Trying to collapse a population for conservation: commercial trade of a marine invasive species by artisanal fishers

Malpica-Cruz, Luis; Fulton, Stuart; Quintana, Anastasia; Zepeda-Domínguez, José Alberto; Quiroga-García, Blanca; Tamayo, Lizbeth; Noh, Jose Ángel Canto; Côté, Isabelle M.

doi:10.1007/s11160-021-09660-0

Cited by 9 publications

(8 citation statements)

References 80 publications

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“…For example, while market-based approaches to control invasives have been widely advocated, there are concerns that they could create incentives to maintain the invasive population [47]. Similarly, because the conservation goal of organizations that manage lionfish is for them to deplete the lionfish population, when successful, these efforts result in a decline in opportunities to see, remove, consume, and sell lionfish [48]. This could cause volunteer and citizen scientist engagement in these activities to in fact decrease [49].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Role of Citizen Science in the Research and Management of Invasive Lionfish across the Western Atlantic

Clements

Karp²,

Harris

et al. 2021

Diversity

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Managing invasive Indo-Pacific lionfish (Pterois volitans and P. miles) in the Western Atlantic Ocean is beyond the capacity of natural resource organizations alone. In response, organizations have mobilized members of the public and citizen scientists to help. We used a structured survey to assess the activities and perceptions of 71 organizations that engage the public and citizen scientists in lionfish research and management throughout the invaded range of the Western Atlantic. Five case studies were also conducted that exemplified varied and multi-pronged approaches to engagement of the public and citizen scientists in lionfish control, monitoring, and knowledge-sharing. The public has been engaged to some extent in every approach, but organizations most frequently indicated engaging members of the public in raising awareness, promoting consumption, organized culling/removal, tournaments, and data collection. Sixty-five percent of organizations surveyed engaged the public in data collection, and data collection was ranked as the scientific research activity in which the public is most often involved. Most organizations indicated their data has contributed to scientific publications, management, and government agency research and/or policy. Collectively these findings demonstrate the conservation value of citizen scientists to assist organizational efforts to control, manage, and study a large-scale marine invasion.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Role of Citizen Science in the Research and Management of Invasive Lionfish across the Western Atlantic

Clements

Karp²,

Harris

et al. 2021

Diversity

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“…goal. Our findings provide additional evidence for the Mediterranean invaded range and further highlight the importance of public engagement and the conservation value of citizen scientists (Clements et al, 2021;Green et al, 2017;Malpica-Cruz et al, 2016) to address this issue alongside long-term financially sustainable management (Chapman et al, 2016;Malpica-Cruz et al, 2021;Quintana et al, 2023). participate in future events.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 56%

“…SCUBA divers were found to have a greater advantage in respect to lionfish search and catch yield at depth within highly complex artificial and natural habitats, which is commonly reported across a few studies (e.g., Malpica-Cruz et al, 2017;Malpica-Cruz et al, 2021). This is often why a few divers are required at lionfish-invaded sites, with at least 6-13 divers considered as optimal for ≥85% removal efficiency over a continuous complex habitat of no more than half a hectare; three to four divers can be as effective on sites with artificial structures surrounded by soft substratum.…”

Section: Coordinated Removals Inmentioning

confidence: 62%

“…A cost‐effective way of removing lionfish is to engage the public in management. This approach not only fosters awareness among citizens (e.g., Giovos et al, 2019) but further encourages the commercialization of the species by utilizing the catches under a sustained supply and demand scheme (Chapman et al, 2016; Malpica‐Cruz et al, 2021). These can be crucial steps in controlling invasive species and have been stressed as two of the top priorities identified by Giakoumi et al (2019) to successfully manage NIS.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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An underwater clash of spears: Public engagement in Mediterranean lionfish control efforts

Savva,

Cai,

Kleitou

et al. 2024

Aquatic Conservation

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Invasive alien species pose a great challenge in conservation ecology. Rapid establishment of common lionfish (Pterois miles) in the eastern Mediterranean Sea and its ongoing westward expansion raises many questions about how to sustainably combat this invasion in the long term. Drawing on experiences from the western Atlantic invasion, citizen scientists were engaged and demonstrated the efficiency of long‐term coordinated removals for the first time in the Mediterranean Sea. Findings reveal a sustained participation and interest throughout the coordinated removal events that encourage the organization of future events. Removal Action Teams were found effective at reducing lionfish numbers in small (less than half a hectare) areas of high conservation value, when removals were repeated systematically. Single‐day lionfish derbies, operated at greater spatial scales, succeeded in a 50% reduction in lionfish abundance while removing most large (>30 cm) individuals from an area after three consecutive events. Given the recreational character of such activities, coordinated removals are useful options for management and conservation when guided by competent authorities and supported by citizens, as they promote marine environmental awareness and help develop a sense of stewardship among members of the public.

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“…A bounty programme aimed at both recreational and commercial harvesters is already in place in the region with beneficial results and has resulted in thousands of removals (Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, 2022). Bounty programmes require long‐term planning for commercial and conservation viability to avoid potential socio‐economic impacts, such as the collapse of the fishery in Quintana‐Roo, Mexico following the implementation of a commercial bounty programme and subsequent disapproval from fishing communities (Malpica‐Cruz et al, 2021; Quintana et al, 2022). These programmes have a mixed record of commercial and conservation success in the context of lionfish, so careful consideration of their capacity to buoy, instigate or potentially disincentivize self‐sustaining removals is critical (Pasko & Goldberg, 2014; Ulman et al, 2022).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Serving conservation from reef to plate: Barriers and opportunities for invasive lionfish consumption in restaurants

Smith

Burgess

Clements

et al. 2023

Aquatic Conservation

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Invasive lionfish (Pterois volitans, Pterois miles), introduced to Florida in the 1980s, colonized coral reef ecosystems in the western Atlantic and have been documented beyond recreational diving depths. In addition to threatening coral reef ecosystems, invasive lionfish have been linked to economic damage in the form of reduced native fish yields for local fishers and high management costs incurred in the physical removal of lionfish. While few examples exist of successful management of marine invasive species, studies show that lionfish removal can mitigate their harmful impacts. One promising market‐based approach that offers benefits to both human livelihoods and marine ecosystems is increasing the demand for the consumption of lionfish. This study focuses on Florida's consumptive lionfish market and fills a gap in understanding of the lionfish supply chain for Florida's restaurant industry. Twenty culinary professionals in Florida were interviewed to determine their perceptions of barriers and opportunities for increasing their use of lionfish. The most commonly identified barriers were price and consistency of supply, while the most prominent opportunities were improved awareness and culinary potential. Conservation managers, culinary professionals and policymakers should leverage these findings to facilitate opportunities, address barriers and promote public education about invasive lionfish and their impacts.

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Trying to collapse a population for conservation: commercial trade of a marine invasive species by artisanal fishers

Cited by 9 publications

References 80 publications

The Role of Citizen Science in the Research and Management of Invasive Lionfish across the Western Atlantic

The Role of Citizen Science in the Research and Management of Invasive Lionfish across the Western Atlantic

An underwater clash of spears: Public engagement in Mediterranean lionfish control efforts

Serving conservation from reef to plate: Barriers and opportunities for invasive lionfish consumption in restaurants

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