Bonaire Continues Proactive Efforts in Fight Against Invasive Lionfish
The Pacific lionfish appeared in Bonaire’s waters last fall, and Bonaire’s marine park and tourism sector are continuing the proactive fight to contain the lionfish population.
Lionfish are particularly destructive to Atlantic reef systems, because they are voracious predators, feeding upon the normal juvenile population of shrimp and fish, thus not allowing these species to grow to maturity and reproduce. Further, the lionfish are prolific reproducers themselves, with a female capable of producing 30,000 eggs, of which 90% are pre-destined also to be female. Unfortunately, there are no natural predators of this fish in the Caribbean, so their numbers will not be kept in check via natural predation.
The third lionfish captured on Bonaire reefs (late October, 2009) was only 4.6 cm in length. However, the fish are becoming much larger and one recently captured was measured to be 18.5 cm in length (see image above comparing these two fish). Lionfish can grow up to about 56 cm. This fast growth means the lionfish are dining well on Bonaire reefs, and, in fact, the stomach contents of all lionfish removed from Bonaire waters are checked--these lionfish are actively feeding upon Bonaire juvenile fish and shrimp populations. Lionfish hunt 100% of their time. They do not stop when full, in fact, studies indicate they never are full and will just keep feeding as long as there is a readily available food supply. Lionfish can begin reproduction when females are only 13 cm, so the population on Bonaire is already at the point of reproducing, and, in fact, reports of juvenile lionfish are beginning to come in again, proving that we now have a second generation of the fish.
But there is good news to share: The Bonaire National Marine Park rangers are conducting multiple lionfish workshops for those marine park volunteers who are interested in helping to remove the fish. These workshops focus upon how to safely catch, remove, and store the fish until it can be processed at CIEE, and then tissue samples are sent to REEF. The lionfish do have venomous spines, covered by a sheath of skin, which can cause excruciating pain, and therefore, the training is mandatory for anyone who wishes to assist with the fish removal. It should be noted that no one (tourist or resident) has been stung on Bonaire to date, so captures are proceeding safely due to the excellent training by the marine park. Once volunteers have been trained, they receive regular updates via a web-based database (updated daily) indicating all the reported lionfish so they can either choose a specific target or see which fish have already been removed. This posse of lionfishers is made up of Bonaire marine park staff, certain volunteers, and those who have attended a training workshop.
Additionally, the marine park has organized several “lionfish roundups.” This weekend, February 20th and 21st, will be “spreadsheet cleanup roundup” to check old reports, unmarked reports, or to collect, mark, or unmark sites in order to have a better overview of the situation. It’s important to have a trustworthy database, so the lionfishers can go to the correct sites. During this roundup, eleven regions along Bonaire’s leeward coast have been targeted for checking and, if possible, removal.
Next weekend, February 27th and 28th, the roundup will concentrate on Washington Slagbaai National Park dive sites. Those participating will go by boat for two or three dives to remove lionfish in that area. Saturday, March 6th, the roundup will be conducted in the Karpata Reserve and the Playa Frans Reserve areas. Lastly, the weekend of March 13th and/or 14th, it will be Klein Bonaire’s turn to host the roundup.
The tourism sector is also jumping in to support the marine park’s efforts. All dive shops on Bonaire are providing information to their visiting divers, along with markers so divers can mark lionfish locations. These same dive facilities are also providing free tanks to the posse of lionfishers to help the cause. Captain Don’s Habitat has taken it one step further: From March 6th through 13th, Habitat will be hosting the “Lionfish Wrangler Week” with credits for each lionfish found and marked and that ultimately is removed from the environment. The first credit received ($120.00) can be used on any diving fees during the Lionfish Wrangler Week. Additional credits after the first ($60.00 each) can be used on future Bonaire trips. During this week, there will be lionfishers on every boat dive to assist with immediate removal of those lionfish found. Throughout the week, there will be workshops and lectures on behavior and the potential threat the fish poses to Bonaire and the entire Caribbean.
Noted environmentalist, Dee Scarr, is also lending a helping hand by organizing a meeting for those involved with the fish removal in order to talk, exchange ideas, and brainstorm. The more people who can be actively involved in this endeavor, the more successful it will be.
Those visitors who will spend an extended time on Bonaire, and who wish to help, are welcome to receive training and join the posse. Contact the Bonaire Marine Park (717-8444) for information on the next workshop. Many other visitors who only are on Bonaire for a short time want to know what they can do to help. First and foremost, please do not try to remove the fish yourself. It can be dangerous! Further, once a lionfish is spotted, please limit your activity in the immediate area, this also includes limiting photography. The reason this is important is these fish learn very quickly that divers (and divers’ bubbles, noise, etc.) mean they might be caught, and they will hide very quickly at the first sign of a human. It has taken up to six dives in one location to remove one fish which had become sensitized to humans. When marking a lionfish, place the marker in the sand in the general area, but do not place it right on top of the fish. Keep your movements slow and unthreatening to avoid sensitizing the fish.
Visitors can be sure to always have a marker in their BCD pocket, and to immediately report any sitings to their dive shop or the marine park. Those who wish to take it a step further can bring down supplies of wine corks (used in making the markers) and deliver them to the marine park or your dive shop (both plastic corks and real corks work just as well).
In keeping with the community spirit that Bonaire has always exhibited, it’s hoped that the potential negative effects of the Pacific lionfish can be contained by a well coordinated effort by the marine park, Bonaire’s tourism sector, and visiting divers. (Source: Bonaire Insider Reporter)
Note Update February 22, 2010: On the first roundup last Saturday, ten additional lionfish were removed. (Source: Bonaire National Marine Park)
Note Update March 1, 2010: On the second roundup on February 27, an additional 11 lionfish were removed from the waters around Washington Slagbaai National Park, bringing the total number of lionfish removed since October to 130. (Source: Bonaire National Marine Park)
please inform us as to how the lionfish were originally introduced into the area of Bonaire. this piece was very interesting and informative. Darin is a NY city school teacher and would like to share info with the students. thank you kindly.
Posted by on March 03, 2010 at 10:31pm ASTGreetings, Karen and Darin, I’m glad you enjoyed the article, and here’s what we know about the spread of this invasive fish. The Pacific Lionfish or Red Lionfish has been rapidly spreading throughout Caribbean waters. It was first sighted in the Florida Bay in 1992, possibly escaped from an aquarium during hurricane Andrew or released by aquarium enthusiasts. Over the next ten years, it spread along the southeastern coast of the United States and then jumped to Bermuda. In 2004, it was reported in the Bahamas where it quickly spread. In 2007, it reached the Turks & Caicos Islands and Cuba, and then it reached Jamaica, the Cayman Islands and the Dominican Republic. It was thought that it could not cross the Mona Passage to Puerto Rico, as this appears to be a natural barrier to larval transport, but in June last year many juveniles were reported from St. Thomas, Virgin Islands and there were sightings in St. Lucia. In the autumn of 2009, the fish spread down the eastern coast of Central America and then made its way to the ABC islands, including Bonaire. An excellent map showing the fish’s progresion by year is available at http://fl.biology.usgs.gov/lionfish_progression/lionfish_progression.html. Susan
Posted by on March 04, 2010 at 4:28pm AST
