The Pterois, which is more commonly known as the Pacific Lionfish, is mostly found in the Indo-Pacific. A lovely fish with showy bands of red, white, and black, it was accidentally introduced to the Atlantic and Caribbean, as well as to the Gulf of Mexico and other areas during the 1990’s. These fish are prolific breeders, and they love to prey on reef fish; luckily, they lend themselves well to culinary applications. Now, Bonaire has come up with a new campaign to hold back the lionfish invasion and keep the population in check in order to preserve native species. Called “Eat Them to Beat Them,” the campaign is calling on Bonaire’s chefs to come up with new recipes featuring Pacific Lionfish.
Venomous yet Tasty: Hunting and Cooking Lionfish
We divers know that we ought to keep our hands away from lionfish. Known for potent venom and stinging fin rays, the fish have few natural predators, although some groupers and moray eels will eat them. An encounter can lead to an entire laundry list of problems, including extreme pain, headache, breathing difficulties, heart failure, or even death; it’s no surprise that fishermen have a tendency to avoid lionfish.
The only effective way to hunt lionfish is kit up in scuba gear and to either net or spear the fish from a distance to completely avoid being stung. The fish can grow to be as much as one and a half feet long, and are adept at hiding close to rocks and coral. To capture them, you’ve got to flush them from their lairs, then find a way to corner them and spear or net them.
Despite their venomous stings, lionfish have mild, tasty flesh that lends itself well to use with almost all types of cuisine. So far, Bonaire’s chefs have come up with recipes ranging from Lionfish Risotto to Lionfish Milanese.
Promoting Lionfish Consumption
As non-native lionfish pose a threat to other species, they are some of the most sustainable fish one can eat. Restaurants throughout the Caribbean and the United States are beginning to offer lionfish on their menus; you can find it in everything from ceviche to deep-fried fish and chips. Expect to pay a premium for a plate starring this delicious fish as the main dish, though; considering the amount of time it takes to catch them and remove the stinging rays, the cost of catching them without injury is high.
NOAA and Sea to Table are working on methods to capture lionfish that don’t require the hunter to don diving gear. One innovative trap involves a live fish swimming inside a clear container, which is in turn placed inside a trap the lionfish can enter. The fish being used as “bait” is safe, and the lionfish can remain inside the painless trap until hunters come back to collect it.
If you think lionfish hunting might be for you, check to see whether you can join a hunt. You’ll find research-based hunts and even lionfish derbies in places like the Bahamas, Florida, and North Carolina; and once you catch your lionfish, you’ll be taught how to clean it safely. Last but not least, you’ll be able to enjoy a delicious, sustainable fish dinner.