| Excerpt | The Ministry of Blue Economy and Civil Aviation (MBECA) was established in November 2020. The concept of ‘Blue Economy’ is relatively new on the global stage with its inception introduced at the 2012 United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil (Rio+20). This new administration undertook the challenge of ensuring that Belizean waters, coastline, and all its stakeholders were grouped and prioritised for the betterment of the country through the formation of the Blue Economy Unit within the new MBECA. This major prioritisation was especially important due to the increasing role Belize’s marine and ocean resources play in the development of Belize’s economy, as well as in improving the livelihoods of the Belizean people. Key departments under the MBECA include the Blue Economy Unit, the Fisheries Department, and the Coastal Zone Management Authority and Institute (CZMAI). |
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