Local Lionfish Being Examined by Researchers from Wageningen University
The St. Maarten Nature Foundation announces that due to the positive response it will be extending its 2013 Lionfish Derby to finish on Friday the 13th of December. "We have been receiving such a positive response from especially the fishing community that we have decided to extend the lionfish derby. As of this weekend we have received almost 1000 lionfish from those taking part in the derby and we hope that number will grow," read a Nature Foundation Release
Caption: lionfish being examined and a lionfish with a juvenile reef fish in its stomach
The Lionfish that are being caught are also being examined by researchers from the University of Wageningen in the Netherlands in order to better understand the Lionfish invasion and to better respond to the damaging species. Researchers are studying the lionfish DNA and the distribution of the species. St. Maarten is taking part as a part of a Dutch Caribbean initiative to combat the Lionfish invasion.
Lionfish are an invasive venomous fish that can inflict a painful and sometimes fatal sting. Lionfish are usually found in the Indian and Pacific Oceans but were introduced into the Atlantic thru the aquarium trade. Native fish species do not recognize the Lionfish as a threat so they are unable to defend themselves against it. In other places were lionfish were spotted there are hardly any snappers and grouper left because those are the type of fish the lionfish likes to eat.
The Nature Foundation encourages fishermen, divers and all those who may want to take part in the 2013 Lionfish Derby to register via email at manager@naturefoundationsxm.org or admin@naturefoundationsxm.org or by calling 5444267 during business hours.