[Coral-List] Lion Consumption

[Craig G. Lilyestrom]

The question I would pose to the group is if there is any reason to believe that Lionfish would be any more likely to be ciguatoxic than any other predatory reef fish in the same habitat. I'm curious about the emphasis on lionfish and ciguatera when literally thousands have been consumed in Puerto Rico (at least) with not a single reported case of ciguatera in the last 3 years. 

Sent from my iPhone 4s

On Jan 22, 2013, at 4:22 PM, Steve LeGore <slegore at mindspring.com> wrote:

> I still think it should be touted to tourists as an aphrodisiac.  It is, after all, the LIONfish, and just look at that plumage!
> 
> 
> 
> -----Original Message-----
>> From: Tim Brown - NOAA Affiliate <tim.brown at noaa.gov>
>> Sent: Jan 22, 2013 12:55 PM
>> To: andrew ross <andyroo_of72 at yahoo.com>
>> Cc: Coral-List at coral.aoml.noaa.gov
>> Subject: Re: [Coral-List] Lion Consumption
>> 
>> Thats really good news!
>> Maybe those lorge predatory fish will develop a taste for them and start
>> eating more juveniles.  But the main predator that needs to develop a taste
>> for lionfish is a human.  Luckily the human creature is lazy and easily
>> swayed by marketing trends and will often consume the easiest food source
>> available.  Lionfish has a tasty white flesh but local fish markets are
>> loath to purchase from local fishermen because the public is not tuned in
>> to this a popular seafood.
>> If there was a marketing campaign by a large successful ad firm to tap into
>> the human psyche and make this fish a desirable food source then I think a
>> demand can be made for this fish.  This may put pressure on the burgeoning
>> wild populations of lionfish.
>> I know several commercial divers in south florida that could and would take
>> heaps of lionfish daily but the local markets they sell to have no desire
>> for this fish.
>> 
>> Seems like a simple solution to help reduce wild lionfish populations and
>> provide another seafood protein source for humans that might also ease
>> pressure on other target food fish like the native apex predators that may
>> also eat the lions.
>> 
>> .....all we have to do is convince the general population that this a cool
>> new trendy food....Anybody know any famous actors or musicians that want to
>> campaign???  or an ad company with the concept to sway public opinion?
>> They're a cool looking exotic fish!  marketed properly, they could
>> probably command premium prices.
>> 
>> 
>> On Sun, Jan 20, 2013 at 4:54 AM, andrew ross <andyroo_of72 at yahoo.com> wrote:
>> 
>>> List,
>>> I was talking to a friend who's an avid spear-fisherman the other day.
>>> He tells me that he has found juv. lionfish in the stomach of large mutton
>>> snapper on at least one occasion on the reefs east of Kingston, Jamaica.
>>> He says others in his crew have also seen in the gut of grouper. Didn't
>>> specify species.
>>> These are not dead&fed lionfish, it appears to be proper, wild consumption
>>> by large predators on juv. lions.
>>> A little hint of good news, and all the more reason to keep large fish on
>>> the reef.
>>> Andrew Ross
>>> Seascape Caribbean
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> 
> 
> Steve LeGore, Ph.D.
> LeGore Environmental Associates, Inc.
> 2804 Gulf Drive N.
> Holmes Beach, Florida 34217 USA
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