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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 |
