OCEANA's "Ocean Hero" award is given to celebrate those that have displayed extraordinary commitment to conservation, advocacy, and educating others about Belize's precious waters.
This year's awards were given to eleven-year-old Madison Edwards and career tour guide and conservative educator Luz Hunter. These two winners may be far apart in age but they have the same love for the ocean. Here's how they put it when OCEANA spoke with them.
Madison Edwards, Ocean Hero 2017
"I think an ocean hero is an activist a person that put their all into helping the community, helping the marine life and just not sitting down and hoping for something good to happen. Just basically somebody that really tries and really cares. It doesn't matter, your size you age. No matter what you can still make a difference."
"I'm actually doing something and that's encouraging other people to do the same and I feel like one little thing could make a big difference."
Luz Hunter, Ocean Hero 2017
"I wish I could speak the language. I wish I knew what they were saying. To me, it is the imagination part of it. You know you make a connection with wildlife."
Dr. Aimee Thomas, Loyola University
"I have learned from her for 20 years and have seen her teach other on the guiding work she does which is essential to help educate other Belizeans on different issues of the environment and marine life. She has been instrumental in teaching our students."
Edwards is also the youngest Belizean to traverse the length of the Barrier Reef during a week-long sailing trip. Hunter is respected locally and internationally for her vast knowledge of the Flora and Fauna. She is also a strong advocate for turtles and manatees. Oceana Belize has been giving out this award to deserving Belizeans since 2013. This weekend, OCEANA also held its Annual Coastal and River Cleanup which were done in Corozal, Orange Walk, Belize City, Belmopan, Cayo, Placencia, Hopkins, Georgetown, Independence, Golden Stream, Big Falls, and Punta Gorda.
According to a release, "Every year through the coordination efforts of the Scout Association of Belize, Oceana Belize, environmental clubs, organizations, and individuals across the country, hundreds of volunteers take to the beach, riverbanks, canals and lagoons to collect and remove garbage and other forms of debris from Belize's waterways....The total tally of pounds of garbage and debris removed and properly disposed of will be published at a later date."
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