Team Chingon defended its championship at the sixth annual Reef Adventures Lionfish Fishing Tournament, catching 835 lionfish and helping remove 1,737 invasive fish from Belizean waters. The team also earned the prize for the largest lionfish caught during the competition.
Held on Saturday, October 10th, in San Pedro Town, Ambergris Caye, the tournament featured three teams. Competitors set out early, covering dive sites around Turneffe Atoll and as far as St. George’s Caye near Belize City. After a full day at sea, the teams returned to the Palapa Bar dock by 4PM, where they weighed and counted their catches.
Participants reported seeing large numbers of lionfish around Belize’s Barrier Reef. One crew member from Ramon’s expressed concern about their impact on other marine life. “You can see the lionfish feeding on juvenile fish and fish eggs throughout the reef. Not good,” the crew member said.
The catches ranged from small juveniles to large adults. After counting the fish, Team Chingon secured first place, followed by Team CARMA with 554 lionfish. Elite Adventures placed third with 348.
The combined catch of 1,737 lionfish fell short of last year’s total of 1,865 but still represented another effort to reduce the invasive species’ presence in Belizean waters.
The annual tournament aims to raise awareness of the threat lionfish pose to Belize’s marine ecosystem and fisheries. Organizer Philip Vernon said he hopes more teams will participate in future tournaments.
“We want to continue highlighting that lionfish may be pretty, but they are an invasive species that is causing serious damage to our reefs by feeding on juvenile fish and disrupting the natural balance of marine life,” Vernon said.
He thanked the divers who contributed prizes and helped make this year’s tournament possible. Divers also prepared lionfish caught during the event in dishes such as ceviche and served it at island restaurants, including Caramba.
Native to the Indo-Pacific region, lionfish have spread throughout the Caribbean and Gulf of Mexico. Their presence has raised concerns about the effects on native marine life and coastal fisheries. Through the annual competition, organizers and participating divers continue to encourage lionfish removal while promoting their use as food.