Lionfish Airplane; Pensacola Florida, Gulf of Mexico

October 11, 2014
While diving with Coast Watch Alliance in the last Gulf Coast Lionfish Coalition derby in Pensacola, FL we came across a reef that had a high density of lionfish present. We determined that this site was in fact an upside down sunken Airplane. In the northern Gulf of Mexico we see some of the highest densities of lionfish reported. Due to lack of air and bottom time we needed to return on a different day. our combined total was more than 200 lionfish and there were still a number of lionfish that could not be reached and will need to removed on the next visit.

[@LScottHarrell]

If anyone still hasn't grasped the enormity of the lionfish invasion in the Western Atlantic Basin, they only need to see this and a handful of other videos. Great work, Alex.

[@banksschott3659]

@@Phoenix-One0922 you moron. They didn't get there from mother nature . People bought them for home aquariums and when they got tired of the work and expenses for their upkeep, they tossed them into the ocean. Mother nature had nothing to do with it.

[@bocca7789]

@@banksschott3659 They came from a hurricane. he is not a moron.

[@deenibeeniable]

"All animals were harmed in the making of this film."

[@deenibeeniable]

@The Boston terrier house Um, that was a joke. Lighten up.

[@zahimiibrahim3602]

😂

[@TheHomeMaker1]

They are killing the fucking gulf you idiot!!! Scientists have called the lion fish the worst invasive predators ever discovered!!

[@chesterdagoc5915]

Don't worry the lionfish are just paid actors

[@mbmccamey2]

Right 😂

[@MillennialTravelConfessions]

I love how he's checking over his shoulder every few moments to make sure he doesn't get ambushed by some lionfish 😂😁

[@urb6857]

You mean a shark?

[@Clay0124]

Guess he don’t dive much to know how sharks react to dying fish.

[@lucaguida4286]

@@Clay0124 thats a myth... sharks dont have feeding frenzies

[@Clay0124]

@@lucaguida4286 oh okay lol

[@jeperdi1]

@@lucaguida4286 sharks are myths

[@steveo1413]

Tell the Chinese that lionfish are protected but have magical aphrodisiac properties.

[@blackrabbit212]

That would certainly do it!

[@NGartplay]

That is too funny. That would take care of the Lionfish population right quick. I'm still laughing.

[@amapparatistkwabena]

Bryan O Bwahahahaha! Brilliant!😂

[@kojikuza4661]

actually its edible in most part of asia, just get rid the spine and u good to consume it..

[@b.l.9764]

Its the exotic lionfish along the atlantic coast that have the magical aphrodisiac properties. The native lionfish in their part of the world are just duds.

[@themurphy8797]

This cleansing of Lionfish is very therapeutic to watch lol

[@HUGHSON666]

Lol

[@TheRandomMan210]

true!

[@acumenfinito]

+Matt Froggatt I thought the exact same thing! So satisfying.

[@cdnerin]

+Matt Froggatt It really is, lol, I just love watching them spear them!

[@DirtyMind2003]

lol ikr

[@jesseshin2532]

am i the only one who keeps thinking RAMPAGE, DOUBLE KILL, TRIPLE KILL, QUADRA KILL, PENTAKILL, HEXAKILL

[@yourname3649]

+Jesse Shin Legendary! Godlike!

[@jasonhong1998]

+Jesse Shin bruh he taking theme out like they just minions.

[@mealtimeorsotheysay9319]

500 farm in one game xD

[@mouthmouth3]

+Jesse Shin you mean double kill, triple kill , overkill, killtacular, killtrocity!

[@feliccieandorro408]

+Jesse Shin .. HEPTAKILL !! DECAKILL !!! CENTOKILL !! MEGAKILL !!!! hahahahahah !!!

[@caraame]

Fantastic work. You are the first and best line of defence against these invaders.

[@LordLobov]

Eddie Wu k

[@patrickmcleod111]

How dare you refer to them as "invaders"! They have just as much right to be there as anyone else, and they enrich our society! Next you'll be calling for walls, and separating them from their mothers! Wait, are we talking about (illegal)immigrants or fish? Either way, how racist of you! Lol...

[@nepadron]

@@patrickmcleod111 you're an idiot.

[@Little_minnie530]

Patrick McLeod what? Lmao they are eating exotic vegetation and they have nothing to keep them under control so unless you think having an invasive venomous fish with no predators are more important than keeping human beings safe and exotic vegetation be my guest. The idiot that kinda deserves to be scolded is the person that brought them to the location

[@mosshark]

Lionfish @1:44 comitted suicide. "do it, buddy.. right on my forehead.."

[@johnsonwu7055]

He said I dare you diver I dare you....

[@natureshamy]

"What are you going to do, stab me?" -Quote from fish stabbed.

[@SuperGankBros]

I know there's a lot of joking about it, but Lionfish aren't stupid, and are actually personable fish. That's why many people like them in the home aquaria. They're not scared of people and will gladly watch and follow you and beg for food.

[@mba2ceo]

from Hell's heart I stab at thee !!!

[@Gotafish1]

I would like to personally thank you for your efforts in eradicating the Lionfish . We here in Florida who are native to the state have been over whelmed with invasive fish and reptiles which are not native to our area and are harming our environment greatly. I refer to Lionfish, Burmese Pythons, Iguanas and most recently Tegus Lizards along with many others. Thanks for the video even though it sickens me to see this many Lionfish in one area.

[@WesleyAPEX]

Sunny W iguanas just eat vegetation lol they're not native but they aren't destroying the habitat.

[@firesfromheaven]

WesleyAPEX They eat very fast

[@mikedavis8325]

Sunny W iI

[@nunyerbeeznaz2906]

They're just attracted to liberal minds............

[@marisollorenzo6727]

their eating endangered plant species .

[@dwilt4rville]

Glad to hear they were used for research and local restaurants. Keep up the good work!!!

[@reyb1649]

I'm amazed at how many lionfish are right of the pandhandle of Florida. Frightening. They could destroy the ecosystem if it weren't for people like you and your efforts.

[@eringreeley7405]

the thing is, the lionfish are already destroying ecosystems, thats why people like him have to do stuff like this

[@drdrew3]

8 years since this video and there are more lion fish than ever before. The biggest populations live well below depths where sport divers can spearfish - that’s where the breeders hang out. The ocean floor is covered with them

[@slider903]

@@drdrew3that’s why we need subs or drones. Either one.

[@Bambisgf77]

This is so satisfying to watch! Thank you Alex!

[@jayrichards3840]

Thanks for protecting our reefs and getting rid of this invasive species

[@ronalddonahue8325]

damn dude you are like the lionfish grim reaper

[@ainemairead4542]

He was killing them with no conscience and Sociopaths dont have a conscience

[@larrytischler8769]

When a lionfish fins a child and and the child dies tell its parents that story.

[@blueocean1152]

thinking like you larry tischler we must kill all the kind of sharks..lions crocodile hyena wolves anything and whatever threats the human life.....and the first of all the most danger all over the world,,who is responsible for the most killing in the world the human being.and after that we will live in peace

[@larrytischler8769]

You think there can be peace in the ocean or on land? The natural world exists by brute force. Killing and eating is THE #1 rule. Killing for protection is the #2 rule. Those that cannot comprehend this go extinct.

[@Ian-dk6cn]

+dixie girl just like how the lionfish kill the reef with no conscience

[@joshsetal1507]

THANK YOU!!! For helping take care of the problem and the video!!

[@peterzaffaroni2871]

it's amazing how fearless they are

[@rustyATV]

Just got back from the Caymans. Brother in Law explained their invasiveness when we spotted two under the dock we were snorkeling off of. Later, we found them in every crevice under the dock and out in the reef. Unbelievable. We rigged a knife and pole and managed to get one, but need a contraption like you have to really help.

[@bensondergaard8478]

Well doesn't this illustrate the severity of the problem! I've seen a few here and there on the reefs and wrecks here in Destin. Not in those numbers though? Wow! Great job guys!

[@alexfogg4803]

Ben, you all have some high densities off of Destin, maybe not this high, but its not uncommon to find chicken coops over there that have 50+

[@drdrew3]

Just wait

[@alotagriefs2830]

Thank you and your crew!

[@devjoadsingh9846]

Thumbs Up for you guys....Great work...Thanks for helping save the fish stock..Hope more countries can follow..

[@gabrielsasala1875]

we're going to need a bigger bucket.

[@Shokara2]

how about a bigger boat...

[@v12tommy]

That is awesome. Endless free food, and killing as many as possible helps the reef too.

[@skatechesse8128]

v12tommy and they are very tasty 😋

[@MADDOGBESTRAPPER]

yeah they taste like fish

[@u235u235u235]

they have slight flavor that takes the flavor of spices

[@MrPhatdizzle]

@@MADDOGBESTRAPPER all fish taste different bro:P

[@dyinhope6840]

For real if more people would eat them and realize how good they are problem would begin to go away. Everyone need to realize fish that eat other fish, taste 10x better than fish that eat plants and bugs etc.

[@joshg.8706]

This is a great video. Thank you for this.

[@jamisenhilvers753]

Awesome job...I was impressed to see how many fish have addapted to being around them, but saddened by how many there are now since I left FL in 2014, I have never seen anything like that before... They are very good to eat if you every get a chance... Make good bait too!! It just kill em!!!

[@shanek6582]

Florida should offer a $1 bounty on each lionfish, that might help.

[@apexjesus8369]

Shane K some people kill 200+ in a day maybe a 25c bounty

[@markshaw3711]

Where would Florida get the money for the bounty?

[@KachinggaKisses]

Shane K these divers are already selling their catches to local restaurants for much better than $1 per fish.

[@Chrisgonzales67]

Seems like serving them up at the local seafood restaurant is bounty enough. Just look how easy it was to collect them. $20.00 a plate...Cha ching! Lol

[@GOODNOIGHT]

Mark Shaw Re allocate an existingTax to do so. Instead of paying for a Politicians retirement, have it go to funding the depopulation of Lion Fish. Boom. Theres the solution. Why does everything need to be set in stone?

[@eliguaso22]

Dude, im so fucking proud of you!!! I dont know you, but i am!! GOOD JOB!! I cant dive because im sick for about 3 months now, and hell i miss the ocean so much. God bless ya!

[@harryt988]

Tons of them !! Great hunting ! Keep up the good work !

[@intergadiea8817]

I remember caching one in Florida and throwing it back and someone seid they were a invasive species. Like coo, you should have told me that befor I threw it back

[@boysponge705]

79 lionfish disliked this video.

[@nickrose5872]

541 now and climbing. 🤗

[@markjgaletti57]

676now

[@boysponge705]

@Georgios The Greek Righteous

[@almightyyak675]

XD

[@sweetdiva5755]

😂😂😂😂

[@Lionfish-Scuba-Fishing-Travel]

I am in Aruba right now Lion Fish Hunting. The most we got on one dive is 32. This is a crazy video showing what a problem the Lion Fish are. I would love to dive and help in Florida. Friends with El Hage who makes the Zoo Keeper. Good guy! Keep up the good work!

[@afogg2006]

Roger, thanks for the comment. Shoot me an email if you want to get together and shoot some lions on the panhandle. There is going to be a huge event in May in pensacola. Try and make it! [e-mail]

[@Lionfish-Scuba-Fishing-Travel]

Alex Fogg Hi Alex. I killed about 70 Lion Fish in Aruba diving mainly the North Shore with Norman Arends who is from Aruba. He totally knows what he is doing and knows where to find the Lion Fish. Sad that there are so many around. I would love to have all the shooting choices that you had, but am sad that the Lion Fish are such a big problem. I have been trying to educate people in NJ and on my diving friends and people in general on Face Book. Most people do not know what an epidemic they have created and the damage they are causing because people can't see it or are not educated about the problem. You did a great job and service here to the environment. I sell insurance in NJ, but have an environmental science degree from college and feel like I am using it by eliminating as many Lion Fish as possible. We had the Hyatt in Aruba cook up our catch one day and boy were they good! I am not a fish eater either and liked the firm white meat. Friend me on FB if you can. Roger J. Muller, Jr. I have up some of the video Lion Fishing in Aruba. We did a 30 foot jump with scuba equipment off a cliff to get into one area that no one dives. I had my Go Pro on my head and my friend had one in the water. The videos need to be edited, but it was cool. I have a few others that show 125 feet down a 21 incher I got near a boulder. Wish I had more air, but it goes quickly at deep levels. In Aruba we found most of the Lion Fish between 120 and 80 feet. How deep was the plane you were shooting around? Far from the coast? The water looked really clear. In NJ we get about four feet on visibility so anymore more looks wonderful to me. I dove in Venice Beach, Florida in October for fossil shark teeth and got 4 foot vis and then nothing another day. You are so lucky you live in a warm weather diving area. Send me some information to [e-mail]. I am really into removing Lion Fish and have dove spearing them in Cuba, Aruba, Bonaire and Panama in the past year. Sarasota Florida tournament was cancelled the weekend I was there. Thanks for writing back!

[@ogblackbambi2823]

Why would you want to fully distinct any animal from its own habitat ? I understand population control but every animal has its place. I wouldn't want to see any animal earsed from earth. They are all unique in their own ways.

[@afogg2006]

Dustin, these fish do not belong here. They are native to the Pacific and Red Sea. They are causing an imbalance to the native ecosystem that they have invaded. I'm am not advocating mass extinction, just removal from where they are not supposed to be.

[@ogblackbambi2823]

Alex Fogg thanks for breaking it down for me. Interesting to hear. You know more about this stuff than me haha.

[@angeloc3842]

Nice work 👍🏼. The world thanks you

[@vancityguy]

I could watch this all day

[@ericspants]

Good Job Cleaning up! Props to you sir!

[@SteveDavisLogic]

Wow, I've never seen anything like that. Glad you cleaned it up but it looks like a loosing battle.

[@lmpnchi9416]

I think the only way this battle is going to be won is to figure out how to sterilize them

[@ricco2125]

Thx for ur work

[@battmann678]

Thanks very much for your efforts.

[@AlPal5000]

these videos are hypnotic and strangely satisfying

[@pericleswanless5483]

i work at a restaurant in west palm FL and we sell 20 lion fish a day. that's how you cleanse the reefs.

[@alexfogg4803]

+Pericles Wanless You got that right. Which restaurant?

[@pericleswanless5483]

Longboards 519 clematis

[@romsam4234]

+Pericles Wanless Hopefully more restaurants will follow that lead

[@rookiefreediver7522]

Pericles Wanless How much do tou pay for them?

[@kmmiller8704]

Its a win win situation .

[@riadulislam1816]

Well enjoyed video. Keep up the good work

[@justinpham6527]

Love to watch u catch. Keep up the work!

[@DickGibson]

Great job man, keep on going, it is an endless task. I had one the size of a basket ball try to attach me one day, they are fearless. Far out way kool man

[@1962dkd]

I've speared upwards of 30 on one of my favorite patch reefs near Big Pine Shoals in the FL Keys. I would like to know where to get the tube thing you are putting yours in. Very efficient. And yes, to the person who made the statement about them making good eating..they are EXCELLENT. A very light flavor texture reminds me of Hogfish.

[@alexfogg4803]

Dawn, contact Allie with Zookeeper Lionfish Containment Units. I know a number of dive shops through the lionfishes invaded range carry these units. If you can't find them visit: www.zkstore.com/

[@nikiTricoteuse]

Great job. Thank you. Chilling to see how many there are and unafraid they are. Clearly well aware that they have almost no natural predators. I think grouper and one, possibly two other species are learning how to eat them.

[@Lodestars88]

Thank you so much!

[@tropickman]

Florida should put a $0.25 bounty per fish!

[@bibbabibba1975]

He caught 200 fish that day, so he would have made 8 dollars. When you count in all the divers and all the fish they catch in total, thats a ton of money

[@dickfitzinya3082]

After reading your post, your math teacher suddenly realized he was a failure.

[@leyley23004]

Dick Fitzinya 😂😂😂😂best possible reaction lol

[@theflerffyburr7919]

50 bucks....

[@saidemajou6600]

Eric Kelly u mean 20

[@jamesrhody7071]

Need a dive buddy with a big net and just scoop them all up at once

[@a3marketing991]

I don't think I've ever seen them stacked that thick in one spot. Nice work!

[@ianstradian]

Is this working? I hope to do some of the eradication this summer in and around Pensacola Florida /Orange Beach Al.

[@Ginny2708]

Wow, I didn't realize they were so invasive. You can just see from their numbers in pack formation how they hunt other fish. Vice versa, their being hunted can be so easy.

[@ArtisticCatalyst]

Lionfish are getting more abundant in Bermuda, but nothing like this plague of them! Creepy! What depth are you spearing them at? Love these vids!

[@alexfogg4803]

Adrian's Adventures This is in about 100ft of water. This area is COVERED in lionfish.

[@fish_guru20]

my guy went after the whole school of them by himself if you were here now I wouldn't knight you with my shimano rod that was fire keep making more content love seeing this I want to try this I just have to get over my fear of the ocean

[@stevantammy6779]

Thank you !

[@waynemartini0468]

I just fear that one day, many years from now, the species will adapt and learn to try to evade spear fishers

[@Matthew-ti4vu]

very unlikely

[@Woofus_Poofus]

Sand Skiff2 Considering how few 'get away' to breed those instincts. Not really.

[@petarkukuljica4372]

Natural selection the ones who are scared will live reproduce and it goes on.

[@martinshephard6317]

Bloody hell, that seemed to be a big population! Does you know the growth rate of a lion fish? How long would it take for a similar population to grow or establish itself again. Keep up the good work.

[@jessvd1]

Thanks, aquarium industry!

[@CrescentGuard]

If I lived closeby, I'd totally get involved. It seems a good way to stay fit, get some food, and help the environment. Sadly, Californian.

[@OldAndGettingOlder]

AardvarkLord , indeed. Sadly. Sorry. Have to rib Californians any chance I get.

[@TheDemonNachos]

We have similar problems here, go out and kill as many purple sea urchins as you can, they are shredding our kelp forests.

[@nepadron]

there are quite a few invasive species in california oceans too...but Im going to take a wild guess that you weren't ACTUALLY volunteering to help.

[@SuperAWaC]

@@nepadron diving off the coast of california sucks and is way more difficult than off the coast of florida

[@Dreaklock]

If I vacation to Florida and want to do this, is there a company I can go through that takes people out and lets them do this, and keep the meat?

[@afogg2006]

Depends on where you go. Where are you thinking?

[@Dreaklock]

Alex Fogg I guess anywhere in Florida that does it. If I go for a week and rent a car, I'm good with driving wherever I need to go to do it.

[@afogg2006]

Pensacola is your best bet. Shoot me an email [e-mail]

[@Dreaklock]

+Alex Fogg Ok, sounds good.

[@mcafeex311]

did you ever go?

[@bazoin1]

Frightening just how many there are, just hope you keep doing this cull fantastic!

[@gulfair-cavalry-tango1011]

Bless you!!!!

[@terrance3218]

That's one cool apparatus you're using.

[@alexfogg4803]

www.zkstore.com/

[@NicholasPridham]

Alex Fogg Links not working! Interested in one of those

[@alexfogg4803]

Nick P email him directly he is currently redoing his website [e-mail]

[@NicholasPridham]

Alex Fogg How much are they?

[@alexfogg4803]

Nick P really depends on which model you get. Anywhere from $60-$200

[@Titanykus]

WoW! These things are a pest, they hang in a gang and everything, no wonder there is no predators for these fishes. I believe is open season all year around. I have never tried them, I wonder how they taste.

[@manuelhernandezcuervo1342]

They taste very good. The problem is the poisonous spikes.

[@WilAdams]

Hey, Alex, wouldn't be more effective to coordinate with the boat to drop a net and then that entire herd could have been scooped up all at once? Just asking. It looks feasible because once the wreckage was clear it was smooth and flat terrain

[@greatbriton8425]

What keeps them under control in the original region they came from?

[@weiyang6417]

I could do this all day if I was able to!

[@honglalalalasungwon3]

How many lion fish fit inside that tube?

[@alexfogg4803]

+sungwon hong It all depends which Zookeeper you are using. some hold ~20lbs and others hold close to 70lbs.

[@feliccieandorro408]

+sungwon hong ........ like 3000 !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@howtotutorials3283]

I'm just thinking ALLOT

[@TheKingOfHalo]

Over 9000.

[@esaw7067]

I think its 50 and 100 when the tube is extended

[@TK-hq8gp]

Excellent work!

[@wilsont1010]

What is the wreck in this video, it looks like a submarine.

[@GoMiGman]

Amazing how many there are in one spot and they're like these ominous, creepy little robe wearing, monk-like, shady, dark, shadowy creatures it's bizarre.

[@avihal1076]

What kind of spear and holding container did you use?

[@afogg2006]

neriticdiving.com www.zkstore.com You will not find better gear

[@rutgerstubbe3963]

Why? Lionfish are an invasive species and they destroy everything.

[@frankum1821]

+dixie girl leave it to a dingbat woman to say something like that!

[@fishingislife8801]

shame on you who dont know that lion fish is killing almost all traces of life on coral barriers , who dont know that they dont have any natural predators. #next time grow your knowledge before you open your mouth or write something

[@fishingislife8801]

he told you so???

[@jetlife2]

Wow I have dived around the Caribbean and elsewhere and never seen so many in one spot. Well done. I can tell you that they are delicious too, I have speared and cleaned and eaten them myself.

[@gaangler7486]

There are just so many, it looks never ending

[@RoboTekno]

We can decimate almost any species we want, but we still can't control the lion fish? And it tastes delicious? For shame, for shame. lol :P

[@RoboTekno]

Larry Longfellow Interesting. I didn't know it was illegal to sell them. I guess legalizing them could promote raising them or introducing more illegally, but you're right. Just like any species of fish we have put a price on, as long as we don't limit catch numbers, we could eventually wipe it out of these waters, haha.

[@alexfogg4803]

RoboTekno +Larry Longfellow, there is nothing illegal about selling them. It is actually extremely easy to do so. Make a positive impact on the ecosystem, harvest some tasty fish, and make a few bucks while your at it. Whats not to like!!

[@alexfogg4803]

Larry Longfellow Correct, But I have an SPL and posses commercial licenses in a couple of other states which allow me to sell in those states as well.

[@TreasureCorals]

I guess we better need a bigger boat (or in this case a bigger bag).

[@daveblansten9866]

thanks so much for helping to get rid of this threat to our local marine eco system

[@pc7872]

Good job! Keep up the good work.

[@evolvedaustin4230]

I can't believe how bad the problem is with those fish!

[@larrytischler8769]

+SEPI AUSTIN Believe it. It is what happens when people bring invasive species into the country and carelessly abandon them or let them escape.

[@Spartan111792]

+Larry Tischler I thought they were brought in from a hurricane?

[@larrytischler8769]

+Spartan111792 Lionfish are native to the western Pacific and Indian Oceans. They were dumped into the Atlantic by people that that should be jailed for years to come. They may have had some hurricane induced currents bring them to the Western and Northern Gulf of Mexico but this only hastened the spread, not caused it entirely.

[@evolvedaustin4230]

Larry Tischler Yeah i live in south Florida, we have a lot of invasive species here! I knew it was bad but not that bad!

[@adreanlinerusher]

They are commonly sold in the salt water aquarium industry, they didn't migrate. They grow as large as a football and when little johnny down in Miami didn't know his 10 gallon aquarium would hold it they couldn't kill it so they had to let it go in the Atlantic. It only took a couple of those, or somebody that had 4-5 in a large SW tank that let them all go and explosion.

[@JuanAlejandroLarronde]

mmmmmmmm, now I want to eat Lionfish. Soy sauce, wasabi, and a sharp knife. Caramelized onions, habanero, Lionfish fillet...

[@tim7527]

Who would give this a thumbs down ? What could they be thinking ? Lion fish don't belong in the Atlantic ......Please keep up the good work

[@nicks1451]

I did a research paper on lionfish invasion and even if we made them a popular food item and held massive competitions to catch them it wouldn't even do a single dent in their population. They breed that fast.

[@FureyinHD]

You can sweep reefs clean though. Where I live they are almost gone from the reefs that are dived frequently.

[@maybee...]

I love to see the lion fish removed from our oceans, big and especially the small ones. Great video, great catch!

[@anythingwithandy7773]

Lion fish a beautiful but deadly invasive species

[@dyrdek]

im just gonna say thank you for doing this simply...

[@scottg6799]

Thank you!!!

[@Agar4Life]

I say we take off and nuke the site from orbit... it's the only way to be sure. Dang that's a lot of lionfish. Good work clearing so many!

[@codyhendricks6927]

I don't think people are getting the reference funny though Hicks

[@lh7801]

Have to find Newt first

[@benjimolina6959]

Nice work and looks like a satisfying experience cleaning the oceans of harmful non-native species. Previous posters suggested a vacuum which is a great idea and likely very simplistic to make

[@FureyinHD]

They are powerful swimmers, I think they'd escape it when you disturb them. Spear works pretty well, just gotta find them

[@smackjabber]

YOU do Gods work my friend!

[@alexzegar]

I love it. Great job!!

[@zone8848]

now you with there is a underwater machine gun to do it faster.

[@cerbs2g]

It helps that these seem to be the dumbest fish. they just watch as you pick them off 1 by 1

[@alanharris1641]

Good job and Thank you!

[@stardust0075]

Ocean is a beautiful place. Love it.

[@tropickman]

Excellent job! Only, there should be a $0.25/fish bounty handed out.

[@Peaceful_Gojira]

*More Zookeepers Needed!* upfhhhshuuuhh (*runs into closet and throws on scuba gear*) Where do I sign up?!

[@ABN6565]

Great! Need more like you

[@chadmerkley9465]

Can you free dive 30-50' deep water or are they super deep that requires scuba? I understand free diving wouldn't be as efficient.

[@lobstertelephone8907]

make lion fish sushi it's great

[@NemeanLion-]

When did lionfish become a problem species? Are they not indigenous to the area?

[@omfgHumuhumunuku]

They're native to the Indo-Pacific rather than the Atlantic where they are wreaking havok. The problem is three fold. 1. They are voracious predators which the native fish have no experience with. In some areas lionfish have reduced native fish populations by 95% (Cote et al. 2013) 2. They can breed very rapidly. In some areas they may spawn every 4 days, all year round, for a total annual fecundity of 2 million+ eggs. 3. They have almost no predators due to their highly venomous spines.

[@NemeanLion-]

Thanks. Interesting info, but I don't see how a few random fisherman with spear guns are going to stop an entire underwater species.

[@nefariosgliscor]

NemeanLion Some areas have proposed to have somewhat of an open season and even tournaments for spearfishing enthusiasts to aid in the . I heard that a while ago, so they may have already carried out a plan to do so. Heavy research has been poured into resolving this problem and it's phenomenal how many unique solutions they've come up with already. The fact that they have become a local delicacy in the Caribbean definitely adds desire to bag them, but since they are highly venomous, gotta make sure you have a cook who knows how to safely prepare it. Now if they could be reduced to controllable numbers or eliminated from ecosystems they invade, native species would be able to increase to sustainable population size. "A few random fisherman with spear guns" can become a population control effort with enough support to tackle this problem.

[@aldraw]

NemeanLion We can overfish anything if we put a cash incentive behind it. History has proven this. All we need to do is start a commercial scale fish stick production facility and market it to the US as an alternative to cod, pollock and haddock. Something tells me if marketed right it could be popularized in Japan as well, which would create a strong incentive to kill em all.

[@aldraw]

nefariosgliscor Do we know where the venom comes from? Fugu (blowfish) for example gain their toxins from their diet (as with many venemous critters). If lionfish are the same they could be detoxified. They'd also make decent organic fertilizer for plants I'd think.

[@mamallama7708]

I find this entertaining. Good work .

[@un_civilized]

Wow that was a shocking number of lionfish, good work!

[@andywattbulb]

Don't forget to do the humans. I hear there are too many of them as well.

[@truthseeker1328]

andi watt Good point. Let's start with you first.

[@dwilt4rville]

+Truthseeker1 Nah, we need more people like him that realize it.