By William Ysaguirre (Freelance Writer)
BELIZE CITY, Thurs. Sept. 18, 2025
Belizean marine conservationist, Jamal “Manatee Man” Galves has previously won recognition as a National Geographic Explorer for his passionate protection of the endangered Greater Caribbean manatee, and now the New England Aquarium has made him a Research Fellow of the Marine Conservation Action Fund (MCAF).
Jamal has been involved in manatee rescue since he was 11 years old, but when he was growing up in the fishing village Gales Point Manatee, the thought of becoming a researcher or scientist seemed an ocean away. He persevered in his vision, however, with the help of many people along the way.
In October 2014, Oceana Belize recognized his efforts by naming him an Ocean Hero; World Wildlife magazine featured his work in 2015, and National Geographic named him a Photo Ark EDGE Fellow in 2018. After receiving his Bachelor’s in Natural Resource Management from the University of Belize in 2020, he continued working with the Clearwater Marine Aquarium Research Institute in Florida, USA, as their program coordinator for the Belize Manatee Conservation Program. The World Wildlife Fund subsequently named him a Planet Hero, and the Government of Belize has awarded him a Meritorious Service Award as a national hero. He is also an alumnus of the Conservation Leadership Programme and Caribbean Emerging Wildlife Conservation Leaders.
Galves broke ground last year for the Belize Marine Educational Center he is building in Gales Point Manatee, with support from the Belize Tourist Board and the Belize Zoo. He says he will use the funds from this fellowship to buy surgical equipment and other medical equipment such as X-ray machines and ultrasound devices to treat the injured manatees he rescues, and to train workers and volunteers at the institute to use the equipment. He hopes to mold the next generation of conservationists for Belize and the entire region.
Galves says he is pleased that while some conservation donors are very restrictive in what their grants may be used for, the Marine Conservation Action Fund will provide financial, technical, and professional help to strengthen the impact of his work, which will allow him to use the funds to train other Belizeans in his work, and to help students who may be interested in marine conservation. He wants to train others to continue his work, to ensure that Belize’s marine species and the ecosystems are always safeguarded, since he realizes that he won’t be able to do this forever. The Fund would even provide a travel stipend, if he needs to attend a scientific research conference outside Belize.
Jamal is in good company, as the other 3 MCAF Fellows selected by New England Aquarium this year are Frances Camille Rivera, co-founder and director of Oceanus Conservation in the Philippines; Ingrid Hyrycena dos Santos, founder of Projeto Tubarão in Brazil; and Gabriela Ochoa, founder of Ilili Honduras, a nonprofit organization protecting shark and ray habitats. The MCAF has been helping community-based projects led by conservation leaders in low- and middle-income countries since 1999, and has assisted more than 280 projects in over 60 countries, to find solutions that protect ocean health and strengthen communities.
