Anguilla 
Antigua and Barbuda 
Grenada 
Bahamas 
Barbados 
Belize 
Dominica 
Guyana 
Haiti 
Jamaica 
Montserrat 
St. Kitts and Nevis 
St. Lucia 
St. Vincent and the Grenadines 
Suriname 
Trinidad and Tobago 
Turks and Caicos 
Uncovering Stakeholder Perspectives on Belize's Managed Access Program: Implications for Sustainable Fisheries Management
Eric Wade*
Department of Coastal Studies, Integrated Coastal Programs, East Carolina University, North Carolina, USA *
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ABSTRACT
Small-scale fisheries worldwide face mounting pressures from overexploitation, resulting in depleted fish stocks, biodiversity loss, and marine ecosystem degradation. Unregulated open access conditions have emerged as a key driver, prompting a growing need for fisheries reform. Recently, Belize introduced the Managed Access Program (MAP), a rights-based fisheries territorial system aimed at incentivizing fisher ownership and stewardship to promote sustainability. However, implementing managed access involves complex interactions among local and regional actors and issues, raising questions about program feasibility and success. This study combines literature review and semi-structured interviews with 54 fishers and 25 policymakers in Belize's fisheries sector to analyze the MAP and assess initial responses. Findings reveal that the new system primarily repackages traditional fishing areas with weak enforcement of regulations. Stakeholders’ responses varied, with the majority expressing negative views. At the same time, policymakers and fishers hold different conceptualizations of the policy and its expected benefits. These variations suggest that stakeholders' experiences shape unique policy interpretations, affecting compliance and adaptation. Despite addressing fisheries challenges, concerns remain about the MAP's ability to achieve its objectives. Neglecting diverse perspectives may hinder policy acceptance. To address this, innovative and robust approaches should capture these perspectives, enabling a holistic approach to policy creation and implementation.
HOW TO CITE: Wade, E. 2026. Uncovering Stakeholder Perspectives on Belize's Managed Access Program: Implications for Sustainable Fisheries Management. Contribution 6.10, p481-484 IN CRFM, 2026. Volume I: Technical Papers. Presented at the CRFM 20th Anniversary Scientific Conference, 28-31 August 2023. CRFM Special Publication No. 37, CRFM Secretariat https://www.crfm.int/index.php?option=com_k2&view=item&id=940
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