Lionfish Derby: A Kill that Saves Coral Life

M.A. Dworkin

The only way to save the planet is to fight and win one battle at a time. No matter how small, no matter how inconsequential that battle may seem to the larger wars being fought. A person, an organization must commit to fight the good fight for the sake of the present world and for the future of the world. Such an organization that understands this type of creed are the dedicated people at the Caribbean Oceanic Restoration & Education Foundation (C.O.R.E.). They believe in doing whatever has to be done to protect the coral reefs that surround the islands of the USVI. One of those ways is through education. Another way is to kill all the Lionfish they can kill!    

The C.O.R.E. Foundation, by being one of the presenters of this weekend’s St. Croix Lionfish Derby that took place at Salt River Marina, along with  DPNR’s Division of Fish & Wildlife and Reef Responsible, winds up sponsoring an event that eliminates hundreds of Lionfish that threaten the very existence of the coral reefs and our marine environs.        

Lionfish are a problem. A huge problem. They have become the poster child for invasive species. Their notoriety as invaders is on par with zebra mussels, snakeheads and even Asian carp. They have no natural predators in the Atlantic and Caribbean. They invaded the Virgin Islands several years ago from their native habitats in the tropical waters of the South Pacific and Indian Oceans. 

They can grow to nineteen inches plus and reach maturity in one year. They reproduce year-round and are capable of laying 30,000 eggs every four days. They can eat prey up to 75% of their own body size and have venomous spines. 

Lionfish threaten the existence of coral reefs primarily by preying on native fish, including those that control algae growth, and by outcompeting native predators. This leads to a decline in reef health due to factors like unchecked algal growth and a disrupted food web. 

Lionfish are voracious predators with a wide diet, consuming a variety of small fish and crustaceans, including those that graze on algae. This disrupts the delicate balance of the reef ecosystem. By reducing the population of herbivorous fish that keep algae in check, Lionfish indirectly contribute to algal overgrowth. This can suffocate coral and reduce biodiversity. Lionfish also compete with native predatory fish for resources, potentially impacting the health of those populations and the overall food web. 

C.O.R.E. issues the caution that if you see a Lionfish while you are in the water: Stay Calm! It is okay to observe because they are not aggressive to humans. But Do Not Touch whether they are Dead or Alive. They have extremely sharp, venomous spines. Do Not Harass! Do Not attempt to remove! Leave the removal to the C.O.R.E. responders. But do look for landmarks as to where you spotted them both in and out of water. What beach or bay? How far from the beach and adjacent shoreline? How deep was the Lionfish? What time of the day? 

The strange fact about Lionfish is they are very good to eat. They are a delicious flaky, white fish that can be cooked in a variety of ways. They are also very good to craft delightful pieces of jewelry out of them, as Brittany Diorio of The Invasive Fin has built a small business on these colorful striped fish. She crafts wonderful rings, bracelets, key chains, and all sorts of jewelry from their venomous fins, which are obviously no longer venomous when she crafts them. But they are beautiful. Once dangerous with their sting. Now beautiful dangling from your wrist, off your ears, around your finger. Such is the irony of this destructive species. Great to eat. Great to customize. As long as they’re dead.

Matthew Sims serves as C.O.R.E.’s Educational Outreach Director and was onsite at the Lionfish Derby making sure everything was running smoothly. 

“We’re trying to promote the preservation of the waters of the U.S. Virgin Islands. We’re teaching the understanding of our natural resources so that we can protect them for future generations,” Mr. Sims told the St. Croix Times. 

Michael Rice was there, who just bought the legendary Michelle Pugh’s Dive Experience - PADI 5 Star Center, with his partners Justin Benson and Phil Giuliano and renamed the iconic dive shop: Blue Salt Divers.

“We came down from the Keys because we fell in love with St. Croix and we want to continue Michelle’s legacy and create a fresh image in the industry,” Mr. Rice said.  

So it was a beautiful day for the Lionfish Derby out at Salt River Marina, a stone’s throw away from where Columbus landed his three ships some 500 plus years ago as he stumbled about the Virgin Islands on his way to discovering the Americas.      

Who won the Lionfish Derby, well, it really didn’t matter, because HUMANITY was the real winner here. HUMANITY and THE QUALITY OF LIFE!

But the Official Winners were:

Most Lionfish Caught - 

     1st Place: Salty Locs 177

     2nd Place: Offshore Accounts 108

Largest -

     Wildlife Solutions - 38.9cm

     Smallest - Jose & Jose - 9.5cm

     There were a total of 483 Lionfish Caught at the Lionfish Derby

C.O.R.E. would like to thank their sponsors:

SCUBA…SALTY LOCS…SALT RIVER MARINA…ZOOKEEPER…INVASIVE FIN…BUSH TRIBE…CANE BAY PARTNERS…DPNR FISH & WILDLIFE…REEF RESPONSIBLE