Stopping Lionfish Invasion

Lionfish, an invasive species found in the Caribbean and Bahamas, are highly aggressive, poisonous fish protected by large spines and have powerful toxins, that are spreading very rapidly. Research has shown that the first lionfish were accidentally released in Florida when a beachside aquarium ruptured during Hurricane Andrew in 1992. Since then, the fish have spread up the coast to North Carolina and into the Caribbean and Bahamas. Studies have also found that introducing one lionfish to a reef leads to a 79 percent reduction in the juvenile fish population in only five weeks. Despite the many efforts at trying to alleviate this invasive problem, conservationists have not been able to find a solution. The only means of slowing them down are to hunt them and eat them. Click here to find out how to make lionfish for dinner.