Pretty, Deadly, Delicious: The Lionfish Invasion and How You Can Help

Have you ever encountered a lionfish while snorkeling? They look spectacularly pretty with their flamboyant fins, and even though those fins contain venomous spines, they move so slowly that they hardly pose a threat to divers. So why are conservationists as well as people from the fisheries making such a fuss about “the lionfish invasion”? The answer is simple: lionfish do not belong in the Caribbean. They have no niche in the eco-systems of the reefs here, can therefore relentlessly decimate native species and without natural predators they are spreading like a wildfire.

Spreading across the Caribbean

Two of the 12 species of Pterois, the red lionfish (P. volitans) and the common lionfish (P. miles) can nowadays be found in the waters of the Caribbean. They were first spotted in Florida in 1985. Nobody quite knows how they got there, but it is assumed that some irresponsible people thought it was a fun idea to release their pet fish from aquariums into the wild. Soon they were spotted all along the coast of Florida, in the 90s they spread up the east coast of the US, by 2000 they had reached the Bahamas, in 2010 they were already wide-spread over the islands and down to the South American and Central American coast and the invasion is still gaining momentum.

What is it about lionfish that makes them such successful invaders?

Unlike most fish that have spawning seasons, lionfish reproduce year round. Mature females release 50,000 eggs every three days, which are covered with a slimy repellent and not recognised as food by native fish.

They are very tolerant to differences in temperature and salinity, thrive in brackish water as well as in the ocean and can survive temperature extremes between 50°F and 95°F!

They eat over 70 species of fish and many invertebrates, and gobble down prey that is up to half their body length.

18 venomous spines that contain a proteinaceous neurotoxin protect their bodies all around and deter basically all predator fish from daring to take a bite. On top of this they are great at hiding.

According to current research a single lionfish residing on a coral reef can reduce recruitment of native reef fish by 79 percent.As lionfish populations grow, they put additional stress on coral reefs that are already suffering from effects of global warming and pollution, because lionfish eat herbivores and with these missing from the eco-system algal growth goes unchecked, which is detrimental to the health of corals.

What can we do against the invasion?

“Eat them to beat them!” is one of the battle cries of conservationistsLionfish have tasty meat and once you have learned to safely remove all spines as a cook you can use them in a variety of dishes—raw, grilled or battered! Less risky is supporting local initiatives by watching out for lionfish on the market and in restaurants. Eating lionfish is practical, feasible, and should be promoted as it firstly reduces the number of these predators on the reefs and secondly takes away some pressure from herbivore fish that should be protected!

If you’re a spear hunter you can actively help reduce the numbers of lionfish. All over the Caribbean “Lionfish Derbies” take place—organized events where divers first get instructions on regulations and safety and then compete to see who catches the most fish! There are dozens of organized derbies all over the Caribbean throughout the year, just google the area you’re in or ask at dive shops when the next one’s up!

One of the bigger annual events is the Curaçao Derby in October. We talked to Lisette, one of the organisers:

Birgit: Hi Lisette, how long have you been organising Derbies in Curaçao?

Lisette: I have been involved in Lionfish hunting for 15 years now, but since 2018 we organize Derbies and Hunters Days. 

Birgit: How many divers have participated over the years?

Lisette: From 10 hunters the first year to now 50 per time.

Birgit: Why is it a good idea to participate in a lionfish derby instead of just going out and shooting these fish by yourself?

Lisette: To compete, divers must sign up in advance. This helps us make sure everyone is ready and understands the expectations. The derby is a great way to take action for our ocean, meet like-minded divers, make a real difference and all while doing what you love. If you are interested in joining but not a lionfish hunter yet we recommend learning how to hunt safely with a local dive shop in preparation. E.g. The Diveshop Curaçao offers training on how to catch lionfish responsibly and dive safely while doing it.

The Curacao Lionfish Derby is more than just a competition, it’s a hands-on conservation effort to help protect our reefs from the invasive lionfish. Safety is our top priority. During derbies, people tend to push their limits – dive deeper, faster. That kind of pressure can lead to risky decisions if you don’t have the skills and experience to handle it. Also you’re dealing with a venomous fish, so you need to know how to handle that properly underwater. But even more important is the protection of the reef itself. We’re not doing this to damage the ecosystem – we’re here to protect it. That means hunting lionfish without grabbing onto coral, stirring up the bottom, or breaking fragile structures. Responsible technique is a must.

The derby is a full-day event for experienced hunters only. We meet at 8:30 in the morning, head out at 9:00 sharp. Everybody is allowed to go diving all over the island, but no boats, so just shore diving. We have a 2-tank maximum policy, no Solo diving and dive within your own limits.

Everyone must be back by 4:00 PM, not a minute later. At 4pm all fish needs to be at the table to be weighed and counted. And there are plenty of prizes to win — from sunglasses and reef-safe shower lotion to lionfish spears, zookeepers, and even submarine trips.

Birgit: Do you have activities for those who aren’t lionfish hunters (yet)?

Lisette: We’ll have our counting booth where you can see all the lionfish up close, plus music, a fun prize ceremony, and our always-popular lionfish jewelry workshop. Usually we have info booths from local conservation groups and a lionfish cleaning competition. We’re still finalizing this year’s lineup, but from 3pm there’ll definitely be fish and fun for everyone.

NOTE: Hunting rules can vary across the Caribbean, so it’s important to check local regulations before you get in the water. Some islands require special permits, only allow certain gear, or have protected zones where hunting is not allowed. Always make sure you’re hunting legally and responsibly wherever you dive.

Check out https://www.lionfishcaribbean.com/ for more info about “Lionfish Caribbean,” their shop, restaurant, activities, events, and the Derby in October!

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