Defend the Reefs.
Fuel the Movement.
We are a sustainable organization removing lionfish from the Caribbean Sea -protecting reefs, empowering local communities, and crafting opportunity and beauty from an invasive threat.
The Lionfish Crisis: A Vibrant Predator Endangering Our Oceans
Native to the Indo-Pacific, lionfish were introduced to Caribbean waters by human activity. With venomous spines and no natural predators, they reproduce at alarming rates—up to 12,500 eggs per day—and each can devour 5,000 fish per year, decimating native marine life and coral ecosystems.
The Impact on Our Ocean
Reef Collapse:
Coral suffers from algae overgrowth due to the loss of herbivores.
Vanishing Fish Stocks:
Lionfish prey on reef-cleaning species, disrupting the balance.
Ocean Users Affected:
Fewer fish, less biodiversity, degraded dive and surf zones.
Our sustainable approach turns the invasive lionfish into valuable resources. By collaborating with local fishermen, we create delicious food and unique jewelry while protecting our reefs.
Take the Lionfish Out of the Sea. Turn It Into Hope.
We collaborate with local fishermen in Bocas del Toro to catch lionfish regularly. From each catch, we produce:
Filets & Wings – It is rich in protein, Omega-3s, and vitamins. It’s a healthy, sustainable seafood choice that directly protects the ocean.
Jewelry – Each bracelet, earring, and necklace is made from lionfish fins, each piece supports livelihoods and reef protection.
Extra Impact:
10% of Profits goes towards removing plastic from the environment —fighting ocean waste while funding reef defense.
Our Mission
Why
To protect Caribbean reefs and support coastal communities.
What
Reduce lionfish populations across the Caribbean.
How
Frequent purchases from Indigenous fishermen, transforming this threat into food and fashion.
Pez León -Beginning
We began in 2021 with a bold local mission under the name Bye Bye Lionfish - a grassroots effort based in Bocas del Toro, Panama, focused on reef conservation and community empowerment.
As our vision evolved to include global outreach and an online marketplace, we created a new brand: Pez León. We believe it’s a bolder, more relatable name - sexier, simpler, and rooted in Caribbean identity. It resonates more with the local fishermen we work with and carries our mission further across borders.
Pez León - Today
Today, Bye Bye Lionfish continues to operate locally in Bocas, and one of our original founders has moved to Costa Rica and is expanding the Market there with a sister project called “Peace out Lionfish“ while Pez León takes our movement global.
The Bigger Vision
Since 2021, our small-scale lionfish initiative has delivered real results - creating income for local families, restoring reef health, and funding Wasteless World’s broader environmental and social efforts.
But while our impact in Bocas del Toro has been powerful, the local market limits how far we can scale.
The Challenge
The lionfish crisis isn’t just local - it spans the entire Caribbean. That means the challenge is bigger, but so is the opportunity.
By launching our global e-commerce store, we’re building the market needed to scale reef protection and support more coastal communities who depend on healthy oceans for their survival.
