Control of Lionfish in the Mesoamerican Reef

As part of the Lionfish Strategy, Mundo Azul Foundation developed an extraction project that aims to reduce and control the presence of lionfish in Guatemalan coasts. The first derby for 2016 was carried out in the site known as Motagüilla located in front of the river mouth of the Motagua River in Punta de Manabique, from February 15^th through the 19^th with the participation of the National Council of Protected Areas (CONAP) and community members from El Quetzalito.

Training was developed on best lionfish capture practices, harpoon use and safety as well as a cooking course was developed with the women in the community on handling and preparation of the fish. Before the actual derby took place, the team completed lionfish monitoring to determine the organisms density in the reef, information that will help create a baseline regarding lionfish presence in Guatemala.

As a result sixteen lionfish were hunted thanks to the support of nine divers. The amount caught was not much, but it has helped begin the creation of the database with information about this species.

One of the key factors was the participation of the community members, being able to involve them in the process and share knowledge on how to hunt and cook lionfish, as well as the benefit this brings to the reef and how its meat can be useful for their household, will provide them an alternative income once they fully manage the cooking techniques they can sell their dishes.

Bon Appetite!

With your support we are able to continue developing derbies and clear the coast from this invasive species.

In Belize, with participation from biologists who underwent training in June last year, in-water surveys to determine lionfish density and biomass as well as lionfish threshold density on coral reefs in South Water Caye Marine Reserve, Port Honduras Marine Reserve, Caye Caulker Marine Reserve, Hol Chan Marine Reserve and Bacalar Chico Marine Reserve were conducted. Consultancies with experts have occurred for survey design, methods development, analyses and modelling of fish communities to develop target lionfish densities at 50 sites across Belize. These data are now being used to prepare lionfish management plans for each protected area as well as to feed into the lionfish stock assessment model and national control strategy. The final model to project changes in structure and biomass of both the in-water lionfish population and landed catch is under development.

A post-graduate student from Colorado State University started working as a social scientist with Blue Ventures in Belize to prepare and carry out the economic viability assessment. 

Lionfish information and taster booths were held at Caye Caulker’s Ocean Academy, the Belize Game Fish Association fair in Belize City and Sarteneja’s Community Day. Classes about the lionfish invasion with standard five classes at two schools in stakeholder communities of South Water Caye Marine Reserve are scheduled to take place during Belize Reef Week 2016 (7-14 March).

It is great to achieve these type of events thanks to your generosity and collaboration.

We will keep you posted on future events!

The MAR Fund Team