At the beginning of the invasion there were some well-meaning people and also some intentionally ignorant fools running around saying that we should be trying to capture the fish and relocate them instead of killing them on sight.
Mostly they were people who know nothing about the ocean, biology in particular, and well meaning but close minded German tourists who never heard of the Internet at a minimum, or simply don't know how to read (personal experience).
Given that these little bastages breed down to 300', and can inhabit the ocean down to 1000', I have only heard from the mentally ill, and intentionally stupid as of late on the Lionfish menace, that we should be trying to capture the lovely little darlings.
I will certainly say that the behavior of sharks and other apex predators off of South East Florida has changed due to the lionfish being taken by divers and such.
I started diving in 1977, and we really didn't see very many sharks until the Lions came along and we started whacking them about 6 years ago.
This happens when you might kill over 40 Lions on a single tank and carry them with you.
I certainly never had to punch on nurse shark on the head before this event, in order to get them away from me.
As far as to what divers, non divers, German tourists, Hindus, and other people that would prefer not to see animals killed,
I could care damn less.
UNLESS.....they are Marine Biologists or other science professionals.
And right now EVERY SINGLE LEGITIMATE BIOLOGIST that has studied Lionfish issue in the Atlantic Basin says cull, kill, collapse, eat, and then repeat.
Chug
Is both happy and sad to say that inside 100' the little tasty SOB's are getting VERY difficult to find from Jupiter to Key Weird.
---------- Post added November 1st, 2015 at 04:20 PM ----------
WHOA!!
That sucks out loud DD.
I have been zapped well over 25 times at this point, and I am now completely immune at this point.
Even if I take a serious hit, it stings for thirty seconds, it itches for three minutes, and then.....
it is gone.
I have never had anything like those effects manifest.
Chug
Also immune to poison ivy, poison oak, poison sumac, and Poisonwood,
but deathly allergic to F^k!#@ chiggers.
---------- Post added November 1st, 2015 at 04:24 PM ----------
A bad thing? No. Worthwhile? No. We will never have an effect on the lionfish population. We just don't dive enough where they are.
Respectlfully Frank,
I completely disagree with the totality of your statement.
I certainly agree with a large portion of your statement.
Just look at the body count that we are getting in the line fish tournaments off of Broward and Palm Beach counties. The numbers "per team" are one third, and one half, of what they were just three and four years ago.
Here locally where I live we are giving our reefs, and their prey fish some breathing room.
Of course Frank,
you will not let me come on your boat and prove otherwise,
so you're just going to have to take my word for it.
*snicker*
Chug
Likes Key Weird for only a few days at a time.