Stakeholder engagement was used to refine research objectives; guide methodology development; acquire/document information including local knowledge; share and validate information produced; develop locally relevant and accessible information; and appraise the application of participatory geographic information systems. To allow for transparent, inclusive and equitable cross-scale interactions, stakeholders were engaged through one and two-way communication mechanisms (newsletters, press releases, flyers, technical reports, a website, summary and validation meetings) and through a dedicated internet e-group.

Although eradication is no longer considered possible, lionfish population suppression allows native fish population recovery. With enormous variability in lionfish population density between reef locations, type and depth, a combination of commercial harvest, culling by SCUBA and deep-water traps is necessary to achieve the desired ecological outcomes.

In order to develop, implement and evaluate management interventions, it is essential to first determine the current status of lionfish populations. Due to their cryptic nature, the density of lionfish is often underestimated by traditional underwater visual census techniques; the Lionfish Focused Search method produces more accurate lionfish density estimates.

Coupled with prey fish population surveys, and following the method developed by Green et al. (2014: DOI 10.1890/13-0979.1), it is then possible to determine lionfish threshold densities – the site-specific density at which native fish populations can recover. This provides managers with a or management target, and the ability to calculate associated necessary catch target for each area to support long-term suppression.

In areas that are accessible to fishers, commercial lionfish fishing presents the most feasible means to achieve lionfish removal at the frequency and high volume required to suppress populations.

Initially, fishers face a large opportunity cost in targeting lionfish over traditionally caught species due to the risk of a lionfish sting, which may cost a fisherman up to 24 hours of fishing time. This is exacerbated by an uncoordinated market and inconsistent demand, and in some cases a low willingness-to-pay for lionfish by consumers. Therefore, willingness-to-pay for lionfish must be higher than traditionally caught species. Restaurants also require access to a consistent supply of lionfish (and regular demand from customers) before including it on their menus.

Key actions:

• Safe-handling demonstrations for fishers provide practical training in
  • adapting fishing techniques to target lionfish
  • simple first aid for lionfish stings, overcoming concerns of envenomation
• Support to restaurants and seafood distributors seeking to purchase lionfish by linking fishers to buyers and offering marketing assistance through menu inserts and posters.
• A social marketing campaign targeted at consumers to increase demand and willingness-to-pay for lionfish

Coastal Advisory Committees represent a range of sector and interest stakeholders convening regular meetings to offer recommendations to the Coastal Zone Management Authority and Institute (CZMAI). Broad engagement is reached through a public review of the draft plan. CZMAI gathers information on stakeholder values, and together with NatCap combines it with data and maps on current and plausible future distribution of uses, economic forecasts and existing government plans. The result is a set of future scenarios reflecting stakeholder input.

Realizing the importance of involving all main stakeholders, a permanent stakeholder engagement process was established aiming to engage stakeholders who are currently not involved in the Reserve’s management and should be included to meet the new scale of actions suggested by the Reserve's CEM. Those stakeholders include amongst others, sugarcane mills, the General Secretariat for Planning, and local governments inside the watersheds.