When Hurricane Andrew ripped through Miami 20 years ago, six breeding pairs of lionfish escaped from a destroyed aquarium. Though a small and insignificant aspect of the disaster at the time, the event has evolved into a serious ecological issue.
Lionfish have colonised large swaths of the marine world, from Rhode Island all the way to Venezuela, causing particular damage to Caribbean reefs by feeding off the native species that keep the build-up of algae in check.
Now it’s possible to help reverse the population explosion and help protect these reefs. Adventurous philanthropists can join a PADI-certified Lionfish Hunter Course, where divers learn to play a role controlling the lionfish population.
The one-day course on the Caribbean island of Bonaire is suitable for anyone with a basic PADI Open Water qualification. It starts out with a brief classroom session where divers learn some history and science, before being introduced to the not-so-imaginatively named Eliminate Lionfish Tool to spear the fish with minimum impact on the surrounding reef.
A lionfish’s spikes are poisonous, and if a diver gets “spiked”, they can suffer delirium, breathing difficulties and, in extreme cases, paralysis. Thankfully, participants are schooled in how to avoid such a dangerous situation.
Once suitably oriented, divers get two dives to first fine-tune their spearing skills and then participate in a guided hunting trip.
Beyond the goal of environmental aid, anyone skilful enough to catch a lionfish can bring back it back and have it cooked by a Buddy Dive chef. Word is, lionfish is quite the gourmet delicacy.
Written by insider city guide series Hg2 | A Hedonist’s guide to…
(Image: Willy Volk)
