[Coral-List] Lion fish question
Bill Allison
allison.billiam at gmail.com
Tue Apr 23 08:54:50 EDT 2013
I trust there are experiments or quasi-experiments being implemented to
test the efficacy of lionfish removal in the medium to long run(?)
On Mon, Apr 22, 2013 at 4:03 PM, Steve Mussman <sealab at earthlink.net> wrote:
>
> Lad,
> I have concernedly read several of the papers that have been published
> on
> the subject and donât disagree with conclusions indicating that
> lionfish are
> affecting the structure and function of invaded marine ecosystems and
> that
> predation by lionfish is having negative effects on native reef fish
> communities. I also find it logical to assume that lionfish mortality is
> highest in the egg, larval and juvenile stages as it is with most other
> species. Therefore, Bruceâs comments that attention needs to be focused
> on
> all aspects of the life cycle when it comes to population control is
> well
> received. Whether predation of adult lionfish could contribute further
> to
> their control if healthy populations of larger fish existed has yet to
> be
> determined and is likely far more difficult to ascertain. But I would
> think
> that populations of both planktivores and top level predators look
> depauperate when contrasting Indo-Pacific reefs to areas of the Western
> Atlantic, Caribbean and the Gulf of Mexico.
> I did not mean to suggest that divers are misguided in their attempts to
> control lionfish populations. These efforts can be helpful to some
> extent if
> carried out responsibly. At the same time I would hasten to suggest that
> significant damage to coral reefs can occur if lionfish hunting is
> over-hyped. Iâve seen too many over-zealous divers damage reefs in
> pursuit
> of their prey during the highly regulated lobster season. Imagine the
> carnage if no oversight or limitations existed. As to the overall
> effectiveness of current strategies to minimize impact and allow for the
> recovery of native reef fish populations, that remains to be seen, but
> there
> is reason for hesitancy. For one thing, lionfish are known to inhabit
> zones
> well beyond the depth limits of the sport diving community.
> Where we agree is on the need to focus on the assumption that we should
> be
> advocating a more comprehensive approach. I certainly support all
> efforts by
> the diving industry to address the various threats to marine ecosystems
> and
> promote conservation, but I still find it troubling that this particular
> threat is so enthusiastically embraced while other, perhaps even more
> prominent issues are met with indifference. {Green et al} may have made
> an
> effective argument for lionfish controls, but think of the multitude of
> papers {along with the ICRS consensus statement} drawing attention to
> the
> threats that climate change holds for coral reefs that this same
> industry
> conspicuously chooses to ignore.
> Regards,
> Steve
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