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Searchingfor Solutions
Scientists.Divers.Evenchefs.Allareworkingonwaystotacklethelionfishproblem.Lionfishdon’thavenaturalpredatorsintheAtlanticOcean.So,somescientistshavetriedtoteachlocalpredatorstohunt lionfish.
Here'show:Adiverwouldspearalionfishandofferittoaneelorshark.Thepredatorswouldeatthelionfish.Yet,thesepredatorsdidn’tstarthuntinglionfishontheirown.Theyexpectedhandouts.Someevenbegantogetaggressivewith divers.
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Adiverspearsmanylionfishduringalionfish "derby."
FishingTournaments
Divershavehadmoreluckmanagingtheproblemthroughlionfish"derbies."Aderbyisaday‑longeventinagivenlocation.Thegoalistoremoveasmanylionfishaspossible.Teamscollectlionfishbynettingthemorspearingthem.Theydothiswhiledivingor snorkeling.
OnegroupthathostsderbiesistheReefEnvironmentEducationFoundation(REEF).From2009to2018,theyremovedmorethan23,000lionfishfromdifferent sites.
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Chefspreparenewlionfish recipes.
AFishyFare
Lionfisharenotpoisonous.Theyarevenomous.Thedifferencebetweenthemishowtheyaredelivered.Poisonmustbeeatenorabsorbedtobeharmful.Venommustbe injected.
So,lionfishcansafelybeeaten.Chefsdecided,“Ifwecan’tbeatthem,eatthem.”In2010,REEFreleasedacookbook.Itincludedmanylionfishrecipes.Chefsatmanytoprestaurantshavetriedtofindcreativewaystopreparelionfishtogetmorepeopletoeat them.
SettingaTrap
SteveGittingsdevelopedanewwaytotraplionfish.He'sachiefscientistattheNationalOceanicandAtmosphericAdministration'sNationalMarineSanctuarySystem.Hetrapslionfishbyusingtheirnaturalbehavioragainst them.
Lionfishliketogatheraroundunderwaterstructures.SoGittingscreatedatrap.Ithitstheoceanfloor,springsopen,andlaysflat.Afewplasticobjectsfloatup,attractingthelionfish.Afishermantugsonthetrap.Itcloses,shuttinginany lionfish.
Wecan’tdoawaywithalllionfish.Butmanagingtheirthreatwillhelptokeepourcoralreefs healthy!
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