Reefs.org Forums

[PeterIMA]

Now that Pacific lionfish have spread (and continue to spread) throughout the Atlantic, I thought RDO would be interested in what scientists have been discussing concerning how to deal with the problem.

The message below is taken from the NOAA Coral Reef List Server.

Hi all,

The correct link for the lionfish hunter website is http://lionfishhunter.blogspot.com/.

The article in Florida Sportsman did not contain any recipes for lionfish (it does have one for iguana stew!), but did discuss safe handling and preparation of the fish for cooking. I've talked with Chris Flook in Bermuda (ctflook@gov.bm) who is coordinating the lionfish removal effort there, and has also been working with local chefs to determine their willingness to serve lionfish. His response from the chefs has apparently been overwhelmingly positive--they are anxious to see commercial availability of lionfish for two reasons. First, it apparently is a great fish to work with--fillets are firm and mild, and take seasonings very well. Second, it makes them feel better to be able to serve an invasive rather than a possibly threatened fish like snapper or grouper. Lionfish can be filleted or cooked whole.

From the article (and from talking to Chris and reading info from REEF in the Bahamas)--lionfish are best caught with spear (Bermuda is using frog-gigging spears) or hand net (the type with clear plastic sides and a mesh bottom). Venomous spines are in the dorsal, anal and pelvic fins; in Bermuda, the diver hands off the spear (containing the lionfish) to a partner in the boat, who uses a propane torch to burn off those 3 fins. Other recommendations include cutting off the fins with tin snips or a similar cutting tool (as opposed to burning). Heat denatures the venom; cutting off the fins removes the spines and thus the chance of getting "stuck." The article suggests using graphite gloves; when I asked Chris what type he recommeded, he laughed and said that even gloves that claim to be impenetrable by a knife blade have a disclaimer that they are not puncture-proof, so it sounds like being careful is your best bet!

There are a number of videos on YouTube related to cooking lionfish and to the lionfish removal efforts in both Bermuda and the Bahamas.

My personal hope is that the trend of eating lionfish will catch on in the southeastern US....if we can figure out a feasible way of collecting them from our deeper reefs.

Maia

Maia McGuire, PhD
Florida Sea Grant Extension Agent
150 Sawgrass Road
Bunnell, FL 32110

[Checker]

Fabulous way to deal with them

[JT]

Now, I've eaten Naso tang and Parrotfish but a Lion is something I've never even remotely considered. Interesting.

[Snailman]

That has to be a very interesting looking dish.

[mwp]

I frankly wouldn't have thought of this, although I continue to wonder why we're not seeing the Florida collectors make a point of collecting them at EVERY CHANCE they get to reduce their numbers. Just seems to make sense to do that - collect 'em and ship 'em out up north...no doubt we import tons of Lionfish from the Indo-Pacific, why not remove them from our own back yards instead?

Sign me up for Lionfish Fillets!

[spawner]

Matt, the way the currents work they have just now started to make it full circle back to their home base. The Keys tend to be a fish bowl of sorts, hard to get any larvae in or out of there. So once they take up residence in the 200+ foot range of the keys you can expect to see a lot of self recruitment. Even if divers remove them they will be recruiting in from deepwater spawning stocks. Very few people dive the deep waters off the central FL coast line, so they might or might not be found in that area. The cold water upwelling the east coast gets every summer should keep them out of a lot the hard bottom areas on the central coast, it gets in to the lower 50s on the bottom in the summer time. I'm sure that they will collect/kill everything they see down in the Keys. Right now they are calling them in and reporting the findings. NOAA is very interested in getting as many samples as possible. There was some talk about only allowing Atlantic Lionfish to be imported to ensure the gene pool is not expanded and to provide an economic incentive to remove them. I would expect to see them listed as an injurious species soon. It will likely be several species or they will go through with an approved species list HR669ish. Bob has already shipped in he fair share.

[Snailman]

Matt, the way the currents work they have just now started to make it full circle back to their home base. The Keys tend to be a fish bowl of sorts, hard to get any larvae in or out of there. So once they take up residence in the 200+ foot range of the keys you can expect to see a lot of self recruitment. Even if divers remove them they will be recruiting in from deepwater spawning stocks. Very few people dive the deep waters off the central FL coast line, so they might or might not be found in that area. The cold water upwelling the east coast gets every summer should keep them out of a lot the hard bottom areas on the central coast, it gets in to the lower 50s on the bottom in the summer time. I'm sure that they will collect/kill everything they see down in the Keys. Right now they are calling them in and reporting the findings. NOAA is very interested in getting as many samples as possible. There was some talk about only allowing Atlantic Lionfish to be imported to ensure the gene pool is not expanded and to provide an economic incentive to remove them. I would expect to see them listed as an injurious species soon. It will likely be several species or they will go through with an approved species list HR669ish. Bob has already shipped in he fair share.

They have taken up permanent residence here in NC & VA. They are even reproducing.

[bobimport]

Add Miami to the list of home sweet home for the lion fish. A diver just brought me 2 adults from Haulover 30 feet........ I wonder what 250 foot range looks like.

[Snailman]

Whats retail price on a full grown lionfish these days?

[spawner]

Use to be about $45. But I never had that many people that wanted a full grown fish. They were always trying to get rid of them.

[Checker]

Use to be about $45. But I never had that many people that wanted a full grown fish. They were always trying to get rid of them.

Send them out here, there's plenty in Cali that want XXL adults.

[bobimport]

The party is over in the Caribbean. I just got back from the Dominican Rep. People are afraid to go into the water for stepping on lion fish. its hard to get a range on numbers but I put the counts in the thousands. I was offered hundred lots for export and will soon add them to my price list. LOL

[bobimport]

pp

[JustPhish]

Turks and Caicos in July. Two adults at 50 feet. Dive shop employees said they been eating them but they left these two alone.