Darling Ortega, a native of Sarteneja, hails from a traditional fishing family and has been passionate about conservation from a young age. Raised with strong environmental principles by her parents, Darling has always been driven to make a difference. In 2012, she graduated from high school as Valedictorian with a focus on academics and science. She continued her education, graduating in 2014 as an Honor Roll student with an Associate’s degree in Arts & Science, majoring in Biology and English Literature. With six years of experience in analyzing and reporting on national surveys for conch, lobster, and lionfish catches, Darling has also been instrumental in developing and supervising the National Lionfish Control Plan across multiple Marine Protected Areas (MPAs), particularly in the Northern Belize Coastal Complex. In 2024, Darling joined SACD as the Bacalar Chico National Park (BCNP) Site Manager. In this pivotal role, she leads the planning team for the development of the BCNP Management Plan, ensuring its successful implementation. Darling’s dedication and expertise are vital to the conservation efforts and sustainable management of BCNP.