Controlling the Lion

The term invasive, used in much scientific literature, implies damaging species that affect the natives.  

 The Pterios Volitans reduced 65%, on average, the biomass of native fish (small-sized fish) in coral reefs of The Bahamas in two years1.

Mark Vermeij, a conservation biologist at the Caribbean Marine Biological Institute on the island of Curaçao mentioned that,

“Quite quickly they were everywhere. They were like cockroaches.”


The increase of these fish called for companies to create solutions to aid in controlling these fish. Proposed solutions to eradicate invasive species include: mechanical removal, biological control, or even chemical application2.

The current strategies for lionfish population growth control – proposed by conservation non-governmental organizations and managers – work on physical removals through derbies and fishing tournaments3. 
Photo by the REEF Fishing Tournament

Photo by Bonaire Talk from a Lionfish Derby

This strategy is gaining more popularity and promotes a gastronomic use of the lionfish because its venom resides in the fin spines, so its flesh is toxin-free and edible4, 5.Scientists and managers recommend mechanical removal, but some propose natural biocontrol; this latter could be viable only if the natural predators (potentially groupers) are abundant. 6

↓ SOME INTERESTING FACTS:
  • For mechanical removal, managers and scientists encourage volunteers to participate in derbies, rallies, or fishing tournaments6
  • From 2009 to 2012, the nongovernmental Reef Environmental Education Foundation (REEF) has organized derbies in the Florida Keys (US) and The Bahamas from which participants have captured about 10,200 lionfish3
  • Many people have even suggested recipes for cooking it 7, 8, 9. Click this link to read up on cooking and eating the Lionfish- Eating Lionfish
  • The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) promoted the “Eat Lionfish” campaign (Lionfish as Seafood) , and REEF introduced the first cook book for lionfish10.
  • Many restaurants in USA, the Bahamas and many countries in the Caribbean are now including it in their menus. Some restaurants offer it as an exotic delicacy while others as a “common fish”. Cash incentives can help by drawing amateurs into efforts to control invasives.

Photo by Bahamas Local



At these derbies hosted by the REEF, it was found that,
408 lionfish removed in 2009
1,578 lionfish removed in 2010
3,542 lionfish removed in 2011
2,694 lionfish removed in 2012
2,951 lionfish removed in 2013
2,820 lionfish removed in 2014
1,141 lionfish removed in 2015
2,426 lionfish removed in 2016
2,532 lionfish removed in 2017
3,337 lionfish removed in 2018
 24,522 lionfish removed in all REEF Derbies







A lot of persons and companies have come together to help in controlling these lionfish and getting our coral reef fish back! The lionfish species cannot be completely wiped out, but getting one is better than none.


Photo from The Lionfish Help
References:
1.       Green, S.J., J.L. Akins, A. Maljkovic, and I.A Coté. 2012. Invasive lionfish drive Atlantic coral reef fish declines. PLoS ONE 7(3): e32596. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0032596.
2.       Simberloff, D, I.M. Parker, and P.N. Windle. 2005. Introduced species policy, management, and future research Needs. Frontiers in Ecology and Environment 3:12-20.
3.       REEF. 2012. Lionfish derbies. Reef Environmental Education Foundation. Available from: Lionfish Derbies.
4.       Morris J. A. Jr., and P.E. Whitfield. 2009. Biology, Ecology, Control and Management of the Invasive Indo-Pacific Lionfish: An Updated Integrated Assessment. NOAA Tech Memo NOSNCCOS 99. 57 pp.
5.        Morris, Jr, J.A., A. Thomas, A.L. Rhyne, N. Breen, L. Akins  and B. Nash. 2011. Nutritional properties of the invasive lionfish: A delicious and nutritious approach for controlling the invasion. AACL Bioflux 4:21-26.
6.       Morris, J.A., Jr. (ed.). 2012. Invasive Lionfish: A Guide to Control and Management. Gulf and Caribbean Fisheries Institute Special Publication Series Number 1, Marathon Florida, USA. 113 pp.
7.       Walton, C.K. 2011. Chefs cooking up new ways to prepare venomous lionfish. Available from:   http://www.foxnews.com/leisure/2011/10/30/lionfishonmenu demonstrates-creativity-environmentalconscience.
8.        Quist, K. 2011. Lionfish may have value as seafood catch. Keynoter. Available from Lionfish as Seafood
9.       Grandison, G. 2012. Delectable eating: the lionfish. The Gleaner, Jamaica. Available from:  Eating the Lionfish
10.   NOAA. 2011. Filleting the Lion. NOAA Weekly News, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.



Comments

  1. UnknownNovember 9, 2018 at 5:48 AM

    It's great to see that efforts to decrease lionfish numbers are working and people are getting involved!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. UnknownNovember 9, 2018 at 10:45 AM

      Yes !! So many companies and organizations are coming together and it’s showing progress !

      Delete
  2. Keil JoefieldNovember 12, 2018 at 10:40 AM

    Lol. The cockroaches of the sea. Love it!

    ReplyDelete

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