Lionfish report

[geokr]

I think divers should be given the opportunity to participate in controlling the spread of these terrorist fish BUT I've seen plenty of divers who are scary with a blunt end dive knife much less a freekin spear gun!!! Additionally, I've seen someone get lanced with those hypodermic spines and it ain't funny!!

I believe the right approach is to have PADI create a Lion Fish Killing Cert and let folks get certified and go hunting. PADI is always looking for ways to make a buck!!

I agree with you on some kind of certification but even a gold-plated PADI cert won't do you much good if the marine park officials still won't let you excercise that privilege in the park. That's who you've got to convince and they don't seem to be as fast on the uptake as the Bermuda, Bahamas or the Caymans authorities.

 

[HammerHead05]

You guys think I was serious about the PADI Cert????? I know it's up to the local authorities and, consequently, it may be too late before action is taken.

 

[diverdoug1]

Yup - but if they don't keep trying to control them, there won't be anything left to see during rest of your dive except more lionfish. That was Plan "B" in the Bahamas.

spearing and netting activities by divers is a futile attempt to significantly impact the spread of this invasive species. Condidering the reproductive rate, early sexual maturity, and inaccesability of the fish by divers when thy go deeper in depth or into the reef, it just will not make a difference. I have noticed an increase in shark interest in divers on the dive sites where Lionfish are being speared regulaly (on the spots where sperfishing was not being done previously).

 

[geokr]

spearing and netting activities by divers is a futile attempt to significantly impact the spread of this invasive species. Condidering the reproductive rate, early sexual maturity, and inaccesability of the fish by divers when thy go deeper in depth or into the reef, it just will not make a difference. I have noticed an increase in shark interest in divers on the dive sites where Lionfish are being speared regulaly (on the spots where sperfishing was not being done previously).

Outside of the park I would agree with you that control is going to be impossible. But, inside the park where there are large numbers of divers on a regular basis you can significantly reduce their impact if divers are allowed to cull them. Reducing the effect of these predators by minimizing their population is the only way you're going to keep the park as it is. You just can't throw up your hands and wait for a miracle. Much of what you see in the park now will then be gone - that's not a solution. With regards to sharks, of course they may gravitate to where they sense blood in the water. In Nassau, Bahamas where the shark population is huge compared to Cozumel, the use of pole spears to take many lionfish in one place hasn't been a problem in my experience. Common sense would dictate whether or not to spear anything in the presence of sharks or when to stop. And, if they want your catch don't argue, just feed it to them - they'll eat it. This guy ate three in a row....

 

[bcaderunr]

spearing and netting activities by divers is a futile attempt to significantly impact the spread of this invasive species. Condidering the reproductive rate, early sexual maturity, and inaccesability of the fish by divers when thy go deeper in depth or into the reef, it just will not make a difference. I have noticed an increase in shark interest in divers on the dive sites where Lionfish are being speared regulaly (on the spots where sperfishing was not being done previously).

I can't deny that. It just irks me to see a large one happily sitting on a healthy reef. My immediate thought is: "How many juvenile fish does it take to keep it fed every day?" Kinda like the plastic trash you find on a dive. You'll never get it all, but it can't hurt to remove it. As a marine biologist do you see ANY serious prospects for their control or demise?

 

[jayjoans]

Do the Japanese eat lion fish? If we can convince the Japanese that there is some sexual powers to be had from eating lionfish there might be a chance to eradicate them, they seem to have the uncanny ability to destroy species.

Be careful, if the Japanese arrive that means the Sea Shepherd and their fat bastard captain and crew of dope smoking bozos are soon to follow. :mooner:

 

[HammerHead05]

dope smoking bozos are soon to follow. :mooner:

Are you saying the Sea Sheperd's fearless crew seems HIGH!!!

 

[diverdoug1]

I can't deny that. It just irks me to see a large one happily sitting on a healthy reef. My immediate thought is: "How many juvenile fish does it take to keep it fed every day?" Kinda like the plastic trash you find on a dive. You'll never get it all, but it can't hurt to remove it. As a marine biologist do you see ANY serious prospects for their control or demise?

An adult Lionfish will consume approx. 500 pounds of fish per year. I honestly feel the cat is well and truly out of the bag with respect to Lionfish propogation. It remains to be seen how long it will take other species to habituate and see the Lionfish as a predatory threat.

 

[HammerHead05]

There is speculation that cornetfish feed on lionfish leading to some balance in the Red Sea. Could cornetfish be introduced and propagated in Cozumel?

 

[Mike]

Be careful, if the Japanese arrive that means the Sea Shepherd and their fat bastard captain and crew of dope smoking bozos are soon to follow. :mooner:

anicbutton:

Isn't that fat bastard in jail yet?