Invasive lionfish have taken over the world’s oceans, damaging ecosystems and leaving researchers scrambling to find ways to wipe them out.
The problem began when lionfish were released from the aquarium trade in U.S. waters near Florida more than 30 years ago. Since then, the aggressive eaters have found their way all over the Atlantic Ocean, where they are gorging indiscriminately on fish populations and destroying reefs in the Caribbean, the Amazon and South America.
For the lionfish, anything is fair game. They’re snacking on so many different fish that there’s barely anything left for the native species in the area they’ve migrated to. In fact, more than 70 different species of fish and invertebrates have been removed from lionfish stomachs.
To make matters worse, not many predators exist in their new homes to keep them in check. And with one female lionfish capable of spawning 2 million eggs a year, the situation has quickly gotten out of hand.
So far, marine managers have tried incentivizing fishers to target lionfish through fishing tournaments and special permits. But even those aren’t enough. Now the war is getting high-tech with innovators designing new inventions to kill off the fish.
Currently, models are being tested for underwater robots, vacuum-rigged ROVs and special fishing traps that with image recognition. But researchers say total eradication is unlikely – and getting the problem under control will have to come from a combination of methods, including the new innovations and creating a consumer market for lionfish.
