Jamaica joins other Caribbean countries who’ve decided that the best way to combat the lionfish invasion is to eat the invader:
The Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries will shortly embark on an aggressive public awareness campaign to encourage the catching and consumption of lionsfish.
A press release from the Ministry of Agriculture says that the lionfish species through a population explosion are devastating the Jamaican reefs. The fish the release said is drastically reducing the abundance of coral reef fishes and leaving behind a devastated ecosystem.
…
Given the threat to the marine resources, fisherfolk and tourism industry, the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries will shortly embark on an aggressive public education campaign to curb the emerging threat of the lionfish and to encourage local fisher folk to catch and consume them.
This constitutes an offical endorsement of a strategy that has been employed for some months by the White River Fisherman’s Cooperative (See also):
The good news is that lionfish are edible if those who catch and clean them are careful to avoid the spines. Lionfish meat has long been considered a delicacy in the Indio-Pacific and is even rumored to provide a man with exceptional vitality and stamina. Members of the White River Fisherman’s Cooperative have been pioneering the utilization of lionfish as food in Jamaica as a way to control their rapid spread and destructive impact on native fishes. During the 11 December cookout, the fishermen handled, cleaned and cooked approximately 35 lionfish for the attendees. The fish was prepared steamed, fried, and in soup.
Early reports of lionfish in Jamaican waters date from 2008, and in 2009 it was reported that there had been a significant increase in lionfish sightings on the island’s north coast.
Previously on Green Antilles: Lionfish invade the Caribbean, UK Caribbean territories get funds for the fight against lionfish, New lionfish capture device launched in the Bahamas, Belize lionfish project.
[Photo: carfull53 ]
