Aware of the dangerous consequences lionfish could have on Barbados’ marine life, the Centre for Resource Management and Environmental Studies (CERMES) is gathering valuable data in preparation for the fight against this harmful predator.
Given sightings of the invasive species across the Caribbean over the past decade – and finally in local waters late last year – CERMES, as part of the national response team on this issue, is undertaking research to examine the impact of lionfish on reefs.
“We are interested in the impact of lionfish on key reef herbivores. Our primary fear is that lionfish will eat the herbivores which are keeping reefs clean. They would damage the natural eco-system by replacing local fish.
“We’re also concerned about the possible economic impact on reef fishermen,” explained Dr. Hazel Oxenford, Professor of Marine Ecology and Fisheries at Cave Hill Campus.
Lionfish are native to the Indo-Pacific region but alien to the Caribbean and Atlantic, though related to the well-known stone/rock fish. Lionfish were first found off Florida in 1992 – reportedly having escaped from a smashed aquarium – and they have spread through the Gulf of Mexico to Central America and beyond, having been spotted in Bermuda, Belize, Costa Rica, Cuba, Jamaica, Panama, Puerto Rico and St. Maarten.
“They are highly reproductive and possess voracious appetites. Within this region, they are known to grow bigger than in their native environment. They eat the natural inhabitants of Barbados’ reefs and, since they have no natural enemies in the Caribbean, they can roam freely,” observed Dr. Oxenford, adding that their “long, toxic spines are a defensive mechanism”.
CERMES, she disclosed, is currently collecting “baseline or before” data and this process will be repeated in a few years when lionfish become more prevalent. Baseline data comprises three surveys every four months: January (off season), June (main season) and September. The institution is also documenting information from fishermen regarding the volume of their catches now. This will later be compared to the volume of catches when lionfish are in abundance.
“We’ve had several meetings with diver fishers and recreational divers to inform them that lionfish are coming and that CERMES wants to monitor them when they come. So we’re enlisting their help as much as possible in this respect because they are the ones who are constantly out in the water and are most likely to come into contact with lionfish,” said The University of the West Indies’ (UWI) professor.
The second phase of this government-sponsored research project will measure the grazing rate of current herbivores. CERMES is also operating a hotline (824-8361) to accept calls about lionfish sightings and hosting a Facebook page with updates on the advent of lionfish in Barbados and related information.
As part of the Biodiversity Working Group under the Natural Heritage Department, CERMES – which works closely with the Coastal Zone Management Unit and the Fisheries Division – drafted a lionfish response plan a year ago, aspects of which are already being implemented by various stakeholders. In preparation for its research role, CERMES sent two representatives to a recent lionfish training workshop in Mexico. In February 2011, they also collaborated on a public information brochure on lionfish: what they are, what they look like, what to do if you get stung, and so on.
In the latter instance, Dr. Oxenford assured us that lionfish stings are “rarely life-threatening” though painful.
“Their venomous spines make them hard to handle and there’s a danger that fishermen could get stung. They are also dangerous to unsuspecting swimmers. However, a sting is usually just painful. The immediate remedy is to put one’s hand – as it’s often the hand/arm that gets stung – in hot water, as hot as one can bear it, and to take some pain killers. There are rare cases of allergic reactions in which case one should seek medical attention.”