Economic Alternative for Sarteneja Lionfish and Seaweed

Beneficiary:         Sarteneja Fishermen Association (SFA)

Funds Awarded:               $60,000.00

Project Location: Sarteneja, Corozal District

Summary:           Sarteneja village gets its name from the Mayan word meaning ‘water between the rocks’.  Situated just along the Chetumal Bay, Sarteneja has a long seafaring history.  The Sarteneja Fishermen Association (SFA) was established in 2007.  It is a community based organization that seeks to protect the reef by providing alternative livelihoods for fisher folk.  This project specifically seeks to create a demand for lionfish, an invasive species, by targeting restaurants and through the creation of lionfish jewelry.  The SFA aims to increase the value of landed lionfish catch for fishers as well as explore seaweed farming as an alternative income earning activity in the Corozal Bay Wildlife Sanctuary and the Bacalar Chico Marine Reserve.