Culling Lionfish - it's working!

The new reality.

The Lionfish saga continues.

But this time, it's good news.

It really looks like the culls are working in both reducing the numbers of those invasive Lionfish and in preserving those of the native Fishes that would otherwise become their victims. But of course the pests are there to stay, meaning that barring a miracle, the culling needs to continue indefinitely.

Here's an idea for you.

Turn this into an opportunity and market the Caribbean as the new mecca for those trigger-happy alternative lifestyle advocates?

Just saying!

Sharks vs Lionfishes in the Atlantic?

Caribbean Reefie hunting Lionfish - source.

Remember?

Well, turns out that it aint quite good enough.

The latest research indicates that local predator size and abundance does nothing to stem the spread of invasive Lionfishes in the Atlantic, this because those local predators cant out-compete them and also, because they either simply don't perceive and/or prefer them as prey or because the success and abundance of Lionfishes is not primarily determined by predation in the first place.

Paper here.

And my prediction?

It was totally speculative to start with, and this latest research appears to completely negate it - and it would be foolish to invoke predator/prey cycles and wait for a total collapse of their prey, or to hope for some Lionfish-specific epidemic or the like.

So keep hunting and eating them!

It won't eradicate the Lionfishes - but if done consistently, it will at least keep down their numbers and mitigate their impact.

More about this, and invasive species in general here.

About those invasive Lionfish!

Lionfish invasion - details here!

Check this out!



Remember this post?
As I said, I anticipate that the situation will be vastly different in 10 years as the Caribbean predators will have learned to appreciate those Lionfish - that is, provided that will be are any Caribbean predators left! In that respect, I totally like the idea of targeting Lionfish for food, especially whilst sparing other native species as suggested in the video!
A good bouillabaisse always includes some rascasse which is the Mediterranean Scorpionfish - so why not develop an according equally delicious Caribbean version!