A lionfish derby will be held tomorrow, Saturday, August 20th in the Upper Keys, sponsored by REEF. The derby offers cash prizes to divers who remove the invasive lionfish (Pterois volitans) from local waters. Last week’s Long Key derby removed 531 of this invasive species from local waters. Last year’s derby in the Middle Keys removed only 109.
The aggressive predator is native to the Indo-Pacific and has no natural enemies in the Caribbean or Florida Straits. They are voracious eaters that prey upon native species of fish and crustaceans. They are a particular threat to marine fisheries, (for example, juvenile Nassau grouper have been found in lionfish stomachs in the Bahamas, according to REEF (http://www.reef.org/lionfish) http://www.reef.org/lionfish) and to native habitat. A research team reported observing one lionfish devour up to 20 small fish in less than 30 minutes.
Lionfish, which were inadvertently introduced to Caribbean waters via the tropical aquarium industry first spread in the Bahamas. Now they can be found from the North Carolina Coast and into the Gulf of Mexico. They can be a menace to human SCUBA and skin divers/. Their venomous dorsal, ventral and anal spines, used to deter predators can cause painful wounds in humans.
Lionfish exhibit rapid growth and have year round reproductive abilities, which makes local marine life professionals concerned that they will soon push out native species.
Derbies are one way to combat the spread of lionfish in the Keys, but creating a market for them is another. They are said to taste similar to hogfish and while they are a little more trouble to clean than a hogfish, it would be worth the trouble, some believe. A Bahamas group, which advocates eating them, says they are eaten in their native waters and has compiled recipes for preparing them.
The first derbies in the Keys were held last fall. In September of 2010 about 100 divers captured 534 of the invasive species in a Derby in the Upper Keys – the largest at 101/2 inches, won a cash prize. In October a Middle Keys Derby removed 21 lionfish from local waters and in November 109 we captured off Key West. Lionfish derbies in the Bahamas – where the invasive species is more entrenched - net larger catches, some more than 1,000 per derby.
Sign up for the derby.
Resources:
Fact Sheet: http://www.reef.org/reef_files/Lionfish quickfacts.pdf
Other ways you can help: http://www.reef.org/lionfish
