The lionfish is beautiful. Red and white stripes, elaborate fins, slow and confident in the water. It is also one of the most destructive invasive species in the Caribbean. We hunt them on every guided dive where we find them.
Why they are a problem
Lionfish are native to the Indo-Pacific. They arrived in the Caribbean in the 1990s, likely released from aquariums. They have no natural predators here. A single lionfish can reduce local juvenile fish populations by up to 80% on a small patch reef.
They eat everything that fits in their mouth: juvenile groupers, parrotfish, gobies, shrimp. The species that keep the reef clean and the algae in check. Remove those, and the reef shifts from coral-dominated to algae-dominated. That is not a slow process.
On Bonaire, spearfishing has been banned since 1971. The lionfish is the only exception. You can hunt them with a permitted tool called the ELF (Eliminate Lionfish), a small handheld spear designed to minimize reef damage. You need a permit and training.
How we hunt
On a guided dive, I carry the ELF and a containment tube called a Zookeeper. When I spot a lionfish, and you spot them once you know where to look, I approach slowly, position the spear, and take the shot. One quick thrust. The fish goes in the Zookeeper immediately.
The venomous spines are the concern. Fourteen of them, along the dorsal fin. A sting is painful but not lethal. You treat it by soaking the wound in the hottest water you can tolerate. The pain fades within an hour.
Cooking lionfish
Here is the thing: lionfish is one of the best-tasting fish in the Caribbean. White, flaky, mild. Similar to grouper but lighter.
After a dive, we fillet the catch on a cutting board at the shop. The spines come off first, carefully, with scissors. Once the spines are gone, the fish is safe to handle.
The simplest preparation: season with salt, pepper, lime juice. Sear in a hot pan with a little butter, two minutes per side. Serve with tostones and a cold Amstel Bright.
The point is not the meal. The point is that every lionfish we remove is a net positive for the reef. The meal is just a bonus.
If you want to try it, ask about lionfish hunting on your next guided dive. We do not schedule it separately. We hunt when we see them. Some dives you get three. Some dives, none. The reef decides.
For more on what lives on Bonaire's reef and why species like parrotfish matter, see marine life.