The Lionfish Invasion and How You Can Help

While the Asian Carp invasion in the waters of the Mississippi River is a situation most individuals are acquanted with, it is another aquatic invasive species that is wreaking havoc in the Gulf of Mexico, Caribbean Sea, and Atlantic coast. The lionfish is a carnivorous predator that has spread like wildfire over the past decade. The lionfish invasion threatens both coral reefs and commercial fishing. There is good news though. A movement is under way to eradicate this pesty invader via your dinner plate. All we as consumers need to do to help save biodiversity and fishing economies is eat lionfish. Personally, I can't think of a more enjoyable way to help the environment than eating.

Lionfish (Pterois) are a fish native to the coral reefs in the warm waters of the Indian and western Pacific Oceans. They are very aesthetically beautiful creatures. They possess red and white zebra stripes, prominent pectoral fins, and sharp spines down their backs. Their appearance makes them a favorite fish of aquarium owners. The lionfish uses its poisionous spines as a defense mechanism for keeping its few predators at bay. While the poision is not fatal, getting stung is extremely painful for humans. The lionfish relies on camouflage and lightning quick reflexes to devour its prey. One of its most-used tactics is to spread its wide pectoral fins and herd large quantities of small fish into a confined space where it can then easily swallow them.

Lionfish were first introduced into the Atlantic Ocean sometime from the late 1980's to the early 1990's in southern Florida. Some believe it was result of fish tanks washed astray during Hurricane Andrew in 1992. It is more commonly presumed that it was due to intentional, careless releases of aquarium fish into the ocean. The Gulf Coast current took the species as far as places like Bermuda and the North Carolina Coast by the year 2000 before the lionfish eventually established itself along nearly the entire East Coast. It then spread to the Bahamas, Carribean Sea, and Gulf of Mexico. In the last decade, the lionfish has undergone a population explosion. Check out this Animated Map that charts the spread of the lionfish invasion over time.

There are several reasons the lionfish has been able to thrive and multiply at an incredible rate. The main reason is that the fish have nearly no natural enemies in the region. About the only thing that will eat lionfish is another lionfish. Large groupers are a predator to lionfish in their native Pacific and Indian Oceans, but groupers have been very over-fished in places like the Caribbean. In their native oceans, other fish tend to avoid lionfish. However, Atlantic fish are not accustomed to the lionfish and have no recognition of danger. It makes for easy pickings for the ever-eating lionfish, which feeds on 56 different species. Another thing they have going for them is that the lionfish have been found to be free of parasites that burden local fish. This allows them to commit more energy towards growth and reproduction.

The lionfish invasion has had a significantly devastating effect upon coral reefs. Mark Albins of Oregon State University is one of the leading researchers on lionfish in the Atlantic. He found that lionfish kill 79% of a coral reef's fish population in just 5 weeks. Large lionfish were observed consuming as many as 20 small fish in a half-hour period. The continuous eating of the lionfish drastically changes the biodiversity of the reef. The herbivorous fish they consume such as parrotfish and juvenile snapper and grouper are crucial to the fragile ecological balance of reefs. Without them, seaweeds overwhelm and smother the corals. Some reefs have been found to have as many as 1,000 lionfish per acre.

The effects of the lionfish reach far beyond the reefs. The futures of many local economies and individual livelihoods are at stake. Take the Bahamas, for instance. It is one of the places hardest hit by the invasive species. Lionfish both eat and compete against commercially viable species of fish such as grouper and snapper. The lionfish has the potential of destroying the fishing industry in the Bahamas. Moreover, it could also damage the tourism industry, which accounts for half of all employment. The loss of colorful reef fish could lead divers to find other vacation destinations.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NAOO) has launched an "Eat Lionfish" campaign. The goal is to eat lionfish out of existence in Caribbean and East Coast waters. The campaign has given top restaurants in New York, Chicago, Washington, DC, and other cities the opportunity to experiment with lionfish in their menus. In conjuction with the campaign, REEF has also published "The Lionfish Cookbook".

The tasty fish has been overwhelmingly well-received. The white fish is sweet, light, and flaky. The fillet itself is very easy to work with after taking safety precautions to remove the spine. Demand for the fish has risen greatly both in local areas where the fish has established itself and in large cities like the ones mentioned above.

The difficulty has become supplying the demand. Due to their sharp, venomous spines, using traditional netting methods is not effective with lionfish. Currently, the main way they are caught is spearing. It is a very labor intensive method, and hence, there are currently not many suppliers of lionfish. However, as demand continues to increase, more individuals will jump into the lionfish game because of the monetary benefits. The best thing you can do is request lionfish at your local restaurant or supermarket.

If you would like to go beyond the consumer end, there is an opportunity to make money off the lionfish for those who are savvy and ambitious. One of those on the frontier is American David Johnson. President of Traditional Fisheries, he has assembled a group of 24 fisherman in Cancun, Mexico. While they currently spear, they are also looking at using vacuum technology. They are the only commercial lionfish supplier in the world. Lionfish sells for $16-18 per pound and, as mentioned, demand is on the rise. I can think of worse ways to spend time and make money than fishing in beautiful Cancun. If you are interested in an adventure, check out the link to their site and contact them. If you have an idea on how to catch the fish in a commercially effective fashion, then you might be able to pursue a successful business venture of your own.

REEF has also sponsored lionfish derbies in Key Largo, the Florida Keys, and the Bahamas. The final derby in the Florida Keys of 2011 was held on November 5. Over 1,500 lionfish were removed as a result of the derbies this past year.

The lionfish invasion is listed as one of the top 15 threats to biodiversity worldwide. The complete eradication of the lionfish from the Atlantic may be impossible. However, controlling it in specific locations can make a giant difference. So, grab your forks and eat lionfish any time you can. Anything you do can help.