Interesting lionfish/shark video (sorry if already posted)

[Harro10]

 

[Wheeler925]

I saw this a few weeks ago. My biggest question is - if there's no local market for the lionfish, why are they harvesting them instead of killing them and leaving them. Seems if there was a simple way to kill without spearing, that would be a viable option to help entice local marine life to eat the damn things

 

[Shawn C]

I've observed, over the last several years, much more inquisitive and/or aggressive behaviour from many of green moray eels. Whereas before they would almost always stay in their hidey holes, many are now immediately swimming completely out and directly at divers. I've often thought that this could be a result of being fed lionfish and they now associate divers with a free meal. I have nothing to back this theory up - it's purely anecdotal - but it does make me wonder.

 

[JFS]

I saw this a few weeks ago. My biggest question is - if there's no local market for the lionfish, why are they harvesting them instead of killing them and leaving them. Seems if there was a simple way to kill without spearing, that would be a viable option to help entice local marine life to eat the damn things

Yes the local fishing cooperativa was spearing lionfish to sell at their market. There are others that do go and get for some restaurants. Years ago we had tons of them, see them all the time. Now its not as common and if you want to get a bunch you have to go deeper past 100 feet. I was talking the other day to a friend and we were discussing lionfish and predators. I was wondering how the venomous spines may affect animals that eat them. I cant imagine it wouldnt have some negative impact on their digestive system to eat something often that has sharp needle like spines.

 

[ggunn]

I saw this a few weeks ago. My biggest question is - if there's no local market for the lionfish, why are they harvesting them instead of killing them and leaving them. Seems if there was a simple way to kill without spearing, that would be a viable option to help entice local marine life to eat the damn things

A Blue Angel DM (Andy) recently posted a video on FaceBook of a nurse shark swimming right toward him and nosing him aside to get a lionfish carcass that Andy had not seen that was on the sand right under him.