Lionfish/DM's don't care!

[Diver Lori]

There's an article is the most recent issue of Alert Diver on lionfish tracking, trapping, etc.

On that note, I was in Cozumel last month and part of the dive briefing was "if you see a lionfish point it out to me"....the DM had a plastic container attached to his BCD for this very purpose.

 

[driftin' by]

This is the third Cozumel DM (two SCC, one BA) who shrug shoulders at sighting of LIONFISH.

What can I say!

I dived with BA last week. While I never saw a Lionfish myself in 11 dives, I did see Jose aggressively go after one just as I was ascending to spend 7 minutes in deco. He wasn't able to complete the task as he was concerned about going into deco himself he. Later in the week, we dived with Jorge who reported that he hadn't caught nor seen one yet which amazed me. He did seem a little ambivalent about the issue. I later wondered if he reported that he had not seen any because he wouldn't be comfortable taking one. In no way can you expect that it would be within every DM's comfort zone. I know it wouldn't be mine.

....having seen what I saw (or better yet, didn't see) on my last trip 02/06 (after the 2 Hurricanes hit in 2005) there's not a whole heck of a lot left to do 'damage-wise' to Coz anyway......so little left to look at there anymore, even the DM is probably bored out of his mind and, in a twisted sort of way, is thankful to have at least SOMETHING colorful to point out to divers.

YOU"RE ABSOLUTELY DELUSIONAL!

4) I think it is illegal for even a Mexican DM to harm a lionfish...the most they can do is 'capture' it and turn it in to the authorities....beats me why Coz can't/won't get serious and defend itself with 'force' !

AND 100% WRONG!

Just returned from Coz and this is what I encountered. First thing, I did 5 dives at Coz and lionfish were spotted on three of these. Second, two different DMs captured lionfish, including one on a night dive. Third, it does concern me that in short amount of time these are being seen on more than 50 percent of dives.

Interesting... Like I said above, 11 dives last week and not a single sighting for us or anyone else we dived with.

Second dive today our DM Jose, from Blue Angel, spotted, captured and bagged a juvenile lionfish to take home to his collection.

Good to here Jose is still actively pursuing them.

 

[psychocabbage]

There will always be different types of people. Like Dems and Repubs.. We wont always see eye to eye on issues.

This is one where we just will never see eye to eye nor will any of us be around to prove the other was right or wrong.



As for diving in "parks" and doing as the park rules go.. Give me a break. Do you only drive 55mph on posted 55mph roads? If so, how are you verifying the speed to ensure that you are not going 55.87mph and therefore breaking the 55mph speed limit. I know that I cruise control at 82mph normally. GPS verified with 3 different GPS units and up to 11 satellites. The roads can be anything from 55-65 mph roads. Am I a scofflaw? Do I endanger the world? Am I doing it in a car meant to do it?

If you really think that touching, say.. a starfish, will kill it, then you have issues I cant even begin to understand.

From my viewpoint, the touching of some marine life is not so that it doesnt die, its so that people do not become complacent and just start touching everything and end up hurt themselves.

Grabbing an eel or a nurseshark may get you bit. Holding on to coral all over the place may get you cut. I am sure there are "studies" that show that some oils from our hand will kill off whatever it touches but I would bet that we can find studies to the contrary.

I do know that I dont recall seeing Steve Irwin not touching marine life and he was not wearing some special anti kill anything I touch creme. He not only touched things, he hugged them. Do you think he cared for wildlife? I know he cared about it way more than I do. Was he informed on them? Yes. We can agree about that. Right? So was it ok for him to mess with Saltwater crocs? Anacondas? Eels? Stingrays? Sure. Why? Cause he was Steve Irwin!

I will say that just for fun, we made our own T shirts and wore them on the trip down to mess with everyone in the airport. It was a blast to see the peoples faces. DDT - Dangerous Dive Team with our awesome motto - Dive Dangerously - Leave Nothing Untouched! I get a kick of knowing that so many people will be all bent out of shape over it and we wont lose a moments sleep.

So, back on track here, do I live my life by going by every single rule established for me? No. I make up my own rules and bend others. Why? because rules are followed by the masses and then there are the few that know better and at times, we are the ones that get the rules changed so that make more sense and cater to us. That would then make the masses follow our rules. Crazy how that works out.


Everytime I go to Cozumel, I will make sure that I tell my DMs that they cant harm the Lionfish and they all seem to enjoy getting a tip which I am sure helps them support their families and in my book, a humans value is way higher than any fishes. So getting some DM in trouble and risking his ability to support his family is really messed up when you are doing it over a FISH. I can understand it if he dove dangerously and took a group to 150ft and kept them there for 15 min and then got the group to shoot to the surface. Ya.. he has no business doing it.. but people that have been doing it for YEARS and know the place like the back of their hand? Really.. No way any fish has more worth than them and their families.


Long live lionfish. (I think I will make a shirt about this for the next trip!)

 

[trixiegirl1970]

Do you know if the park authorities are doing any follow-up to regularly remind/enforce the protocol with DMs and shop management? With the examples noted by Alohagal and psycho, I'm wondering what, if any, consequences or repercussions there could be for these DMs and the shops they work for if they are choosing to not follow "the rules."

It's DMs like this that give Cozumel a bad name. I really don't think they are the norm, but if that's the experience someone has then that's the impression they'll be left with. (and go home to relay to other divers...)

I also rarely post... but to your statement here... the actual opinion of the DM we dove with last week were that they would up hold the protocol but would not themselves capture or kill any fish. That is their belief. They can not be mandated to capture or kill anything. Each of us has a view point. Now you are saying because they do not feel comfortable decimating a species they should suffer a consequence.

OH and 17 dives - not one sighting and we were looking every dive.

 

[scubawife]

I also rarely post... but to your statement here... the actual opinion of the DM we dove with last week were that they would up hold the protocol but would not themselves capture or kill any fish. That is their belief. They can not be mandated to capture or kill anything. Each of us has a view point. Now you are saying because they do not feel comfortable decimating a species they should suffer a consequence.

OH and 17 dives - not one sighting and we were looking every dive.

The protocol in place in Cozumel is capture or report the location. Nobody is saying they have to kill it or even capture it. But they should be willing to follow the park guidelines and report the location.

 

[alohagal]

I guess what I am noticing while I am here...is the inconsistency of reporting or not reporting sightings. If a DM does not want to handle it...just report it and let the powers that be handle the situation. The Marine park is not killing them either. They are capturing them alive. Just as Jose did. I think we can all appreciate the beauty of the lion fish, but, in its native habitat.

Living in Hawaii for so many years I have seen how the non-indegenous plants and animals can decimate indigenous species. The state of Hawaii does a vigilant job of keeping things out. Guam is suffering greatly from the brown tree snake. So far Hawaii is keeping it at bay. Otherwise native species of birds will be non-existant and so on up and down the plant and animal food chain. It is basic Biology 101...but darn well important.

Maybe futile in the long run. But, I see no harm and no foul in trying to capture lionfish in Cozumel right now. Not wanting to get anyone in trouble. Just wanting to educate and perhaps there should be some incentive...peso...perhaps for capturing them alive!! That would probably work wonders around here!!

IMHO

 

[MMM]

Not wanting to get anyone in trouble. Just wanting to educate and perhaps there should be some incentive...peso...perhaps for capturing them alive!! That would probably work wonders around here!!

IMHO

Alternatively, w/o short term incentives, there is the incentive of having a long term dive/tourism industry..

 

[Smoochy]

.... then you have issues I cant even begin to understand.

....

Right back at you.....

I now recall seeing your posts on other forums of which you no longer are allowed to frequent. I remember the videos of you and your family in Cozumel last year touching the marine life, etc....

I can't begin to fathom how you come up with some of this stuff.... I'm sorry but I can't stand to read about you constantly professing how much better or above everyone else you are. Get over yourself.

/rant


Lionfish should not be in Cozumel. It is because of stupid humans that they are there. NOT natural causes. KILL 'EM ALL!

 

[psychocabbage]

Right back at you.....

I now recall seeing your posts on other forums of which you no longer are allowed to frequent. I remember the videos of you and your family in Cozumel last year touching the marine life, etc....

I can't begin to fathom how you come up with some of this stuff.... I'm sorry but I can't stand to read about you constantly professing how much better or above everyone else you are. Get over yourself.

/rant


Lionfish should not be in Cozumel. It is because of stupid humans that they are there. NOT natural causes. KILL 'EM ALL!

Actually, we had PICTURES not VIDEO..

and technically, we were not in the "Marine Park" when we touched the hermit crab (sucker was huge!) or the small crabs.. But thats neither here nor there..

DDT was inspired from that other forum! hahah

I still remember you too. (Honda S2000?)


Anyways, I will continue to post and offer my ¢.02 since thats what open forums are about.

 

[1KWIK_69]

....having seen what I saw (or better yet, didn't see) on my last trip 02/06 (after the 2 Hurricanes hit in 2005) there's not a whole heck of a lot left to do 'damage-wise' to Coz anyway......so little left to look at there anymore, even the DM is probably bored out of his mind and, in a twisted sort of way, is thankful to have at least SOMETHING colorful to point out to divers.

What you talkin bout Willis?!?!?!?!?!

I'll give you that shore diving today compared to pre Wilma definitely sucks, but is still far better than any lake dive I've ever been on! The deep reefs, which are the true reason to go to CZM are in great shape!