building belize’s lionfishery · building belize’s lionfishery ... tasty fish; it ... marketing...
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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 [email protected]
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.