Coastal Zone Management Authority & Institute

What Coastal Zone Management Authority & Institute does

The Coastal Zone Management Authority and Institute (CZMAI) is the Belizean statutory body established in 1998 under the Coastal Zone Management Act (Chapter 329 of the Laws of Belize, Revised Edition 2000) and charged with leading Integrated Coastal Zone Management across Belize's coastline. It serves primarily the Government of Belize and nine coastal planning regions spanning the Barrier Reef, atolls (Turneffe, Lighthouse Reef), cays (Ambergris, Caye Caulker), and mainland coastal zones, with secondary constituencies in coastal communities, the sport fishing industry, marine tourism operators, and research institutions. CZMAI operates four program units: Coastal Planning & Monitoring (delivering the ICZM Plan across nine regions and updating it for 2025-2030), Data Management via the Coastal and Marine Data Centre (CMDC) using GIS for spatial planning, the Sport Fishing Program Unit (licensing and catch-and-release management for Bonefish, Tarpon, and Permit), and the Resilient Reefs Initiative Unit. Operational assets include the Goff's Caye Managed Area (a one-acre sand barrier island 12 nautical miles east of Belize City with a 150-visitor carrying capacity limit), conference and training room rental facilities, a cartographic printing service, and the White Sands Gift Shop. Distribution is primarily domestic, including the online Sport Fishing License E-Portal at apps.coastalzonebelize.org, direct visitor management at Goff's Caye, and formal data-sharing agreements for CMDC datasets.

CZMAI does not generate market-disclosed revenue; its finances are understood to combine Belizean government appropriations with international donor and grant funding from entities such as the Great Barrier Reef Foundation, BHP Foundation, Green Climate Fund, Inter-American Development Bank, Protected Areas Conservation Trust, World Wildlife Fund, The Nature Conservancy, FAO, Microsoft AI for Earth, and the Belize Fund for a Sustainable Future. Self-generated revenue is diversified across small ticket streams: sport fishing licenses (issued under the Coastal Zone Management (Sport Fishing) Regulations, 2009), Goff's Caye park fees (BZD $10 adults / BZD $20 foreigners), room rentals (BZD $100-$550 depending on space and duration), map printing, and gift shop sales. The organization is led by CEO Chantalle Samuels and Director Arlene Young with a lean 11-person staff, recently recruiting an HR and Operations Manager in July 2025. Strategic significance is anchored in statutory authority, ICZM Plan endorsement (2016), UNESCO recognition as 'one of the most forward-thinking ocean management plans in the world' (2016), and inclusion in the five-site global Resilient Reefs Initiative.

Name

Coastal Zone Management Authority & Institute

Legal name

Coastal Zone Management Authority and Institute

Website

https://coastalzonebelize.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1998

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

CZMAI is the Belizean statutory body that leads Integrated Coastal Zone Management across nine coastal planning regions, delivering ICZM planning, GIS data services, sport fishing licensing, and managed-area operations at Goff's Caye for the Government of Belize, coastal communities, anglers, and researchers.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Environmental Management Services

NAICS

Administration of Environmental Quality Programs (924), Administration of Air and Water Resource and Solid Waste Management Programs (92411), Geophysical Surveying and Mapping Services (541360)

SIC

Fishing, Hunting And Trapping (900)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYBPAIAMAI

Coastal & Marine Resources Administration (Oceans, Fisheries, Shorelines)

Business & Public Services/Public Sector & Government Administration/Environmental Protection & Natural Resources Administration

Keywords

• Coastal zone management
• Marine conservation services
• Sport fishing licensing
• GIS spatial data management
• Environmental regulatory services

Headquarters

HQ city

Belize City

HQ country

Belize

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Sport Fishing License Sales: Online sales of sport fishing licenses through the CZMAI Sport Fishing License E-Portal. Licenses are required for sport fishing activities in Belizean waters under the Coastal Zone Management (Sport Fishing) Regulations, 2009.
2. Room Rental Services: Rental of conference and training room facilities for meetings, trainings, and events. Training room available for parties ($400-$550 depending on day and security needs), meetings/trainings ($175-$350), and conference rooms ($100-$150).
3. Cartographic Printing Services: Custom map production and printing services including Baseline Map of Belize, Protected Areas maps, Watersheds maps, and Marine Ecosystems maps. Available in framed and non-framed options, wooden or metal styles.
4. Goff's Caye Park Fees: Park entry fees collected from visitors to Goff's Caye Managed Area. Adults $10.00 BZE for Belizeans, $20.00 BZE for foreigners. Maximum carrying capacity of 150 visitors.
5. White Sands Gift Shop: Gift shop operated at Goff's Caye providing visitors with commemorative items and souvenirs, opened in April 2019.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

CZMAI is Belize's statutory authority for integrated coastal zone management, operating four program units: Coastal Planning & Monitoring (implementing the national ICZM Plan across nine coastal planning regions), the Coastal and Marine Data Centre (GIS-based spatial data management), the Sport Fishing Program Unit (sustainable management of Belize's $110M+ BZD sport fishing industry including online licensing), and the Resilient Reefs Initiative. It sells paid services including sport fishing licenses through an online e-portal, manages Goff's Caye Managed Area with visitor capacity controls, rents conference and training rooms, and produces cartographic maps.

Product overview

CZMAI operates a multi-faceted coastal zone management organization with four core program units: Coastal Planning & Monitoring (ICZM), Data Management (CMDC/GIS), Sport Fishing, and Resilient Reefs Initiative. Key services include the Sport Fishing License E-Portal for online licensing, Goff's Caye managed island visitation, room rentals for meetings/training, cartographic printing, and the Belize Sustainable Ocean Plan (Marine Spatial Planning). The organization also supports a Community Wardens volunteer program and maintains an online community forum. The portfolio operates as interconnected services rather than a unified software platform.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Goff's Caye: A 1-acre sand barrier island managed by CZMAI since 2004, located approximately 12 nautical miles east of Belize City. CZMAI manages visitor access, enforces a maximum carrying capacity of 150 visitors, and operates a gift shop (White Sands Gift Shop, opened April 2019).
• Coastal and Marine Data Centre (CMDC)
• Sport Fishing Program Unit
• Resilient Reefs Initiative
• CZMAI Sport Fishing License E-Portal

Products and services

• Sport Fishing License (via CZMAI Sport Fishing License E-Portal) Online sale and distribution of sport fishing licenses legally required to engage in sport fishing activities in Belizean waters, delivered as PDF via email confirmation from the apps.coastalzonebelize.org e-portal under the Coastal Zone Management (Sport Fishing) Regulations 2009.
• Goff's Caye Managed Area (Park Entry and Visitor Services) Visitor access to Goff's Caye, a managed sand barrier island 12 nautical miles east of Belize City offering recreational activities including scuba diving, snorkelling, swimming, sailing, sunbathing, and beach-walking. Park entry fees are $10.00 BZE for Belizean adults and $20.00 BZE for foreign adults, with a maximum carrying capacity of 150 visitors at any time.
• Conference and Training Room Rentals Rental of conference and training room facilities at CZMAI's Belize City headquarters for meetings, trainings, and events. Training room available for parties ($400-$550 BZE depending on day), meetings/trainings ($175-$350 BZE half-day/full-day), and conference rooms ($100-$150 BZE half-day/full-day). Maximum 20 persons in conference room and 90 persons in training room.
• Cartographic Map Production and Printing Service Custom map production and printing services including Baseline Map of Belize, Protected Areas maps, Watersheds maps, and Marine Ecosystems maps. Available in framed and non-framed options, wooden or metal styles, produced by CZMAI's cartographic team.
• White Sands Gift Shop Gift shop located at the main point of entry on Goff's Caye, offering visitors commemorative items and souvenirs. Operated by CZMAI staff including the on-site salesperson at the island's entry.

Quantifiable outcome

• Sport fishing industry grew from $55 million BZD (2007) to $110+ million BZD (2013)
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

14 partnerships are on record, tiered core, minor and major.

• Bonefish & Tarpon Trust (BTT)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 10 October 2023Partnership agreement signed between CZMAI and Bonefish & Tarpon Trust to advance development and management of sport fishing in Belize. Collaboration focuses on conservation and protection of coastal and nearshore habitats associated with Belize's flats fishery, including research and monitoring activities, education and outreach, and capacity building.
• The Nature Conservancy (TNC)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 December 2022Partnership with TNC for the Belize Sustainable Ocean Plan and Marine Spatial Planning process. TNC collaborated on the logo reveal in December 2022 and provides ongoing technical support for MSP implementation.
• Microsoft AI for EarthminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2020Selected as one of five grantees for the Essential Biodiversity Variables in the Cloud program, a US$1 million grant program providing financial support and Microsoft Azure credits to monitor Earth's biodiversity.
• GEO BON SecretariatminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2020Co-partner with Microsoft AI for Earth on the EBV in the Cloud program for developing Essential Biodiversity Variables and derived biodiversity change indicators.
• National Oceanography Centre (UK)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 November 2018Partnership with UK's National Oceanography Centre for deployment of autonomous vessels to conduct oceanographic surveys in Belize. Scientists and engineers visited from October 27 to November 30, 2018 for research activities along the Belize River and central Belize region.
• UNESCO World Heritage CentermajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerUNESCO World Heritage Center has recognized Belize's ICZM Plan as 'one of the most forward-thinking ocean management plans in the world' and supports the Resilient Reefs Initiative through global knowledge network.
• Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFAO collaborates with Green Climate Fund on projects including 'Enhancing adaptation planning and increasing climate resilience in the coastal zone and fisheries sector of Belize.' CZMAI serves as implementing partner.
• Coral Reef Alliance (CORAL)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC) assessment project for Goff's Caye to develop Visitor Management Action Plan identifying sustainability practices and destination risks.
• UNESCOcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in Resilient Reefs Initiative collaborating on reef resilience strategy development and global knowledge network for reef management.
• Reef Resilience Network (TNC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in Resilient Reefs Initiative providing technical expertise and resilience network connections.
• Columbia University Center for Resilient Cities and LandscapesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in Resilient Reefs Initiative contributing to resilience strategy development.
• Resilient Cities CatalystminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in Resilient Reefs Initiative contributing to urban and reef resilience strategy.
• AECOMminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in Resilient Reefs Initiative providing engineering and technical expertise.
• Fundación Instituto de Hidráulica Ambiental de Cantabria (IH Cantabria)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerTechnical support provider for development of the updated National ICZM Plan (2025-2030) and regional guidelines.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Environment Agency (UK): UK statutory body regulating environmental quality, water resources, and fisheries. Comparable as a larger national environmental regulator with licensing, monitoring, and compliance functions analogous to CZMAI's mandate.
• Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission of UNESCO (IOC): UN body coordinating global ocean science, observation, and data programs. Comparable as a higher-tier international authority operating in the same marine governance and ocean data domain that CZMAI engages with through the Resilient Reefs Initiative.
• NOAA Office of National Marine Sanctuaries: US federal agency managing marine protected areas and coastal resource policy. Comparable as a much larger incumbent operating the same core function of marine spatial planning and protected area administration that CZMAI performs at national scale.

Emerging players

• The Nature Conservancy (Belize Program): International NGO partnered with CZMAI on the Belize Sustainable Ocean Plan and Marine Spatial Planning. Comparable as a strategic technical partner delivering overlapping coastal and marine planning capabilities in Belize.

Direct peers

• Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority: Australian federal statutory authority that manages one of the world's largest marine protected areas. Directly comparable as a government-mandated body overseeing coral reef planning, licensing, and resilience, and a core partner of CZMAI within the Resilient Reefs Initiative.
• Protected Areas Conservation Trust (PACT): Belizean statutory trust providing fiduciary management for conservation funding including CZMAI's MCCAP. Comparable as a small Belize-based statutory body in the same conservation funding ecosystem with similar reliance on donor and government finance.
• Department of Environment (Belize): Belizean government agency with regulatory authority over environmental impact assessments and protected areas. Comparable as a sister statutory body operating in the same jurisdiction with overlapping coastal and environmental policy remit.
• Caribbean Community Climate Change Centre (CCCC): Regional climate change coordinating body based in Belize that works with Caribbean states on coastal adaptation and resilience. Comparable because it operates in the same geography, addresses overlapping coastal and climate mandates, and shares donor and governmental stakeholder networks with CZMAI.
• Seychelles Islands Foundation: Statutory body managing two UNESCO World Heritage Sites including Aldabra Atoll. Comparable as a small island-state coastal and marine management authority with UNESCO recognition, grant funding reliance, and visitor capacity controls analogous to CZMAI's Goff's Caye operation.
• Belize Fisheries Department: Belizean government department responsible for fisheries resource management and species protection, including the protected Bonefish, Tarpon, and Permit species CZMAI licenses. Adjacent regulatory peer with overlapping subject matter and joint enforcement responsibilities.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/coastalzonebelize
• Xtwitter.com/coastalzonebz
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/coastal-zone-management-authority-institute

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Coastal Zone Management Authority & Institute