The Fish That's Eating Florida Alive -- and Why You Should Order It

The Fish That's Eating Florida Alive -- and Why You Should Order It examines the growing push to remove lionfish as an invasive problem in Florida waters. Writing from Marathon, the piece follows Rachel Bowman, described as Florida’s only female lionfish-certified commercial diver, who loads tanks onto her boat and dives to a sunken shrimp trawler, capturing several lionfish for a cooler of ice. The article explains that lionfish, native to the Indo-Pacific, arrived in Atlantic waters near Dania Beach in 1985 and lack natural predators, contributing to a rapid population surge, including egg production of about 27,000 every 2.5 days. It cites a 2008 study in the Bahamas showing native reef fish recruitment dropping by about 80% within five weeks and notes total eradication is unlikely because lionfish can descend roughly 1,000 feet. Florida’s targeted removal events in the Keys have reduced populations by more than 50%, supporting reef recovery, and the fish are widely available without bag limits or seasons.