The most effective strategy for eradicating invasive lionfish is as follows:

• Divers hunting them via spearfishing!

• Lionfish derbies; a typical lionfish derby includes 10-20 people and catch 1-200 fish

So far, no robot or gadget has been made that is better at catching lionfish than humans are. Net or rod fishing for lionfish is really risky because they dwell on reefs. Though spearfishing is a helpful strategy for lionfish eradication, it is not perfect. Inexperienced spear-fishers can cause damage to reefs by accidentally spearing them, rather than the lionfish. There is still work to be done to find a long-term solution to this problem.

A few years ago, divers in Belize and across the Carribean tried a new method of eradicating lionfish: feeding them to sharks, in the hopes of "training" the sharks to eat lionfish. Sharks are incredibly smart animals, and they do not eat any fish if they don't recognize them. For example, in the Pacific Ocean, great white sharks eat lionfish, but will not in the Atlantic Ocean, because they don't have that instinct. Divers would catch lionfish on a spear, and feed the shark off of the spear. This posed a variety of issues. The first issue is that sharks don't teach their young to hunt, meaning each generation of sharks would need to be "trained". The second issue is that the sharks waited near lionfish for divers to feed them, rather than eating lionfish that they saw on their own. This strategy also compromised diver safety, as the sharks would become aggressive with divers if they were spearfishing and did not feed them. 

https://youtu.be/MuJmrv_KF24 

Why isn't Just Using Spearfishing as a Strategy Ideal?

There are a variety of reasons why this strategy is not  entirely effective for controlling invasive lionfish populations. Though it does make a positive impact, it is not a comprehensive strategy for eradicating them entirely. There are several reasons for this. 

1. Limited Reach: Spearfishing is both labor-intensive and time-consuming. It is only feasible in relatively shallow waters where divers can access the lionfish while prioritizing their safety. This means that spearfishing is not a viable solution for controlling lionfish populations in deeper waters or areas that are difficult to access.

2. Limited Impact: Even in areas where spearfishing is possible, it is unlikely that we will be able to completely eradicate the lionfish population. Lionfish reproduce incredibly quickly, meaning that even if a significant number of lionfish are removed through spearfishing, the population can quickly rebound.

3. The Cost: Spearfishing is an expensive solution. It requires many resources, such as trained divers, specialized equipment, and boats. 

4. Ecological Damage: Spearfishing can also cause damage to the ecosystem. For example, if divers miss the lionfish, they can hit coral and accidentally cause damage. 

The good news: 

Almost anyone can get involved, either hands-on, by spearfishing, or by ordering lionfish in restaurants and from grocery stores to cook at home. 

 What is a Coral Reef?

A coral reef is a diverse ecosystem made up of underwater structures formed by colonies of marine organisms called polyps. Polyps, or corals, secrete a hard calcium carbonate skeleton that accumulates over time to form the reef structure. Coral reefs are found in tropical and subtropical waters around the world and are home to an incredible variety of marine life, including fish, crustaceans, mollusks, sea turtles, sharks, and many other species. They are the ocean's version of a rainforest, housing millions of plants and animals. 

Coral reefs also provide important services to humans, though many people do not know it. Reefs protect coastlines from storms, provide food and livelihoods for millions of people, and support tourism and recreation. However, coral reefs are under threat from a variety of factors, including climate change, pollution, invasive species, overfishing, and destructive fishing practices, which can damage or destroy these fragile, and very essential ecosystems.