2022 Participants
Francesca Read-Cutting
This project investigated promoting stakeholder engagement to achieve the COP26 targets. It examined interactions between invasive species, tourists and locals on the island of Utila, assessing management and eradication initiatives for lionfish populations. During my project I was able to participate first hand in spearfishing operations and survey lionfish hunters, local restaurant owners and tourists who had never participated in lionfish removal. My findings support a need for effective education when promoting stakeholder engagement, as all those who had heard about invasive lionfish supported their removal to some degree. However unanticipated consequences have emerged, showcasing how complex and sensitive stakeholder participation can be for successful invasive species management. Fishermen are disguising native reef fish as lionfish to capitalise on tourist demand. Nurse shark and moray eel behaviour has also become borderline dangerous, harassing spearfishers for food which suggests previous baiting, a method suggested in some literature.
Funding source: Newcastle University
Project supervisor: Dr Heather Sugden