The invasion of lionfish in the Caribbean is causing grave concern because of its deleterious impacts on coral reef ecosystems. Through research, management scenarios have shown that if all adult lionfish were exploitable it would in theory be possible to fish lionfish to very low population levels, but fishing pressure will have to be maintained, or the lionfish will recover. If the largest individuals are un-exploitable it will be much more difficult to control lionfish populations. In Saint Kitts and Nevis, fish stocks are rapidly being depleted by this very destructive "Lionfish" not native to our area. Lionfish populations are mushrooming out of proportion and will continue growing until they cannot be eliminated using conventional methods. The fishermen are finding their fishing traps empty, which is becoming an economic concern.
The CATS2 Project supports the Nevis fishing communities and other stakeholders to introduce and maintain a continued fishing of lionfish in the coastal waters of Nevis. The Nevis Lionfish Control Project was implemented between late-2014 and April 2015 to build awareness, knowledge and skills (lionfish preparation) with key fishery stakeholders. The data, information and capacity produced from this project will contribute to the curbing of the lionfish population in the marine environment of St. Kitts and Nevis.
On December 3, 2014 a launch and education/awareness workshop was convened at Gallows Bay which targeted Government Officials, educators, students, medical staff, NGO’s, dive operators, fisher folk, fishing officers and the general public to highlight the destructive matter of the lionfish to our marine life, current research and what practices are being done elsewhere with regards to the invasion of the lionfish.
At this event, the Executive Chef of the Nevis Schools Meals’ Programme conducted a training session on the cleaning, de-finning and filleting of lionfish culminting into the preparation of a lionfish ceviche for tasting by the general audience at the meeting.
The culminating event in this project was a Lionfish Hunt Competition on Sunday, March 29, 2015 at the Nevis Yacht Club on Oualie Beach. ‘Save Our Ocean, Eat Lionfish!’ Invited were the community to come and enjoy lionfish cooking and cleaning demonstrations, and sale of lionfish lunches, rice and peas, burgers and hot dogs and lots to drink. Invitation is extended to fishermen, hotel guests and staff, yacht owners and divers and tour operators to come on out and compete in our lionfish hunt.
Prizes to be won included most lionfish caught and biggest lionfish caught; most pounds of lionfish caught; smallest lionfish caught and the best hotel teams!
The Projecvt was implemented in partnership with the Nevis Historical and Conservation Society in collaboration with the Nevis Yacht Club and the Nevis Air and Seaport Authority.
Detailed outputs of the Lionfish Control Project can be downloaded here:
https://www.dropbox.com/sh/ja4e3jlo84rkfeb/AABIglkSZgiA33C6Y-fXF_sta?dl=0