Invasive lionfish arrive in Barbados

| 04/01/2012

lionfish (225x300).jpg(Caribbean Journal): Barbados is urging seafarers to report any sightings of the invasive lionfish species, which has been spreading across the Caribbean, from Jamaica to Cayman. The recent capture of a specimen off the west coast of Barbados was the first confirmed sighting of the fish in the country, and what could mark a slow increase in their numbers of the coming months, according to the Fisheries Division. The country is now implementing the second phase of the Lionfish Response Plan, which was drafted by the Natural Heritage Department earlier this year in collaboration with several other agencies, including the University of the West Indies.

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  1. anonymous says:

    Please send all Lionfish recipes to Barbados quickly. 

  2. Anonymous says:

    Interesting that Caribbean Journal is now attributing any regional problem to "Jamaica" and "Cayman", rather than to the DNA origination in Florida!

  3. Kosher Nostra says:

    I've eaten these fish before.  They are very nice fish.  Underwater they are Beautiful, but dangerous and out of the water (and dead), they are ugly and very tasty!   

    Is there anyone here in Cayman Islands how offer discount to do a diving program (open water)?  I'd really like to be a part of the culling program as would at least another 5 friends of  mine.  If we can find an affordable program and be licensed by DOE, we sure can help Robert Walton and his Cully's over on the Brac and in Little Cayman…of course Grand as well.

    • Anonymous says:

      Hunt them on snorkel. On Grand Cayman there are a constant stream of fish in the sounds and I imagine its the same on the Sister Islands as well. Just look for places with ledges (including turtle grass holes) or docks or rubble or rock shorelines or bottoms or coral heads or the list goes on. Many places don't have any but when you find a spot they like they tend to keep comeing back there even if you cook, I mean cull, them regularly.

  4. Anonymous says:

    A full Caribbean initiative needs to be implemented immediately with a long term control strategy for the future. Let’s hope our governments can come together with a collective solution before our reefs are decimated.

    • Anonymus says:

      What 'collective government solution'? There's nothing that can be done except catch as many as possible. And thats an individual-driven solution. What are you doing about it? (I've got my licence, before you ask.)