Lion Fish Becoming a Big Problem in Western Atlantic

[WahooKing]

A new distribution map just came out...Its not looking good for the native reef fish...This can be a huge problem and scientist don't have any solution except kill as many as you can approach.

http://nas.er.usgs.gov/taxgroup/fish...stribution.asp

There are several theories as to the cause...The leading theory suggest Atlantis in Paradise Island is the main cause for the release of eggs and/or fry.

KILL EM ALL!!!

[rarhomes]

How we gonna kill um if they close bottom fishing to protect all the snappers


Capt Rick

[BahamaLure]

Lionfish were recorded in the western north Atlantic years before Atlantis opened ( Biscayne bay 1992 fish number 32088 on the link map provided for example ) in 1998

A more likely explanation is the aquarium industry importing tens of thousands of lionfish a year into Florida and the subsequent release, usually intentionally, by aquarists when they no longer wish to care for the fish. Being ignorant of or not caring that the fish are not native to the Atlantic the fish are let go instead of killed as they should have been. The everglades also has a terrible problem with reticulated pythons because of collectors releasing them.

I heard a news story recently that in 2003 no less then 8000 lionfish were imported by aquarist supply stores into the city of Tampa alone. There's your problem folks!

The fish also began to appear in larger numbers right after hurricane Andrew, see above, Andrew was in 1992.

Atlantis no doubt is not helping any, they pump all the effluent from their aquaria directly into the sea, but they are definitely not the origin of the problem.

Kill 'em all.

[Flatdog]

Interesting how about this from todays news !!! Other side of the pond.
http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage...-UK-coast.html
Bring IT on" gobal warming Marlin next in the British Channel, Shizts to troll with all the traffic ...

[Bert Rodgers]

Interesting how about this from todays news !!! Other side of the pond.
http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage...-UK-coast.html
Bring IT on" gobal warming Marlin next in the British Channel, Shizts to troll with all the traffic ...

Green propaganda is even worse in Europe and Britain than it is here.

Bert

[aprilfool]

here in the abacos there was a lionfish rodeo last week and over 2000 were killed one of my friends speared 600 to win the top prize! they are everywhere

[Roddy Hays]

Does anyone know how their numbers are controlled in their native areas ? Is there a predator present there that does not exist in the Atlantic ?

I'm not proposing anything, just interested to find out how their numbers are increasing.

600 lionfish is an awful lot of deadly poisonous fins slopping around .... did they take them all ashore ? How did the spearos manage not to get touched, at least once ? That's really interesting too !

[BahamaLure]

As far as I know lionfish have no predators, definitely none in the Bahamas. They feed on fry of all other native species and also spiny lobster eggs which is already having an impact on the critical lobster industry of the bahamas.

Killing them with a spear is not very dangerous when done carefully. Only hawaiian style slings and spears are allowed by law so sticking the fish and letting it hang on the barb near the tip is easy. The Bahamas gov't has an all kill policy in place for these invasive fish so a kill tournament is very beneficial.

The chances of eradicating these fish from the Bahamas is virtually nil as they are everywhere. I know guys who have caught them deep dropping at 400+ ft

Lionfish is showing up on seafood menus in restaurants it apparently tastes quite good. Once the fish is dead you use scissors to remove all the fins, then clean and prepare as usual. There are no toxins in the meat. They are growing to be quite big there, over a foot long and several pounds.

[Roddy Hays]

Ah, well there's the answer then, Alan. Make them a very marketable fish, with top dollar, put them on a cooking show, and they'll be over-fished in the blink of an eye.

Anyone know a chef with a cooking show ?

[Roddy Hays]

The chances of eradicating these fish from the Bahamas is virtually nil as they are everywhere.

Alan, are lionfish prevalent elsewhere as well ? You mentioned the 8000 in Tampa and all the FL releases, but it seems from your post and a previous one that they really are common in the islands. Any aquarists there ? If the lionfish's habitat is similiar to their Indo-Pacific one of coral reefs and broken bottom, all those releases should have found a home over in FL and not needed to swim to the Bahamas, surely ?