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.