Current Directions in Managing Invasive Lionfish Populations to Protect Reef Biodiversity

Abstract

Invasive lionfish pose a significant threat to reef biodiversity in coastal Atlantic regions through their aggressive feeding habits, lack of predators, and overall hardiness in a wide range of climactic conditions. Their impact has resulted in targeted human efforts to manage and reduce invasive populations where possible. It is important to identify the current methods being employed such as manual culling and traps and analyze their strengths and weaknesses. Additionally looking at non-human interactions between lionfish and their ecosystems and how they’ve developed may influence how management is approach, such as the effects of grouper non-consumptive pressures. By learning from relevant approaches we can look towards integrating them into a holistic plan that targets lionfish at multiple levels from multiple angles and formulate incentives to gather greater support from organizations and people to participate in preserving reef biodiversity through economically and environmentally feasible options.