Minister Andre Perez and Ms Shantel Espadas, Communities Blue Innovations Officer were in full attendance at the first-ever Caye Caulker Lionfish Fest 2022!!!

A grand total of 380 lion fish were speared today for the Lionfish derby carried out by Reef Protectors.

Lionfish are an invasive fish that threaten our ecosystems. Having little to no natural predators in the Caribbean, Lionfish disrupt food chains by predating on juvenile reef fish.

Congratulations to Amigos Del Mar for winning the divers category and congratulations to French Angel Expedition for winning the free diving category.

Caye Caulker's Lionfish Fest Day 2!

The organizers of this year's Caye Caulker Lionfish Festival did an amazing job putting together a fantastic event. The final event of the day was a Lion Fish Fillet Competition, in which six applicants competed to make the most fillet in 15 minutes!

Following the fillet competition, a brief award ceremony was conducted to recognize the champions of the two-day festivities!
Caye Caulker chairlady Seleny Villanueva-Pott and Shantel Espadas, MBECA representative, presented prizes and honors.

This year’s winners are as follows:
Lionfish Derby
•Amigos Del Mar (scuba category)
•French Angel Tours (Free dive category)

Biggest Lionfish caught
• French Angel Tours

Smallest Lionfish Caught
• Buddy’s Golf Cart Rental

Lion fish fillet competition
- Enuterio “Jordan” Lopez
- Palovi Baieza
- Carlos Contreras


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Over the weekend the Reef Protectors under the leadership of Ms. Dianira Enriquez, Mr. Buddy Magana, Ms.Celina Jimenez and Mr. Akheil Badillo organized the first ever Lionfish fest. The initiative of the fest is to highlight the threat the lionfish hold to our Barrier Reef. Support was provided by the Minister and the Ministery of the Blue Economy, the Fisheries Department, Caye Caulker Village Council and the Reef View Hotel. The Caye Caulker Village Council donated 5000.00 towards this event in the hope that it can evolve into a yearly activity while creating awareness and protecting our Reef and livelihood. The weekend held free Diving and scuba diving of lion fish, a filled completion and educational session of the threat this invasive species cause.

The festival saw participants from Hopkins and San Pedro. The Caye Caulker Village Council wish the organizers every success in the growth of this fest.

All the best!


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