About Us

Our foundation is built on many years of experience exploring the magnificent Belize Barrier Reef.

The Environmental Conservation Organization (ECO) is a charitable company founded in Belize in 1995 whose objectives include:

• Promoting increased environmental awareness, sustainable development of the country’s natural resources, and stewardship of cultural and natural resources by the people of Belize, through the publication and distribution of educational information and outreach programs.
• Establishing research centers for analysis of scientific data and dissemination, and educational purposes.
• Conducting outreach programs and workshops in conjunction with government departments, non-government organizations and the general public in efforts to create an awareness on why a particular behavior degrades a resource/environment and to show through practical research how changes can halt further negative impact and promote revitalization.
• Establishing communication media for those involved in conservation, education, research and/or sustainable development.
• Documenting the condition of Belize’s natural environment, including her cultural and natural resources by creating a database including the collection, storage and dissemination of information relevant to conservation.

Environmental Conservation Organization

In June 2007, ECOMAR was adopted as the team name for the group of divers/marine guides/researchers that entered the 2007 PACT Marine Challenge.   MAR, Latin for "the sea" was prefixed after ECO since the activities undertaken during the PACT Marine Challenge and the future focus of ECO was the marine environment. Future plans for ECOMAR included:

• establish “Watch” programs for important marine life found in the waters off Belize; 
• establish a marine science center on St. George’s Caye; and to
• conduct marine outreach programs to engage stakeholders to learn about, take ownership of, and protect their livelihood,  the Belize Barrier Reef Reserve System World Heritage Site.

Team ECOMAR - Jamani Balderamos, Valentine Rosado, Ernesto Reid, Linda Searle, John Searle - ready for action!

Early Activities

From 1995-1996 ECO published ECO-Journal of Environmental Information.  The Journal was a compilation of current events in conservation that were being undertaken by government and non-governmental organizations.  

Our Adopt A School Library Program initiated by ECO in 1995 linked business and personal sponsors with schools and libraries throughout Belize, so that they could become members and receive a copy of the journal for use in the classroom or as reference material.  ECO received many reports from teachers expressing their appreciation for this program since it helped keep them abreast of current events in Belize.

From 1996 to 2008 various research activities were conducted in the marine environment including:

• coral bleaching surveys at Gallow’s Point in 1998 during a major coral bleaching event;
  
• fish market surveys from 2000-2002 to document harvest of sea turtles;
  
• sea turtle abundance surveys at Robinson Point from 2007-2008. 

FOUNDERS

The founders of ECOMAR are Linda & John Searle, who reside in Belize and the United States.  

Linda is originally from Upstate New York and graduated from the University of Miami in 1990 with a bachelor’s degree in Biology.  Immediately after graduating from the University of Miami she enrolled in NOVA’s Southeastern University Oceanographic Center to pursue a Master’s Degree in Marine Biology where her focus became sea turtles. 

John Searle graduated from the University of South Florida in 1989 with a degree in Anthropology.  Upon graduating he returned home to Belize where he worked in the field as an archaeologist.  He also worked in his family’s tour business and organized archaeology trips to Belize for student groups.  In 1996 John opened the first full service dive shop in Belize City.    

Today John and Linda Searle still run the dive business, ECOMAR and recently opened the St. George's Caye Research Station & Field School.