Funding Needed to Fight Lionfish

It certainly sounds like the lionfish is already a serious problem. While I don't approve of "rattlesnake roundups," a lionfish roundup seems appropriate. A quick google search showed it can be effective:

http://www.tcpalm.com/news/2011/jul/18/1st-annual-mcac-reef-fund-lionfish-round-up-makes-/

I really hope they get there funding.

I recently only learned of ciguatera :-(. Such a shame I just watched bizarre foods on the travel channel and they were eating lion fish. I like the idea I saw of spearing lion fish and feeeding them to the sharks was interesting. Which in theory should make the sharks see lion fish as a food source.

I really hope they get there funding.

I recently only learned of ciguatera :-(. Such a shame I just watched bizarre foods on the travel channel and they were eating lion fish. I like the idea I saw of spearing lion fish and feeeding them to the sharks was interesting. Which in theory should make the sharks see lion fish as a food source.

Unfortunately for the reef, for an animal, it is a significant jump from being fed a lionfish to figuring out how to kill them themselves. Due to how sharks feed and hunt, catching a lionfish would be challenging (since the fish hide in crevices and such). Eels, snappers and other more "reefy" fish would be better suited to hunting lionfish. However, I wouldn't expect this to start happening overnight. For example, it may start off with one eel figuring out how to hunt and eat a lionfish. That eel may reproduce more since it is exploiting an unused, abundant resource, create more eels with some instinct to kill lionfish, and those eels would reproduce etc etc...This could be happening now, but it would take a several generations for the trait to be "bred" into the eel line and for enough eels having this instinct to make a difference.

Also, when people feed predators, they should NOT do it directly off a spear. Kill the fish, take it off the spear and let the fish float freely in the water. In some places on island, some people who shall not be named, have been feeding lionfish to eels directly off the spear and now those eels are getting aggresive towards people (especially people with spears) because they are assciating spear/people with food. Wrong sort of conditioning. You want to condition them to associate the lionfish with food.

Also, when people feed predators, they should NOT do it directly off a spear. Kill the fish, take it off the spear and let the fish float freely in the water. In some places on island, some people who shall not be named, have been feeding lionfish to eels directly off the spear and now those eels are getting aggresive towards people (especially people with spears) because they are assciating spear/people with food. Wrong sort of conditioning. You want to condition them to associate the lionfish with food.

Yeah i agree completely. The last thing we want is a wild animal to associate humans with food.

The depressing thing about this it seems like an unwinnable battle. The best we can do is control them. I hope someone disagrees and says we can win this.

My family attended Coral World on Earth Day and learned for the first time about the lionfish. Since we have noticed the educational materials all around STT and STJ, and of course, took some home with us from Coral World. I'm afraid we don't have the money or the connections for the donations you need, but what are other ways we can help?! Thanks! 31gotogirl@gmail.com

Please do not upport Coral World! It is an absolute travesty that this Dolphin park is being allowed, at all, here in the Virgin Islands.

This comes at a time many countries and nations are rallying to protect marine mammals in their waters by creating sanctuaries for them from the likes of Coral World and the marine entertainment businesses which perpetuates the trapping, culling and killing of Dolphins and the capture of those that are sold into an abject life of slavery. All for sake of money.
Disgusting.

I will never recommend anyone to go to Coral World, ever again, nor will I go. When you buy a ticket to these attractions you are perpetuating the demand for continuing captivity of these magnificent and intelligent marine mammals.

The Humane Society International and the World Society for the Protection of Animals have stated that they believe that "the entire captive experience for marine mammals is so sterile and contrary to even the most basic elements of compassion and humanity that it should be rejected outright."

The more that people educate themselves and realize the truth about dolphinariums, the better. Don't buy a ticket. Don't support captivity.

The ethics of keeping animals captive for entertainment purposes is hotly debated around the world, with some nations already banning the use of wild animals in zoos.

However, the issue of keeping dolphins captive is particularly poignant since they are highly intelligent, emotional and sentient beings that are capable of great mental and physical suffering.

“Dolphins are very smart. They’re the only wild animal I’m aware of that regularly rescues humans who are in trouble,” Ric O’Barry points out.

“They grieve for their lost offspring and companions. They have even been seen asking for help from humans. All of this shows their incredible sense of compassion and understanding towards others, yet we show them none in return when we keep them captive.”

These stances are supported by well-established indications that dolphin captivity is unethical and inflicts unnecessary suffering onto dolphins. Food deprivation, forced performances, and a complete lack of freedom contribute to significant stress and often premature death for captive individuals.

“The global captivity industry depends on its customers not knowing the truth about what goes on behind the bright lights and sensationalism,” says O’Barry, referring to the illusions that captive facilities construct in order to mislead customers into believing that the dolphins are “happy.”

Take the pledge: Don't buy the ticket. Dolphins and Whales and other marine mammals do not belong in captivity.

Success! India Takes Progressive Stand Against Captive Dolphins

Read more: http://www.care2.com/causes/success-india-takes-progressive-stand-against-captive-dolphins.html#ixzz2TSZAMJU3

in the keys they had a contest to see who could catch the most lionfish. i dont remember what if anything the winner got. seems they ate them after that. but that was a couple of years ago so i dont remember all of the details

They had a lionfish "derby" here on STX last year for Reefjam. The competition was open one day and there were prizes for the biggest and most lionfish caught (as well as some other categories). Not sure if it is happening this year

CORE also does FREE workshops showing how to properly catch/spear and dispose of lionfosh. I spotted a BIG one at sapphire last week and when I reported it to CORE I signed up to do the workshop in a couple weeks. I am also going to start carrying a spear for them in my car as i am in the water most days. And i hist bought some awesome freediving fins 😉 We gotta get rid of these as much as a HATE to kill anything.