The increasing numbers of invasive lionfish in the Belize Barrier Reef World Heritage Site and associated reef systems cause additional negative impacts on an already stressed ecosystem affected by overfishing, coral bleaching and ocean acidification.

In December 2008 ECOMAR began working with the Belize Fisheries Department in highlighting 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. These actions resulted in the development of the “Belize Lionfish Project,” an outreach program that is being coordinate by ECOMAR in association with the Belize Fisheries Department, fishing cooperatives, fishermen, tours guides, and other NGOs in Belize. The project has received funding by the United Nations Development Project (UNDP) Small Grants Program (SGP) Global Environmental Facility (GEF) Community Management of Protected Areas for Conservation (COMPACT).

The goal of the Belize Lionfish Project will be to raise awareness on this invasive fish, educate key stakeholders on how they can become involved in protecting their future livelihood, determine the source of lionfish in Belize through scientific studies, and garner renewed enthusiasm and interest in protecting the Belize Barrier Reef Reserve System and the associated marine areas.
Quick response by ECOMAR, the Belize Fisheries Department, and the Belize National Coral Reef Monitoring Network can possibly play a crucial role in controlling and managing the impact of lionfish in Belize. Perhaps this early response can help avoid a population explosion as was witnessed in the Bahamas. In 2004 the first lionfish was sighted in the Bahamas. In 2007 they published the Draft Lionfish Response Plan. In 2008, the lionfish population exploded in the Bahamas. It is hoped that these initial timely efforts undertaken by ECOMAR, the Belize Fisheries Department, and the National Coral Reef Monitoring Network, will prevent a similar explosion of lionfish populations in Belize.

In February 2010 ECOMAR also received a grant from the Gulf & Caribbean Fisheries Institute (GCFI) through the Caribbean Environment Programme (CEP), UNEP (United Nations Environment Programme) and CaMPAM, for the Belize Bahamas Fishermen Exchange whereby fishermen from Belize were able to travel to the Bahamas for a workshop on lionfish handling and preparation techniques. Delegates from Belize included representatives from the Fisheries Department, Northern Fishermen Producers Cooperative, National Fishermen Producers Cooperative, Placencia Fishermen Producers Cooperative, the Rio Grande Fishermen Producers Cooperative, Coral Reef Alliance and ECOMAR. The workshop included a classroom training session, field networking with Bahamian fishermen, capturing lionfish and preparing lionfish for consumption. The Belizean fishermen also had opportunity to liaise with the fishermen and organizations involved in managing the lionfish populations in Bahamas. Due to the widespread invasion of lionfish, the Bahamas Fisheries Department is now developing creative strategies to promote lionfish as a commercial fishery in the hopes of controlling their population.

The GCFI Belize & Bahamas Fishermen Exchange has served as an invaluable opportunity to share lessons learned from the Bahamas lionfish status and management efforts. The Belize delegates have committed to share acquired techniques including collection and management protocols that they will share at outreach workshops that will be held throughout fishing communities in Belize. The fishermen will also be able to share experiences and knowledge with other community members on a day to day basis.