Any thoughts on why there isn’t a bounty on lionfish

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lowlysubaruguy

Contributor
Messages
171
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Location
The Gorge
# of dives
100 - 199
here in Washington and Oregon we have a native species that’s responsible for low Salmon counts much like what the lion fish are doing everywhere there not supposed to be.

We have a bounty and there’s even rewards for certain numbers collected and times. Im curious why there isn’t anything like this given the possible long term damages that may occur.

Has anyone heard anything about something like this being proposed.
 
here in Washington and Oregon we have a native species that’s responsible for low Salmon counts much like what the lion fish are doing everywhere there not supposed to be.

We have a bounty and there’s even rewards for certain numbers collected and times. Im curious why there isn’t anything like this given the possible long term damages that may occur.

Has anyone heard anything about something like this being proposed.

I'm curious too.

If I had to guess I suspect it is because of the hazards involved with harvesting lionfish.

Or perhaps those who might offer a bounty have read about the original "cobra effect" and learned from it.

https://m.ranker.com/list/cobra-effect-unintended-consequences/jacob-shelton
 
Yes, restaurants. By encouraging the eating of Pez Leon they are being actively hunted for sale in various locations. In Cozumel Lionfish has become a prized item in the local restaurants and two years ago due to the limited supply the cost to the restaurants was three times as much as snapper or grouper. Now it is getting difficult to find them at all (a good thing). I also heard that Whole Foods is buying them commercially on the US east and gulf coasts, here is an example of some of their advertising:
Take a Bite out of Lionfish
 
In Florida, unlike most commercial fishing operations that are required to have licenses, permits, quota, regulations, inspections, specific gear, etc., anyone can sell lionfish by purchasing a $50 saltwater products license and of course having a fishing license.

At $5-6 per pound you could make some money... that is if you can dive deep enough where most of the big colonies are. Most near shore reefs will have a few scattered here or there as divers continuously take them out.
 
There are also a number of programs to help keep the species in check.

Lionfish Recreational Regulations

Also, every year we are hearing more and more reports of lionfish in the bellies of groupers and jacks. It's a matter of time before the environment finds an equilibrium.
 
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Because

The culling of them by hunters will not work.
 
Because

The culling of them by hunters will not work.

What won't work? You have to define a goal in order to establish if a plan will or won't work. I don't think anyone is under the illusion that lionfish will ever be fully eradicated from this part of the world, but they've been whacked pretty good by spearfisherman. To the point there is a good chance you may not see one on a dive. So if the goal is to keep their populations in check, we're doing a pretty damn good job.

And again, at least in Florida we are doing something. Contests. Derbies. Bounties. Challenges. Commercializing. You name it.

Lionfish Challenge
 
What won't work? You have to define a goal in order to establish if a plan will or won't work. I don't think anyone is under the illusion that lionfish will ever be fully eradicated from this part of the world, but they've been whacked pretty good by spearfisherman. To the point there is a good chance you may not see one on a dive. So if the goal is to keep their populations in check, we're doing a pretty damn good job.

And again, at least in Florida we are doing something. Contests. Derbies. Bounties. Challenges. Commercializing. You name it.

Lionfish Challenge

I name it ineffective, as Doc correctly states. Lionfish are prodigiously fecund ... they mature to reproductive capability in less than a year, and females can lay up to 2 million eggs per year. There simply aren't enough spearfishing divers around to do much to keep them in check. And even if there were, do you think for a moment that these fish confine themselves to areas that are accessible to divers?

You might as well be bailing a sinking ship with a teaspoon ... sure, you're doing something ... but it won't keep the ship from sinking.

... Bob (Grateful Diver)
 
here in Washington and Oregon we have a native species that’s responsible for low Salmon counts much like what the lion fish are doing everywhere there not supposed to be.

We have a bounty and there’s even rewards for certain numbers collected and times. Im curious why there isn’t anything like this given the possible long term damages that may occur.

Has anyone heard anything about something like this being proposed.

Curious ... what native species are you referring to?

... Bob (Grateful Diver)
 
https://www.shearwater.com/products/swift/

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