Killing lionfish, does it work?

[Griffo]

It's ironic that we seem able to kill off any number of species that we want to eat, but can't seem to kill of most of those that we want to. Maybe that's why they have suggested eating them

Lionfish are native to some areas in the Pacific, i do wonder what limits there numbers there? I do hope that scientists don't try some wacky method to control them though. In Australia we have a shocking record of trying to introduce species B to kill introduced species A, then discovering that B really likes native animal C better, so we end up with two pests

However lately our Government did seem to successfully reduce our Fire Ant infestation to almost zero levels with a concerted "shock and awe" style eradication campaign. Probably not so easy underwater!

If they are a pest, and they are edible, why not let people go nuts killing them? Maybe even pay a reward of $5 per fish killed and deposited. Might even help pay for the diving!

 

[freshorangina]

I believe in killing Lionfish as a method of control and also to educate people about the issue. I do not think that anyone truly informed about the issue thinks that it will eradicate the species in the Caribbean. That being said, although killing these fish on the reefs that we dive will even out the balance a bit for the next generation of the species that are supposed to be there, there needs to be a more aggressive strategy for dealing with the populations in the areas that are not commonly frequented either because of depth or location. I think a Lionfish specific fishing pot needs to be developed so that the species can be targeted for commercial fishing and I think there is a strong basis that one can be developed based on collection tactics used in the aquarium trade in the Indo-Pacific. I also think that Lionfish derbies are a good idea; they control the population, educate both tourists and locals, as well as increase the demand for the fish as a food through promotional events. They also can be used as a gauge for counting populations within specific areas. To top that off they also encourage tourism products that mitigate an environmental issue which to me is win-win.

 

[TMHeimer]

[QUOTE=freshorangina; I think a Lionfish specific fishing pot needs to be developed so that the species can be targeted for commercial fishing



There you go. Commercial fishing. That's the answer. Forget this diver stuff.

 

[Rhone Man]

It is interesting: when I was in Truk Lagoon earlier this year they were fretting that all of their Lionfish were disappearing... so they are clearly not invulnerable.

 

[Guba]

psssst. lionfish soup will make you a "bedroom hero". pass it on.....

 

[Guba]

There! A commercial "lionfish pot" and the accompanying delivery to Asian markets is now virtually assured!

 

[vladimir]

Lionfish are native to some areas in the Pacific, i do wonder what limits there numbers there?

They may have natural predators (cornetfish and sharks have been cited), but one big difference between invasive lionfish and those in their natural environment is the lack of parasites. Parasites are a constant plague in the lives of fish (hence the demand for cleaning stations), yet invasive lionfish have been found to harbor none. This may convey a huge advantage upon them in terms of longevity, breeding, etc.

 

[MXGratefulDiver]

Convince the Chinese that their fins make a good aphrodesiac and lionfish will be extinct within a decade ...

... Bob (Grateful Diver)

 

[Eric Sedletzky]

Just make lionfish hunting illegal and the poachers will take care of it.
It seems to work for our invasive abalone problem.

 

[The Chairman]

Does it make an impact on total lionfish numbers? It has down here in the Keys. Large areas remain virtually lionfish free. The interesting part? Many of these areas simply don't allow ANY spearing: not even of lionfish! They have to be caught by net and you have to have a special permit to do it. Day before yesterday, my students and I cruised the entirety of Molasses Reef. We saw schools of yellow tail snapper, turtles, eels, staghorn, a nurse shark, queen conch and so many different species that I could type all day and still remember another one. What we didn't see were lionfish. None, nada a squat. Our no-take zone is also a no-lionfish zone. At least for the moment.

That being said, I support lionfish eradication for a few unorthodox reasons as well... Its simply GREAT for the Diving Industry.

• Any reason to get people diving is a good thing: check out the Lower Keys LionFish Derby on our Forum Splash Page.
• Giving people an underwater mission is always a great idea.
• It's stinking fun!
• Its newsworthy and gets mainline media to talk about Scuba Diving! I love the free publicity for our industry.

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