The launch of the meshwire pilot project was held yesterday on the Calabash Bay Beach. His Excellency Stephen Hallihan, Canadian High Commissioner made the presentation and Dr. The Honorable Christopher Tufton was the guest speaker.

The lauch of the meshwire pilot project includes 150 registered fishermen located along the South Coast of Jamaica receiving 3 rolls each of 1 1/2 inch meshwire. There will be an aggresive campaign started to register more fishermen and to collect data from the fishermen using the new sized meshwire. There will be workshops held throughout Jamaica educating fishermen on good fishing practices. Attention will be given to improving safety at sea with special emphasis on communication systems, starting better sanitation practices on the Cays, putting a research station on the Pedro Cays, and more.

As of January 1, 2011 all fish pots used in Jamaica must have meshwire size no less than 1 1/2 inch which adheres to standard global practices and has been proven to be a much more sustainable method of catching fish. Again, this will become law on January 1, 2011.

In addition, a handing over ceremony was held of the Canadian High Commissioner, His Excellency Stephen Hallihan cutting the ribbon on new bathroom and shower facilites donated to the Calabash Bay Fishing Coop. This new facility will be available to all who use the beach.

This was a good day when great strides were made to protect the fishing industry and to honor the Calabash Bay Fishing Coop by being choosen to spearhead this project.

Congratulations to all involved.

You can view photos of this event here or by the link in the Photo Gallery

Worth notiing, the back of the programs handed out held facts and tips on capturing, handling, and cooking lionfish. Well done!

I am so delightful to see the fishermen in treasure beach coming out to this meeting. this was what my father artie parchment from great bay and mr.ted tatham tried to teach them in the late 70's to the early 80's they would be reaping the benefits now but the fishermen thinks that they knows it all.hope this time they will put this into to practice for the future generation

RE: REBECCA'S STATEMENT:
Worth noting, the back of the programs (for the Meshwire Pilot Project) handed out held facts and tips on capturing, handling, and cooking lionfish.

See Announcement:
Agricultural Ministry Encouraging Jamaican Public to Eat Lionfish

The Ministry will also be working closely with the Chefs Association and the private sector to encourage the consumption of lionfish.

Only two months ago, Chairman of Couples Resorts, Lee Issa, hosted a successful lionfish competition, where fisherfolk caught more than 1,400 pounds of lionfish, which was subsequently prepared and eaten by guests.

http://go-jamaica.com/news/read_article.php?id=20856


Might LF be on Axel's menu when MarBlu re-opens in October?

LIONFISH & LOCAL RESTAURANTS:

Andrea's SeaSide (Axel @ MarBlu); Kory @ Sunset Resort; JAKES/Jack Sprat; Oliver's Dutch...who will be the first to serve a worthy dish of Lionfish...described as the new "it" seafood.

"It is a delicate and sweet white-fleshed fish that tastes like a cross between snapper and grouper."

http://www.dailymail.com/foodandliving/201007130865

http://www.organicauthority.com/blog/organic/why-foodies-and-greenies-want-to-ea t-invasive-lionfish/

The fishermen given the fish pot wire were registered with the Fisherman's Coop. I'm not sure what other criteria was given to who received the wire.

Does anyone else know?

Lionfish is being promoted as a delicacy in more places than Jamaica. We were delighted to see it written up in the food section of the Washington Post, along with recipes. The newspaper noted some area restaurants which were serving it; they happened to be some of the more upscale ones in the area. If this catches on, it would be a wonderful way to serve two excellent purposes: give the fishermen a new source of income and rid the waters of this fish.

I only just learned of the lionfish problem, and I'm happy to hear that proactive steps are being taken to fight it.

@Lionfish Delicacy
Can you post a link to the WaPo story?

Thanks,
Eric

Here is the link to the Washington Post article on lionfish: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/07/06/AR2010070601003. html

Has anyone caught or seen any Lionfish along the interior reef are they just caught in fish pot off shore,

The lionfish I have seen so far in TB have all been caught in fishpots.

News
Save the industry, eat up the lionfish, Tufton urges J'cans


Wednesday, August 04, 2010





AGRICULTURE and Fisheries Minister Dr Christopher Tufton is encouraging Jamaicans to eat the lionfish, which he said will not only save the already depleted fish stock, but provide the platform for the sustainability of the island's fisheries.

Fried lionfish was one of the treats for patrons who attended the just-concluded Denbigh Agricultural and Industrial Show in Clarendon.


Prime Minister Bruce Golding samples the lionfish at Monday’s staging of the Denbigh Agricultural and Industrial Show in Clarendon. (Photo: Karl McLarty)
Prime Minister Bruce Golding samples the lionfish at Monday’s staging of the Denbigh Agricultural and Industrial Show in Clarendon. (Photo: Karl McLarty) 1/1

The Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries, the National Environment and Planning Agency (NEPA), Food for the Poor, and the Culinary Federation of Jamaica ,under the umbrella of the Lionfish Sub-committee demonstrated how to prepare the lionfish for consumption.

The demonstrations featured safe handling, preparation and cooking of the fish.

The lionfish is a major threat to Jamaica's fisheries as it consumes thousands of juvenile fish each year. The fish is not native to Jamaica, and therefore has no aggressive natural predators. Its venomous spines also give it protection from other animals. The lionfish was discovered in Jamaica in 1992, and has significantly increased in numbers in our waters since.

According to Nelsa English, National Project Coordinator for the Invasive Alien Species Project in Jamaica, "Since the lionfish has no aggressive natural predators the only way to control its population is through human consumption.

"The Bahamas has a similar problem with the lionfish, and they have been eating the fish for years. In fact, we have been working closely with our partners in the Bahamas through a project called 'Mitigating the Threat of Invasive Alien Species in the Insular Caribbean' to control the population here."

The recently formed Lionfish Sub-committee comprises organisations which represent key stakeholders who will be severely impacted by the invasion of the fish, and who can aid in the development and implementation of effective control and management initiatives.

Hi Cindy,
Was your article from the Daily Mail or the Jamaica Observer?

It was in the Jamaica Observer where you will find other articles relating to this subject.

Jamaica Observer

Lionfish is safe, delicious



Friday, August 06, 2010





Dear Editor,

I have been reading the various articles in the newspapers about the lionfish and its effect on our fish supply. Doing my own research I found out that in the wild the lionfish eats smaller fish and invertebrates, will eat to the point of regurgitation and will consume from one to 11 small to medium-sized prey items per feeding, then retire to a hiding spot to digest the food for a day or so, and repeat this process. So one can see why they are a threat to our fish supply.


Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries Dr Christopher Tufton
Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries Dr Christopher Tufton 1/1

It should be noted, however, that Jamaica is not in a unique position, places like The Bahamas and Florida have the same problem and they are doing something about it. They are eating them! So I support Dr Christopher Tufton in his call for us to eat them as a way of getting rid of them. I have had it before while I was in the Bahamas. It is delicious!

While I understand the fear that people feel when they hear the word “poison”, as they are equipped with venomous spines capable of delivering painful stings, I implore the public to educate themselves on the lionfish. The flesh is not poisonous, just the spikes. Once you get around the spikes everything is fine. The chance of anyone getting poisoned while preparing the lionfish is solely dependent on how careful they are in the process. As I have seen on various demonstrations on local TV, you must wear thick protective gloves when removing the spikes and properly dispose of them.

So eat up, Jamaica, it’s for a good cause!

Elizabeth Russell


Kingston 6


lizzi.russell@gmail.com

Someone could open a "Lionfish" fast food takeout restaurant and become rich.
If they are safe to eat why not.
First you have to know how to harvest these predators they are not that easy to catch.
(Spear Guns Please)
I know our smart fishermen will come up with the right suggestions and they have to get on the band-wagon.....VERY SOON to protect their livelihoods.

Seriously speaking....If there is K..Chicken,
M...... burgers etc,etc....WHY NOT.
Make it tasty and serve with french fries.

I can assure you if someone should open a Fast Food Restaurant and sell Lionfish and Fries with coleslaw on the side they will do a fantastic business.

Here I am giving good advice.

Let me be the first in line.
mmmmmmmm......

I'd try one and I ain't lion.

You go first!!

Jamaica Observer


Columns
Lionfish psychology

MICHAEL BURKE


Thursday, September 16, 2010





EVER since the presence of lionfish in Jamaican waters became known, some have opined that it is no problem to them because they do not eat fish. But if lionfish deplete the stock of other fish, people who eat fish might have to eat the same food as those who do not eat fish and cause a food shortage. And the disposal of lionfish fins and bones poses a brand new problem both to those who eat and do not eat fish. Garbage collectors who grab plastic bags filled with lionfish bones can be injured.

Anyone can mistakenly step on discarded lionfish bones not properly disposed of and be injured. Those who go on fishermen's beaches will be well advised to look out for discarded lionfish bones. It is therefore imperative that we all study the behaviour of lionfish so that we know what to do, if and when we make contact with lionfish.


Fisherman Garsel “Spoogy” Smith holds up a freshly caught lionfish at Robin’s Bay, St Mary. (Photo: Latoya Latibeaudiere)
Fisherman Garsel “Spoogy” Smith holds up a freshly caught lionfish at Robin’s Bay, St Mary. (Photo: Latoya Latibeaudiere) 1/1

Lionfish eat many types of fish and also eat crabs, lobsters and shrimps. All of these have been removed from the stomachs of lionfish that swim around Jamaica. These facts have come from a study of lionfish and their behavioural patterns commissioned by Food for the Poor. They have also sponsored courses to deal with the problem and to teach everyone not to be afraid of handling lionfish. And the lionfish are now everywhere around Jamaica, including the polluted Kingston Harbour.

Evidently, Food for the Poor understands that since lionfish pose the threat of food shortage and injury, the organisation might be pressured to supply even more food and more medical equipment.

As a result of my August 26 column, "Lionfish in Jamaican waters", Dr Dayne Buddo invited me to the University of the West Indies Marine Biology Laboratory in Discovery Bay, St Ann. I spent one afternoon and I learnt a lot, including what I call "lionfish psychology" as psychology is defined as the study of behaviour. It was actually a two-day seminar conducted by Nahkle Hado and Emma Plotek, sponsored by Food for the Poor along with Dr Buddo.

The seminar was for about 20 marine biologists employed at various agencies and organisations. They were being trained to teach fishermen and fish vendors how to handle lionfish. So there I was in a marine biology class although I know next to nothing about that subject. We prepared lionfish for eating but I did not get to taste it, as cooking would be the following day when I would be in Kingston.

With sharp scissors we removed the fins of the lionfish, then scaled and gutted them. If scissors are not sharp some fins will remain and they can be injurious to lionfish handlers. The inside of the lionfish is remarkably clean because it consumes sea animals but not corals and mud.

The venom does not come from the fins but from the spine. Ordinarily, the lionfish is cooked with the venom and the heat de-natures it. But if you do not trust the heat, you can fillet the lionfish and in that way you do not come into contact with the venom at all. There is a difference between venom and poison. Venom can be de-natured by heat but poison needs an antidote. Venom is injected while poison is ingested.

On my return to Kingston, it occurred to me that although lionfish eat shrimps, lobsters and many types of fish, we were not shown sufficient samples to conclude that lionfish eat every type of fish found in Jamaican waters. Perhaps there needs to be further study of "lionfish psychology" to know which seawater fish around Jamaica lionfish do not eat.

But it is quite clear that lionfish eat parrotfish, which is a favourite of many Jamaicans who eat fish. And already fry-fish shop owners are complaining that they cannot purchase parrot fish in large amounts anymore because of lionfish.

We will need fish sanctuaries where the lionfish are kept out, although some say it would be difficult to do that. If there was a fish sanctuary for lionfish in Florida (the one the hurricane destroyed in 1992 and let out lionfish into the sea) then we could have sanctuaries for other types of fish. We also need to cordon off all of our beaches. When Gunboat Beach was built, it was cordoned off and I believe the reason was to protect beach-goers from barracudas.

It was only last week that I asked readers if a poem that I wrote entitled "Black skin President Day" and published in January 1989 was a prophecy. I wrote that I would be the first to tell you that I do not know everything. I did not know until my arrival at the UWI Marine lab in Discovery Bay that I would be in a class. I thought I was going there only to see lionfish.

I certainly never prophesied, nor did I ever dream that I would ever be in a class with Marine Biology graduates. I wonder if Dr Buddo mistook me for Deacon Peter Espeut (just joking)! But I was very happy to be there and enjoyed it immensely.

ekrubm765@yahoo.com