Ocean Hero Awards 2021 are Here!

Every year, OCEANA’s Ocean Hero Awards is a night of celebration where exceptional accomplishments in ocean conservation, advocacy and education are recognized.  Tonight, a pair of recipients who exemplify what it means to be an Ocean Hero will be honored for their work in promoting and raising awareness about Belize’s marine resources.  OCEANA’s Vice President Janelle Chanona spoke with News Five’s about this year’s virtual celebration.

Janelle Chanona

Janelle Chanona,Vice President, Oceana Belize

“This is our second virtual Oceana Ocean Heroes Ceremony, it’s something that we really wanted to find an innovative and creative workaround given all the COVID restrictions because this is, hands down, the team’s favorite event of the year.  It’s really important for the team to recognize the Belizeans who are out there doing their part, however they can, whenever they can, that’s making a difference.  So it’s just been really important for the team that we go ahead and we do this, and the one kind of sneak peak that I will give you is that it was really, incredibly humbling for all of us that this year we received the most nominations we have ever received for this award.  And reading the nomination summaries from the nominees was just so incredible, hearing Belizeans talk about the work of other Belizeans and such a bright spot in all of these despairing times. We have a couple links on a couple platforms, it’s been emailed out to all our Wavemakers.  There is an Instagram post on this at oceana_bze and of course at Oceana in Belize’s Facebook page.  So you can set your reminder using the link, to be reminded, but the premier starts at 7:30, so right after the news, to see this year’s ceremony.”