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| Pterois volitans (red lionfish) |
This fish, though beautiful to look at and photograph, is rapidly endangering other organisms in the Atlantic and Caribbean. The lionfish has numerous poisonous spines which serve as fins as well as protection. They have no natural enemies and nothing will eat them unless they are dead...and most sea-dwellers like fresh-kill. Large groupers and some eels as well as sharks will eat them with apparently no ill affect. Roatan Marine Park officials have even been attempting to train sharks to eat lionfish.
This fish is native to the Indo-Pacific oceans of the world. It is speculated that during hurricane Andrew a large aquarium in Florida was destroyed releasing the lionfish that were kept there into the ocean. It is also believed that some lionfish were purposefully discarded by unsatisfied aquarium enthusiasts in Florida. Since the early to mid-90's the species has taken hold in the Atlantic.
Because they have no natural predators and the fact they can reproduce monthly (females release about 15,000 eggs each month), their population is growing exponentially. The Florida Keys Marine Park has never issued a hunting license for any animal except the lionfish. In many marine parks in areas I have traveled the last couple years (Fiji, Belize, Roatan) divers can spear lionfish and it is the only reason they are allowed to wear gloves when they dive...or carry a spear.
There are some organizations who arrange lionfish hunting trips for their dive groups in an attempt to help control the population. These fish are like the feral hogs of the sea. Failing to control their growth in some manner will continue to be devastating to the reef and ecosystem. This will have ever-lasting consequences on our sea life balance.
They are however quite tasty and I enjoyed fresh lionfish served on our live-aboard trip two years ago in Belize. I suspect the best way we humans have of eradicating a species is to fish the hell out of it. We are good at that.
So encourage your local seafood restaurant to add lionfish to the menu and support your local dive shop in their efforts to stop the spread of this red menace.
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| Beautiful and deadly |
7 comments:
I used to have salt water aquariums for several years. One of my favorites was the red lion-fish. I had no idea this was happening. I do know that the lion-fish didn't play well with others and would eat just about other living thing in a tank. That includes crabs and shrimp. One day I got tired of him eating all my other fish and threw him in the ocean. Oh crap! Is all this my fault?
Just kidding! He was too expensive to do that. I sold him.
At least they aren't a garbage fish we can't eat. That alone should prompt people to go after them.
I've only seen these at the Texas State Aquarium here in town. And I personally think they look very vicious up close and personal.
They should have a state wide hunt like they do with rattlesnakes, and then serve them up with a state wide BBQ.
Hi Chuck .. I've seen info on these fish .. but a photo is interesting .. and fishing them out sounds a help towards eradicating them ... 'cept looks like masses more needs to be done .. Hilary
That is news to me. I don't seem to tune into news like that since I moved from Florida. Good thing they are worthy of eating.
Beautiful fish, but you have to find a solution for getting your balance in the environment!
It does look menacing. A place for everything in the ecosystem, but they weren't meant to be in that ocean... hope they find a way to bring the numbers under control.
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