Roughly 17 miles off the coast of Placencia Village lies a seaweed farm belonging to the Belize Women’s Seaweed Farmers Association. Traditionally, seaweed efforts in the area have been male-dominated, but this group, which formed in 2019, marks a shift in that history.

“We are born in a rich ecosystem and live in a wide diversity. … [W]e are lucky to grow something as organic, something that is essential, something that is medicinal.” - Rita Leslie

“We call it a nursery, just like the mangrove roots are a nursery for marine creatures in their juvenile stages before they go out to the coral reef ecosystem.” - Mariko Wallen

“Like all farmers, you're going to have little predators, parrotfish and different other kinds of fish that eat seaweed, so that's good for them too. You have to farm for them and farm for yourself.” - Mariko Wallen

“You can see it's something that women can do as easily as men can do. I think more easily than the fishing around here because most of the men have grandfathered knowledge.” - Jalima Gold

“Our seaweed farming is helping us to be more resilient, socially and environmentally.” - Mariko Wallen