Lionfish are trespassers and are like the locusts are to plant life. They are:

1) Voracious predators being shown to eat native fish and crustaceans in large quantities, including both ecologically and economically important species like grunts, snapper, grouper, and cleaner shrimp

2) Not known to have any native predators


3) Equipped with venomous dorsal, ventral and anal spines, which deter predators and can cause painful wounds to humans

4) Capable of reproducing year-round with unique reproduction mechanisms not commonly found in native fishes (females can reproduce every 4 days!

5) Relatively resistant to parasites, giving them another advantage over native species

6) Fast in their growth, able to outgrow native species with whom they compete for food and space

These non-native marine fishes pose a major threat to the Cayman Islands marine fisheries, habitats, and eco-system function.

It is well established that red lionfish will stand their ground when harassed and, when threatened, will arch their backs, pointing their dorsal spines at the aggressor, and swim forward rapidly in order to inflict a sting. Poisoning of the hand from the venomous sting has been the most common injury. It should also be stressed that serious wounds have also resulted from the careless handling of recently dead specimens. The sting of the red lionfish causes intense pain immediately and leads to several hours of extreme pain, depending upon the amount of venom received. Other symptoms of the sting may include swelling, redness, bleeding, nausea, numbness, joint pain, anxiety, headache, disorientation, dizziness, nausea, paralysis, and convulsions.

No one really knows how lionfish got into the Caribbean. One theory says they escaped from a Florida aquarium during a hurricane about 10 years ago. Others believe that tropical fish keepers released their pets into the sea when they grew too large to keep at home.

It does not really matter how they got here, but since 1992 they have spread from Florida up the east coast of the United States as far north as Long Island in New York.

About six years ago they crossed the western Atlantic to Bermuda and then drifted south to Bahamas, Jamaica and Cuba.

In 2008 the first lionfish was spotted at Bloody Bay on Little Cayman.

One year later there were hundreds, and now thousands. And they have now gone south as far as Venezuela.

“This isn’t just an invasion,” explained Dr Carrie Manfrino, Research Director at the Central Caribbean Marine Institute.

“This is an explosion. No invasive tropical fish species has ever survived so successfully outside its own home ecosystem like this.”

Despite attempts to have lionfish appear on the menus of our local restaurants, there has not been enough demand, even though people who have eaten them say they taste delicious.

Regular diving expeditions to cull lionfish have been authorised by Cayman Islands Department of the Environment in collaboration with the Institute. But no one is sure anyone can catch enough lionfish to make a difference.

However, we have our own Wyatt Earp – Ezzard Miller. The North Side independent MLA is asking government to introduce a bounty on lionfish. Mr. Miller has filed a private member’s motion for the next meeting of the Legislative Assembly proposing a $5 bounty on each one of them.

The idea is to encourage those tempted to take other marine life out of season to go after the legal catch instead.

“Everyone agrees that the fish is a significant problem and this proposal will not only help address the environmental issues, it will encourage those who sometimes take conch and lobster out of season in order to make ends meet, to go for a legal catch instead,” he said.

If the motion is passed we can all be sworn in as deputies. Lionfish – your days in our waters could be numbered.

I hope so.