in cooperation with the Division for Ocean Affairs and the Law of the Sea (DOALOS) of the Office of Legal Affairs (OLA) of the United Nations.
The project is aimed at supporting developing countries, including Belize, in realizing economic benefits from the sustainable use of marine resources within the framework of the 1982 United Nations Convention of the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).
It will assist coastal developing countries, particularly Small Island Developing States (SIDS), in promoting the sustainable trade of products and services in oceanbased economic sectors by analyzing, elaborating and adopting evidence-based and policy-coherent ocean economy trade strategies (OETS) and contribute to building national implementing capacities.
One component of the project called for a desk study (the results of which are contained in this report) identifying and describing relevant legal (national legislation, regulations and policies) and institutional components (the roles of relevant institutions) of the national ocean governance framework in Belize, including a detailed discussion on relevant legal and institutional components of the ocean governance framework in the following four identified sectors: sustainable marine fisheries, sustainable marine aquaculture, seafood processing and marine and coastal tourism.
Another component carried out simultaneously with the legal study, was a trade and economic data analysis and stakeholder mapping of the potential products and services in the four selected oceanbased economic sectors.
These studies will inform the National Stakeholder Dialogue Workshop, which will select the specific sectors on which the project will focus.
