Cook Lionfish

<p>Our story </p><p><br></p><p>In 2003 Polly Alford Founded Reef Conservation International (Reef CI). A nonprofit marine conversation organization that through tourism focused on the general health of the coral reefs and commercial species in Southern Belize.</p><p><br></p><p>In 2009 ReefCI created a lionfish program concentrating on removing lionfish dissecting them and collecting data. The program became their primary conservation project together with an initiative to create awareness and vertical markets. 7 years later during 2016 the same organization removed over 7000 lionfish! </p><p><br></p><p>Through various schemes they helped Belize establish a culture that placed a value on lionfish. In the beginning the general consensus in Belize was that lionfish was poisonous and people were afraid to eat it! </p><p><br></p><p>Spreading awareness through social media booths at events and through their guests Reef CI helped change that perception. Every week Polly did a presentation about lionfish to an average of 14 people on visiting sailboats. They also got to taste different lionfish dishes.</p><p><br></p><p>When the guests asked what they could do to help it was suggested that they go back to Placencia village and ask for lionfish in restaurants. This helped create a demand! If there is a desire to eat a particular fish at restaurants there is a desire to fish that species.</p><p><br></p><p>Restaurants are now demanding lionfish in Belize and fisherman are being paid a high dollar value per pound for lionfish. In November 2015 Polly got invited to San Andres Colombia to talk at the Forum of Sustainable Tourism on Small Islands.</p><p><br></p><p>Belize is a model for us in conservation and environmental protection especially in the application of lionfish population and strategies. We could not find a better example of that than you guys are doing at ReefCI in Belize</p>