killing lionfish in Bonaire?

[SailNaked]

I love the reef in Bonaire, I have been 4 times and will be back in April, last trip I know a guy who could not help himself, he killed about 30 lionfish. he was very careful of the reef and what was behind the fish when he took his shots with a hand sling.

What are the current rules in Bonaire, I noticed that Buddy is teaching a course in killing lionfish, I assume they are teaching what I know,.. be certain you are not damaging the reef. I do not want to be a criminal, but at the same time seeing a family of 5 fat lionfish sucking up all the local life is also hard not to do something about given my love of the reef. If you are caught killing a lionfish without the certification are you arrested and tossed in the klink, with no more diving? I suppose I will take the course just to be safe.

 

[CuracaoJ]

Bonaire Lionfish Hunters will be able to answer that question. As I understand it you need to be licensed and use an approved spear, but they will have more details, you can post your questions on their Facebook page.

Good luck.

 

[Mike]

Who's going to know?

Spear them, put a pair of scissors or a knife through it's head and drop it off your spear and leave it for dead.

 

[Mossman]

Who's going to know?

Spear them, put a pair of scissors or a knife through it's head and drop it off your spear and leave it for dead.

You never know when there's an undercover STINAPA agent hanging around disguised as a big sponge.

 

[redacted]

You never know when there's an undercover STINAPA agent hanging around disguised as a big sponge.

I heard they disguise themselves as missing marker buoys at dive sites so you won't be able to see them.

 

[CuracaoJ]

I don't know about Bonaire and STINAPA, but here in Curacao the coastguard will bust people with illegal spearing equipment. So will the police if someone notices and calls it in.

 

[DiverVince]

OK, let's get this straight. The rules on Bonaire are quite strict. In essence:

Tourist engaging lionfish hunting activities need to go through the lionfish training that STINAPA and CURO agreed of any other sanctioned course available. Once this course have been completed, tourist divers can engage in hunting activities under DIRECT SUPERVISION ONLY. ONLY divemasters or Instructors with a contract to carry ELF qualify to supervise.

The Island Resolution Marine Park Bonaire in its Art 9 establish that: 1. It is forbidden to use mechanical gear, explosives, hand spears or poles with hooks, 2. 3. to hunt or catch marine life. 4. 5. It is forbidden to transport, to offer for sale, to transfer, or to deliver marine life that 6. 7. has been caught by mechanical marine hunting gear, explosives, hand spears or 8. 9. hand hooks. 10. 11. It is forbidden to transport mechanical marine hunting gear over public ground or 12. 13. public water. 14. 15. It is forbidden to offer for sale, to sell, or to have in stock for sale in a shop or 16. 17. accompanying space, mechanical marine hunting gear complete or in parts. 18. 19. Mechanical marine hunting gear means any guns and pistols that are regulated by 20. 21. the Firearms Ordinance 1931 (P.B. 1931 nr. 2) as amended, as well as any guns or pistols that either by air or by gas under pressure, or by other means, can fire missiles under water. 22. 23. With the exception of explosives, the prohibitions set forth in paragraph 1, 2 and 3 do not apply to the Manager or to the persons assigned by the Manager, upon catching, gathering and killing of harmful species as referenced in paragraph 1, Article 19 of the Island Resolution Nature Management Bonaire.

Tourist without supervision do not fall under lid 6 of this article and therefore are breaking the law and subject to sanctions. ONLY dive staff with a contract to carry ELF qualifies to guide and are considered "persons assigned by the Manager".

The contract signed between STINAPA and the Dive Operators states in its Art 2 that "renters can use the mechanical gear to only remove lion fish and only under direct supervision of an authorized guide as stated in the Instructor Guidelines of the ³Bonaire¹s Lion Fish Culling Program². Therefore, dive ops renting ELF to use without supervision are breaking the terms of the contract and also subject to sanctions.

Those are the official rules and I suggest (& strongly advocate) that they be adhered to by all parties.

 

[CuracaoJ]

DiverVince,

Great overview, thank you. One question though. It would appear from what you wrote that a tourist can take the class, and then be allowed to use the ELF under direct supervision. Is that correct? I was under the impression that tourists that took the class were allowed to accompany on hunts but not allowed to spear, is that not correct?

I'm curious because we are trying to get some things done here in Curacao, and Bonaire is way ahead of us in initiative, but the laws are similar.

Jeff

 

[Mike]

I wouldn't call Bonaire ahead of you if you'r referring to their lionfish policies. The whole ELF thing is absolutely ridiculous. I swear somebody's nephew must be an owner of ELF and be related to somebody in the Bonaire government to have landed that sweet heart deal.

 

[DiverVince]

DiverVince,

Great overview, thank you. One question though. It would appear from what you wrote that a tourist can take the class, and then be allowed to use the ELF under direct supervision. Is that correct?

Jeff

ABSOLUTELY. The current laws state they must be accompanied by a divemaster or instructor who already has signed a contract with STINAPA.
For those who are questioning the efficacy of Bonaire's current policies, I can tell you first hand that they definitely appear to be working in limiting/curtailing the lionfish population.