In January 2010, in recognition of the seriousness of the invasion of lionfish and its impact on coral reefs and local communities, the 24th General Conference of the International Coral Reef Initiative (ICRI) decided to create an Ad-hoc committee to develop a strategic plan to control lionfish in the Wider Caribbean. The strategy was designed in consensus between several regional and national stakeholders to take advantage of existing programmes and efforts in order to minimise the effects of lionfish in the Wider Caribbean region and to provide a framework for action to facilitate a concerted regional response to the threat of lionfish.