Invasive species are pests too, but most people don’t think
about our waterways when they talk pests and pesticides.
The Lionfish is considered an invasive species by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) which encourages people to spear, use hand-held nets or hook and line to catch them. There are no recreational or commercial bag limits on Lionfish which live near reefs and are predatory. Because they eat fish native to the Florida reef environment, the loss of those fish and shrimp change the management of algae production and compete with native predatory fish like grouper and snapper. “Lionfish have high fidelity to a location, meaning once they find suitable habitat as an adult they tend to stay there, and can reach densities of more than 200 adults per acre”(FWC, 2016) .
Because you cannot use a pesticide in the water, the FWC is using people to do
its’ own version of predation by a top predator: us. The Lionfish Challenge and
Panhandle Pilot Program includes derbies and tournaments aimed at getting rid
of the fish. It also promotes awareness through brochures, trainings, awareness
days, and a reef ranger program where you can select a specific reef to monitor
and remove the fish from (FWC, 2016) .
These programs allow for the fish to be taken off the reefs and out of
waterways without damage to the reef structures themselves or other animals and
plants. The economic value is also on both sides, the FWC puts up prizes to top
catchers and local stores buy the fish to sell to the public for consumption. Pelican
Point Seafood in Tarpon Springs is a great example of this. If you catch a
Lionfish you can go to the Tarpon Springs store and sell the fish (minimum 1
lb.) each week (Lowe, 2016) .
This brings revenue into the community as well as removing the pest. Other than
the sporadic nature of single person catches, the program has little downsides.
Inexperienced fishers may cause problems, but the majority of those going after
the poisonous fish are experienced anglers.
The Lionfish is considered an invasive species by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) which encourages people to spear, use hand-held nets or hook and line to catch them. There are no recreational or commercial bag limits on Lionfish which live near reefs and are predatory. Because they eat fish native to the Florida reef environment, the loss of those fish and shrimp change the management of algae production and compete with native predatory fish like grouper and snapper. “Lionfish have high fidelity to a location, meaning once they find suitable habitat as an adult they tend to stay there, and can reach densities of more than 200 adults per acre”
References
FWC. (2016). Lionfish – Pterois volitans.
Retrieved from Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Committee:
http://myfwc.com/wildlifehabitats/nonnatives/marine-species/lionfish/
Lowe, A. (2016, March 14). Lionfish wanted! Sell
your lionfish to Florida seafood dealers. Retrieved from Lionfish
Hunting: http://lionfish.co/florida-seafood-wholesalers-want-buy-lionfish/
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