| Disaster in the making: Lionfish | | Print | |
| Thursday, 01 July 2010 12:18 | |||
 Lionfish are wreaking havoc across the Caribbean and right here in the Turks and Caicos, and if nothing is done soon, officials say the economic impact to the country could be disastrous. These feisty fish seem to have no fear, and more importantly other fish aren’t afraid of them. This fact is affecting the delicate balance of nature as the fish literally are eating away at our ecosytem and endangering our precious coral reefs. The Department of Environment and Coastal Resources has been very active over the past year trying to engage commercial fisherman as well as the community in helping fight these predators. While they are pleased that some are getting involved, they say there is still a lot more to be done. “If we can not stop them, we will be looking at a dead reef,” explained DECR Director Wesley Clerveaux. He says the lionfish problem is a “disaster in the making,” and the whole community needs to get involved in order to protect our environment and avoid the economic impact a dead reef could have on the tourism market. The lionfish population is multiplying in record numbers in local waters. Clerveaux says that now, at any given time, you might see from seven to 10 fish in a three-foot area on the reefs. “It is paramount we take the matter and deal with it,” he says. So now the DECR has engaged in a new strategy taking a twist from an old saying: “If you can’t beat them, eat them.” Starting in October, the DECR began a campaign to encourage local restaurants to put lionfish on their menus. The first step is to dispel the myths about lionfish and show people they are tasty and safe to eat. “The lionfish is a dangerous, invasive species, but it also a perfectly safe and delicious food product,” Clerveaux said. “We want to educate our local restaurant community about its potential as very cost-effective menu item, and by doing so they will be assisting us in the eradication of the species.” With lobster season closed until August and the conch quota being reached in May, the DECR hopes many of the idle local fisherman will also get involved in the fight. DECR kicked off a Lionfish Tournament in October which runs for one year. Hopes are high that one fisherman will win the grand prize award of $3,000 for being the first to record 3,000 lionfish catches. So far Clerveaux says they have recorded approximately 500. Representatives from the DECR say fisherman in some cases are afraid to handle the fish for fear of their poisonous sting which is present in the spiny fins, whether the fish is alive or dead. However, there are simple ways to cut the spiny fins, allowing for safe transport on the boats. They are also offering a training course and special fishing license for anyone interested in helping in this important cause. For more information on the lionfish programs or how you can help, contact the DECR at 941-5122 or by e-mail at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .
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