History of Lionfish in Belize
ECOMAR has monitored the the spread of lionfish in Belize since they were first observed in Dec 2008. Their numbers quickly increased and within 8 months they were entrenched in our marine ecosystems and could be found in most mangroves, seagrass beds and coral reefs. Today ECOMAR continues to promote Catch & Fillet!
2008In December 2008 ECOMAR launched the Belize Lionfish Program in association with the Belize Fisheries Department when the first documented lionfish was observed and photographed east of Calabash Caye at Turneffe Atoll.
The early outreach program highlighted the invasive lionfish issue in efforts to raise awareness on the destructive nature of this invasive species and the problems that are anticipated as a result of their presence on the reef. |
2009In partnership with the Belize Fisheries Department ECOMAR began educating stakeholders by distributing Lionfish Toolkits that included posters, dip nets and fact sheets to resorts on the atolls where the lionfish were being observed. Throughout 2009 the numbers of lionfish reported in Belize waters steadily increased. In the early 2009 lionfish were observed most frequently on the three atolls, Turneffe, Lighthouse and Glovers, and near Ambergris Caye, but by the end of 2009 lionfish were being observed all along the length of the Belize Barrier Reef.
To lessen the impact lionfish are expected to have on the marine ecosystem, ECOMAR and other members of the Belize National Coral Reef Monitoring Network have formed the Lionfish Committee to define, discuss and identify actions that could be taken to manage the invasive lionfish in Belize waters. ECOMAR, members of the Lionfish Committee, the Belize Fisheries Department and representatives from the fishing cooperatives and tour guide associations collaborate to develop the Belize Lionfish Fishery Management Plan. |
2010-2013Lionfish are observed near piers, over seagrass beds, among mangrove prop roots, on coral reefs from 5 to 170 feet deep, and even from 500 deep where they have been captured on baited hooks. Interestingly, their numbers are low in the Port Honduras Marine Reserve, which is located in the southern part of Belize along the mainland coast.
The increasing numbers of invasive lionfish in the Belize Barrier Reef World Heritage Site and associated reef systems are expected to cause additional negative impacts on an already stressed ecosystem affected by overfishing, coral bleaching and ocean acidification. Two Grants assist Belize Lionfish Project In February 2010 ECOMAR was the recipient of one of three grants administered by the Gulf & Caribbean Fisheries Institute (GCFI) Small Grants Fund (SGF), which is funded by the United National Environment Program (UNEP), United Nations Caribbean Environment Program (UNCEP), and the Community Management of Marine Protected Areas Network (CAMPAM). The project funded was titled The Belize Bahamas Fishermen Exchange: Lionfish Management Workshop. Six persons traveled from Belize to the Bahamas to learn first hand what the Bahamas was doing to manage lionfish and to interact with the fishermen that were capturing lionfish. Four representatives went from the fishing coops, one person from the Belize Fisheries Department, and a representative from ECOMAR. The valuable lessons learned were shared with colleagues upon returning to Belize. Also in 2010 a grant from the United Nations Development Project (UNDP) Small Grants Program (SGP) Global Environmental Facility (GEF) Community Management of Protected Areas for Conservation (COMPACT). The goals and activities of the project will:
While it was initially thought that a rapid proactive response to encourage fishermen and marine guides to capture all lionfish sighted could possibly play a crucial role in controlling and managing the impact of lionfish in Belize, the increase in numbers and extent of coverage suggested that the only way to control lionfish populations is for divers, resorts and fishermen to Adopt A Reef and keep this area clean of lionfish.
Stakeholders in Belize are working together to manage lionfish.
The first phase of the COMPACT Lionfish Project culminated in a closing ceremony and featured the following activities:
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2014
Belize Lionfish Response & Management Plan 2009-2013 printed and distributed to stakeholders. Updated Lionfish Fact Sheets and poster promoting lionfish consumption printed in collaboration with Belize Fisheries Department and other partners from the Belize Coral Reef Monitoring Network which support from PACT.
SCIENTIFIC STUDY
In collaboration with the Belize Fisheries Department ECOMAR collected lionfish for NOVA Southeastern University Oceanographic Center Master's student studying lionfish parasites. Evidence of the Enemy Release Hypothesis: Parasites of the Lion sh Complex (Pterios volitans and P. miles) in the Western North Atlantic, Gulf of Mexico, and Caribbean Sea Kayelyn Regina Simmons 2014 |
2015
Capture of lionfish for consumption is always promoted. Annual events like Reef Week include lionfish competitions which remove lionfish and promote consumption. ECOMAR partners with Sea Sports Belize to receive entries from fishermen and marine guides. The Lionfish Competition Rules prepared by the Belize Fisheries Department summarize how visitors to Belize can participate in lionfish hunting/culling efforts.
2016
Collaborate with Fisheries Department and provide more lionfish samples from the reefs in Belize for another university graduate student studying invasive lionfish Texas Invasive Species Institute, Department of Biological Sciences, Sam Houston State University.
Launch Belize Lionfish Project website to offer online course on Lionfish and to receive reports on lionfish culled and present in map
Launch Belize Lionfish Project website to offer online course on Lionfish and to receive reports on lionfish culled and present in map