Control of Lionfish in the Mesoamerican Reef

Following the activities defined in the South Water Caye Marine Reserve lionfish awareness program, the Belize Fisheries Department Education and Outreach Officer, Blue Ventures and Projects Abroad Placencia, continued their efforts to create awareness on such deadly predator.

After the derby took place during the reef week celebrations and the winners were proclaimed, they all donated the lionfish catch for the cook-off competition. The competitors had to prepare a main dish and an appetizer using the catch, competing for the prize for best in taste and presentation. Everyone present had the chance to taste the delicious plates presented, while learning about the threats the lionfish poses to the marine ecosystems.

Approximately 200 people walked through and observed the cook off competition, and 20 actively involved in dialog with the cooks and the people overseeing the event.

Events like this, open a space for discussion and learning, teaching people the safe consumption of lionfish and how tasty its meat is.

We continue to support activities like this, so as to fight against this deadly predator and teach that it is ok to hunt and eat lionfish :).

Thank you for making activities like this possible, without your support none of this could be possible.

Let´s go eat some lionfish.

The MAR Fund Team.

As part of the South Water Caye Marine Reserve lionfish awareness program, the Belize Fisheries Department Education and Outreach Officer worked along with Blue Ventures and Projects Abroad Placencia to fund and coordinate a lion fish derby to be held during the reef week celebrations. The reef week is a week of celebrations that show cases the importance of Belize´s reef system.

The lion fish derby seeks, as primary objective, to inform the general public within the Dangriga Town on the lion fish threats, marketability, safe handling and safe consumption. A total 10 participants and 3 vessels participating in the competition, and three were the lucky winners, 1st place for the most lionfish caught, and 2nd place for the largest and 3rd place for the smallest catch.

Blue ventures along with Projects Abroad collected data on the lion fish: size, weight, total length, standard length, stomach content, sex and maturity. BFD also had a booth where they shared information about lionfish ecology, anatomy, safe handling, and threats to the fishing industry.

All the catch will be used in a cook-off competition, results we will share with you on our next report. So stay tuned.

Many thanks.

From the MAR Fund Team.