...
Southern Boating & Yachting
  • Boats
    • Center Consoles
    • Dual Consoles
    • Motoryachts
    • Power Cats
    • Sport Cruisers
    • Tenders & Ribs
  • Destinations
    • Regional Reports
    • Bahamas
    • Caribbean
    • U.S. Atlantic
    • U.S. Gulf
  • Engines
  • Maintenance
    • DIY
  • Electronics
  • Lifestyle
    • News
      • Boating Log
    • Fishing
    • Food
      • Menus
      • Drinks
      • Appetizers
      • Entrées
      • Dessert
      • Holiday
  • Gear
  • Shop
  • Digital Edition
  • Subscribe
  • Advertise
No Result
View All Result
  • Boats
    • Center Consoles
    • Dual Consoles
    • Motoryachts
    • Power Cats
    • Sport Cruisers
    • Tenders & Ribs
  • Destinations
    • Regional Reports
    • Bahamas
    • Caribbean
    • U.S. Atlantic
    • U.S. Gulf
  • Engines
  • Maintenance
    • DIY
  • Electronics
  • Lifestyle
    • News
      • Boating Log
    • Fishing
    • Food
      • Menus
      • Drinks
      • Appetizers
      • Entrées
      • Dessert
      • Holiday
  • Gear
  • Shop
  • Digital Edition
  • Subscribe
  • Advertise
No Result
View All Result
Southern Boating & Yachting
No Result
View All Result
Home Lifestyle Sea Watch
The Invasive Lionfish

Lionfish: Eat ’em to Beat ’em

June 19, 2018
in Sea Watch
0
609
SHARES
3.4k
VIEWS
Share on FacebookShare on LinkedInShare via Email
Subscribe to the print magazine | $29.95 for 12 issues

Lionfish: Eat ’em to Beat ’em

Lionfish don’t belong here.

Their natural domain is in the South Pacific and Indian Oceans. There, they are a normal and healthy part of reef ecosystems. Here in the US? Not the case.

Learn more about the 2019 Lionfish Challenge. 

About 30 years ago, the (admittedly beautiful) red-and-white striped lionfish began appearing off the coast of Florida. They’ve expanded quickly since, demolishing native fish populations in the Caribbean and up the Eastern Seaboard.

The pesky species can and will eat anything: their appetites are voracious and unending. Unfortunately, native species of small reef fish like baby snapper and grouper don’t recognize them as predators. That makes bad things happen to the ecosystem.

In the Bahamas, the bait fish (or prey fish) biomass fell between 65 to 95 percent after the initial invasion. That’s according to Stephanie Green, a marine scientist at Stanford’s Center for Ocean Solutions.

And the big predators, like sharks, don’t see the fish as a meal. Their venomous spines have allowed them to spread rampantly. So, it’s the perfect storm: lionfish spread, unchecked, devastating reef ecosystems and fisheries.

Unchecked may even be an understatement. The fish are prolific breeders, putting even rabbits to shame.  A single female can release upward of 6 million eggs a year. Those millions of eggs are capable of floating for more than a month, dispersing for thousands of miles, spreading into new areas. They’re everywhere: lionfish can be found in shallow mangroves or 1000 feet deep, which is why populations are hard to wipe out once established.

Eat ’em to Beat ’em

That’s not to say that efforts are not underway. With nets and spears, divers and scientists are taking to the water to turn the hunters into the hunted.  There are lionfish hunts from North Carolina to the Caribbean and beyond. Organizations like REEF and agencies like Florida Fish and Wildlife provide resources and information on hunts, biology and more.

There is some good news though. Lionfish are delicious. There’s even a “Eat ’em to beat ’em” campaign among conservationists, biologists, hunters, and chefs. Comparable to any other flaky white fish, the species can be baked, fried, ceviche-d, and more. Whole Foods is developing its own product lines, too, like smoked lionfish. There are a million ways to prepare it.

Here’s one way we like:

Lionfish Nachos

from The Lionfish Cookbook by Tricia Ferguson and Lad Akins

Lionfish NachosIngredients:

8 wonton wrappers
1/2 cup oil
8 lionfish fillets
3 tablespoons soy sauce
2 tablespoons Thai chili sauce
1 cup seaweed salad*
1/4 cup wasabi mayonnaise

*Items can be found at Asian markets.

Directions:

Place oil in a small frying pan and heat oil until hot. Place one wonton wrapper in at a time. Cook briefly until it starts to bubble (approximately 10 seconds). Turn and cook another 10 seconds. Remove and drain on kitchen towel.

 Put wasabi mayonnaise into a squeeze bottle and set aside. Combine sweet soy sauce, sweet chili sauce together in a bowl and set aside. Spray skillet with non-stick cooking spray.

Cook lionfish fillets in a skillet over medium-high heat for 2 to 3 minutes, until flaky and tender. Cut or flake lionfish so it is in small pieces. Toss lionfish in soy sauce mixture.

Place lionfish on wonton wrappers, top with seaweed salad and drizzle with wasabi mayonnaise.

By Erin Brennan

Tags: Conservationlionfishlionfish huntREEF
Previous Post

Yacht Designer Doug Zurn

Next Post

Inspect Your EPIRB or PLB

Next Post
an image EPIRB-- don't forget to inspect your EPIRB!

Inspect Your EPIRB or PLB

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recommended

oktoberfest sausage beer recipes

Get Your Oktoberfest On

September 27, 2016
3.3k
Flamingos in Aruba ABC Islands

ABC Islands

August 28, 2018
3.6k

Don't miss it

All-new Aquila 46 Yacht
Boats

Inside the All-New Aquila 46 Yacht: Beam, Layouts, Hydro Glide & Tech

October 22, 2025
3.4k
Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show 2025 - sunset backdrop
Featured

Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show 2025 Guide: Plan Your Visit

October 22, 2025
4.4k
Awlgrip yacht paint being applied to a vessel
Haul-Out Guide

Awlcraft 3000 Brilliance: Inside Metan Marine Restorations of Iconic Yachts

October 22, 2025
3.3k
Aerial view of three boats anchored while cruising.
Safety

Must-Have Pre-Cruising Boat Checklist: Safety, Systems & Gear

October 15, 2025
3.3k
Omikron OT-60
Boats

Omikron OT-60: Elegant Efficiency in a 60-Foot Motoryacht

October 15, 2025
3.4k
Hunt Yachts Ocean 56
Boats

Meet the Owner-Friendly Hunt Ocean 56: Offshore Poise, Easy Control

October 15, 2025
3.4k
Facebook Instagram TikTok Youtube LinkedIn

Navigation

  • About Us
  • Advertise
  • Subscribe
  • Careers
  • Contact Us
  • Terms Of Service
  • Privacy Policy
  • Manage My Subscription
logo

1591 E. Atlantic Blvd, 2nd Floor
Pompano Beach, FL 33060
Office: +1 (954) 522-5515
Fax: +1 (954) 522-2260
Contact us: info@southernboating.com


Newsletter

* indicates required

© 2025 Southern Boating & Yachting, INC.

No Result
View All Result
  • Boats
    • Center Consoles
    • Dual Consoles
    • Motoryachts
    • Power Cats
    • Sport Cruisers
    • Tenders & Ribs
  • Destinations
    • Regional Reports
    • Bahamas
    • Caribbean
    • U.S. Atlantic
    • U.S. Gulf
  • Engines
    • Engine Buyers Guide
  • Maintenance
    • DIY
  • Electronics
  • Lifestyle
    • News
      • Boating Log
    • Fishing
    • Food
      • Drinks
      • Appetizers
      • Entrées
      • Dessert
      • Holiday
  • Gear
  • Shop
  • Digital Edition
  • Advertise
  • Subscribe

© 2025 Southern Boating & Yachting, INC.

  • About Us
  • Advertise
  • Subscribe
  • Careers
  • Contact Us
  • Terms Of Service
  • Privacy Policy
  • Manage My Subscription
  • About Us
  • Advertise
  • Subscribe
  • Careers
  • Contact Us
  • Terms Of Service
  • Privacy Policy
  • Manage My Subscription