Can killing lionfish draw sharks?

[drrich2]

Hi:

Bit of an off-the-wall question. A lot of divers want to see sharks. When people ask about it, they're often told to take a trip to the Bahamas since that's one of the Caribbean regions where siting is most likely (all the more if you go on a 'shark feeding dive').

I remembering thinking, rather tongue-in-cheek, you could add 'Or take up spear fishing,' based on some threads I've seen on the forum. I've kind of gotten the impression that people who spear fish often see sharks from time-to-time. Some, like the guy who speared a barracuda then had a bullshark come after it while the wounded barracuda tried to flee, well, 'see' them more than they wanted to.

Given the numbers of lionfish we're starting to hearing about people seeing (and sometimes killing), and the way people are advocating for authorities to let regular recreational divers take gear for killing on sight, it may well come to pass that:

1.) A lot of people who've never engaged in underwater hunting will be killing lionfish, possibly a few per dive.

2.) These people won't be expecting or experienced in dealing with sharks.

3.) Some say sharks are fairly bright; some may learn divers leave wounded or dead lionfish floating around.

Do you figure this is just hypothetical crap that won't amount to squat in the real world, or do divers need to be mindful of sharks if they start killing lionfish?

Thanks.

Richard.

 

[danvolker]

Hi:

Bit of an off-the-wall question. A lot of divers want to see sharks. When people ask about it, they're often told to take a trip to the Bahamas since that's one of the Caribbean regions where siting is most likely (all the more if you go on a 'shark feeding dive').

I remembering thinking, rather tongue-in-cheek, you could add 'Or take up spear fishing,' based on some threads I've seen on the forum. I've kind of gotten the impression that people who spear fish often see sharks from time-to-time. Some, like the guy who speared a barracuda then had a bullshark come after it while the wounded barracuda tried to flee, well, 'see' them more than they wanted to.

Given the numbers of lionfish we're starting to hearing about people seeing (and sometimes killing), and the way people are advocating for authorities to let regular recreational divers take gear for killing on sight, it may well come to pass that:

1.) A lot of people who've never engaged in underwater hunting will be killing lionfish, possibly a few per dive.

2.) These people won't be expecting or experienced in dealing with sharks.

3.) Some say sharks are fairly bright; some may learn divers leave wounded or dead lionfish floating around.

Do you figure this is just hypothetical crap that won't amount to squat in the real world, or do divers need to be mindful of sharks if they start killing lionfish?

Thanks.

Richard.

Actually, I think leaving wounded lionfish around is a very good thing..it will help predators like sharks get used to eating lionfish..we need to make it a habit.
When the lionfish is uninjured, they are an unlikely prey to predators that have never eaten them before.

DanV

 

[Scott L]

If they pole-spear, cull and leave behind in a reasonable amount of time, highly unlikely that harm will come to the divers from sharks...

 

[farsidefan1]

If it attracts sharks have camera ready to go. If you are diving in the Bahamas you are going to see sharks anyway. Pretty much a given there. Only 23% of the sharks have been know to eat divers so you have a 77% chance to get pictures of them eating someone else. Oh by the way, 96.341% of statistics you see on the internet are fictitious.

 

[Scott L]

Oh by the way, 96.341% of statistics you see on the internet are fictitious.

"You can look it up" - Yogi Berra

 

[Lee Taylor]

1.) A lot of people who've never engaged in underwater hunting will be killing lionfish, possibly a few per dive.

True. This is happening now. This past dive season I saw many dead Lionfish brought back on board.

2.) These people won't be expecting or experienced in dealing with sharks.

I think this is mostly true. Although sharks are sited occasionally I do not personally know any "everyday" type divers experienced in "dealing" with sharks, so to speak. Divers that are "not beginners" usually have some knowledge about how to behave when a shark is present but I do not feel most have experience in dealing with sharks. Those with experience in dealing with sharks would be the "shark handlers" seen on "shark dives"

3.) Some say sharks are fairly bright; some may learn divers leave wounded or dead lionfish floating around.

True

Do you figure this is just hypothetical crap that won't amount to squat in the real world, or do divers need to be mindful of sharks if they start killing lionfish?

I do not think it is a concern. The reason being is sharks typically have eating patterns. They know where to find food and I suspect they usually repeat the same successful patterns. Also, I am not seeing the dead Lionfish being left behind.

Another entirely different spin on this is some divers, especially spearfishers, are willing to argue with sharks over their kill. If you were a shark, would you be quick to approach the most dangerous animal (the human) on the planet with plans to take away its kill? Add to that the animal is visually armed with a bleeding weapon and is willing to kill (even its own species) for no apparent reason.

 

[Johnoly]

......or do divers need to be mindful of sharks if they start killing lionfish?

I hunt in Jupiter and who ever told you we see sharks "from time to time" really meant "ALL THE TIME"

ScottL said it exactly right. Kill 'em & Leave 'em. No shark problem.

 

[WetDawg]

In the “Lionfish Invasion” presentation from the folks at reef.org they mentioned that in testing on captive fish they have NOT been successful in getting sharks and grouper to eat lionfish. When presented with a dead lionfish during regular feeding time at the aquarium they instantly recoiled from the lionfish as if they knew they were evil.

What we have been doing down here is cutting off the spines (yes, top, bottom, and both sides… VERY carefully while the bugger is still on the shaft stuck in the sand) with scissors (got STUNG trying to do this one-handed with a dive knife) and then leaving them to the fishes. HOPEFULLY this will help other top level predators to develop a taste for the lionfish and help us help them take their reefs back.

 

[danvolker]

In the “Lionfish Invasion” presentation from the folks at reef.org they mentioned that in testing on captive fish they have NOT been successful in getting sharks and grouper to eat lionfish. When presented with a dead lionfish during regular feeding time at the aquarium they instantly recoiled from the lionfish as if they knew they were evil.

What we have been doing down here is cutting off the spines (yes, top, bottom, and both sides… VERY carefully while the bugger is still on the shaft stuck in the sand) with scissors (got STUNG trying to do this one-handed with a dive knife) and then leaving them to the fishes. HOPEFULLY this will help other top level predators to develop a taste for the lionfish and help us help them take their reefs back.

How about something like this for the spines....you could sling it in a pvc pipe like a pony bottle slung DIR style on chest and hip clips..... Amazon.com: 21IN HEDGE SHEARS: Electronics


DanV

 

[100days-a-year]

In short probly not.Leaving one wobbling around wounded is another story.