A Conservation Battle Royale

The nonnative lionfish was first spotted in Florida waters off the coast of Dania Beach in 1985 and has been wreaking havoc in our waterways ever since. While beautiful to look at with its red, brown, and white stripes and feathery tail, the creature also sports many spines that are venomous to the touch. With such deadly armor, the lionfish scares other marine life away, leaving it to freely roam the waters with no would-be predators and threatening other fish as they struggle to compete for food. Lionfish reproduce at a staggering rate, with adult females releasing upwards of two million eggs a year.

“Lionfish prey on juveniles of economically important species such as grouper, snapper, and crustaceans,” says Emily Robicheaux, lionfish outreach coordinator for the Division of Marine Fisheries Management at the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC). She adds: “They also eat parrotfish and wrasses, which are crucial to the health of coral as they help remove algae, allowing sunlight to reach the coral so photosynthesis can occur. Lionfish impact the entire reef ecosystem.”

To help control the population, the FWC launched an annual statewide tournament called the Lionfish Challenge in 2016. Every summer, recreational anglers and commercial fishermen compete, with prizes awarded based on the number of lion- fish harvested (recreational) and the cumulative weight of all lionfish caught (commercial). This year’s challenge began May 24 and will continue until September 2. Stuart resident David Connerth took home the title of “lion king” in the recreational sector back in 2020 with 1,141 catches. Connerth, a 45-year-old divemaster, continues to compete in the challenge annually, placing third last year and fourth in 2022. “I’m a very competitive person, and I think it’s a great opportunity to motivate the diving community in eradicating the invasive lionfish,” he says.

It is believed that the lionfish, which is native to the Indo-Pacific, ended up in our area because people released pet lionfish into the wild here. “It was humans who brought the invasive lionfish to this part of the world, and I feel the need to do everything I can to right that wrong before they wipe out our native species,” Connerth says. “I would like to preserve our natural environment for future generations to enjoy as I have.”

Good Eats!

Lionfish meat can be safely consumed once the venomous spines are removed. Chef Beau Grant serves lionfish to passengers aboard Food Yacht in Jupiter and describes their flavor as mild and “non-fishy.” Says Grant: “Our most popular way to cook lionfish is panko-crusted, lightly fried, and topped with a Thai sweet chili garlic sauce. It pairs well with fruits, salad, and white wines with bright flavors. Lionfish easily takes on the flavor of any ingredient you cook it with, making it an ideal fish for multiple flavor profiles and food cultures.”

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