Lionfish: What They Are And Why You Should Care

photo credit: PlantingPeace.com

By Kira Krall:

Lionfish are reef fish native to the Indo-Pacific Oceans. They fit in perfectly with the ecology of that habitat. However, red lionfish (Pterois volitans) and the common lionfish (Pterois miles) have made their way into the waters of the Americas.

A map of current and projected lionfish distribution. Blue and green are native ranges, solid red is current nonnative range, and red hatching is projected nonnative distribution. Source

How?

The striking colors and elegant fins of the lionfish make them a popular aquarium species. When hobbyists and other aquarists decided they didn’t want to take care of the fish anymore, they released them into saltwater habitats like the Atlantic Ocean and Caribbean Sea. Because enough people did this, there were plenty of mature fish out there to start reproducing in vast quantities.

A lionfish tank in Mandalay Bay, Las Vegas. Source.

So What?

Lionfish are a predatory fish. That means they eat whatever and whenever they want. They can consume prey that are more than half their own length and have been documented eating over 70 species of fish, including snapper and grouper. If we only had a few lionfish swimming about in the Atlantic and Caribbean, the aggressive feeding habits of the lionfish wouldn’t be a problem. However, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission estimates that lionfish populations can reach densities of more than 200 adults per acre.

Lionfish grouping around a reef. Lionfish don’t typically school, but there can be so many lionfish on one reef that they’re forced to co-habitate. Source.

Why Are There So Many Lionfish?

Lionfish can reach sexual maturity in under one year. A female lionfish can spawn up to 15,000 eggs that can float for 25 days before becoming infertile. In tropical climates, they can spawn every four days (that’s nearly 1,500,00 eggs per year). By comparison, most native Florida fish reach sexual maturity at 3-5 years.

Lionfish have all the natural warning signs of a toxic animal. They have contrasting stripes, spots, and huge, spiny fins. The spines on its back, sides, and anal fin are all venomous. The animals large enough to eat lionfish don’t know how to eat it!

Two sharks attempting to eat a lionfish. A female lionfish can get up to 7 inches in length. Source.

Well, What Can I Do?

Eat them!

A fried Lionfish Sandwich from Vivo Cafe & Restaurant in Grand Cayman. Complete with side salad! Source.

Once the spines are removed, lionfish are totally safe to consume.

The “Scary Dragon Roll” at E Sushi Shap in Aruba. A creative way to serve lionfish! Source.

The toxin can also be baked out of the spines, making this sushi roll perfectly safe to dig into.

You can even go out and fish these guys yourself. Because there are so many of them , you’re pretty much guaranteed a solid catch. There are no seasons, catch limits, or gear restrictions. Spear gunning is the best way to catch them! If you do decide to spear gun, double check the restrictions for use in your area before setting out on a lionfish hunt.

A freediver showing off his catch. Watch out for the spines! Source.

By hunting and eating lionfish, you’re removing these destructive fish from our ecosystem. Consuming lionfish can also reduce the pressure on plummeting tuna, grouper, and snapper populations. Make the “green” choice. Eat a lionfish!