Florida BAN on Lionfish Importation begins August 1st, 2014

[lyfeoffishing]

There are research groups trying to get local predator species to recognize lionfish as prey animals.

That is interesting!!! I have some buddy's that actually spear them and pole feed them to sharks/grouper. I believe they are being eaten by fish in the wild but not regularly as they are not as abundant as other prey items.


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[Zoodiver]

Is it going to be like snakeheads, where you have to kill them on site. Or can you catch the lionfish and take them home for your aquarium.

Up until this law change, you had to kill on site if you found them in the wild. Now, they will be allowed to be taken live by collectors.

The downside to this (if you are into lion fish) is that all of the more desirable species (dwarfs etc...) will be out of the question. You will only be able to purchase Volitans caught in FL. The other factor working against it is that there is almost no profit in collecting them (dead or alive), so most people have no reason to help.

 

[dbcb314]

Up until this law change, you had to kill on site if you found them in the wild. Now, they will be allowed to be taken live by collectors.

The downside to this (if you are into lion fish) is that all of the more desirable species (dwarfs etc...) will be out of the question. You will only be able to purchase Volitans caught in FL. The other factor working against it is that there is almost no profit in collecting them (dead or alive), so most people have no reason to help.

All man, no dwarfs?

NOOOOOOOOO! That is one of my favorite saltwater fish and I always told myself if I ever got a salt tank, it would be for those.

Damn lol.

 

[Zoodiver]

It means none can be brought into the state. You can still buy others that are here already. Most likely, you'll have to track down a private owner willing to sell. We expect prices to go up though - that whole supply/demand thing.


The other thing people down here will be able to do is collect their own live (if they want Volitans). They are getting very easy to find, and because they swim slowly, anyone with a mask, fins and a net can snorkel out and get them.

 

[muttley000]

I hope they will catch and market them, why fly them from the indo pacific when we have some that are a nuisance right here. Saw something on one of the blogs about jewelry being made from them also that was pretty cool.

 

[Miguel]

There are research groups trying to get local predator species to recognize lionfish as prey animals.

Triggers do see them as prey...

 

[Oddball]

The problem is that local Florida predators didn't evolve to recognize Pterois sp. as prey animals. Hence, the reason they need to be shown this change in their potential menu selections.

 

[Miguel]

You have a point there, Phil. That is true.

I have seen a vid where a diver was going around killing them and enticing Queen Triggers and Nigers to eat them.

And they want amock the triggers.

The film shocked me, but it may, after all, have served a purpose...

 

[rmkblades]

I saw barracudas being handed speared lion fish to get them "trained" as well.