Building Belize’s lionfisheryA new market to drive the targeted removal of invasive lionfish

Blue Ventures, Omnibus Business Centre, 39-41 North Road, London, N7 9DP, United Kingdom Tel: +44 (0)207 697 8598 Web: www.blueventures.org

REGISTERED CHARITY 1098893

Lionfish needs to be the business of the entire country; from Sarteneja all the way to Punta Gorda!JUSTINO MENDEZ, PLACENCIA PRODUCERS’ COOPERATIVE SOCIETY LTD

Image © Gordon Kirkwood

The lionfish invasion

Since its accidental introduction to the Atlantic in the 1980s,

the Indo-Pacific lionfish Pterois volitans has become one

of the greatest threats to the resilience of Caribbean reef

systems. With extremely rapid reproduction and few natural

predators outside its native range, lionfish populations have

exploded across the Caribbean and beyond, devastating fish

and invertebrate communities on coral reef ecosystems

throughout the Caribbean region.

A voracious predator of juvenile fish and invertebrates,

lionfish suppress populations of many ecologically important

species. With Caribbean ecosystems already weakened by

the effects of overfishing and climate change, the lionfish

invasion is driving further dramatic reductions in fish

recruitment rates.

Lionfish are a particular menace for Belize, a small country

where fishing and marine tourism support the livelihoods

of over 15,000 people and contribute 25% to GDP. Whilst

eradicating lionfish is not possible, recent research has shown

that suppressing populations on coral reefs allows native

marine species to recover. To do so requires significant and

consistent removal of lionfish at scale, with the engagement

of all reef stakeholders.

Lionfish have been recorded as far north as New York State and as far south as Brazil

2 million eggs are produced by one female lionfish in a year

27 average density of lionfish per hectare in BCMR*

Average prey consumption rate in

BCMR* per lionfish per year2

59%of prey items identified as reef fish by Blue Ventures3

* Bacalar Chico Marine Reserve1 Average estimate from data collected by Blue Ventures in 2014. Standard Error ±9

2 Equation taken from Côté, I.M. and Green, S.J. 2012. Potential effects of climate change on a marine invasion: The importance of current context, Current Zoology, 58(1): 1-8

3 Average estimate from data collected by Blue Ventures in 2014.

>10kg

A need for alternatives

Belize’s fishing industry is dominated by conch and lobster

which together account for half of the value all fisheries

landings4. However, both fisheries are overexploited and

there is a critical need for fisheries diversification and

economic alternatives to reduce dependencye on them.

Lionfish is an increasingly popular food fish throughout much

of the Caribbean, with fishers and seafood markets shifting

attention to this species as a new fishery.

Targeted lionfish fishing is now developing in Belize, and

offers both ecological and economic benefits, providing a new

source of income for fishing communities while also helping

to suppress populations of this invader.

Specific benefits include:

zz Reduced predation of juvenile reef fish and decreased

competition for resources with native groupers and

lobsters

zz Diversified fisheries reducing pressure on Belize’s two

main target species, conch and lobster, both currently

overexploited

zz An alternative target species with no seasonal closures

or size limits, reducing illegal fishing

zz A sustainable seafood choice for consumers

4 Harper, S., Zeller, D., Sumaila, U.R., 2011. Under the threat of oil: assessing the value and contribution of Belizean fisheries. In: Palomares, M.L.D., Pauly, D. (eds.), Too Precious to Drill: the Marine Biodiversity of Belize, pp. 152-160. Fisheries Centre Research Reports 19(6). Fisheries Centre, University of British Columbia [ISSN 1198-6727].

A “lionfishery” is born

Since 2011, Blue Ventures has pioneered efforts

to commercialise Belize’s nascent lionfishery by

working with fishers, consumers, restaurants, fishing

cooperatives and seafood distributors.

Due to their venomous spines, lionfish safe-handling

demonstrations for fishers have been held regularly

in Sarteneja, the largest fishing village in Belize,

providing practical training in adapting fishing

techniques to target lionfish. To overcome concerns of

envenomation, simple first aid is taught for treating

lionfish stings. Since 2013, we have expanded this

programme to fishing communities across Belize.

Taster and information events have raised the profile

of lionfish throughout Belize as an edible, tasty fish; it

is now becoming a regular sight on restaurant menus,

and increasingly used for home cooking.

We came to know of lionfish thanks to Blue Ventures… we learned how to clean the lionfish and how harmful it is to our environment. Most people didn’t even know what this fish was, so we invited them to try it and they found it delicious!PABLITO ALAS, ESTRELLAS DEL MAR RESTAURANT, SARTENEJA VILLAGE

Developing markets

Supporting restaurants seeking to incorporate lionfish

into their menus is critical to building the domestic

market for the species in Belize. To build this market and

assist restaurants eager to help address the invasion, Blue

Ventures is linking restaurants to suppliers and providing

marketing assistance through menu inserts and posters.

In 2011, no restaurants in Belize served lionfish regularly.

Today, 16 restaurants, at least one in each of Belize’s six

districts, serves lionfish as part of their main menu or

regularly as a special.

Adding value to lionfish catch

To add value to lionfish landings, Blue Ventures is also

exploring opportunities for the development of value-added

product lines, including use of lionfish spines and fins for

jewellery manufacture, already active at a small-scale in

Belize.

By using previously discarded parts, such activities can

add up to 40% to the value of catches. Blue Ventures is

providing training to women in coastal communities to

increase the number of jewellers using lionfish in their work,

and exploring the potential for a lionfish processing plant in

Sarteneja.

In 2013, Blue Ventures worked with the Placencia

Producers’ Cooperative Society Limited (Belize) and

Traditional Fisheries (USA) to establish Belize’s first

commercial lionfish handling facility for supply to local and

export markets.

With demand for invasive lionfish fillets in the USA

currently outweighing supply by 400%, Blue Ventures

is working with Belize’s largest fishing cooperative, the

Northern Fishermen’s Cooperative Limited, to develop

avenues for the bulk export of frozen lionfish to the USA.

16restaurants serve lionfish as part of their main menu or regularly as a special

Image © Gordon Kirkwood

We rebuild tropical fisheries with coastal communities

Blue Ventures works with coastal communities to develop

transformative approaches for catalysing and sustaining

locally led marine conservation.

We work in places where the ocean is vital to local cultures

and economies, and are committed to protecting marine

biodiversity in ways that benefit coastal people. Our

conservation models are designed to demonstrate that

effective management improves food security and makes

economic sense.

Over the past decade, our innovations have guided national

fisheries policy and been replicated by communities,

NGOs, businesses, donors and government agencies along

thousands of kilometres of coastline. So far our work has

impacted the lives of more than 150,000 coastal people.

Working holistically

Blue Ventures recognises that improving fisheries

management alone is not enough to overcome

the numerous and interrelated drivers of marine

environmental degradation.

Our programmes in Madagascar encompass locally led

marine conservation, sustainable fisheries management,

community-based aquaculture and ecotourism

businesses, educational scholarships and reproductive

health services.

This integrated approach addresses the interconnected

challenges of poor health, unmet family planning needs,

environmental degradation and food insecurity in a

holistic way. It enables communities to manage their

resources sustainably, both now and for the future.

Communities first Above all, we listen to community needs,

responding in a sensitive and pragmatic way for

lasting benefits.

Passion & belief Our mission is urgent and critical, we believe

that our models work, and we are determined to

get the job done.

Valued people & effective teams We work in diverse and inclusive teams where

all members have a voice and influence. We are

effective because our work is integrated across

teams and projects.

Innovation & courage We are resourceful and creative. We are prepared

to take risks and challenge broken paradigms.

Openness & humility We are an open source social enterprise.

We work in a transparent and collaborative way

to pass on what we learn to others who share

our vision and passion.

Grounded in evidence We have high standards and are not afraid to

be self-critical. If we see that something doesn’t

work, we change tack until we’re on the right

course.

IN PARTNERSHIP WITH

For further information or to discuss partnership opportunities please contact:

Frances HumberConservation Programmes Managerfran@blueventures.org

Web: www.blueventures.orgTel: +44 (0)207 697 8598

United Nations Development Programme Equator Prize 2006: the Village of Andavadoaka, winner (in partnership)

United Nations SEED Award 2005: winner, “Madagascar’s first experimental community-run MPA”

Enterprising Young Brits 2005 & 2006: highly commended, “Social and Environment”

Skal Ecotourism Awards 2006: Winner, “General Countryside”

Responsible Tourism Awards 2010: Winner for “Best volunteering organisation”

Ashoka & National Geographic Geotourism Challenge 2008: finalist

Changemakers & National Geographic Geotourism Challenge 2010: finalist

Responsible Tourism Awards 2004: highly commended for “Best in a Marine Environment”

Responsible Tourism Awards 2007: highly commended for “Best in a Marine Environment”

Responsible Tourism Awards 2008: highly commended for “Best Volunteering Organisation”

Responsible Tourism Awards 2009: highly commended for “Best in a marine environment”

Responsible Tourism Awards 2006: highly commended for “Best Volunteering Organisation”

Condé Nast Traveler Environmental Award, 2009

For two decades, Condé Nast Traveler has been honouring environmental visionaries around the world who have found innovative solutions to seemingly intractable problems.

in association with

Observer Ethical Awards, runner-up 2010.

Blue Ventures was commended for creating the Indian Ocean’s first replicable blueprint for community-centred marine and coastal conservation planning.

Winner, Buckminster Fuller Challenge, 2011

For work to protect marine resources and improve the livelihoods of poor coastal communities in Madagascar.