Lion Fish eradication

[HL]

Heard that Lionfish is causing a problem with local species in Jamaica.

Plans are that they should be eradicated or something like that....

Another concern THAT IS NOT ADDRESSED is the harvesting of sexually immature species.

Lastly: there should be a quota on the harvesting of Parrot fish.

[ReggaeMike]

They can be consumed....if prepared properly....but given the formaldehyde soaked fish being sold in markets.......

[Exile]

The Lionfish threat is real...the Bahamas have started an eradication and eat programme with sm success...in Jamaica it should catch on since we eat even larval fish these days...and yes I agree with the parrotfish sizes being sold and eaten - ridiculous...parrotfish are the reef grazers..removal has only worsened the effects of reef overgrowth.....

[Willi]

Teach people how fi Jerk it and by Xmas it will get eradicated. LoL

[Willi]

What does it threaten, BTW?

[ReggaeMike]

The Lionfish threat is real...the Bahamas have started an eradication and eat programme with sm success...in Jamaica it should catch on since we eat even larval fish these days...and yes I agree with the parrotfish sizes being sold and eaten - ridiculous...parrotfish are the reef grazers..removal has only worsened the effects of reef overgrowth.....

This reminds of an experiment I read about concerning fish size catch requirements and the resultant size of the general population. The experiment was far more simplified than reality but did point to the possibility that some of the regulations in place may actually do more harm than good over the long term:

http://whyfiles.org/shorties/108big_fish/

[Gamma]

BVI and USVI too

[HL]

Willi....this is just a partial section from a body of current info.

In studies on small coral reefs in the Bahamas, Hixon and his graduate student Mark Albins determined that a single lionfish per reef reduced young juvenile fish populations by 79 percent in only a five-week period.

Many species were affected, including cardinalfish, parrotfish, damselfish and others. One large lionfish was observed consuming 20 small fish in a 30-minute period. Lionfish are carnivores that can eat other fish up to two-thirds their own length.

When attacking another fish, Hixon said, a lionfish uses its large, fan-like fins to herd smaller fish into a corner and then swallow them in a rapid strike. Because of their natural defense mechanisms they are afraid of almost no other marine life.

And the venom released by their sharp spines can cause extremely painful stings to humans, or even fatalities for some people with heart problems or allergic reactions.

“We have to figure out something to do about this invasion before it causes a major crisis,” Hixon said. “We basically had to abandon some studies we had underway in the Atlantic on population dynamics of coral reef fish, because the lionfish had moved in and started to eat everything.”

[Willi]

10Q