{"id":7943,"date":"2016-07-29T11:39:54","date_gmt":"2016-07-29T10:39:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blog.blueventures.org\/?p=7943"},"modified":"2016-07-29T11:39:54","modified_gmt":"2016-07-29T10:39:54","slug":"counting-conservation-belize-national-lionfish-survey","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blog.blueventures.org\/en\/counting-conservation-belize-national-lionfish-survey\/","title":{"rendered":"Counting for conservation: the Belize National Lionfish Survey"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The waves lapped softly against the wooden hull of Brujula as wind filled her sails, carrying us to our first destination, South Water Caye Marine Reserve, Belize. Nervous and excited, we didn\u2019t quite know what to expect from our first round of lionfish surveys.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/explore.blueventures.org\/managing-belizes-lionfish-invasion\" target=\"_blank\">Invasive lionfish populations have exploded across the Caribbean<\/a>. Their ever-increasing populations rapidly consume ecologically and commercially important fish and invertebrates in reefs, mangroves, and seagrass habitats, threatening ecosystems and fisheries.<\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_7944\" style=\"width: 278px\" class=\"wp-caption alignleft\"><img decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-7944\" class=\"wp-image-7944 size-medium lazyload\" data-src=\"https:\/\/blog.blueventures.org\/media\/2016\/07\/66237624-268x357.jpeg\" alt=\"Lionfish survey team gearing up to get in the water! L-R: Anna (BV), Julia (BV), Eli (BAS), and Tanya (TIDE). Capt. Brian overseeing in the background! Photo credit: Regina (Brujula Sailing Trips and Transport)\" width=\"268\" height=\"357\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/blog.blueventures.org\/media\/2016\/07\/66237624-268x357.jpeg 268w, https:\/\/blog.blueventures.org\/media\/2016\/07\/66237624-49x65.jpeg 49w, https:\/\/blog.blueventures.org\/media\/2016\/07\/66237624-362x483.jpeg 362w, https:\/\/blog.blueventures.org\/media\/2016\/07\/66237624-300x400.jpeg 300w, https:\/\/blog.blueventures.org\/media\/2016\/07\/66237624.jpeg 720w\" data-sizes=\"(max-width: 268px) 100vw, 268px\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 268px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 268\/357;\" \/><p id=\"caption-attachment-7944\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Lionfish survey team gearing up to get in the water! L-R: Anna (BV), Julia (BV), Eli (BAS), and Tanya (TIDE). Capt. Brian overseeing in the background! Photo credit: Regina (Brujula Sailing Trips and Transport)<\/p><\/div>\n<p>Our mission was clear: assess the relative abundance of lionfish, their prey, and competing predators (e.g. sharks, groupers, moray eels).<\/p>\n<p>Last year\u00a0<a href=\"http:\/\/blog.blueventures.org\/how-many-lionfish-special-training-to-count-the-cryptic-invader\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Blue Ventures hosted eleven biologists<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u00a0at our <a href=\"https:\/\/blueventures.org\/volunteer\/belize\/\" target=\"_blank\">Bacalar Chico Dive Camp<\/a> to train in lionfish survey methods \u2013 in preparation for a mammoth survey effort to monitor populations in five marine reserves.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">For this survey, our team was six: Elias Cantun, Marine Biologist and Fisheries Officer stationed at South Water Caye, Eli Romero, Marine Biologist for the <\/span><a href=\"http:\/\/www.belizeaudubon.org\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Belize Audubon Society<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, Tanya Barona, Marine Biologist for the <\/span><a href=\"http:\/\/www.tidebelize.org\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Toledo Institute for Development and Environment<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> (TIDE), Daniela Escontrela, Field Scientist for <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/blueventures.org\/volunteer\/belize\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Blue Ventures<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u00a0in Bacalar Chico, and us \u2013 the BV Science Interns, responsible for field logistics and data collection.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<blockquote><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Plan? Conduct <a href=\"https:\/\/blog.blueventures.org\/media\/2016\/07\/Lionfish-Focused-Search-Method-2016.pdf\">&#8220;Level 3&#8221; lionfish focused surveys<\/a>\u00a0in five marine reserves along the Belize coast: Bacalar Chico, South Water Caye, Port Honduras, Caye Caulker, and Hol Chan.<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<div data-carousel-extra='{\"blog_id\":1,\"permalink\":\"https:\\\/\\\/blog.blueventures.org\\\/en\\\/counting-conservation-belize-national-lionfish-survey\\\/\"}' class=\"tiled-gallery type-rectangular\" data-original-width=\"900\"><div class=\"gallery-row\" style=\"width: 895px; height: 569px;\"><div class=\"gallery-group images-2\" style=\"width: 381px; height: 573px;\"><div class=\"tiled-gallery-item tiled-gallery-item-large\"><a href=\"https:\/\/blog.blueventures.org\/en\/counting-conservation-belize-national-lionfish-survey\/attachment\/92106212\/\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-attachment-id=\"7946\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/blog.blueventures.org\/media\/2016\/07\/92106212.jpeg\" data-orig-size=\"1600,1200\" data-comments-opened=\"1\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"Lunch aboard Brujula\" data-image-description=\"\" data-medium-file=\"https:\/\/blog.blueventures.org\/media\/2016\/07\/92106212-476x357.jpeg\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/blog.blueventures.org\/media\/2016\/07\/92106212-644x483.jpeg\" data-src=\"https:\/\/blog.blueventures.org\/media\/2016\/07\/92106212-377x283.jpeg\" width=\"377\" height=\"283\" align=\"left\" title=\"Lunch aboard Brujula\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==\" class=\"lazyload\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 377px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 377\/283;\" \/><\/a><div class=\"tiled-gallery-caption\">The survey team enjoying lunch aboard Brujula<\/div><\/div><div class=\"tiled-gallery-item tiled-gallery-item-large\"><a href=\"https:\/\/blog.blueventures.org\/en\/counting-conservation-belize-national-lionfish-survey\/attachment\/43691663\/\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-attachment-id=\"7951\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/blog.blueventures.org\/media\/2016\/07\/43691663.jpeg\" data-orig-size=\"1600,1200\" data-comments-opened=\"1\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"Port Honduras Ranger Station\" data-image-description=\"\" data-medium-file=\"https:\/\/blog.blueventures.org\/media\/2016\/07\/43691663-476x357.jpeg\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/blog.blueventures.org\/media\/2016\/07\/43691663-644x483.jpeg\" data-src=\"https:\/\/blog.blueventures.org\/media\/2016\/07\/43691663-377x282.jpeg\" width=\"377\" height=\"282\" align=\"left\" title=\"Port Honduras Ranger Station\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==\" class=\"lazyload\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 377px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 377\/282;\" \/><\/a><div class=\"tiled-gallery-caption\">Port Honduras Ranger Station, Abalone Caye<\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"gallery-group images-1\" style=\"width: 514px; height: 573px;\"><div class=\"tiled-gallery-item tiled-gallery-item-large\"><a href=\"https:\/\/blog.blueventures.org\/en\/counting-conservation-belize-national-lionfish-survey\/attachment\/76238379\/\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-attachment-id=\"7955\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/blog.blueventures.org\/media\/2016\/07\/76238379.jpeg\" data-orig-size=\"654,729\" data-comments-opened=\"1\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"Map of Belize\" data-image-description=\"\" data-medium-file=\"https:\/\/blog.blueventures.org\/media\/2016\/07\/76238379-320x357.jpeg\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/blog.blueventures.org\/media\/2016\/07\/76238379-433x483.jpeg\" data-src=\"https:\/\/blog.blueventures.org\/media\/2016\/07\/76238379-510x569.jpeg\" width=\"510\" height=\"569\" align=\"left\" title=\"Map of Belize\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==\" class=\"lazyload\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 510px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 510\/569;\" \/><\/a><div class=\"tiled-gallery-caption\">Map of Belize showing the five marine reserves targeted by these surveys<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Using Dr Stephanie Green\u2019s <\/span><a href=\"http:\/\/ir.library.oregonstate.edu\/xmlui\/bitstream\/handle\/1957\/45163\/Green%20et%20al.%20in%20press%20Ecol%20App%5B1%5D.pdf?sequence=1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">population model<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, the data we collect will determine the threshold densities of lionfish within each marine reserve \u2013 the maximum number of lionfish that a reef can withstand before these voracious predators significantly impact the ecosystem. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Blue Ventures and the Belize Fisheries Department will together use these data to develop management plans for each reserve, and to develop a stock assessment model for Belize\u2019s emergent lionfish fishery.<\/span><\/p>\n<div data-carousel-extra='{\"blog_id\":1,\"permalink\":\"https:\\\/\\\/blog.blueventures.org\\\/en\\\/counting-conservation-belize-national-lionfish-survey\\\/\"}' class=\"tiled-gallery type-rectangular\" data-original-width=\"900\"><div class=\"gallery-row\" style=\"width: 895px; height: 394px;\"><div class=\"gallery-group images-1\" style=\"width: 225px; height: 398px;\"><div class=\"tiled-gallery-item tiled-gallery-item-small\"><a href=\"https:\/\/blog.blueventures.org\/en\/counting-conservation-belize-national-lionfish-survey\/attachment\/79767320\/\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-attachment-id=\"7950\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/blog.blueventures.org\/media\/2016\/07\/79767320.jpeg\" data-orig-size=\"899,1600\" data-comments-opened=\"1\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"Prey belt\" data-image-description=\"\" data-medium-file=\"https:\/\/blog.blueventures.org\/media\/2016\/07\/79767320-201x357.jpeg\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/blog.blueventures.org\/media\/2016\/07\/79767320-271x483.jpeg\" data-src=\"https:\/\/blog.blueventures.org\/media\/2016\/07\/79767320-221x394.jpeg\" width=\"221\" height=\"394\" align=\"left\" title=\"Prey belt\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==\" class=\"lazyload\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 221px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 221\/394;\" \/><\/a><div class=\"tiled-gallery-caption\">Anna conducting a prey belt<\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"gallery-group images-1\" style=\"width: 670px; height: 398px;\"><div class=\"tiled-gallery-item tiled-gallery-item-large\"><a href=\"https:\/\/blog.blueventures.org\/en\/counting-conservation-belize-national-lionfish-survey\/attachment\/61562156\/\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-attachment-id=\"7949\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/blog.blueventures.org\/media\/2016\/07\/61562156.jpeg\" data-orig-size=\"1604,948\" data-comments-opened=\"1\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"yellowcheek wrasse\" data-image-description=\"\" data-medium-file=\"https:\/\/blog.blueventures.org\/media\/2016\/07\/61562156-604x357.jpeg\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/blog.blueventures.org\/media\/2016\/07\/61562156-745x440.jpeg\" data-src=\"https:\/\/blog.blueventures.org\/media\/2016\/07\/61562156-666x394.jpeg\" width=\"666\" height=\"394\" align=\"left\" title=\"yellowcheek wrasse\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==\" class=\"lazyload\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 666px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 666\/394;\" \/><\/a><div class=\"tiled-gallery-caption\">The first yellowcheek wrasse ever recorded in Caye Caulker!<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<p><span class=\"pull-right\" style=\"background-color: #eee; padding: 15px;\"><b>Our surveys in numbers:<\/b><br \/>\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><strong>3<\/strong> months<\/span><br \/>\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><strong>5<\/strong> marine reserves<\/span><br \/>\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><strong>16<\/strong> researchers<\/span><br \/>\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><strong>50<\/strong> sites<\/span><br \/>\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><strong>445<\/strong> tanks<\/span><br \/>\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><strong>&gt;20,000<\/strong> hours underwater<\/span><br \/>\n<strong>45,810m\u00b2<\/strong><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u00a0reef surveyed<\/span><br \/>\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><strong>171,273<\/strong> \u2013 number of times Anna played the song <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=GGvQ4zRHMLo\" target=\"_blank\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Lucy<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> while gearing up, cleaning equipment, preparing data sheets, studying marine reserve maps, entering data\u2026<\/span><br \/>\n<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Each new site came with its own set of challenges, and we quickly learned that even the best laid plans could crumble under waves of broken gear, non-viable survey sites (which were randomly selected using habitat maps), fuel shortages, and our biggest foe: bad weather. In South Water Caye we tried doing surveys-by-sail to reduce our carbon footprint and to support traditional Sarteneja boat-building. Unfortunately, using a sailboat made logistics even more difficult and it was very time consuming moving from survey site to survey site, so we swapped back to using skiffs for surveys in all other marine reserves.\u00a0Despite these many obstacles, we persevered to achieve our goals and successfully surveyed 50 sites!<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Our perseverance was further rewarded by the amazing coral reefs we visited. We experienced incredible visibility in Bacalar Chico, and dived with massive schools of the endemic species, <\/span><a href=\"http:\/\/blog.blueventures.org\/the-insatiable-appetite-lionfish-target-the-worlds-most-threatened-coral-reef-fish\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">the social wrasse (<\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Halichoeres socialis<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">), particularly threatened by invasive lionfish<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. <\/span><\/p>\n<blockquote><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Spotted eagle rays and nurse sharks were our dive buddies in Caye Caulker and Hol Chan, and at one sight we were even accompanied by a pod of dolphins! <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The reefs of Belize truly are alive!<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<div data-carousel-extra='{\"blog_id\":1,\"permalink\":\"https:\\\/\\\/blog.blueventures.org\\\/en\\\/counting-conservation-belize-national-lionfish-survey\\\/\"}' class=\"tiled-gallery type-rectangular\" data-original-width=\"900\"><div class=\"gallery-row\" style=\"width: 895px; height: 269px;\"><div class=\"gallery-group images-1\" style=\"width: 482px; height: 273px;\"><div class=\"tiled-gallery-item tiled-gallery-item-large\"><a href=\"https:\/\/blog.blueventures.org\/en\/counting-conservation-belize-national-lionfish-survey\/attachment\/15259456\/\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-attachment-id=\"7953\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/blog.blueventures.org\/media\/2016\/07\/15259456.jpeg\" data-orig-size=\"1184,666\" data-comments-opened=\"1\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"spotted scorpionfish\" data-image-description=\"\" data-medium-file=\"https:\/\/blog.blueventures.org\/media\/2016\/07\/15259456-635x357.jpeg\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/blog.blueventures.org\/media\/2016\/07\/15259456-745x419.jpeg\" data-src=\"https:\/\/blog.blueventures.org\/media\/2016\/07\/15259456-478x269.jpeg\" width=\"478\" height=\"269\" align=\"left\" title=\"spotted scorpionfish\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==\" class=\"lazyload\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 478px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 478\/269;\" \/><\/a><div class=\"tiled-gallery-caption\">A spotted scorpionfish was sighted in Caye Caulker, can you spot it?<\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"gallery-group images-1\" style=\"width: 413px; height: 273px;\"><div class=\"tiled-gallery-item tiled-gallery-item-large\"><a href=\"https:\/\/blog.blueventures.org\/en\/counting-conservation-belize-national-lionfish-survey\/attachment\/52064507\/\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-attachment-id=\"7952\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/blog.blueventures.org\/media\/2016\/07\/52064507.jpeg\" data-orig-size=\"1600,1050\" data-comments-opened=\"1\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"Spotted Eagle Ray\" data-image-description=\"\" data-medium-file=\"https:\/\/blog.blueventures.org\/media\/2016\/07\/52064507-544x357.jpeg\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/blog.blueventures.org\/media\/2016\/07\/52064507-736x483.jpeg\" data-src=\"https:\/\/blog.blueventures.org\/media\/2016\/07\/52064507-409x269.jpeg\" width=\"409\" height=\"269\" align=\"left\" title=\"Spotted Eagle Ray\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==\" class=\"lazyload\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 409px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 409\/269;\" \/><\/a><div class=\"tiled-gallery-caption\">A Spotted Eagle Ray accompanied by his friend the Sharksucker<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"gallery-row\" style=\"width: 895px; height: 501px;\"><div class=\"gallery-group images-1\" style=\"width: 895px; height: 505px;\"><div class=\"tiled-gallery-item tiled-gallery-item-large\"><a href=\"https:\/\/blog.blueventures.org\/en\/counting-conservation-belize-national-lionfish-survey\/attachment\/9262969\/\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-attachment-id=\"7948\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/blog.blueventures.org\/media\/2016\/07\/9262969.jpeg\" data-orig-size=\"1600,899\" data-comments-opened=\"1\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"Anouk and Nurse Shark\" data-image-description=\"\" data-medium-file=\"https:\/\/blog.blueventures.org\/media\/2016\/07\/9262969-635x357.jpeg\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/blog.blueventures.org\/media\/2016\/07\/9262969-745x419.jpeg\" data-src=\"https:\/\/blog.blueventures.org\/media\/2016\/07\/9262969-891x501.jpeg\" width=\"891\" height=\"501\" align=\"left\" title=\"Anouk and Nurse Shark\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==\" class=\"lazyload\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 891px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 891\/501;\" \/><\/a><div class=\"tiled-gallery-caption\">Blue Ventures Field Scientist Anouk assisted in her lionfish search by a friendly Nurse Shark.<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<p>Conducting these surveys has been such an amazing and enlightening experience, and it is incredibly gratifying to know that all of our efforts will result in the maintenance and protection of Belize\u2019s spectacular reefs.<\/p>\n<p>The data collected through these surveys will play a vital role in controlling lionfish populations and maintaining healthy reefs across Belize, and it was only made possible thanks to the generous support of The Summit Foundation and MAR Fund. We are grateful for ongoing partnership with the Belize Fisheries Department and Dr Stephanie Green. A big thank you also to the Toledo Institute for Development and Environment, Belize Audubon Society, Forest and Marine Reserve Association of Caye Caulker, Blue Sea dive shop (Caye Caulker), Chuck &amp; Robbie\u2019s dive shop (San Pedro) and Brujula Sailing Trips and Transport for making this ambitious and important effort possible!<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If you want to learn more about how the coastal communities are tackling the lionfish invasion in Belize, then check out our new photo story: <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/blueventures.exposure.co\/managing-belizes-lionfish-invasion\">Managing Belize\u2019s Lionfish Infestation<\/a>\u00a0or get involved and join us on a <a href=\"https:\/\/blueventures.org\/volunteer\/belize\/lionfish-dive-trip\/\" target=\"_blank\">short lionfish dive trip<\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Science Interns Julia Rubin and Anna Simmons recall 3 months spent surveying 50 different reef sites across 5 of Belize\u2019s marine reserves.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":112,"featured_media":7959,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[115,472,478],"tags":[585,515,494,516,617],"class_list":["post-7943","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-belize","category-invasive-species","category-volunteer-stories","tag-belize","tag-diving","tag-lionfish-2","tag-marine-research","tag-surveying"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.7 - 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