Environmental Leaders Meet in Punta Gorda to Advance Marine Conservation Efforts

Officials from NPA Connect were in Punta Gorda today, engaging in high-level discussions with key environmental stakeholders. The delegation met with representatives from the Belize Fisheries Department, the Belize Audubon Society, and the Turneffe Atoll Sustainability Association (TASA) to explore collaborative efforts aimed at protecting Belize’s rich marine and coastal ecosystems. Topics on the agenda included sustainable fishing practices, marine biodiversity conservation, and community-based environmental stewardship. Love News Senior Toledo Correspondent Paul Mahung spoke with representatives Dr.Cassandra Neal and Kelsie Troutman who explained what their trip will entail. 

Dr. Cassandra Neal, Representative: “We had the opportunity to support one of the local communities that are part of the MPA,  the Marine Protected Area in terms of how they make funds. So that was good today.”

Paul Mahung, Toledo Correspondent: It’s surely good to have another official representative speak to us.  

Kelsie Trontman, Representative: “Hi everybody, my name is Kelsey Trontman. I am from St. Croix representing the U.S. Virgin Islands. I come from a small MPA, the St. Croix Eastern Marine Corps. Today I got to learn a lot about you guys’  MPAs, how you’re managing them, learning about your enforcement, community engagement, super happy to be here and take everything that we can from Belize and hopefully implement things back home.”

The group will be in Belize until the end of the week.