Category: Invasive Species

We’re supporting coastal communities in Belize to combat the threat of lionfish to local reefs by stimulating new markets for this invasive species.

Building capacity and strengthening networks – a participatory approach to invasive species management in Belize

The Pivot I can clearly remember waking up at the crack of dawn to the view of a breathtaking sunrise and the voices of eager volunteers who couldn’t wait to gear up. The savory aroma from the kitchen lingered like...

/ Sep 29, 2021

Belioness: empowering women and helping the reef, one lionfish at a time

Mindy Cruz had to stop going to school when she was 12, making it difficult for her to find fulfilling work, but now she is the Chairwoman of Belioness – a group of Belizean women who make jewellery from the...

/ Oct 3, 2018

Taming the lionfish: celebrating the contribution of our volunteers in Belize

At the European Coral Reef Symposium in Oxford in December 2017, we shared positive lessons learnt on the benefits that volunteers can bring to marine conservation, using our efforts to address Belize’s lionfish invasion as a case study.

/ Mar 14, 2018

Scaling up the success of lionfish management through practitioner exchange

Four delegates from Colombia recently visited Belize to learn about market-based approaches to invasive lionfish control.

/ Jan 24, 2018
The kids with their colour wheels.

Sarteneja’s kids learn about marine conservation through art

35 kids visited Blue Venture’s office in Sarteneja to create some marine-themed art and learn about conservation efforts in Belize.

/ Jan 10, 2018

4 take home messages from the International Congress for Conservation Biology

Belize Country Coordinator Jennifer Chapman distills her thoughts on why interdisciplinary skills are a must for effective conservation.

/ Aug 18, 2017

Belioness: 15 women, seven communities, four languages, one vision

The Belioness lionfish jewelry group gather from across Belize to develop a shared vision for their social enterprise; United women, empowered communities, and a healthy, beautiful reef.

/ Aug 10, 2016

Counting for conservation: the Belize National Lionfish Survey

Science Interns Julia Rubin and Anna Simmons recall 3 months spent surveying 50 different reef sites across 5 of Belize’s marine reserves.

/ Jul 29, 2016

How many lionfish? Special training to count the cryptic invader

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.

/ Jan 5, 2016

Belief in the Reef!

[avatar user=”marc” size=”thumbnail” align=”left” link=”http://blog.blueventures.org/author/marc/” target=”_blank” /] by Marc Fruitema, Community Officer, Belize As we squeezed ourselves under the narrow roof of a snack tent, sheltering from the fifth squall to disrupt the fair that day, our spirits and energy were...

/ Jun 15, 2015

The insatiable appetite: Lionfish target the world’s most threatened coral reef fish

The red lionfish (Pterois volitans) is a beautiful fish. In its native range – which extends from the Pacific Islands through the Coral Triangle and into the Indian Ocean to the eastern coast of Africa – to see a lionfish on...

/ May 14, 2015

Spreading the word about lionfish!

By Winnie Courtene-Jones, Field Scientist, Belize Since their arrival in Belize in 2008, lionfish have dramatically increased in numbers and spread throughout the country’s waters, devastating the World Heritage listed Belize Barrier Reef. What better way than to help tackle...

/ Oct 10, 2014

Innovative Tools and Inspired Leaders: My Experience as a Kinship Fellow

By Jen Chapman, Country Coordinator, Belize [quote_left]If all you have is a hammer, everything looks like a nail. – John Shores, Kinship Faculty, 2014[/quote_left] It was a busy morning, and I was mildly irritated to hear my phone ring… again!...

/ Sep 15, 2014

Lobster with a side of lionfish

by Silvia Parmeggiani, Community Officer, Belize Despite the early start, the full sun was already beating down on us as we drive down the dusty road from Sarteneja, on our way to Belize City. Belize is a country of many cultures,...

/ Aug 29, 2014

Using the beast to create some beauty: A photo diary

by Silvia Parmeggiani, Community Officer, Belize Lionfish are beautiful but because of their exotic looks they are prized specimens within the aquarium trade, and are exported all over the world. But just like their name certainly suggests, they are also aggressive predators...

/ Jul 10, 2014