Don’t be fooled by the beautiful stripes and fan-like fins of the lionfish. These fish have venomous spines. The venomous sting is extremely painful and can last for days. Lionfish do not belong in our waters here in the Florida Keys. They are invasive and are eating their way through our fish populations. A study found that “lionfish can kill three-quarters of a reef’s fish population in just five weeks”. Lionfish feed on the prey that snappers, groupers, and other native species eat and put stress on coral reefs. They do not have natural predators here and their populations have soared.
The Reef Environmental Education Foundation (REEF) is working to fight against the invasion of the lionfish. Check out REEF’s cookbook and their Florida Keys lionfish fishing tournaments:
The Lionfish Cookbook
Available on Amazon and REEF’s website.
“The second edition of The Lionfish Cookbook contains brand new recipes from highly regarded culinary professionals throughout the Western Atlantic, Caribbean and Gulf of Mexico, all of whom have created unique methods of preparing lionfish. The original 45 appetizer and entrée recipes from the first edition are included as well, providing a blend of tantalizing recipes, background and impacts of the lionfish invasion, and information on how to effectively catch, handle and prepare lionfish.
Click here to see REEF’s restaurant list of restaurants serving lionfish.
13th Annual Florida Keys Lionfish Derby & Festival
Hosted by Postcard Inn Resort & Marina Islamorada, FL, September 8-11, 2022
Click here to find out more.