A Day in My Life as a Fisher Storytelling Competition
World Fisheries Day 2026 Storytelling Competition
In celebration of World Fisheries Day on November 21, the Belize Fund for a Sustainable Future (Belize Fund) presents “A Day in My Life as a Belizean Fisher,” a video storytelling competition celebrating Belize’s small-scale fishers, their livelihoods, and their commitment to responsible fishing.
Fishers and visual storytellers are invited to produce a short video (2 minutes maximum) that offers an authentic, behind-the-scenes glimpse into the everyday lives of Belizean fishers. Through personal storytelling, the competition recognizes the hard work and contributions of fishers and raises awareness of responsible fishing practices that help protect Belize’s marine resources for future generations.
Key Dates
- Submission deadline: November 30, 2026
- Finalist showcase and public voting: December 1 – 4, 2026
- Winners announced: December 4, 2026
How It Works
- Submit one original video (2 minutes maximum) sharing a behind-the-scenes glimpse into the life of a licensed Belizean fisher.
- Fishers can film their own stories or partner with a visual storyteller, such as a videographer, content creator, student, family member, or friend.
- Choose which experiences or activities to feature, highlighting the fisher’s livelihood and commitment to responsible fishing.
- All videos are posted on the Belize Fund’s official Facebook and Instagram pages for public voting from December 1 – 4, 2026.
- The People’s Choice winner is determined by the highest combined engagement (likes, comments, and shares) across Facebook and Instagram during the voting period.
Who Can Be Featured
The featured fisher must:
- Be a Belizean citizen
- Hold a valid Belize fisherfolk license
- Catch seafood for their livelihood (Commercial Fishing License)
Fishing tour operators, recreational fishers, and sport fishers are not eligible. Fishers who also work in tourism may participate if their video focuses on their fishing livelihood rather than tourism activities.
The Storytelling Prompt
“A Day in My Life as a Belizean Fisher”
Take us behind the scenes of your life as a fisher. Share a real moment, experience, or activity that shows what fishing means to you, the realities of your livelihood, and how you help care for the sea through responsible fishing.
Your video may feature any part of your fishing life, whether preparing for a trip, working at sea, maintaining equipment, cleaning or selling your catch, or sharing a personal experience. You do not need to show an entire fishing trip or process. Focus on telling a meaningful, authentic story.
Rules and Guidelines
- Open to Belizean citizens and legal residents.
- Each entry must feature a licensed Belizean fisher who catches seafood for a living.
- Only one entry is allowed per fisher and visual storyteller.
- Videos must be original, no longer than 2 minutes, and submitted in MP4 or MOV format (minimum 720p).
- Videos must include real footage of the fisher, with clear audio or narration. Smartphone recordings are accepted.
- Videos must be in English or Kriol.
- The featured fisher must agree to participate and appear in the video.
- Videos must not show illegal fishing activities or use copyrighted material without permission.
- The Belize Fund reserves the right to disqualify entries that do not meet the competition requirements.
Judging Criteria
Criteria
Weight
Creativity, Authenticity and Storytelling: originality, honest portrayal, and ability to engage audiences
35%
Insight into the Fisher’s Livelihood: meaningful portrayal of the fisher’s experiences and everyday realities
25%
Responsible Fishing and Marine Stewardship: demonstration of practices that help protect marine resources
25%
Audio, Visual Quality and Presentation: clear footage, sound, editing, and overall video presentation
15%
Total
100%
Prizes
Award
Fisher
Storyteller
Total
1st Place
$750
$550
$1,300
2nd Place
$600
$400
$1,000
3rd Place
$500
$300
$800
People’s Choice
$250
$150
$400
- If a fisher produces the video independently, the fisher receives the full prize.
- For partnered entries, prizes are divided between the fisher and the storyteller as shown above.
- The People’s Choice award is determined by public voting and is independent of the judges’ selections.