The silence underwater was suffocating. Time passed quickly. After I found my target, I kept my eyes on it, because I knew that if I missed and let it escape, it might learn from this encounter and become more difficult to catch in the future.
As I approached with the harpoon in hand, I saw the fish spread its broad pectoral fins, exposing its venomous spines. (It moves slowly and is easy to spot, so it relies on this intimidation to scare off potential predators.) I took aim, pulled the spring-loaded trigger, and the harpoon flew out.
Two divers prepare to dive in Bonaire waters with gear designed to catch lionfish.
Two divers prepare to dive in Bonaire waters with gear designed to catch lionfish. Lorenzo Mittiga/INSTITUTE
I learned to free dive and hunt underwater as a child, but spearfishing no longer thrilled me. As an adult, I developed an interest in marine biology and underwater photography, eventually trading my childhood spearfishing spear for my first professional underwater camera. Shortly thereafter, I completed a Masters in Marine Biology. For the past ten years, I have been living on the Caribbean island of Bonaire as a marine conservation photographer.
My primary goal was to document the efforts of local communities—including scientists, professional divers, and volunteers—to protect coral reefs on Bonaire, where a large portion of comprehensive conservation efforts are focused on one particular fish: lionfish (Pterodon scorpionfish and Pterodon scorpionfish).
Lionfish near a coral reef. The animals are territorial and have killed large numbers of native fish around their habitat.
Lionfish near a coral reef. The animals are territorial and have killed large numbers of native fish around their habitat. Lorenzo Mittiga/INSTITUTE
Lionfish are native to the Pacific and Indian Oceans, but over the past few decades they have taken up residence in the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean Sea, posing a serious threat to tropical Atlantic coral reefs and their habitats.
The impact is staggering. A study by scientists at Oregon State University found that in just five weeks, a single lionfish reduced the number of juveniles in its feeding area by 80 percent. And they reproduce prolifically: Females can lay about 25,000 eggs every few days. In some places, including the Bahamas, lionfish blooms are likely responsible for the largest population growth since industrialization began.The most dramatic changes in biodiversity in coral reef habitats.
A hunter approaches a lionfish on a coral wall. The fish can be found at depths of up to 90 meters.
A hunter approaches a lionfish on a coral wall. The fish can be found at depths of up to 90 meters. Lorenzo Mittiga/INSTITUTE
Paul Berthur, a wildlife biologist with STINAPA, a nonprofit foundation that manages nature parks on Bonaire, stuffs a lionfish into a
Paul Berthur, a wildlife biologist with STINAPA, a nonprofit foundation that manages nature parks on Bonaire, stuffs a lionfish into a “Zookeeper,” a device that protects divers from being stung. Lorenzo Mittiga/INSTITUTE
Communities across the Caribbean are taking steps to curb lionfish populations. Bonaire relies on volunteers who catch lionfish, a partnership with the nonprofit Bonaire National Park Foundation (STINAPA), which manages Bonaire’s natural parks, and help from local dive shops.
Diver capture is a precise way to control lionfish populations because underwater capture causes little collateral damage. But divers can comfortably dive to a depth of around 18 meters. When lionfish are at greater depths, they can be caught using traps.
Because spearfishing is banned in Bonaire, and to prevent injuries, special tools have been developed and marketed to help divers catch fish. The ELF tool – which stands for “eradicate lionfish” – also helps avoid the damage to the reef caused by traditional spearguns and nets.
A set of ELF tools. Unlike harpoon guns where the spear tip is attached to the gun with a rope, the spring-loaded ELF harpoon will not detach from the gun shaft.
A set of ELF tools. Unlike harpoon guns where the spear tip is attached to the gun with a rope, the spring-loaded ELF harpoon will not detach from the gun shaft. Lorenzo Mittiga/INSTITUTE
After completing a capture, a diver carefully opens the Zookeeper and removes a speared lionfish.
After completing a capture, a diver carefully opens the Zookeeper and removes a speared lionfish. Lorenzo Mittiga/INSTITUTE
While it’s relatively easy to catch a lionfish, removing the fish from the prongs of an ELF tool while avoiding injury from its stinger can be difficult and dangerous. As a result, lionfish hunters have also begun using a device called a “Zookeeper,” which is essentially a length of PVC tubing that’s sealed at one end and has a modified plastic funnel at the other. Once the lionfish is speared with the ELF, the fish (and the spear tip) is pushed through the funnel into the Zookeeper; when the spear is removed, the fish is trapped in the tube.
When I first arrived in Bonaire, I was introduced to a conservation project aimed at eradicating lionfish. Because of my fishing experience, I was immediately invited to participate. Although my real interest was to document the community’s efforts, I agreed.
Since then, I have been more amazed by the destructive power of this spiky animal.
Lionfish is edible after the sting is removed and is served in restaurants on Bonaire.
Lionfish is edible after the sting is removed and is served in restaurants on Bonaire. Lorenzo Mittiga/INSTITUTE
It felt cruel to kill such beautiful creatures, even though I knew intellectually that it was good for the environment. After all, the problem wasn’t the lionfish; scientists theorized that they were here because aquarium fish keepers dumped unwanted fish off the Florida coast, probably because they’d eaten all the other fish in their tanks.
However, killing these lionfish one by one may be the best way to slow the damage they are doing to Caribbean coral reefs.
Lionfish that hunt at night.
Lionfish that hunt at night. Lorenzo Mittiga/INSTITUTE