Are they spearfishing for lionfish?

I've read that they are spearfishing a little for the dreaded lionfish in Jamaica. I've seen huge lionfish tournaments in Belize. I think this is a great way to not only cut down the population but provide some fresh fish for the local establishments and families.

I see them at an arms reach all the time when I scuba dive in Negril. Anyone know if they are actively spearfishing at this time? I'd like to get involved in my next reach.

Apparently I'm not allowed to post the news story on this website...lol. Contact me if you want me to email it to you or you can find it on my facebook page. (added by moderator - you are allowed to post links to the stories, but you are not allowed to illegally repost their copyrighted stories)

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I would like to see a Lionfish Roundup as a fund raiser for the Negril Coral Reef Preservation Society. I too have seen those videos of the roundups in Belize and it looks like a GREAT time and a wonderful way to get people together for some fun, protecting something so valuable, not to mention the tasty benefit of cooked Lionfish

Belize has made some wonderful strides in the protection and enhancement of the reef there. I believe that several fishermen from the south coast of Jamaica were brought to that reef to see what proper protection techniques can do for the health of the reef and associated fish stocks.

Nick,
Were you able to ever contact anyone with the Negril Coral Reef Preservation Society as I remember you were trying a while back?

The Jamaican Government and many other organizations such as NEPA, UWI have started programs to promote the catching/eating of Lionfish as part of an effort to help control the spread of lionfish. Below is link to a JA Dept of Fisheries article regarding lionfish.

http://www.moa.gov.jm/Fisheries/data...%20version.pdf

When I was in JA last winter, you could buy freshly caught/cleaned llionfish down at the fisherman's beach (beside the River near the bridge). THE LIONFISH TASTES DELICIOUS!! Several restaurants on the island now serve lionfish to their customers - so be sure to ask your favourite restaurant to cook you some! If the restaurants get asked for it, they will put in on the menu .... which means more money for the fisherman & fishvendors which in turn leads to more lionfish being caught and the dominio effect will continue down the supply line.

If you google "lionfish in Jamaca" articles from varous hotels in JA that have sponsored events to promote the catching/eating of Lionfish. It would be great if something could be held in Negril that would benefit the area financially and promote eating lionfish.

Mr Twister...Yes I have. I have wanted to do something to help restore the reef for some time now, and the NCRPS and things like a Lionfish Roundup are made to order.

just out of curiosity, if one of those Lion fish sting you while snorkeling, how bad is it?

Late reply, but what I have read it just extremely painful to be stung by the Lionfish, they are a highly invasive species, but I would like to know how they taste. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lNG0ThOvrcw

gerryg123.....it could be pretty bad but unlikely to happen unless you snorkel on the oceans floor. The lionfish stay low.

Does anyone know where they are serving Lionfish in Negril?

Sounds like a job for Hungry Lion.

Respect,

I intend on having my friends at Just Natural prepare it for me on my next trip. I'm sure Emile will come up with some way to make it mouth watering ;-)

I had info on a couple establishments in Negril that have cooked it in the past....just can't find my info as to where. I'll keep looking.

Here is a video from the Jamaican Observer showing two ways of cooking lionfish. I do a lot of cooking when in JA and I wll definately be trying both of these recipes on my next reach. When I cooked lionfish previously, I basically cooked in the same way I do most fish (browned then steam with vegetables). Tastes a lot like grouper.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jDBmw...eature=related

If you prefer not to cook, just ask your favourite restaurant/resort to cook some for you (if they do not have lionfish available, ask them if they can get some for the next day if you make dinner reservation). The more the tourists ask for lionfish, the more it will be offered on their standard menu's!

Nyam and enjoy (while helping the environment)!

I just shot three and they were all to small to cook. Fun fun fun anyway

This might be interesting as well

http://youtu.be/Fx3tf71TdfE


I would love to upload some pics to this site, but since it was updated it's a nogo. Anyway every jamaican cook I talked to knew how to cook them.

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Kbisiar, i was just wondering.

If you shoot a lionfish, does that leave a blood trail that may attract sharks?

I would love to hunt those suckers down and X them out.
But, i am afraid that sharks will smell the blood and come a running.

As you can tell, i'm not an avid spear fisherman.

No blood at all as far as I could tell. Been diving in JA(in very out of the way areas) for 7 years. Never one shark yet. I know they cought a big one a couple months ago, but still very rare...so shootem up

I agree. I've got over 100 dives in Jamaica and have yet to see a shark. My avatar was taken in Belize.

Mr. Twister, believe it or not, an AI has been doing something about the Lionfish infestation for a couple of years now, Hedonism II has had an american middle aged couple down numerous times for free week stays. They go out daily during their stays with the staff dive crew to eradicate the invaders. (A small dent in the problem, but at least they are trying).

kim&betty........I believe it. I was certain that the information I had read in the past was of an all inclusive doing this. I think it is fantastic. I hope to find the info so I can post it. I did find that in May 2010, hoteliers in Negril, Jamaica sponsored a three-day competition in which teams of fishermen caught a total of 1,446 lionfish.

I didn't see 1500 fish, but I did see with my own eyes this couple bring in 6 - 10 fish per dive X # of dives per day X # of days per trip (I didn't ask them) X I saw them several trips = Couple a hundred less invasive species. just thought, aren't we an invasive species? that would be a response getting thread.

or could it be that lionfish are native to these waters, but because of global warming they are just now returning to the caribbean/gulf of mexico? or that natural cyclical global cooling had reduced their population to only the pacific ocean? thats a good subject to reason with my bredren in a few short days, soon come sept 4th!

Lionfish are not native to the Caribbean. They are native to the Pacific and may have been released via pet stores or private aquariums that were flooded during florida hurricanes. They are voracious predators with no natural enemies in the Caribbean and multiply quickly. They need to have their numbers reduced by any means necessary.
The fact that they are tasty is a plus.
Your idea Kim&Betty that we are invasive and a threat to the reef is true and maybe the Lionfish invasion will spark a new desire to protect this valuable living thing the Caribbean Coral Reef.

i meant native, in a pre-Jacques-Yves Cousteau world, or even farther back. you know, a few geological/ biological millenium ago. are you certain they weren't native back then? Fossils of Elephants, Camels, Horses, Giant Sloths, etc. have been found across the US, but those present day species of mammals are certainly not considered native to the US. We can't really be sure now, can we? That's what I call a poser.

I am glad to see they are addressing this problem in Negril. We saw 8 Lion Fish on our first snorkel on the cliffs and had to choose an alternate exit point, as the ladder out was surrounded with them. I am thankful they were not there when we entered the water, as I wouldn't have known it until too late. :-{

They are such a beautiful creature, but so invasive. I understand their sting is pretty nasty as well.
I still found snorkeling the cliffs to be so enjoyable, but would love to see these guys thinned down to nothing.

Yes kim&betty a thousand years ago there may have been lionfish in the caribbean. If thats your point maybe check wikipedia's 1000 BC edition. Haha

Wolves are native to the rockies and have been reintoduced and causing all the problems people warned them about 10 years ago.They have no preditors are nearly impossible to hunt, reproduce like rabbits...pack hunt big game(big source of conservation dollors for those states) and ranchers cattle and sheep(the fed compensates the ranchers for this). Do you see a pattern here?

Assuming a billion years ago lionfish were native does not mean they are healthy addition to the ecosystem. Just one mans opinion

I would love to know what places in Negril are cooking them..also, a very important question..how dangerous is it to eat if not prepared properly? That would be my only concern, but if it isn't a serious one, just let me know and ease my mind. ;)

I'm no expert, but I did read in many articles that once dead they are non toxic and pose no risk. Preparing them for cooking does not pose the same risks you face with puffer fish for example. After spearing one I could see the toxin dripping from the spines. I have read that some sperfishers cut the spines off right after spearing just to be safe.

kbisiar......That is incorrect. The dorsal spine does still carry the toxin even after the fish is dead and must be carefully cut around when cutting the meat from the fish.

This will show hot to cut the meat from the fish around the poisonous spine.

http://youtu.be/Fx3tf71TdfE

Here is a guy that got stung by one spearfishing. It doesnt look like he is enjoying himself...lol

http://youtu.be/rJRr8F0PS-8

Ok. Point taken Twister. I have found info that it is toxic for 1 hour after death to 2 days. I will not test these opinions. I have a lionfish proof bag to be safe.

Is there any place cooking these and selling them,restaurants etc.?

Stuart. You can buy them from fishermen on what they call fish beach and then get a cook to prapare them for you. I did not see anyone serving them on a menu, and we did ask a few places that all said they don't serve them. Good question. Twister...you know of anyone serving them up?