Better Off Wet Winter 2016

DIVING
NTING
in Florida
Staff Report
Belying its beauty, the lionfish is an ugly menace
that threatens the Florida water fauna and flora.
Left unchecked, this invasive species possesses
the capability to completely upset the local ecosystem,
including both the Atlantic and Gulf
coasts. Thought to have been introduced to the
area by aquarium enthusiasts who unwittingly
released them in local waters, a handful of these
creatures soon turned into an invasion.
The rapid spread of these native Indo-Pacific ingrates
is attributable to their booming, breeding
habits. Lionfish reach sexual maturity 2-4 years
earlier than native fish. Females lay millions of
eggs over the course of a year and can reproduce
every four days making the productivity of a rabbit
appear more like that of an elephant. Compounding
the problem, Lionfish have no natural
predators in the Atlantic and Gulf waters to “curb
their enthusiasm.”
Not only are Lionfish conquering native species
in numbers, these voracious carnivores eat just
about everything devouring more than 70 species
of fish as well as shrimp and crab. Lionfish
can eat up to 30 times their stomach volume and
90 % of their body weight daily. The impact on
local fish populations can be devastating. Although
beautiful, Lionfish can reduce young fish
populations on a reef by nearly 90% in as little as
five weeks and the overall population by 65 % in
just over two years.
With the potential to wreck havoc on Florida
reefs and saltwater wildlife, this insatiable species
does appear to have one weakness; they taste
great! A flaky white fish with a texture described
as somewhere between Mahi Mahi and Grouper,
Lionfish is a healthy choice. It’s high in heart
healthy Omega 3 fatty acids and low in saturated
fats and mercury. Culinary consumption has led
to the coastal battle cry: “Eat ‘Em To Beat ‘Em!”
Lurking around reefs, wrecks, and rocky overhangs,
the most effective way to catch Lionfish is
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