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rogue lions BY DANIEL ANDERSON 10 Must See
A COMPANY OF ROGUES : CAROL COX superpredator has invaded Florida s Forgotten Coast, and A it is here to stay. For many thanks to Hollywood and The Discovery Channel that statement conjures visions of marauding sharks terrorizing beachside communities. There are plenty of sharks in local waters, and they are the apex predator in the Gulf of Mexico, but they are not a superpredator. That designation is reserved for an alien invader, the Lionfish, and while they do not pose a deadly threat to humans, they are decimating the region s native fish populations. The presence of these Rogue Lions creates an environmental imbalance on reefs and fish havens, and is sending shockwaves through the fishing, diving and seafood communities. The Gulf of Mexico is teeming with predators. In fact, every link of the food chain preys on another link. Native fish, plants, mammals, crustaceans and amphibians maintain a relative stability in which they can survive and thrive. The presence of Lionfish upsets that stability. Lionfish reproduce rapidly, eat voraciously, and fear no natural predator in regional waters. While they feed in great numbers almost exclusively on native juvenile fish and crustaceans, nothing feeds on them. Native species do not recognize Lionfish as either food or threat, allowing them to grow and multiply unchecked in the Gulf. The Lionfish invasion traces its origins back to the 1980s. At that time, technical Holiday 2017 11
advances in filtration and fishkeeping led to a boom in the saltwater aquarium industry. Live fish importers sought tropical exotics from all over the world, including the reefs of the Red Sea and Indo-Pacific. Lionfish, native to those regions, were among the most popular. Their bright red stripes and billowing fins made dramatic additions to the tanks of many aquarium enthusiasts, and they were surprisingly hardy. Lionfish are protected by a coat of anti-bacterial slime that fights off pathogens, making them extremely resistant to infection and disease. At that time, Lionfish were considered beautiful, tough, and entertaining too! Releasing a feeder goldfish into a tank with a resident Lionfish virtually guaranteed that the hunt was on. Looking back, the end result was always the same a Lionfish with a full belly. A sobering realization, now that they re calling the Gulf of Mexico home. Lionfish are not picky eaters. While they seem to prefer juvenile fish especially young Vermillion Snapper they will happily gobble up anything in their path. Nearly any fish or crustacean smaller than two thirds of their body length is fair game. A Lionfish s stomach can expand up to 30 times JUVENILE LIONFISH WITH DAMSELFISH : CAROL COX It is believed that aquarium owners are responsible for introducing Lionfish into Atlantic, Caribbean and Gulf waters. Some of these pets outgrew their glass homes and were released into the wild. In their native Indo-Pacific waters, they reach a maximum length of around 13 inches. In the Gulf of Mexico, adults average over 12 inches long but have been recorded at over 17 inches. Unverified reports of even larger fish abound. Lionfish in the Gulf of Mexico are growing larger, eating more, living longer, and reproducing at an alarming rate. In fact, one sexually mature Lionfish can lay up to two million eggs in a single year, and the eggs are released in a sac that drifts with tides and currents in an ever expanding siege of habitat. LIONFISH COLONY ON MBARA REEF MODULE : CAROL COX First sighted in the wild off Dania Beach in 1985, invasive Lionfish made their first appearance in Gulf waters around 2010. Since then, scuba divers have documented an exponential escalation in numbers. What was a mere foothold just 8 years ago has become a virtual stranglehold today. Their density on area artificial reefs and naturally-occurring hard bottom is shocking. A single artificial reef site can harbor dozens, if not hundreds, of adult Lionfish. Attracted to the same type of reef structure that shelters juvenile Grouper, Snapper, Triggerfish and Grunts, Lionfish feed on, outcompete, and devastate entire communities of native species. its usual size to accommodate a meal, and they eat more frequently than most fish. They are also excellent survivalists, living off of stored fat for up to twelve weeks when food is scarce. If population density on area reefs is an accurate indicator, Lionfish prefer depths of 90 to 130 feet. They can certainly be found in shallower water, but, for now, remain relatively scarce on reefs less
than 60 feet deep. A growing presence on inshore structure is likely, however, as invasive Lionfish continue to multiply and claim new territory. Currently, deep water populations are a mystery, but Lionfish are comfortable in depths of 1,000 feet or more. That fact alone makes eradication of these invaders from the Gulf impossible. They are not going away. It s easy to identify a reef structure dominated by Lionfish. They laze about fearlessly, spiny fins rippling like anemones. Those fins may be pretty, but they are also dangerous. They provide camouflage for eighteen needle-sharp venomous spines - two pelvic, three anal and thirteen dorsal. The sting is not fatal, but it is very painful, and can cause severe swelling, dizziness, temporary paralysis, and necrosis quite a deterrent to wouldbe predators. Not just for defense, the giant dorsal and pectoral fins also help Lionfish corner intended prey. Typically white with red or maroon stripes, Lionfish also have the ability to shift coloration over time. In certain environments, nearly solid black or pale white specimens are common. Lionfish spines can easily penetrate the wetsuits of scuba divers and gloves of fishermen care should be taken when handling them. Prevention, in the form of puncture-proof gloves, is by far the best medicine. Prolonged (60-90 minutes) immersion in hot water is currently the most effective known treatment for Lionfish stings. Anti-inflammatory and analgesic medications can reduce pain and swelling. Seek immediate medical attention in the event of allergic reaction or symptoms of shock. Icing is not recommended. Few fishermen will be stung, however. Lionfish are notoriously difficult to catch on hook and line, so traditional fishing methods are largely ineffective. Specialty equipment short pole spears and containment units allows scuba divers to harvest Lionfish much more efficiently. Since they face no natural threats, Lionfish move slowly. Harvesters can pick them off one by one without ever eliciting a flight response. Speared fish are then pushed into a containment unit and stripped off the tines as the spear is removed the divers never touch them. Depth and bottom time constraints inherent to scuba diving limit the impact spearfishing has as a population control measure, however. While a diver can wipe out the entire Lionfish population of a reef structure
on a single dive, the invaders invariably recolonize. No matter how many Lionfish are taken, they bounce back. Efforts have been made by divers to train indigenous predators, such as Grouper and Sharks, to feed on Lionfish. Tempting them with injured or dead Lionfish will induce them to feed occasionally, but not often. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission (FWC) has MBARA PRESIDENT BOB COX FILLS HIS ZOOKEEPER : CAROL COX deemed the practice dangerous and illegal, on grounds that it encourages wild creatures to associate divers with an easy meal. The FWC does encourage divers, anglers and commercial fishermen to remove lionfish from Florida waters by other means, however. A recreational fishing license is not required to harvest Lionfish by pole spear, Hawaiian sling or handheld net. There is no minimum size limit. There is no daily bag limit. Permits are regularly issued to tournaments, derbies and other organized events to allow harvest of Lionfish in areas where spearing is normally prohibited. Clearly, the FWC sees Lionfish as a threat to native marine life and ecosystems. Combatting an invasive species isn t the only reason to hunt Lionfish, though. If this story has a bright side, it is that Lionfish make outstanding table fare. They are venomous, not poisonous, and are every bit as safe to eat as prized Gulf Grouper and Snapper. The meat is mild, sweet and flaky, and can be prepared in any number of ways. Lionfish is rapidly gaining popularity in Old Florida s restaurants and seafood markets, and its potential as a food source is limited only by availability. Lionfish supply rarely meets demand because harvesting them in quantity is difficult. Luckily, the FWC 14 Must See
LIONFISH ON MBARA REEF : CAROL COX has helped in this respect, too. For just $50, Lionfish harvesters can acquire a Saltwater Products License (SPL) allowing them to sell their Lionfish to seafood wholesalers statewide. Talented regional chefs are doing their part in kitchens all along the Forgotten Coast, as well. While limited supply has kept Lionfish off permanent menus, it is offered as daily specials whenever available. Like any quality fish, filets can be grilled, blackened or fried in the southern tradition. Lionfish Tacos have become a favorite at Tamara s Cafe in Apalachicola. Danny Itzkovitz, owner and chef at Tamara s, buys every Lionfish he can find. I sell Lionfish Tacos as fast than I can make them, and with good reason. They re fantastic! It s a special experience for diners. How often can you enjoy a wild-caught gourmet meal and fight off an invasive species at the same time? Every bite strikes a blow against these unwelcome, but tasty, superpredators! They may be a welcome guest at the dinner table, but Lionfish are deadly on our reefs. Efforts to assess the damage they cause to regional ecosystems are only beginning. Many experts predict catastrophic declines in native fish populations a huge problem with no viable solution. Harvest of Lionfish by divers with pole spears is at best a temporary fix. Species indigenous to the area can rebound in their absence, but Lionfish reproduce so quickly and in such numbers that keeping pace with re-colonization is impossible and that s just on reefs that scuba divers can access. Lionfish populations in deeper waters are, and will remain, completely unchecked. In short, getting rid of them is a pipe dream. Lionfish are a permanent addition to our marine landscape an inescapable fact with frightening long term environmental implications. 16 Must See