Residents are being asked to join the fight against an invading predator that threatens to destroy Bermuda’s marine ecosystem.

The call to arms has been issued by the Bermuda Lionfish Taskforce (BLT), which recommends that an army of volunteers could be trained up to hunt down the fish.

The lionfish is a native to the Indian and Pacific oceans but spread to the Atlantic and was first sighted in Bermuda’s waters in 1999. They reproduce every three to four days all year and a single female is capable of laying two million eggs each year.

The BLT has now developed a strategy to get numbers down.

According to the Control Plan, the lionfish invasion “may prove to be one of the greatest threats of this century to warm temperate and tropical Atlantic reefs and associated habitats”.

“The invasion of lionfish has put Bermuda’s marine ecosystem in jeopardy, the effects of which could wreak havoc on our commercial fishing industry, and seriously impact tourism and other sectors of the economy. It also poses a public health risk because of the lionfish’s 18 venomous spines,” the report states.

“The presence of lionfish threatens the triggering of a cascade effect, with lionfish disrupting the food webs on a reef. For example, as lionfish consume large quantities of juvenile herbivorous fishes such as parrot fishes, the herbivores’ capacity to keep fast-growing algae in check, maintaining the health of the reef, could be reduced.”

It is understood that the lionfish has been able to thrive here because, although slow-moving and relatively easy to catch, it has no natural predators, which is why human intervention is necessary.

“The two main methods identified in this Control Plan for managing lionfish are culling with spears in shallow water (60 feet) and trapping of lionfish in deep water (150 feet)” a synopsis of the plan states.

Considerations to allow successful culling of lionfish need to be balanced with the need to protect the environment and fishery stocks, and prevent illegal fishing.

“Local volunteers will be trained to cull lionfish at depths accessible to snorkellers and recreational divers,” the report recommends.

Cullers will be trained in appropriate spearing and handling techniques before being issued with a permit, which would allow anyone who does not otherwise spearfish to use a spear to cull lionfish without the need to obtain a spearfishing licence.

“Lionfish culling spears may not be longer than five feet, and all cullers will be required to report on their culling activities and upload data on their catches to the Ocean Support Foundation database,” according to the report.

“Culling permits will generally be issued to individuals but certain partner organisations whose members spend a lot of time in the water will be issued a group permit. Examples of organisations for which group permits could be issued include the various dive shops, BIOS, and other marine tourism operators.

“Dive shops are also exploring ways in which visitors to Bermuda may get involved in lionfish culling through a dedicated speciality course.”.

Taskforce co-chairman Paul Van Pelt said that 300 permits had already been issued to residents, but more recruits were needed.

And as an incentive, he pointed out that the lionfish are excellent to eat.

“We would like to have 1,000 permitted cullers,” Mr van Pelt said.

“We need them to attend the class and get their permit for culling so they can hunt, kill and eat to beat the lionfish menace. What better than a free and delicious meal from the sea?

“Why not enjoy protecting Bermuda’s reef fish and coral from the growing problem? We all have a common enemy.”

The course takes just an hour to complete, while annual permits cost $20.

Anyone interested in obtaining a lionfish spearing permit should e-mail their name, e-mail address and phone number to bdalionfishpermit@gmail.com.

Further information can be found at http://www.oceansupport.org and on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/BermudaLionfishCullingProgram