Source: The Reporter
April 9, 2010

Belize Marine authorities are waging an all-out war against the dreaded Lionfish, which has invaded Belizean waters. Since late last year when this voracious predator was discovered in Belize waters, more than 400 have been caught and destroyed.

Still, a vigorous campaign is in effect today to rid the Caribbean of lionfish (genera pterois) before it does serious damage to commercial fisheries.

ECOMAR, an initiative launched in the U.K. to study ecosystems of the mid-Atlantic Ridge, has begun a collaborative work with the Belize Fisheries Department to raise awareness of the problems caused by the lionfish running amuck on the Belize Barrier Reef ecosystem. And now there is a fully functional Belize Lionfish Project involving the Belize Fisheries Department, all the fishing cooperatives, tour guide associations, NGOs with an interest in marine life, and other members of the National Coral Reef Monitoring Network.

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