People have hunted all manner of animals for sport – from pheasants, to deer, to an assortment of fish from the sea. Most of the time, however, their sport little serves to benefit the environment. How would you like, for a change, to take part in a hunt that eradicates a dangerous invasive species? One that provides ample enjoyment and recreation at the same time. All in an environment where you are surrounded by stunning, natural beauty? Well, if this strikes a chord with you, plan a visit to our island haven in Belize to help us keep the lionfish population under control.

Native to the Indian and Pacific oceans, the red lionfish (Pterosis Volitans), the variety found in our waters, was released into the Atlantic in the 1980s — most likely by Florida aquarium owners who grew tired of feeding the ravenous creatures. Since then, these aptly-named, orange- and red-striped ‘lions’ have colonized coastal waters from Rhode Island to South America, devastating local fish populations. Their population numbers explode wherever they go, as they have very few predators – due to the effectiveness of their venomous spikes – and because they spawn monthly. They are voracious eaters – feeding on small fish, invertebrates, and mollusks in huge quantities – and are skilled hunters, utilizing specialized bladder muscles to quickly alter their center of gravity to attack their prey.