The Integrated Coastal and Ocean Management Act, 2025 establishes the legal framework for the integrated management, sustainable use, and protection of Belize’s coastal and marine areas. The Act provides for the governance and coordination of coastal and ocean resources through national institutions, planning instruments, and management measures. Its objectives include promoting sustainable development of coastal and marine resources, strengthening ecosystem protection, supporting marine spatial planning, and facilitating coordination among public authorities and stakeholders involved in coastal and ocean management.
The Act establishes the Coastal Zone Management Authority as the central body responsible for implementing coastal and ocean management policies and coordinating national activities in the coastal zone. The Authority is governed by a Board of Directors and is mandated to develop rules, guidelines, and administrative measures necessary for the management of coastal and marine areas. The legislation also establishes the Coastal Zone Management Institute, which is responsible for research, technical analysis, and scientific support related to coastal and marine resource management.
The Act further creates a Coastal Zone Management Advisory Council to provide advice and facilitate coordination among government agencies, stakeholders, and relevant sectors. The legislation introduces planning instruments for integrated management, including the Integrated Coastal Zone Management Plan, which establishes principles and strategies for sustainable use and protection of coastal ecosystems. The Act also provides for the Belize Sustainable Ocean Plan as a planning tool to guide the spatial management and sustainable use of marine resources.
Additional provisions regulate financial management, reporting obligations, and institutional accountability mechanisms for the Authority and associated bodies. The Act provides for the development and maintenance of a national coastal and marine database to support information sharing, monitoring, and management decisions. It also establishes procedures for data collection, reporting, and public access to coastal zone information. Through these institutional, planning, and information mechanisms, the Act provides a regulatory framework for the integrated management of Belize’s coastal and ocean resources.