7 News Belize

From A Fish Of Prey, To A Fish Preyed Upon
posted (January 24, 2011)
In February of 2009, we started reporting on the ominous arrival of the Lionfish into Belize's waters. Ominous because the Lionfish has no natural predators in these waters and marine biologists warned that it will decimate fish stocks by eating all the juvenile fish.

By March, 2009, the fisheries department had put a bounty on the Lionfish - offering a reward of $50 for anyone who finds one. By August that had to be discontinued, the game was up, the Lionfish had won and it was accepted that, despite best efforts, it had penetrated all of Belize's territorial waters.

But for the folks in San Pedro that was no reason to hang their heads. In a perfect example of being served a sack of nothing but limes and choosing to make lime juice rather than curse bitter fate, a group named Ecomar had the first ever lionfish tournament last week.

According to the Ambergris Today newsletter, the tournament took place on Wednesday, January 19, In San Pedro town where hundreds of lionfish were caught - and not only caught, but filleted and cooked! The first place prize was given to the crew from Ramon's Village which caught 165 of the venomous fish and second place went to Amigo's Del Mar which caught 137. Island divers snagged the largest lionfish at 38 centimeters - which is over a foot.

And after that, it was unto the cutting table where the venom producing glands were removed and the Lionfish was prepped for serving. You can find a link to see how they prepared it at 7newsbelize.com..

http://www.ambergristoday.com/content/stories/2011/january/20/lionfish-hundreds-1st-ever-tournament




Who Is The Face Of Belize
Belize will celebrate thirty years of independence this year and the National Celebrations Commission hopes to commemorate it in a memorable way.

It's called a "Faces of Belize" Campaign, where they're looking for six Belizeans born in 1981, one from each district, who epitomize the true meaning and qualities of Belize.

Shari Williams, NICH Communications Officer told us more:

Shari Williams, NICH Communicatins Officer
"What we have decided is that this year these 6 young persons who are chosen are going to be the faces representing all the beautiful qualities that our country has to offer. It could be anybody, it doesn't necessarily have to be someone who is in school or has a business, success is pretty relative. What we've decided is where are going to prepare multimedia with them, we are going to share them with the entire country and to all the Belizean Americans living abroad as well. They are going to be travelling with us and they are just going to be out there. They are going to celebrate the fact that these young persons are everything that Belize has to offer."

Andrea Polanco
"So how does one become involve if they like to, maybe nominate somebody or offer themselves as the face of Belize?"

Shari Williams, NICH Communicatins Officer
"Well first of all the person had to have been born in 1981, therefore they are either 30 years old or going to be 30 years old this year. They have to be a Belizean or Belizean parentage and they have to possess certain qualities that make them Belize - that make them Belizean."

If you would like to be considered as one of the faces of Belize or know of someone who would, you can visit the September Celebrations website or call Shari Williams at 227-3050 for more information or send your submissions to septembercelebrationsbze@yahoo.com by February 25th, 2011.




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