Empowering Belize’s Seaweed Mariculture: Strengthening Institutional Capacity of BWSFA for Sustainable Growth
Grantee:
Belize Women’s Seaweed Farmers Association
Location:
Hatchet (Ray) Caye, Placencia, Stann Creek, Belize
Thematic Area:
Blue Business Innovation
Timeframe:
March 2024 – August 2025
Funds from Belize Fund ($BZD):
$150,000.00
Co-financing ($BZD):
$106,880.00
Project Goal:
To bolster the seaweed mariculture sector by enhancing institutional capacity, improving farming practices, and ensuring local market access for dried seaweed and value-added seaweed products.
Project Objectives:
- To enhance the institutional capacity of the BWSFA to support farmers and members in fostering a profitable and equitable community-oriented seaweed mariculture industry.
- To increase quality and yield by improving sustainable seaweed farming practices and expanding the number of plots
- To expand sales of high-quality dried seaweed and value-added seaweed products.
Expected Outputs:
- Human resource capacity and office facilities established and strengthened to support incremental organizational growth.
- Essential governance structures, management systems, and organizational policies and plans developed and implemented.
- Environmental monitoring, seaweed cultivation and harvesting procedures and protocols developed and implemented for quality control and maximized yield.
- At least five new Eucheuma isiforme seaweed farming plots established and maintained.
- Routine farm maintenance conducted daily by seaweed farming staff officers and association members.
- Improved packaging for dried seaweed.
- Belize seaweed products benefits, and market potential promoted through national and international marketing and media channels.