BSOP Slogan Competition Winner Announced

On November 3, 2023, the Belize Sustainable Ocean Plan (BSOP) Slogan Competition winner was announced on the local media morning show Sunup 7 by Ms. Janel McNab, MSP Coordinator, and Mrs. Shari Banner-Gentle, MSP Communications and PR Officer, alongside Mr. Belizario Carballo, Technical Officer from the Blue Bond and Finance Permanence Unit. The announcement aimed to raise awareness about the BSOP and engage the public by emphasizing the significance of an impactful slogan in promoting sustainable ocean management and environmental stewardship.

Slogan Competition Overview: The competition, held in August 2023, aimed to engage, involve, and educate the Belizean public in the BSOP process and highlight their role. It was funded by The Belize Fund for a Sustainable Future, under the Government Strategic Allocation (GSA) project (2022-2025), the competition was part of a broader initiative to develop a Marine Spatial Plan (MSP) for Belize. The Belize Fund is a non-profit organization focused on conservation and climate change adaptation activities, particularly related to marine resources.

Participation and Judging: There was a total of 32 unique submissions from the Belizean public. All eligible submissions were judged by the Core Team members, including the Belize Fisheries Department, Ministry of Blue Economy and Civil Aviation, Blue Bond and Finance Permanence Unit, and The Nature Conservancy-Belize. The judging criteria included relevance to the BSOP, clarity, creativity, originality, and impact of the message.

Winning Slogan: Dr. Phedra Mohammed-Ali from Burrel Boom Village, Belize District won with the slogan:

“Belize’s Ocean Blueprint: Lifelines, Prosperity, Sustainability.”

• • Lifelines: Emphasizes the ocean’s vital role in supporting diverse ecosystems and livelihoods.
  • Prosperity: Highlights the potential for economic growth through responsible ocean use.
  • Sustainability: Reflects the commitment to balancing conservation with development for future generations.

Next Steps: The BSOP will conduct targeted meetings to gather data and begin mapping current and future activity areas using the SeaSketch platform. And community members are encouraged to attend public consultations and provide feedback via the BSOP website and social media platforms. In addition, the BSOP will continue its “Know the BSOP Facts” social media campaign and introduce an interactive online quiz with giveaways to increase public awareness and involvement.

Engagement Platforms:

• Website: http://bsop.coastalzonebelize.org
• Social Media: YouTube and Facebook (Belize Sustainable Ocean Plan), Instagram (bsop_bz).