HISTORY

USGS map of lionfish distribution in the Caribbean Sea and Atlantic Ocean between 1985-2014.

Why Lionfish Pose a Threat

​Lionfish are an introduced, or invasive, tropical marine fish that is originally native to the Indo-Pacific Ocean, but have now become part of the marine life throughout the Wider Caribbean and Atlantic Ocean.  Lionfish spread quickly in its new range, as the map below illustrates.

The problem is lionfish are eating all of our native reef fish and scientists are concerned that our already stressed fisheries and coral reef ecosystems will become even more stressed if lionfish are not kept in control.  

Our goal is to manage lionfish by overfishing them, and eating them!  Divers and fishermen are catching them to eat and selling them to restaurants. They taste like any other fish and make great ceviche, fried fish, fish balls, soup or tacos!   

For the most recent distribution visit the USGS NAS page

The Belize Lionfish Project: A Local Response to a Regional Problem

ECOMAR and the Belize Fisheries Department work with stakeholders in Belize to manage the invasive lionfish, which is slated to negatively impact the Belize Barrier Reef World Heritage Site, thereby impacting the livelihoods of fishermen and marine guides who make a livlihood from the reef. 

Project funded by COMPACT and GCFI. Produced by Richard & Carol Foster from Wildlife Film Productions in Belize. 22 minutes.

Belize Lionfish Response & Management Plan 2009-2013:
An Overview of Activities, Mitigation Methods and Recommendations

Prepared in collaboration with the Belize Fisheries Department a summary of lionfish invasion

​Background information on the Belize Lionfish Project can be found on ECOMAR's website under the heading Lionfish.  For quick reference please see the following pages available below.

Belize Lionfish Project - Overview of the Belize Lionfish Project
 
Lionfish Served Here - List of restaurants throughout Belize that serve lionfish

History in Belize​
       GCFI Fishermen Exchange - Overview of exchange of fishermen from Belize to Bahamas
       COMPACT Lionfish Project - Overview of the activities funded under the GEF SGP
       Lionfish Outreach Materials & Publications - Materials produced during the Lionfish Project

Caribbean Strategies - Summary of early lionfish management strategies by country
       Culling Protocol - Summary of lionfish removal by country, legislation and requirements