The Invasion

Many of you may have heard about the lionfish that have been mysteriously arriving in Cozumel waters. The lionfish is not from around here. In fact they come from the Indo Pacific.

Wikipedia says:

The lionfish is native to the tropical Indo-Pacific region of the world, but various species can be found worldwide. Due to a recent introduction, the lionfish has recently been spotted in the warmer coral regions of the Eastern Atlantic Ocean and Caribbean Sea.^[2] This introduction was most likely caused when a hurricane destroyed an aquarium in southern Florida. DNA from captured lionfish in this region shows that they all originated from the same six or seven fish.

SO guess what? They are in Cozumel and the Marine Park is stressed. They seem to be at a standstill as to what really needs to be done. The controversy is thick really. On the one hand you have a transplanted species that could wreak havoc on local species. They are voracious predators and prey particularly often on smaller and juvenile species. On the other hand, you have a fish that is very attractive, highly photogenic and likes to stay in the same place all the time. As a scuba diver what more could a diver ask for?

So do we kill it or do we love it?

2 days ago I had my first encounter and in my mind I am still torn with the decision.

When last we met our intrepid adventurers (I always wanted to write that) they are happily enjoying an afternoon swim on Santa Rosa reef. The wall is beautiful, the vis is striking and all 6 divers are performing swimmingly. HEHE.

Katherine (Marty’s wife) is just ahead of me and points out something interesting. I pop down to 83 ft and she points to a flowing black fish on the edge of the wall. Sure enough the arch enemy of the Cozumel reef ecosystem has come out of hiding to flaunt his wrath. The 5 inch fish is just hanging out enjoying the early evening and fully prepared to pose for pictures. Marty obliges him with camera in hand (thank you Marty for the shots you see here). Tone Scubaman moves in for some views as well and the California boys, Jeff and Kevin are equally impressed. I signal to everyone to standby and I head, as slowly and quickly to the surface, as I dare. Gotta hurry, don’t wanna get bent.

When I get to the surface, Carlos is there and he throws me my mask box so I have something to capture said invader there in. On return to the scene of the crime, the bold and unflinching predator is in exactly the same place as when we arrived, basking in the glory that is his own, his ocean, we are just visiting and he knows it. Unfortunately, the marine park feels differently. I know my job as guardian of the marine park is to subdue such vile and dangerous predators and deliver them forthwith to marine park jail.

So I arrive on scene with plastic mask box in hand and attempt to herd the bold but deadly lionfish into captivity. Once again he has other ideas on the matter. It seems he does not want to go inside? He darts around escaping each time. This puzzles 10-year-old Margo, who has been watching the whole event. She thinks the ecologically minded, super green diver guy ScubaTony said “don’t take anything, don’t touch anything inside the marine park”. And she would be correct. I did say that and do say that all the time. Meanwhile back at the ranch (always wanted to say that too), the brave lionfish has decided bold is no longer working for him and he now hides deep inside the reef so that no mask box or ecologically minded, super green diver guy will take him away to marine park jail. I give up and continue the dive with my guests, a couple of which have used up a lot of their air at 83 ft. Lion fish 1, Scubatony zippo!

Next day is Monday and I have a couple other divers onboard. The Marine Park is happy to hear of our discovery the day before and gives me a couple of fish nets so that I might apprehend the terrible invader with more success! We dive Maricaibo (amazing wow type dive), do our surface interval at El Cielo and head back to Santa Rosa to attempt once more to bring the little outcast to justice. It all goes like clockwork and within a few minutes we arrive at the same place on Santa Rosa wall at 83 ft, with Marine park apprehension devices in hand. The bold lion fish has resumed his vigil and moved approximately 13 inches from his original location, where I harassed him into submission the day before. This time he gives up without a struggle knowing that Scubatony and his mighty divers, with the help of the Marine Park, has bested him. We have him captured and marvel in the glory or our success. Lionfish is in the net but struggles very little knowing that attempts to excape would be futile. Lionfish 1, Scubatony a bigger ONE!

We get him back to the boat and Carlos puts him in a bucket of water for the journey back to Caleta. After a short while his belly begins to swell. I think he has decompression sickness from coming up from 80 ft. The little guy is upside down on the surface of the bucket but can’t right himself or swim down. He is still flapping his gills and appears to be in some distress. Everyone on the boat feels bad for him. I, in particular, have guilt. This beautiful fish, which was honestly the highlight of our dive, is dying a painful death all because he was offspring of some rogue fish that was originally stolen from his home waters of Southeast Asia and freed by an act of nature to survive and breed in a new ocean on the other side of the planet.

I give him over to the Marine Park along with the soggy nets they loaned me. As I do, I feel remorse. Actually it is more like grief. I have done what was expected of me. This lion fish will not eat up the small and weaker fish here in Cozumel. He will not breed and make more of his own kind. He will die a painful death and later be dissected and his DNA tested to see where he comes from.

This event still troubles me. Margo questioned me as to why I captured the little lion fish. I explained the reasons and she understood; but she had every right to feel that I was wrong in doing so. I don’t know if we have the power to stop this invasion. Since their first sighting last winter, there have been more and more captured each month. At best, we might be able to slow a complete invasion but I think the beautiful little lion fish is here to stay. Perhaps we should just enjoy them and see what nature will come up with in the new balance of life that is the Cozumel Marine Park.