Control of Lionfish in the Mesoamerican Reef

Along the northern shores of Honduras, where the land meets the Caribbean, we find ourselves in, Blanca Janeth Kawas Fernández National Park and Punta Izopo National Park. Two beautiful protected areas where nature still speaks freely and biodiversity provides sources of sustenance for the local communities who call them home. Blending terrestrial and marine realms with mangrove forests standing as sentinels over the world that unfolds beneath the waves, seagrass meadows sway in silent harmony and coral reefs bloom with ancient color, being the home of countless species.

But not everything is as it seems, the presence of the invasive lionfish (Pterois volitans) has significantly disrupted the balance of the park’s marine ecosystems. With no natural predators, the lionfish population grows rapidly, while voraciously feeding on native reef fish and juvenile species, including those that play critical roles in maintaining the health of coral reefs and seagrass beds. As a result, the decline of native fish populations threatens the biodiversity and ecological stability of these protected areas, as well as the local communities that depend the resource.

To strengthen the efforts against this deadly species, funds will be provided to the Fundación para la Protección de Lancetilla, Punta Sal y Texigua (PROLANSATE), co-manager of these two national parks who seeks to promote environmental conservation, the sustainable management of natural resources, and raising awareness about their importance, involving the community in these efforts.

To be able to tackle this threat, and with the objective of training at least 100 artisanal fishers and co-managers in invasive species management, PROLANSATE will develop the following activities:

• Development of a standardized protocol for the capture and handling of lionfish (consultancy).
• Training on lionfish eradication for co-managers and artisanal fishers.
• Educational and promotional events to encourage the participation of artisanal fishers in the handling and eradication of lionfish.

Effective lionfish management in Blanca Janeth Kawas Fernández National Park and Punta Izopo National Park is essential to safeguarding the ecological integrity of their marine ecosystems and protecting the livelihoods of local communities. Continued collaboration between co-managers, and artisanal fishers will be key to reducing the impact of lionfish.

The continued support in the region to control lionfish, has been able thanks to your help.

We´ll keep you posted on how things develop.

Thank you

The MAR Fund Team.

Moving through Belize, cradled between a whispering lagoon and the wide, sunlit Caribbean Sea, we find ourselves in Placencia. Here, crystalline waters stretch like sheets of glass, revealing a vibrant underworld of coral gardens, swaying sea fans, and darting fish that shimmer like jewels.

Yet beneath the surface, an invader stirs. The lionfish, with its striking stripes and venomous spines, threatens to disrupt the delicate balance of this underwater paradise. 

The conservation of this fragile ecosystem is at the heart of the work carried out by the Southern Environmental Association (SEA), a dedicated NGO that co-manages two of the country’s most important marine protected areas: Gladden Spit & Silk Cayes Marine Reserve (GSSCMR), famous for whale shark sightings and rich biodiversity, and Laughing Bird Caye National Park (LBCNP), a UNESCO World Heritage Site teeming with marine life. 

SEA’s efforts go beyond conservation—they actively engage local fishers, youth, and stakeholders in marine stewardship, lionfish control, and sustainable tourism. We are proud to inform that with your support, we were able to help with the lionfish control efforts by providing funds to SEA to develop a Lionfish Shootout Competition—an event took place on Sunday March 15, 2025 and it brought together local divers, fishers, and ocean advocates in a spirited competition to remove invasive lionfish from the reef. Three dive teams participated in the event: FINS Belize / ReefCI with 6 divers, Splash Dive Center with 7 divers, and Riversdale with 5 divers.

The participants competed to capture the most lionfish, the largest, smallest and heaviest catch, for a cash prize of BZ$500 that was awarded to the winners in each category. Through this competition SEA achieved the following results:

• Decrease of lionfish population: a total of 651 lionfish were removed with the smallest measuring 11cm total length (inclusive of tail) and the largest reaching 40cm in total length.
• Preservation of marine biodiversity: With fewer lionfish consuming native species, coral reef ecosystems can recover.
• Data Collection: SEA gathered information on lionfish sizes, population density, and distribution, helping refine future management strategies.
• Raising awareness: Participants and spectators learned about the invasive species problem and the importance of conservation efforts.
• Encouragement of Sustainable Fishing: By promoting lionfish as a food source, more people may begin targeting them commercially or recreationally outside of competitions.

More than just a contest, the competition strengthens the work carried out by SEA, raises awareness, and transforms a threat into an opportunity and we were able to be part of this, thanks to your support.

We appreciate your trust in our work and look forward to more lionfish control activities.

Thank you

The MAR Fund Team