The lionfish is a striped Indo-Pacific species covered in poisonous spines, which became an unexpected risk to the marine ecosystem, especially for coral reefs, when it was accidentally introduced in the warm Atlantic waters.
Cuba already included lionfish in its menu to fight this invasive and predatory species that threatens the balance of the Caribbean Sea.
Costa Rica’s government created the National Lionfish Management and Control Commission to fight against this fearsome predator that already impacts coral reefs and biodiversity in Cahuita and Manzanillo.
Lionfish reproduce rapidly and have no natural predators due to their dangerous poison. Even sharks avoid them, and such is the threat, that the Association of Caribbean States (ACS) plans to discuss a joint plan against them during a summit in La Habana.
Countries such as Costa Rica, Colombia and Mexico are stimulating the consumption of this species. Japan has a long history of lionfish meat consumption, which must be carefully prepared since it has venomous glands that can lead to respiratory paralysis, muscle pain and fever.