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Sustainability Recommendations

For Red lionfish (Pterois volitans) and Devil firefish (Pterois miles)

These two species are caught by spear and as incidental bycatch in the Florida Caribbean spiny lobster pot and lobster trap fishery. The lionfish fishery is found in the western Atlantic Ocean, the Caribbean Sea, and the Gulf of Mexico. There is low conservation concern, as lionfish are an invasive species outside of the Indo-Pacific and are detrimentally affecting native species through predation and resource competition. As a result, managers are focusing on ways to reduce and prevent further spread of the lionfish population. There are no bycatch species for the spearfish fishery since lionfish are targeted.

There is currently no fishery management plan for lionfish aimed at conserving stock size, but multiple control plans are in the process of being developed among local, state, federal, and international partners and are available. There are no regulations in place for the lionfish fishery in Atlantic or Gulf state waters, but it is illegal to transport and release live lionfish.

Lionfish are fished with spears and traps. These gear types tend to cause moderate to no impact on benthic habitats. Spiny lobster traps are deployed in a variety of habitats where they will not harm the rocky reefs and coral, but often in sand and seagrass areas, so gear impact will vary with habitat. Finally, lionfish are both competitors with and apex predators on ecologically, commercially, and recreationally important species; hence, their reduction or removal from the Atlantic, Caribbean, and Gulf of Mexico will greatly benefit the native species.

Excerpt from Monterey Bay Aquarium Seafood Watch Report

Monterey Bay Aquarium’s Seafood Watch program evaluates the ecological sustainability of both wild-caught and farmed seafood commonly found in the United States marketplace. Seafood Watch defines sustainable seafood as originating from sources, whether wild-caught or farmed, which can maintain or increase production in the long term without jeopardizing the structure or function of affected ecosystems. Seafood Watch makes its science-based recommendations available to the public in the form of regional pocket guides that can be downloaded from www.seafoodwatch.org. The program’s goals are to raise awareness of important ocean conservation issues and empower seafood consumers and businesses to make choices for healthy oceans.