Freeport News Reporter
As the dreaded lionfish, an invasive species, continues to threaten the waters of the Bahamas, marine expert Greg Waugh has invented a new pole spear system, SafeSpear, that allows for the safe harvest of the venomous sea creature.
Noting that invasive species are costly and can affect our commercial and recreational fisheries, our ecology and tourism industry, Waugh said that efforts have to be increased to stop them.
The marine expert explained that the big release of lionfish came in 1992 with hurricane Andrew and showed up in The Bahamas in 2004, its population growing rapidly.
"There has been a good response in the Bahamas. Reef organizations have teamed up with dive operators and The College of the Bahamas to develop surveys to look up the lionfish and quantify them."
Waugh noted that there has also been a lot of effort generated on behalf of the government in producing many informational packages to encourage persons to harvest and handle lionfish.
He explained that there is also a national lionfish response plan, completed last year that requires a high management strategy which needs to be conducted in one to two years.
It was also recommended that persons should be allowed to spear lionfish around the islands and encourage commercial fishing of lionfish.
Additionally, Waugh said that the government is expanding protection for marine reserves and they are working along with them to try to get gear that can be used to harvest lionfish, to be allowed to be imported duty free.
Waugh's tool kit include needle-resistant lionfish gloves which he claims provides excellent protection. The kit also includes lionfish grippers to safely hold the lionfish while using the lionfish clippers to safely remove the venomous spines. A stainless steel knife is included to clean and prepare the lionfish for cooking and complete instructions are provided.
Two different bag systems for SCUBA diving in deeper water where sharks may be an issue and for snorkelling in shallow water where sharks are less likely to be an issue are also options.
The Bahamas National Trust will host a program to introduce SafeSpear on Wednesday, April 14, 2010 beginning at 6:30 p.m. at the Rand Nature Centre.
There Waugh will be answering questions, distributing printed materials, and taking orders for spears and kits.
Waugh said that Bahamians and visitors alike should give lionfish a try as it is easy to prepare and delicious.
