Future Planning for Belize’s Marine Spatial Plan

Purpose of Future Planning

The MSP team has been engaging in Future Planning sessions to better understand how ocean use and management may evolve over time. Future Planning supports the MSP process by encouraging ocean users and key sectors to consider how their activities may develop in the coming years, whether over the next two years or the next decade. As marine activities, economic priorities and environmental conditions shift, Future Planning helps ensure that ocean management remains adaptable while supporting the sustainable use of Belize’s marine resources.

The success of Belize’s Blue Economy relies on effective ocean management. Key sectors such as Fisheries, Tourism and Marine Transportation are major contributors to the Blue Economy and are consistent users of the ocean space. Future Planning helps identify opportunities for coordination between sectors and pre-empt potential conflicts to balance economic growth and long-term ecosystem health.

Elements of Future Planning 

The process invites sectors to reflect not only on current activities but also on potential future needs and priorities. These discussions consider factors such as livelihoods, safety, economic opportunity and environmental stability. Scenario planning has also been incorporated to explore how governance structures and climate change may influence ocean use and how different conditions could affect decision-making in the future.

Future Planning in Practice

To support this process, a 3-day Future Planning workshop was held from February 25-27, bringing together BSOP’s 7 key technical working group sectors: Fisheries & Aquaculture, Energy, Marine Transportation, Marine & Coastal Development, Marine & Coastal Ecosystems, and Finance. The workshop provided an opportunity to gather sector perspectives and begin discussions that will continue into the BSOP implementation and beyond.

Next Steps

Future Planning sessions will continue through targeted stakeholder consultations in coastal communities across southern and northern Belize. These sessions will engage fishers, tour guides and other ocean users to gather local knowledge and community perspectives, alongside sector input, to inform how Belize’s ocean space may be managed in the years ahead.