Lion fish, with their beautiful color striations and menacing spiky fins, are known to most as aquarium spectacles. Little did we know, the poisonous fish are also, apparently, delicious to eat. That fact is going to be good for Florida and much of the East Coast of the United States in the coming years, where Lion fish are becoming a major ecological problem. The iconic fish is considered an invasive species that, for the last few decades, has been thriving in US waters, threatening the native species in our ecosystems. As the Miami Herald reports, organizations such as the NOAA are now encouraging fishing endeavors to focus on the venomous species to help control their booming populations.
According to the Herald, Lion fish were first imported and dumped into Florida waters in the mid 1980s, and have quickly adapted and thrived in the environment. Some speculate that home aquarium owners, after finding the lion fish eat other aquarium fish, or perhaps after being stung by their venomous spikes, released the fish into waterways. While native to the south Pacific and Indian oceans, the conditions in and around Florida waters have proven to be perfect for the invasive species. Lion fish grow and reproduce quickly, prey on smaller fish species, and have proven adept at controlling the reefs in affected areas. Worst still, their poisonous nature means they have few natural predators outside of certain species of eel, and some sharks. Some reports say the fish could decrease the population diversity of the reefs by up to 80%. This has led to a ban on the importation and sale of Lion fish in the US.
In addition to encouraging people to catch as many lion fish as possible, organizations are also calling on restaurants to begin serving the fish. While most people would recognize a lion fish if they saw one, few can look past their venomous, spiky fins. While the fish are venomous to humans, they can be delicious when prepared correctly. Enter restaurants, which can come up with creative and enticing ways to serve the fish. Some studies show that in order to maintain (not even decrease) the invasive population, 27% of adult specimens must be captured each month. So if you live on the East Coast, especially in Florida, and have a taste for seafood, look for lion fish on the menu at your favorite spot. Not only will you be getting a delicious (and exotic looking) treat, but you'll be helping out our native sea species as well.
Source:
Miami Herald,
Image Credit (Flickr)
Tablebases.com
