Lionfish In Belize

Belize's Most Wanted Fish

With their incredible color, pattern and feather-like fins — there’s no denying the beauty of the lionfish. Unfortunately, they are also one of the Atlantic’s most destructive invasive species. Native to the Indo-Pacific, lionfish have spread throughout the Caribbean, where few natural predators keep their numbers in check. In Belize, they threaten reef ecosystems by consuming large numbers of juvenile fish and crustaceans, including species essential to healthy coral reefs.

Lionfish: The Thrill of the Hunt

Lionfish have been present in Belize since 2008, and we are only now beginning to see signs of natural predation. Until native predators play a greater role in controlling their population, the most effective way to keep them at bay is to remove them by hand using pole spears.

After years of hunting lionfish on our local reefs, we are beginning to see their numbers decline—although they are certainly still present. Many of our guides carry pole spears while leading snorkels, ready to act if a lionfish is spotted. We also organize dedicated hunts from time to time, with guests sometimes joining in the experience! Best of all, lionfish are delicious, with light, mild and flaky white meat.

Are They Really That Bad?

These small but mighty fish are voracious predators, feeding on more than 100 different prey species. On your next snorkel, keep an eye out for a “cleaning station”—a place where fish gather to have parasites removed. These stations are an essential part of a healthy reef ecosystem, but lionfish disrupt them by eating the cleaner fish, leaving larger fish more vulnerable to disease and premature death.

Lionfish also prey heavily on juvenile herbivorous reef fish, which grow up to feed on algae and keep reef surfaces clean. Without enough of these grazers, algae can spread across the reef, leaving fewer clean surfaces for young corals to settle, grow and eventually form new colonies.