[Coral-List] mutton snapper eats lionfish in Roatan

Melanie McField mcfield at healthyreefs.org
Fri Jan 21 16:13:06 EST 2011


Todd et al,

 I guess I could have given more background. We have been getting many
reports over the last six months (or more) of lionfish being eaten by
groupers and morays from many different locations (after being speared and
with no apparent effect on the fish that ate it). This snapper stayed with
us for another 15-20mins and appeared fine.  Many of these fish that have
been eating the lionfish are known residents to the dive guides and they are
apparently still out on their reef after weeks/months of eating lionfish
(from reports we have received - and yes it's all anecdotal). But this was
the first time a mutton snapper is known to eat one. So now we know its
possible and for a not so large one. So I think his gives some hope.  I
think that if the local predators can come to think of lionfish as potential
food, then they can figure out how to eat them live... the lionfish are
sitting out in the open and are unafraid.  Anyway, the groupers and snappers
of the Indopacific seem to handle their consumption - so to me it seems
worth testing the feasibility. I suppose it is meddling with nature but so
was their (accidental) introduction in the Caribbean. There just aren't
enough human hunters to keep populations in check - the fish need to learn
to prey upon them too. The Cayman teams report that 'training' them to eat
speared fish has lead to some predation on live lionfish. Maybe someone in
Cayman can get lucky and video that one!    Anyway, this is all just my
opinion - I think the jury is still out.

Melanie
On Fri, Jan 21, 2011 at 2:46 PM, Todd Barber <reefball at reefball.com> wrote:

> Dear Melanie,
>
> It is not a good idea to feed local fish speared lionfish.  First and
> foremost, you have no idea if the fish that eats the lionfish is going
> to catch a barb internally and end up dieing from the toxic reaction
> at a later point.  Secondly, teaching any wild animal to follow
> spearfishermen to obtain a meal is asking for future trouble (both to
> humans and for the wild fish that becomes dependent on humans for
> food).
>
> A much better practice is to remove the spines (with surgical snips)
> and carry the lionfish  back out of the water.
>
> Thanks,
>
> Todd R Barber
> Chairman, Reef Ball Foundation
> 3305 Edwards Court
> Greenville, NC 27858
> 252-353-9094 (Direct)
> 941-720-7549 (Cell & Goggle Voice)
> toddbarber Skype
>
> www,reefball.org (Reef Ball Foundation)
> www.artificialreefs.org (Designed Artificial Reefs)
> www.reefbeach.com (Reefs for Beach Erosion)
> www.eternalreefs.com (Memorial Reefs)
> www.reefball.com (Reef Ball Foundation)
>
>
>
>
> On Fri, Jan 21, 2011 at 2:54 PM, Melanie McField
> <mcfield at healthyreefs.org> wrote:
> >  Dear Colleagues,
> >
> > Last week I had an amazing dive in Roatan during which a nassau grouper
> and
> > mutton snapper closely followed our fearless lionfish hunter - and the
> > mutton snapper actually ended up eating the lionfish (after it was
> speared
> > and offered).  I think this record will increase the number of species
> that
> > are confirmed to consume it.  The video is on Youtube and our new
> facebook
> > site and will soon be on our website (www.healthyreefs.org).  Feel free
> to
> > use the video as needed. The summary information is detailed below the
> > links.
> >
> > See the video at:
> > http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P3oGVWvt7E0
> >
> > We also have it on on facebook and are starting a new suite of activities
> on
> > facebook... so 'friend' us to keep informed about marine conservation
> > throughout the MAR.
> >
> > This is the link
> >
> http://www.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=104509826290815&saved#!/video/video.php?v=104509826290815&comments
> >
> >
> > Mutton Snapper recorded eating a lionfish
> >
> > January 12, 2011 West End Wall, Roatan, Honduras
> >
> > Location:  16.26905 N   86.60288 W    Depth: 80 ft
> >
> > In the linked video you can see licensed lionfish hunter and Healthy
> Reefs
> > Coordinator in Honduras, Ian Drysdale, feed  a  speared (and dead)
> lionfish
> > to a mutton snapper, as an interested nassau grouper looks on.  The video
> > was taken by Melanie McField, Director of the Healthy Reefs Initiate.
> Still
> > photos were taken by Marisol Rueda, Healthy Reefs Coordinator in Mexico.
> >  The
> > incident occurred about 15 minutes into the dive. The Nassau grouper
>  began
> > following Ian about 5-10 minutes into the dive and the mutton snapper
> joined
> > along shortly after. Both fish seemed particularly interested in
> following
> > Ian and watching the spear keenly.  Spearfishing is banned in HN and the
> > fish show no fear of the spear or the divers in general.  In response to
> the
> > lionfish problem authorities are allowing managers like the Roatan Marine
> > Park to license certain trained individuals to use special lionfish
> spears
> > to remove lionfish from the reef inside and outside the Roatan marine
> park.
> >  Both fish were approximately 30-40cm length. Dive guides from Roatan
> also
> > report that the following species have been seen consuming speared
> lionfish:
> > groupers (several species), snappers (including mutton and yellowtail)
> > spotted and green morays, and grey reef sharks.  Some plan to attempt to
> > train the fish to consume live lionfish, as has been reported from
> Cayman.
> > --
> > Melanie McField, PhD
> > Director, Healthy Reefs for Healthy People Initiative, Smithsonian
> > Institution
> > 1755 Coney Dr, Belize City, Belize, Central America
> > tel 501-223-4898   cell 501-610-4899
> > email: mcfield at healthyreefs.org  www.healthyreefs.org
> >
> > Join the International Society for Reef Studies
> > www.fit.edu/isrs/
>  > _______________________________________________
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> > Coral-List at coral.aoml.noaa.gov
> > http://coral.aoml.noaa.gov/mailman/listinfo/coral-list
> >
> >
> >
>



-- 
Melanie McField, PhD
Director, Healthy Reefs for Healthy People Initiative, Smithsonian
Institution
1755 Coney Dr, Belize City, Belize, Central America
tel 501-223-4898   cell 501-610-4899
email: mcfield at healthyreefs.org  www.healthyreefs.org

Join the International Society for Reef Studies
www.fit.edu/isrs/



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