REGISTERED CHARITY 1098893

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

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

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

Since its accidental introduction to the Atlantic in the 1980s, invasion is driving further dramatic reductions in fish the Indo-Pacific lionfish Pterois volitans has become one recruitment rates. of the greatest threats to the resilience of Caribbean reef Lionfish are a particular menace for Belize, a small country systems. With extremely rapid reproduction and few natural where fishing and marine tourism support the livelihoods predators outside its native range, lionfish populations have of over 15,000 people and contribute 25% to GDP. Whilst exploded across the Caribbean and beyond, devastating fish eradicating lionfish is not possible, recent research has shown and invertebrate communities on coral reef ecosystems that suppressing populations on coral reefs allows native throughout the Caribbean region. marine species to recover. To do so requires significant and A voracious predator of juvenile fish and invertebrates, consistent removal of lionfish at scale, with the engagement lionfish suppress populations of many ecologically important of all reef stakeholders. species. With Caribbean ecosystems already weakened by the effects of overfishing and climate change, the lionfish

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 >10kg BCMR* per lionfish per year2

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

* Bacalar Chico Marine Reserve 1 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. A need for alternatives

Belize’s fishing industry is dominated by conch and lobster Specific benefits include: which together account for half of the value all fisheries zzReduced predation of juvenile reef fish and decreased landings4. However, both fisheries are overexploited and competition for resources with native groupers and there is a critical need for fisheries diversification and lobsters economic alternatives to reduce dependencye on them. zzDiversified fisheries reducing pressure on Belize’s two Lionfish is an increasingly popular food fish throughout much main target species, conch and lobster, both currently of the Caribbean, with fishers and seafood markets shifting overexploited attention to this species as a new fishery. zzAn alternative target species with no seasonal closures Targeted lionfish fishing is now developing in Belize, and or size limits, reducing illegal fishing offers both ecological and economic benefits, providing a new zz source of income for fishing communities while also helping A sustainable seafood choice for consumers to suppress populations of this invader.

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 Image © Gordon Kirkwood

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.

restaurants serve lionfish 16 as part of their main menu or regularly as a special Adding value to lionfish catch

In 2013, Blue Ventures worked with the Placencia To add value to lionfish landings, Blue Ventures is also Producers’ Cooperative Society Limited (Belize) and exploring opportunities for the development of value-added Traditional Fisheries (USA) to establish Belize’s first product lines, including use of lionfish spines and fins for commercial lionfish handling facility for supply to local and jewellery manufacture, already active at a small-scale in export markets. Belize. By using previously discarded parts, such activities can With demand for invasive lionfish fillets in the USA add up to 40% to the value of catches. Blue Ventures is currently outweighing supply by 400%, Blue Ventures providing training to women in coastal communities to is working with Belize’s largest fishing cooperative, the increase the number of jewellers using lionfish in their work, Northern Fishermen’s Cooperative Limited, to develop and exploring the potential for a lionfish processing plant in avenues for the bulk export of frozen lionfish to the USA. Sarteneja. We rebuild tropical fisheries with Working holistically coastal communities Blue Ventures recognises that improving fisheries Blue Ventures works with coastal communities to develop management alone is not enough to overcome transformative approaches for catalysing and sustaining the numerous and interrelated drivers of marine locally led marine conservation. environmental degradation. We work in places where the ocean is vital to local cultures Our programmes in Madagascar encompass locally led and economies, and are committed to protecting marine marine conservation, sustainable fisheries management, biodiversity in ways that benefit coastal people. Our community-based aquaculture and ecotourism conservation models are designed to demonstrate that businesses, educational scholarships and reproductive effective management improves food security and makes health services. economic sense. This integrated approach addresses the interconnected Over the past decade, our innovations have guided national challenges of poor health, unmet family planning needs, fisheries policy and been replicated by communities, environmental degradation and food insecurity in a NGOs, businesses, donors and government agencies along holistic way. It enables communities to manage their thousands of kilometres of coastline. So far our work has resources sustainably, both now and for the future. impacted the lives of more than 150,000 coastal people.

Communities first Innovation & courage Above all, we listen to community needs, We are resourceful and creative. We are prepared responding in a sensitive and pragmatic way for to take risks and challenge broken paradigms. lasting benefits. Openness & humility Passion & belief We are an open source social enterprise. Our mission is urgent and critical, we believe We work in a transparent and collaborative way that our models work, and we are determined to to pass on what we learn to others who share get the job done. our vision and passion. Valued people & effective teams Grounded in evidence We work in diverse and inclusive teams where We have high standards and are not afraid to all members have a voice and influence. We are be self-critical. If we see that something doesn’t effective because our work is integrated across work, we change tack until we’re on the right teams and projects. course. IN PARTNERSHIP WITH

For further information or to discuss partnership opportunities please contact: Frances Humber Conservation Programmes Manager [email protected] Web: www.blueventures.org Tel: +44 (0)207 697 8598

Winner, Buckminster Observer Ethical Awards, Fuller Challenge, 2011 runner-up 2010. For work to protect Blue Ventures was commended marine resources and for creating the Indian Ocean’s improve the livelihoods of in association with first replicable blueprint for poor coastal communities community-centred marine and in Madagascar. coastal conservation planning.

Condé Nast Traveler Responsible Tourism Responsible Tourism Responsible Tourism Environmental Award, 2009 Responsible Tourism Responsible Tourism Awards 2004: highly Awards 2006: highly Awards 2007: highly Awards 2008: highly Awards 2009: highly For two decades, Condé commended for commended for commended for commended for commended for Nast Traveler has been “Best in a Marine “Best Volunteering “Best in a Marine “Best Volunteering “Best in a marine honouring environmental Environment” Organisation” Environment” Organisation” environment” visionaries around the world who have found innovative solutions to seemingly intractable problems.

Responsible Ashoka & Changemakers United Nations Enterprising Skal Ecotourism Tourism Awards National & National SEED Award Young Brits 2005 Awards 2006: 2010: Winner Geographic Geographic 2005: winner, & 2006: highly Winner, “General for “Best Geotourism Geotourism “Madagascar’s commended, Countryside” volunteering Challenge 2008: Challenge 2010: first experimental “Social and organisation” finalist finalist community-run Environment” MPA” United Nations Development Programme Equator Prize 2006: the Village of Andavadoaka, winner (in partnership)