Saving the World's Coral Reefs

Red lionfish—attractively striped but heavily armed with poisonous quills—were the focus of a fishing derby and cook-off sponsored by the Bay Islands Conservation Association (BICA), Utila Chapter, in Honduras in late November. Native to the West Pacific and Indian Oceans, and Red Sea, red lionfish (Pterois volitans) were introduced into Caribbean waters about twenty years ago and have flourished there, outcompeting—and eating—native species.

CORAL helped plan and publicize the derby, in which twenty-two teams of divers participated. Over 350 lionfish were caught, says CORAL Field Representative Pamela Ortega, who helped fillet the fish for the cook-off on November 30. A few days later, CORAL and BICA staffed a booth at the Utila Food Festival, handing out responsible seafood guides and selling lionfish dishes. Says Pamela, “They have white flesh and a delicate flavor. They’re especially delicious in ceviche!"

This effort is part of a larger strategy employed within all of our Caribbean project sites to reduce these invasive predators by establishing a market demand for them. Last summer, our team presented a poster at the International Coral Reef Symposium on our work.