In 1998 the CZM Authority was established under the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, and Co-operatives. It is comprised of a Board of Directors appointed by the Minister and a Chief Executive Officer appointed by the Board.

The Authority is an autonomous public statutory body charged with the responsibility of implementing and monitoring policies that govern the use and development of the coastal zone in Belize.

The major functions of the Authority are:

• Advise the Minister on all matters related to the coastal zone, and on the formation of policies
• Assist in the development of programmes and projects
• Foster regional and international collaboration
• Commission research and monitoring
• In consultation with stakeholders, assist in the preparation of development guidelines and review the CZM Plan prepared in accordance with the Act
• Maintain the national coral reef and coastal water quality monitoring programmes

The Coastal Zone Management Institute is the leading marine scientific research organization in Belize. It is headed by a Director with technical staff to carry out monitoring and research programmes. The Coastal Zone Management Institute carries out the technical functions of coastal management in coordination with the various agencies involved.

The Institute’s main functions are to conduct marine research, maintain a data center, provide information as required by the Authority, organize training courses, support other agencies involved in CZM, maintain coastal monitoring programmes, and to assist with the preparation of a national CZM plan.

Currently, the Institute is implementing four research and monitoring programmes:

• Coral Reef Monitoring
• Coastal Water Quality Monitoring
• Coastal Planning
• Data Collection, Analysis, and Management

An education/public awareness programme is also an important component of the Institute, ensuring that that the public is provided with information on issues affecting the coastal and marine resources.