Wandering back to Utila, Honduras, we encounter that the fight against the predator continues.

The NGO Bay Islands Conservation Association-UTILA (BICA-Utila), manager of the Turtle Harbour Rock Harbour Special Marine Protection Zone in Honduras, developed the X Lionfish Derby.

In collaboration with Whale Shark and Oceanic Research Centre (WSORC), KANAHAU, Bay Island Foundation and Operación Wallacea, all individual caught where dissected, in order for the NGO to create a database that will contribute to generate information, thus supporting decision making towards an effective management for the control and mitigation of this invasive species.

All people involved were ready to win and with their license in hand, a total of 86 competitors got listed, distributed into 18 teams from different dive schools and one conservation organization. This derby was divided into three teams for the technical category (diving at more than 40 meters deep) and 15 teams for the recreation category. Working together they were able to capture a total of 342 individuals.

After this hard work and still feeling the competitive thrive, a “Lionfish Cook Off” took place, where seven restaurants and one independent cook (Mango Inn, Hot Spot Cafe, Mango Tango, Che Pancho, Neptunes, Munchies and Piccola) from the island, prepared all the lionfish captured in different culinary options, thus showing the community the different dishes that can be created from this delicious fish.

All of this has been able, thanks to your support in fighting this deadly predator

Thank you for being part of this fight

The MAR Fund Team

Moving a little to the north east side of Belize, we find Corozal Bay Wildlife Sanctuary (CBWS), the second largest marine protected area in Belize, encompassing approximately 72,000 hectares of the Belize portion of the Mesoamerican Reef’s largest estuarine system.

This area is co-managed by the Sarteneja Alliance for Conservation and Development (SACD) since 2007, in partnership with the Forestry Department. SACD is a community-oriented organization that promotes the conservation and sustainable use of marine resources for the benefit of present and future generations. Dedicated to improving the quality of life of the stakeholder communities of Corozal Bay Wildlife Sanctuary.

With this in mind, since 2012, SACD recommended the initiative of setting fish replenishment zones in order to have sustainable fisheries within the area. This idea surface while the sustainable fisheries plan was being developed and since then national follow up has taken place, learning from other protected areas that already have fish replenishment zones.

Part of this initiative is to ensure traditional fishers (fishermen that have fished in CBWS all his/her life) have access to the resources. Up to date, SACD has recommended seven fish replenishment zones and consultations with parties involved and the Government, have taken place.

Setting this zones within a Wildlife Sanctuary will be a first and, with your support, SACD is closer to achieving this goal and breaking the scheme that replenishment zones are only stablished within marine protected areas. By doing this, SACD will be a pioneer that will then guide other Wildlife Sanctuaries, that are facing the social conflict of access to resources, and provide knowledge to replicate this initiative.

Thank you for supporting sustainable fisheries and being part of this great achievement.

 The MAR Fund Team

Keeping track of the women from El Quetzalito Village in Guatemala and because of the work done by Mundo Azul Foundation at the Motagüilla site, located in front of the river mouth of the Motagua River in Punta de Manabique in the coast of Guatemala. The women continue to work with lionfish creating exceptional dishes.

This time we find them in Guatemala City at Tikal Futura Expo-center, participating in the Food Fair presenting delicious options, being the lionfish the main course. The National Council of Protected Areas (CONAP) was able to bring them to the city and also provided them with the support needed to be able to participate in such exciting activity.

With each new opportunity that presents itself, the women promote the support they have gotten from CONAP and you.

With your help, they have been able to showcase their unique cooking skills, educating the population on this extravagant, yet delicious dish, making them proud to be able to share their experience.

All of this has been possible thanks to your involvement.

A big thank you from

The MAR Fund Team