LIONFISH...LIONFISH CARIBBEAN SEAS Lionfish is the common name given to two species of the...
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LIONFISH CARIBBEAN SEAS Lionfish is the common name given to two species of the Scorpaenidae family, very similar to each other, namely red lionfish (Pterois volitans) and fire devilfish (Pterois miles), originating in the Indo-Pacific, which have invaded reef ecosystems in the Western Atlantic Ocean. They have a venomous system in the fins, consisting of 13 spines, 2 elongated and separated anal spines, and 2 pelvic spines, which present glands that secrete a neurotoxin. Due to its voracity and rapid expansion, lionfish are putting in danger many reef ecosystems in the Caribbean area, affecting several native fish populations whose fries are born and grow on the reefs, and not recognizing it as a predator, do not defend themselves against their attack. Since the appearance of the lionfish in the Americas, several countries have made efforts to control this invasive species that voraciously depletes marine biodiversity without any natural control, generating multiple negative impacts on marine ecosystems. Some promising results are already being seen and Slow Fish Caribe aims to connect similar initiatives in different countries like Colombia, Costa Rica and Barbados. 1 1 and 3. Pterois is a genus of venomous marine fish, commonly named as lionfish. 2. The coral reef of the Indo-Pacific Ocean, the native area of the lionfish. 4. The map shows the massive increase of the lionfish population since its first appearance in 1985 in Florida. In 2010 it was already an established species along the U.S. Atlantic coast, Bermuda, Gulf of Mexico and the entire Carribean area. 5. Many national plans have been studied in order to control and manage the lionfish increasing population by setting a captures strategy, thus safeguarding the marine ecosystem. 6 and 7. An essential element of these management and control strategies has being the promotion of the lionfish’s consume. Starting with many chefs’ support, the local gastronomy adapted itself including this new species in restaurants’ menus and promoting its tasty meat as a delicacy. 8. A baked lionfish: promoting the consumption of this species will help to take under control its rapid proliferation. 9. Many other activities have been supported for an integrated management of the lionfish: fishing and diving competitions, gastronomic festivals and also jewelry and art classes with the fish discards. Photos © Corporación para el Desarrollo Sostenible del Archipiélago de San Andrés, Providencia y Santa Catalina – CORALINA; Nikola Joanne Simpson. Text source: Protocolo para la captura, extracción y disposición final del pez león en el Caribe Costarricense. Fundación Trichechus, Asociación de Pescadores Artesanales del Caribe Sur. 2 3 8 6 5 7 9 4 This poster has been produced with the assistance of the European Union. The contents of this poster are the sole responsibility of Slow Food and can in no way be taken to reflect the views of the European Union. THIS PROJECT IS FUNDED BY THE EUROPEAN UNION
Transcript of LIONFISH...LIONFISH CARIBBEAN SEAS Lionfish is the common name given to two species of the...
LIONFISH CARIBBEAN SEAS
Lionfish is the common name given to two species of the Scorpaenidae family, very similar to each other, namely red lionfish (Pterois volitans) and fire devilfish (Pterois miles), originating in the Indo-Pacific, which have invaded reef ecosystems in the Western Atlantic Ocean. They have a venomous system in the fins, consisting of 13 spines, 2 elongated and separated anal spines, and 2 pelvic spines, which present glands that secrete a neurotoxin. Due to its voracity and rapid expansion, lionfish are putting in danger many reef ecosystems in the Caribbean area, affecting several native fish populations whose fries are born and grow on the reefs, and not recognizing it as a predator, do not defend themselves against their attack. Since the appearance of the lionfish in the Americas, several countries have made efforts to control this invasive species that voraciously depletes marine biodiversity without any natural control, generating multiple negative impacts on marine ecosystems. Some promising results are already being seen and Slow Fish Caribe aims to connect similar initiatives in different countries like Colombia, Costa Rica and Barbados.
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1 and 3. Pterois is a genus of venomous marine fish, commonly named as lionfish.
2. The coral reef of the Indo-Pacific Ocean, the native area of the lionfish.
4. The map shows the massive increase of the lionfish population since its first appearance in 1985 in Florida. In 2010 it was already an established species along the U.S. Atlantic coast, Bermuda, Gulf of Mexico and the entire Carribean area.
5. Many national plans have been studied in order to control and manage the lionfish increasing population by setting a captures strategy, thus safeguarding the marine ecosystem.
6 and 7. An essential element of these management and control strategies has being the promotion of the lionfish’s consume. Starting with many chefs’ support, the local gastronomy adapted itself including this new species in restaurants’ menus and promoting its tasty
meat as a delicacy.8. A baked lionfish: promoting the consumption of
this species will help to take under control its rapid proliferation.
9. Many other activities have been supported for an integrated management of the lionfish: fishing and diving competitions, gastronomic festivals and also jewelry and art classes with the fish discards.
Phot
os ©
Cor
pora
ción
par
a el
Des
arro
llo S
oste
nibl
e de
l Arc
hipi
élag
o de
San
And
rés,
Pro
vide
ncia
y S
anta
Cat
alin
a –
CORA
LIN
A; N
ikol
a Jo
anne
Sim
pson
. Te
xt s
ourc
e: P
roto
colo
par
a la
cap
tura
, ext
racc
ión
y di
spos
ició
n fin
al d
el p
ez le
ón e
n el
Car
ibe
Cost
arric
ense
. Fun
daci
ón T
rich
echu
s, A
soci
ació
n de
Pes
cado
res
Arte
sana
les
del C
arib
e Su
r.
2
3
8
6
5
79
4 Th
is p
oste
r ha
s be
en p
rodu
ced
with
the
assi
stan
ce o
f the
Eur
opea
n U
nion
. The
con
tent
s of
this
pos
ter
are
the
sole
re
spon
sibi
lity
of S
low
Foo
d an
d ca
n in
no
way
be
take
n to
refl
ect t
he v
iew
s of
the
Euro
pean
Uni
on.
this project is funded
by the european union
