Searchingfor Solutions

Scientists.Divers.Evenchefs.Allareworkingonwaystotacklethelionfishproblem.Lionfishdon’thavenaturalpredatorsintheAtlanticOcean.So,somescientistshavetriedtoteachlocalpredatorstohunt lionfish.

Here'show:Adiverwouldspearalionfishandofferittoaneelorshark.Thepredatorswouldeatthelionfish.Yet,thesepredatorsdidn’tstarthuntinglionfishontheirown.Theyexpectedhandouts.Someevenbegantogetaggressivewith divers.

Adiverspearsmanylionfishduringalionfish "derby."

FishingTournaments

Divershavehadmoreluckmanagingtheproblemthroughlionfish"derbies."Aderbyisaday‑longeventinagivenlocation.Thegoalistoremoveasmanylionfishaspossible.Teamscollectlionfishbynettingthemorspearingthem.Theydothiswhiledivingor snorkeling.


OnegroupthathostsderbiesistheReefEnvironmentEducationFoundation(REEF).From2009to2018,theyremovedmorethan23,000lionfishfromdifferent sites.

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!

Thistrap,seenjustoff shorefromDestin,Florida,snapsshuttocapture lionfish.