WEBVTT 00:08.108 --> 00:10.177 >>NARRATOR: In the watersof the western Atlantic 00:10.177 --> 00:15.916 and Caribbean, a voracious alienpredator has taken hold. 00:15.916 --> 00:18.552 >>We have never before seena marine invasion 00:18.552 --> 00:20.787 of this magnitude or this scale. 00:20.787 --> 00:24.558 >>NARRATOR: Lionfish areindigenous to the Indo-Pacific. 00:24.558 --> 00:26.927 >>They've evolvedover many thousands of years 00:26.927 --> 00:29.963 in a complicated system whereeverything had time to work out 00:29.963 --> 00:35.302 its place and its controllingmechanisms. 00:35.302 --> 00:37.237 >>NARRATOR:Not so in the Atlantic, 00:37.237 --> 00:40.908 where this invasive speciesis a major threat 00:40.908 --> 00:43.343 to biodiversity and the health 00:43.343 --> 00:48.348 of already stressed coral reefecosystems. 00:48.348 --> 00:51.051 >>The biggest concern we haveis lionfish predation 00:51.051 --> 00:52.886 on other marine life. 00:52.886 --> 00:56.023 They're a voracious,gluttonous feeder. 00:56.023 --> 00:58.025 They're an ambush predator, 00:58.025 --> 01:00.360 and they're very uniquelycamouflaged, 01:00.360 --> 01:03.330 so they can sneak upvery close to their prey, 01:03.330 --> 01:07.901 and our prey here in this rangehave not evolved with lionfish 01:07.901 --> 01:12.773 and don't see themas a predator. 01:12.773 --> 01:14.474 One of the key findingsof the research 01:14.474 --> 01:17.177 that we've been doing herein the Bahamas is that lionfish 01:17.177 --> 01:20.013 have likely reducedfish populations 01:20.013 --> 01:25.519 on many of these reefs by up to90% in the last four years. 01:25.519 --> 01:28.088 It's a free-for-allfor lionfish right now. 01:28.088 --> 01:30.190 No predators, lots of food. 01:30.190 --> 01:32.259 Just a kid in a candy store. 01:32.259 --> 01:33.794 The million-dollar question 01:33.794 --> 01:35.362 is "what are we going to doabout this?" 02:01.722 --> 02:04.091 >>Major funding for thisprogram was provided 02:04.091 --> 02:06.193 by the Batchelor Foundation, 02:06.193 --> 02:08.795 encouraging peopleto preserve and protect 02:08.795 --> 02:13.800 America's underwater resources. 02:25.412 --> 02:27.914 >>NARRATOR:They are stunning fish, 02:27.914 --> 02:33.320 with striking stripesand long, flamboyant fins. 02:33.320 --> 02:36.189 Native to the Indo-Pacificand Red Sea, 02:36.189 --> 02:41.194 Lionfish are membersof the scorpion fish family. 02:41.194 --> 02:43.830 >>Lionfish are very popularaquarium fish, 02:43.830 --> 02:46.566 and they are sold in very largenumbers in the United States. 02:46.566 --> 02:48.468 They're very ornate,beautiful fish. 02:48.468 --> 02:52.105 They tend to eat a lot, and theyeat the other aquarium fish-- 02:52.105 --> 02:54.675 some of the expensiveaquarium fish. 02:54.675 --> 02:57.210 >>Lionfish will outgrowan aquarium in many cases. 02:57.210 --> 02:58.612 Also, the expense of keeping 02:58.612 --> 03:02.582 an aquarium can beprice-inhibitive. 03:02.582 --> 03:05.552 So what happens is,the people run out of money 03:05.552 --> 03:07.921 to maintain their aquarium,and they, rather than bring 03:07.921 --> 03:09.890 the fish back to the pet store, 03:09.890 --> 03:12.292 they just release theminto the wild. 03:12.292 --> 03:16.863 >>And some of those fish gottogether and began to reproduce. 03:16.863 --> 03:19.099 >>NARRATOR: Experts believethey can trace the origins 03:19.099 --> 03:21.535 of this invasionto South Florida, 03:21.535 --> 03:25.972 where the first lionfishwere spotted in the wild. 03:25.972 --> 03:28.742 >>Actually, 1985 in Miamiwas the first record. 03:28.742 --> 03:33.246 And then a very few records inthe early and mid-'90s as well. 03:33.246 --> 03:35.582 There is a popular myththat Hurricane Andrew 03:35.582 --> 03:40.754 destroyed a bayfront aquariumin South Florida, in Miami, 03:40.754 --> 03:43.190 but it's all second-and third-hand information. 03:43.190 --> 03:44.558 It's never been proven. 03:44.558 --> 03:46.760 And the geneticsdon't really support that. 03:46.760 --> 03:49.663 Even if that bayfront aquariumwas destroyed, 03:49.663 --> 03:51.531 we know that thereare more than just those 03:51.531 --> 03:54.735 few fish involvedin the invasion. 03:54.735 --> 03:57.370 >>NARRATOR: While the invasionwas likely caused by more fish 03:57.370 --> 03:59.573 than what could have escapedthe aquarium, 03:59.573 --> 04:02.743 genetic testing has tracedthe massive invasion 04:02.743 --> 04:07.881 back to around nine fishon the maternal line. 04:07.881 --> 04:10.417 >>That's looking like,you know, a very small number 04:10.417 --> 04:13.754 of fish that startedthis whole invasion. 04:13.754 --> 04:15.655 >>NARRATOR:The U.S. Geological Survey 04:15.655 --> 04:19.126 keeps track of all the confirmedlionfish sightings 04:19.126 --> 04:21.094 on a detailed map. 04:21.094 --> 04:22.529 >>Starting in the late '90s, 04:22.529 --> 04:24.831 we began to see an increaseup the east coast of Florida. 04:24.831 --> 04:28.735 And then in 2000, up intothe Southeast U.S.: Georgia, 04:28.735 --> 04:31.738 South Carolina, North Carolinaand Bermuda out in the Atlantic. 04:36.777 --> 04:39.279 >>NARRATOR: The Gulf Streamcarried the lionfish eggs 04:39.279 --> 04:42.315 and larvae northward,allowing the fish 04:42.315 --> 04:45.152 to establish themselvesalong the East Coast 04:45.152 --> 04:49.689 of the United States. 04:49.689 --> 04:52.759 Only the colder temperaturesof the northern Atlantic 04:52.759 --> 04:56.763 have kept the animals fromtaking hold in the Northeast. 04:59.466 --> 05:01.868 >>We do know that the thermaltolerance for lionfish 05:01.868 --> 05:04.938 is about 60 degrees Fahrenheit,12 degrees Centigrade. 05:04.938 --> 05:06.873 But even with thatthermal tolerance, 05:06.873 --> 05:10.210 every summer, lionfish,during the warm months, 05:10.210 --> 05:13.146 make it as far northas Rhode Island, Massachusetts 05:13.146 --> 05:14.648 and New York. 05:14.648 --> 05:17.484 Obviously in the wintertime,it's too cold for those fish 05:17.484 --> 05:19.820 to survive,so they don't make it. 05:19.820 --> 05:24.124 >>NARRATOR: But the invasiondidn't stop there. 05:24.124 --> 05:25.592 >>There is an eddyof the Gulf Stream 05:25.592 --> 05:27.327 that kind of peelsinto the Bahamas 05:27.327 --> 05:30.363 between Grand Bahamaand Bimini, and even though 05:30.363 --> 05:32.165 there's not a lotof connectivity 05:32.165 --> 05:35.535 between the Bahamasand the Florida coast, 05:35.535 --> 05:38.605 there's enough through that eddythat some of the eggs 05:38.605 --> 05:40.874 were entrained and dropped overin the Bahamas, 05:40.874 --> 05:42.809 and once those fish beganto reproduce 05:42.809 --> 05:49.082 in this very abundant, diversehabitat, they really took hold. 05:49.082 --> 05:52.118 The first fish showed upin the Bahamas in 2004, 05:52.118 --> 05:55.655 and then the spread movedsouthward to Turks and Caicos, 05:55.655 --> 06:00.293 Hispaniola, Cuba and thenwestward-- Jamaica, Cayman, 06:00.293 --> 06:02.929 Central America, and nowit's following down 06:02.929 --> 06:05.599 the South American coast. 06:05.599 --> 06:07.601 >>NARRATOR:Lionfish are also spreading 06:07.601 --> 06:11.504 into the Gulf of Mexico,and after all these years 06:11.504 --> 06:16.243 are showing up in increasingnumbers in South Florida. 06:16.243 --> 06:19.646 >>So the dispersal we seein this distribution is due 06:19.646 --> 06:23.116 to fish in one area reproducing,and their eggs and larvae 06:23.116 --> 06:25.285 being carried in the currentsto a new area 06:25.285 --> 06:27.254 where those fish beginto mature. 06:27.254 --> 06:29.289 And along the east coastof Florida, 06:29.289 --> 06:31.458 we have the Gulf Stream currentmoving north, 06:31.458 --> 06:34.294 so fish in South Floridawere reproducing, but their eggs 06:34.294 --> 06:36.963 and larvae were beingcarried north 06:36.963 --> 06:38.598 and there was no additionalsupply 06:38.598 --> 06:41.001 into that South Floridapopulation. 06:41.001 --> 06:44.371 So fish to the South of usin Cuba, Mexico, Belize 06:44.371 --> 06:46.273 are reproducing,and their eggs and larvae 06:46.273 --> 06:48.675 are making itinto South Florida. 06:48.675 --> 06:51.211 So even though this all startedin South Florida, 06:51.211 --> 06:54.547 it took about a decade or sofor us to start to see 06:54.547 --> 06:56.549 the effects full circle. 06:59.286 --> 07:01.855 >>NARRATOR: Lad Akins,who works for the nonprofit 07:01.855 --> 07:04.858 Reef Environmental EducationFoundation 07:04.858 --> 07:08.428 based out of Key Largo, Florida,has done a lot of research 07:08.428 --> 07:11.231 on the lionfish invasion. 07:11.231 --> 07:14.801 Together with Stephanie Green,a marine ecologist 07:14.801 --> 07:18.805 from Simon-Fraser Universityin Vancouver, Canada, 07:18.805 --> 07:21.608 he is conducting a numberof research projects 07:21.608 --> 07:23.877 in the Bahamas. 07:23.877 --> 07:25.645 >>The Bahamas definitelyare ground zero 07:25.645 --> 07:29.249 for the lionfish invasion. 07:29.249 --> 07:32.285 >>NARRATOR: The island chain'stropical waters and coral reefs 07:32.285 --> 07:38.058 make it an ideal habitatfor lionfish. 07:38.058 --> 07:41.461 On the island of Eleuthera,Lad and Stephanie are conducting 07:41.461 --> 07:45.031 a number of different studiesto better understand 07:45.031 --> 07:48.868 how the lionfish affectlocal marine habitats, 07:48.868 --> 07:53.173 and what might be doneto alleviate those impacts. 07:53.173 --> 07:56.509 >>We have a giant experimentset up in Rock Sound, 07:56.509 --> 07:59.846 which is this really largebody of water that is 07:59.846 --> 08:01.982 extremely similar habitat, 08:01.982 --> 08:04.217 about ten feet deepall the way across, 08:04.217 --> 08:08.054 with these almost perfectlittle replicated coral heads 08:08.054 --> 08:10.323 every few hundred meters,and that essentially 08:10.323 --> 08:14.327 is the perfect playgroundin which to do this experiment. 08:14.327 --> 08:18.365 We've taken 24 of those reefsand we've divided them 08:18.365 --> 08:21.267 into four different treatments. 08:21.267 --> 08:24.904 A number of those reefs,we have taken all the lionfish 08:24.904 --> 08:26.473 off of-- we're not leaving any. 08:26.473 --> 08:30.910 And then, we have two treatmentswhere we've left a few lionfish, 08:30.910 --> 08:34.280 numbers that we've predictedto have a low probability 08:34.280 --> 08:37.050 of impact, and alsoa high probability of impact 08:37.050 --> 08:38.685 on the fish communities. 08:38.685 --> 08:40.186 And then the remainderof the reefs 08:40.186 --> 08:44.491 we're using as essentiallya scientific control. 08:44.491 --> 08:46.826 We're not removing lionfishfrom those reefs, 08:46.826 --> 08:49.362 but we are monitoringwhat changes over time. 08:49.362 --> 08:51.798 And essentially, we can comparethe reefs 08:51.798 --> 08:54.401 where we've manipulated lionfishnumbers-- removed them-- 08:54.401 --> 08:56.736 to those reefs wherethey remain, 08:56.736 --> 08:58.738 to see what differences occur. 09:02.275 --> 09:05.011 >>NARRATOR: Lad and Stephanieare working closely with experts 09:05.011 --> 09:08.415 from the Cape EleutheraInstitute, who helped them 09:08.415 --> 09:12.619 set up their experimentin late 2009. 09:12.619 --> 09:14.821 Now they are monitoringthe project 09:14.821 --> 09:17.857 when Lad and Stephaniearen't there. 09:17.857 --> 09:19.893 >>I've been heading outmonthly and checking in 09:19.893 --> 09:22.228 on those reefsand conducting surveys. 09:22.228 --> 09:23.496 >>When we first startedthis work, 09:23.496 --> 09:26.299 we conducted very detailedbaseline inventories 09:26.299 --> 09:28.401 of those sites, the coral cover, 09:28.401 --> 09:30.670 the relief of the siteoff the bottom. 09:30.670 --> 09:35.708 We count every single littlefish and size every single fish 09:35.708 --> 09:37.911 on those reefs alonga transect line. 09:37.911 --> 09:41.514 So we can get the amount of fishper square meter of reef, 09:41.514 --> 09:44.384 as well as counting how manylionfish and determining 09:44.384 --> 09:46.052 the size of the lionfish. 09:46.052 --> 09:48.488 And all that is put intoa pretty sophisticated model 09:48.488 --> 09:52.292 that spits out,based on lionfish consumption, 09:52.292 --> 09:56.396 how many lionfish we believethat reef can support 09:56.396 --> 09:58.164 based on the available food. 09:58.164 --> 10:01.267 And that's what's directingthe different treatments. 10:01.267 --> 10:02.969 >>NARRATOR:The scientists are hoping 10:02.969 --> 10:05.738 to answer a numberof different questions. 10:05.738 --> 10:08.241 >>What we want to find outis how many lionfish 10:08.241 --> 10:12.445 a reef can support withouthaving dramatic impacts 10:12.445 --> 10:14.914 to the marine life on that site. 10:14.914 --> 10:17.784 And, if you remove lionfishfrom a site that's had 10:17.784 --> 10:20.920 a lot of lionfish,will the marine life come back? 10:20.920 --> 10:23.723 And really, that's goingto direct control efforts. 10:23.723 --> 10:25.825 If you know that you canstill have one or two lionfish 10:25.825 --> 10:28.161 on a reef withouthaving negative impacts, 10:28.161 --> 10:31.931 well, that will change the wayyou look at removal efforts. 10:37.337 --> 10:39.572 >>NARRATOR: The scientistsuse two main methods 10:39.572 --> 10:41.708 to collect the lionfish. 10:41.708 --> 10:43.576 >>One of them is hand nets, 10:43.576 --> 10:45.311 designed for the aquariumindustry, 10:45.311 --> 10:46.546 where they live capture 10:46.546 --> 10:49.382 their fish for aquarium exhibitsor resale. 10:49.382 --> 10:52.352 And the hand nets tend to workvery, very well, 10:52.352 --> 10:55.088 especially for thesmaller lionfish. 10:55.088 --> 10:58.324 In heavily invaded areas whereyou have very large lionfish, 10:58.324 --> 11:02.462 and a lot of them,spearing can also be effective. 11:02.462 --> 11:04.497 Lionfish aren'ta fast moving fish, 11:04.497 --> 11:07.901 and they're a perfect candidatefor successful spearing. 11:07.901 --> 11:11.371 >>Divers need to use cautionas they capture the animals, 11:11.371 --> 11:16.476 since their spines containa potent venom. 11:16.476 --> 11:19.646 >>It can provide a very painfulsting, and in rare cases 11:19.646 --> 11:21.915 more severe complications. 11:21.915 --> 11:25.185 It's a neurotoxin venom--protein-based. 11:25.185 --> 11:28.922 So we tend to avoid stingsby wearing protective gloves, 11:28.922 --> 11:32.125 puncture-proof gloves whichare actually used 11:32.125 --> 11:35.662 in the hospital industryto prevent needle sticks. 11:35.662 --> 11:37.764 If, however, someone is stungby a lionfish, 11:37.764 --> 11:40.200 treatment is pretty basic. 11:40.200 --> 11:43.403 Basically, immersion inhot water of the affected area 11:43.403 --> 11:46.472 starts to break downthe protein base of the venom 11:46.472 --> 11:48.474 and relieves the painat the same time. 11:52.579 --> 11:55.782 >>NARRATOR: Once the fish arecaught and brought back to land, 11:55.782 --> 11:59.252 the researchers analyzethe animals' stomach contents 11:59.252 --> 12:03.356 to see what native speciesthe lionfish prey on. 12:03.356 --> 12:08.094 >>Oh, squirrel fish. 12:08.094 --> 12:10.196 This is the last thingthat a lot of fish see. 12:10.196 --> 12:13.800 And they swallow their preywhole, and then their stomachs 12:13.800 --> 12:17.170 are really acidic, so it breaksthe fish or crustaceans down 12:17.170 --> 12:18.605 really, really quickly. 12:18.605 --> 12:21.174 There are no teeth involved. 12:21.174 --> 12:23.042 They are what we calla gape-limited predator, 12:23.042 --> 12:25.845 so anything that is small enoughto fit in their mouths 12:25.845 --> 12:29.716 they can consume, and it tendsto be fish or other prey 12:29.716 --> 12:33.052 that are up to halftheir total size sometimes. 12:33.052 --> 12:37.290 We found lionfish with the tailsof their prey sticking back out 12:37.290 --> 12:38.658 of their throat still. 12:38.658 --> 12:40.393 And they reallyare a gluttonous feeder. 12:40.393 --> 12:43.963 Their stomach can expandup to 30 times its normal size 12:43.963 --> 12:45.398 when they're eating. 12:45.398 --> 12:48.935 And so basically, the fact thatit can consume a wide array 12:48.935 --> 12:52.038 of species, and they can consumesuch large prey, 12:52.038 --> 12:56.476 really means that they have thecapacity to do a lot of damage. 12:56.476 --> 13:00.380 And so we have gotthe liver here, stomach. 13:00.380 --> 13:03.683 We'll take the stomach out. 13:10.256 --> 13:12.525 We've been sending off a lotof samples like this, 13:12.525 --> 13:16.963 that we can't tell the species,for DNA analysis so that 13:16.963 --> 13:18.898 we get a species identification. 13:18.898 --> 13:22.568 We've documented over 50 speciesof reef fishes in the stomach, 13:22.568 --> 13:25.705 as well as crustaceansand all sorts of other critters. 13:25.705 --> 13:29.309 They are really hitting the reefquite hard on all fronts-- 13:29.309 --> 13:31.778 things that grow up to be largeas adults but also things 13:31.778 --> 13:33.780 that stay really small. 13:33.780 --> 13:35.648 I am not really awareof any other predator 13:35.648 --> 13:37.383 that eats so broadly. 13:46.559 --> 13:49.362 >>NARRATOR: There are severalreasons why lionfish numbers 13:49.362 --> 13:51.864 have exploded in the Atlantic. 13:51.864 --> 13:55.868 For one, the animalsreproduce frequently. 13:55.868 --> 13:58.771 >>Lionfish reach maturityat a very small size, 13:58.771 --> 14:00.873 a very young age,so very quickly in their life 14:00.873 --> 14:02.775 they're able to reproduce. 14:02.775 --> 14:05.011 And they're pair spawners,so a single male 14:05.011 --> 14:07.480 and a single female get togetherand reproduce. 14:07.480 --> 14:11.050 And in warmer climates likeSouth Florida and the islands-- 14:11.050 --> 14:12.652 the Caribbean and the Bahamas-- 14:12.652 --> 14:16.255 lionfish can reproducethroughout the year. 14:16.255 --> 14:18.624 >>We'll open it up,and I'll show you guys this. 14:18.624 --> 14:24.997 This entire thing is one ovary--they have two of them. 14:24.997 --> 14:29.335 All these tiny little spots,each of them is an egg. 14:29.335 --> 14:32.538 So some work that has been doneup at the NOAA lab 14:32.538 --> 14:36.376 in North Carolina showsthat there are up to 30,000 eggs 14:36.376 --> 14:38.878 in one spawn,and that this is happening 14:38.878 --> 14:42.682 every four to six daysin the Caribbean year round. 14:42.682 --> 14:45.952 So that is one reasonwhy they are so successful 14:45.952 --> 14:48.087 in establishingall over the place. 14:51.023 --> 14:53.693 >>NARRATOR: Another reason whylionfish have inundated 14:53.693 --> 14:56.929 the western Atlanticand Caribbean is the fact 14:56.929 --> 15:00.066 that they have no knownpredators or parasites 15:00.066 --> 15:02.535 in this part of the world. 15:02.535 --> 15:04.570 >>They can put a lotmore energy into growth 15:04.570 --> 15:05.872 and reproduction. 15:05.872 --> 15:09.008 And we see lionfish herein the Atlantic and Caribbean 15:09.008 --> 15:12.645 much larger than they're knownto grow in their native range. 15:12.645 --> 15:14.814 Native range maximum sizeis reported to be 15:14.814 --> 15:16.716 about 35 centimeters. 15:16.716 --> 15:20.186 And here, we're finding lionfishalmost half a meter in length, 15:20.186 --> 15:23.189 and that is a big, big lionfish. 15:27.894 --> 15:29.962 >>NARRATOR: To betterunderstand how lionfish 15:29.962 --> 15:33.466 move and grow,the scientists are tagging them 15:33.466 --> 15:37.303 on those study sites wherethey haven't been captured. 15:40.573 --> 15:42.775 >>We tag them underwaterrather than bringing them 15:42.775 --> 15:45.845 to the surface, which couldcause some barotrauma, 15:45.845 --> 15:48.314 pressure change injurieson the fish, 15:48.314 --> 15:52.051 and would requireanesthetizing the fish, 15:52.051 --> 15:55.288 and it would be a very lengthy,detailed process. 15:55.288 --> 15:57.089 The process is a little bittricky. 15:57.089 --> 15:59.425 You're dealing with a live fishon the bottom 15:59.425 --> 16:01.160 with venomous spines. 16:01.160 --> 16:04.797 It involves usinga small strip of plastic 16:04.797 --> 16:06.165 attached to a sewing needle. 16:06.165 --> 16:10.169 This thin plastic stripis called a Floy streamer tag, 16:10.169 --> 16:12.839 and it has a serial numberand contact information, 16:12.839 --> 16:14.440 and we put that right through 16:14.440 --> 16:16.042 the base of the tailof the fish. 16:16.042 --> 16:18.611 And the hope is we can revisitsome of the sites 16:18.611 --> 16:21.414 that we tagged fishand adjacent reef areas, 16:21.414 --> 16:24.650 and see if we can recapturethose fish at a later date 16:24.650 --> 16:26.986 to get that movementand growth information. 16:26.986 --> 16:28.654 And the informationthat we're getting 16:28.654 --> 16:31.791 out of these tagging studiesis vitally important 16:31.791 --> 16:35.294 to designing control programsthat will be effective. 16:35.294 --> 16:38.331 And when we do re-collectthe fish after the tagging, 16:38.331 --> 16:41.434 at the end of the research,we don't let them go again. 16:44.570 --> 16:47.540 >>NARRATOR: To do all thistime-intensive work, 16:47.540 --> 16:51.444 Lad and Stephanie rely heavilyon the help of volunteers 16:51.444 --> 16:54.580 who assist in their efforts. 16:54.580 --> 16:56.082 >>And we were doingall sorts of stuff, 16:56.082 --> 16:57.950 whether it was helpinghold the bags, 16:57.950 --> 17:01.454 literally to physically collectthe lionfish 17:01.454 --> 17:04.390 to once they've been tagged,then we would take them back 17:04.390 --> 17:08.461 to their original siteand let them go. 17:08.461 --> 17:11.564 >>The volunteers have beenextremely crucial 17:11.564 --> 17:14.467 in a couple of waysto the lionfish research. 17:14.467 --> 17:18.304 Through using volunteers,you can collect a large amount 17:18.304 --> 17:21.707 of scientific data that normallyyou wouldn't be able to, 17:21.707 --> 17:25.845 because researchers don't havea lot of money or time. 17:25.845 --> 17:28.214 >>To me, it's justmy little part 17:28.214 --> 17:30.683 trying to eradicate a problem. 17:30.683 --> 17:33.352 That's my whole desire,and I hope other people 17:33.352 --> 17:37.356 out there have the same feelingsI do and jump onboard to help. 17:43.629 --> 17:45.464 >>NARRATOR:As part of their research, 17:45.464 --> 17:47.199 the scientists have observed 17:47.199 --> 17:49.669 all kinds of interestingbehavior, 17:49.669 --> 17:51.971 including this video Lad shot 17:51.971 --> 17:55.975 of two lionfish fightingfor dominance. 17:58.077 --> 18:00.446 >>Lionfish are relatedto the scorpion fish, 18:00.446 --> 18:02.515 and all scorpion fishhave a pretty bony head, 18:02.515 --> 18:08.020 and we've seen aggressiveposturing between male lionfish, 18:08.020 --> 18:11.490 and they use these bony cheeksup against each other's sides 18:11.490 --> 18:15.895 to kind of rake along the sidewhen they are having 18:15.895 --> 18:17.763 a little tiff,trying to determine 18:17.763 --> 18:20.766 who is the dominant malefor spawning with females. 18:24.036 --> 18:26.806 >>Scientists say there's stilla lot they need to learn 18:26.806 --> 18:30.276 about lionfish--such as how old they get 18:30.276 --> 18:34.246 and at what depthsthey can live. 18:34.246 --> 18:36.682 >>The depth ranges of lionfishwe know are as shallow 18:36.682 --> 18:40.152 as inches deep up againstthe shoreline, and we don't know 18:40.152 --> 18:42.755 the maximum depth yet,but we know at least as deep 18:42.755 --> 18:44.323 as 500 feet. 18:44.323 --> 18:48.327 A report from a submarinesaw lionfish that deep. 18:50.663 --> 18:52.565 >>NARRATOR:The one thing experts do know 18:52.565 --> 18:56.469 is that these animals presenta major threat 18:56.469 --> 19:01.440 to the biodiversity andecosystem health of this region. 19:01.440 --> 19:04.577 >>The spread since 2007has been more dramatic 19:04.577 --> 19:06.779 than any of uscould have imagined. 19:06.779 --> 19:08.881 So rapid, so intense. 19:08.881 --> 19:14.253 The population has exploded inareas that have become invaded. 19:14.253 --> 19:17.056 >>And we're findingin many instances that lionfish 19:17.056 --> 19:20.359 have likely reduced populationsby up to 90% 19:20.359 --> 19:23.396 in just four short yearssince colonizing the area. 19:23.396 --> 19:26.966 So we've seen huge reductionsin the numbers of fish, 19:26.966 --> 19:31.170 also potentially in diversity,and so the impacts of these fish 19:31.170 --> 19:34.173 are profound. 19:37.243 --> 19:40.079 >>NARRATOR: At this time,removal of the lionfish 19:40.079 --> 19:44.083 seems to be the only solutionto this growing problem. 19:46.352 --> 19:49.655 >>Eradication is not likelygoing to be possible, 19:49.655 --> 19:51.490 based on what we know right now. 19:51.490 --> 19:55.494 But we can control populationsto a level that the impacts 19:55.494 --> 19:56.762 may be minimized. 19:56.762 --> 20:00.866 And right now that's a major,major goal. 20:00.866 --> 20:03.869 And we know we arethe ultimate at being able 20:03.869 --> 20:06.572 to wipe out marine life. 20:06.572 --> 20:08.040 Wipe out fish stocks. 20:08.040 --> 20:10.076 But we have to have thatincentive to do it. 20:10.076 --> 20:12.144 And that incentive is money. 20:12.144 --> 20:14.180 I think developing a marketfor lionfish 20:14.180 --> 20:16.148 is a very smart way to go. 20:16.148 --> 20:19.452 And for larger lionfish,that market is a food market. 20:19.452 --> 20:23.322 >>They really are a deliciousfish, and that's probably 20:23.322 --> 20:25.558 one of the saving gracesof this whole invasion 20:25.558 --> 20:27.893 is the fact that youcan actually consume them 20:27.893 --> 20:29.428 and that they taste so good. 20:29.428 --> 20:30.529 >>So good. 20:33.432 --> 20:37.403 >>NARRATOR: Lionfish tastesimilar to hogfish and snapper, 20:37.403 --> 20:40.906 and the meat can be preparedin a variety of ways. 20:40.906 --> 20:43.943 Nutritional studies have shownthat lionfish 20:43.943 --> 20:46.445 are actually higher in omega 3s 20:46.445 --> 20:49.014 than some of the more commonfood fish, 20:49.014 --> 20:51.450 and efforts are currentlyunderway to develop 20:51.450 --> 20:55.087 a commercial marketfor lionfish. 20:55.087 --> 20:56.589 >>Bermuda has developeda slogan. 20:56.589 --> 20:58.257 They say "eat 'em to beat 'em." 20:58.257 --> 21:01.260 And I really thinkthat's a good way to go. 21:07.399 --> 21:09.802 >>NARRATOR: To make catchingthe animals more efficient, 21:09.802 --> 21:14.006 the researchers are testing outa variety of different traps. 21:14.006 --> 21:15.975 >>We're trying a few differenttrap designs 21:15.975 --> 21:18.377 and a few different baitingschemes to see if we can design 21:18.377 --> 21:20.713 something that wouldbe effective for lionfish 21:20.713 --> 21:23.415 but not have a lotof other bycatch 21:23.415 --> 21:25.785 and not impact the other fishspecies as well. 21:25.785 --> 21:28.087 We actually have been ableto catch some lionfish 21:28.087 --> 21:31.190 in our traps, but the amountof bycatch that we caught 21:31.190 --> 21:33.893 during that same trapping schemewas just too high 21:33.893 --> 21:37.496 to be really consideredan effective removal. 21:37.496 --> 21:40.833 So we've adjusted someof our trapping treatments, 21:40.833 --> 21:43.536 and we're trying a few differentthings now-- 21:43.536 --> 21:46.238 putting escape panelsinto the traps. 21:46.238 --> 21:49.074 And we'll just keep at it to seeif we can come up 21:49.074 --> 21:50.743 with an effective designfor lionfish. 21:50.743 --> 21:51.911 Maybe we can't. 21:51.911 --> 21:53.879 Maybe bycatch is always goingto be too high, 21:53.879 --> 21:55.848 but that's somethingthat we need to know. 21:55.848 --> 21:59.885 Diver removals can be veryeffective where they can dive, 21:59.885 --> 22:02.054 but you can't dive everywhere. 22:02.054 --> 22:06.425 But fishermen can deploy trapsin a wide range of areas. 22:06.425 --> 22:08.394 So if we can have that effectivetrap design, 22:08.394 --> 22:10.396 we think we can engagethe fishing community. 22:15.768 --> 22:17.837 >>NARRATOR: In an effort to getthe public involved 22:17.837 --> 22:19.672 in capturing the fish, 22:19.672 --> 22:23.609 the Reef Environmental EducationFoundation and its partners 22:23.609 --> 22:26.478 began organizingfishing tournaments, 22:26.478 --> 22:32.651 or "Derbies,"in the Bahamas in 2009. 22:32.651 --> 22:36.455 Since then, the Derbieshave caught on in other areas, 22:36.455 --> 22:39.491 including the Florida Keys. 22:39.491 --> 22:43.896 >>Basically what the derby'sgoal is is to raise awareness 22:43.896 --> 22:49.168 about lionfish, and also dispelsome of the rumors 22:49.168 --> 22:51.370 that the meat is venomous. 22:51.370 --> 22:55.207 >>Coming out as earlyas 6:30 AM sunrise. 22:55.207 --> 22:56.642 >>NARRATOR:Cash prizes are offered 22:56.642 --> 23:00.512 as incentives for fishermento participate. 23:00.512 --> 23:03.582 >>Oh, yeah,they did pretty well. 23:03.582 --> 23:04.984 >>150. 23:04.984 --> 23:07.486 >>We have "most lionfishper boat," 23:07.486 --> 23:09.355 and then we also have"largest lionfish," 23:09.355 --> 23:11.724 and we do "smallest lionfish"too, 23:11.724 --> 23:15.327 unlike other spearfishingtournaments. 23:15.327 --> 23:17.596 You can use a spear,you can use nets-- 23:17.596 --> 23:20.599 whatever method of collectionyou like. 23:20.599 --> 23:22.635 The most lionfishof the entire derby, 23:22.635 --> 23:27.673 with 111 lionfish,is Raw Talent. 23:27.673 --> 23:31.010 (cheers) 23:31.010 --> 23:33.579 These derbies, though,the main purpose of them 23:33.579 --> 23:36.615 is to raise awarenessand get people involved 23:36.615 --> 23:40.286 in collecting lionfish,and also we have a big cookout 23:40.286 --> 23:43.656 at the end of the derbyand people get to try lionfish 23:43.656 --> 23:46.458 and taste for themselveshow delicious they are. 23:46.458 --> 23:49.228 And as long as peoplehave incentive to harvest, 23:49.228 --> 23:51.230 they will harvest. 24:04.510 --> 24:07.546 >>NARRATOR: Much is being doneto raise awareness 24:07.546 --> 24:11.450 of the lionfish invasion,and to figure out ways 24:11.450 --> 24:14.153 to halt the problem. 24:14.153 --> 24:17.790 While certain areas in theBahamas are already overrun 24:17.790 --> 24:22.261 with lionfish, experts hopethat it is not too late 24:22.261 --> 24:26.565 to keep this from happening inother parts of the invaded range 24:26.565 --> 24:31.136 where the animals are just nowbeginning to establish. 24:31.136 --> 24:33.439 >>Why not just let this runits course? 24:33.439 --> 24:36.475 Let it become partof the system, and, you know, 24:36.475 --> 24:38.444 it will assimilateand everything will find its way 24:38.444 --> 24:39.478 to work out. 24:39.478 --> 24:40.913 And that's a very validquestion. 24:40.913 --> 24:43.048 I understand the question,and the viewpoint 24:43.048 --> 24:44.883 that some people may havealong those lines. 24:44.883 --> 24:48.420 However, this is nota natural occurrence. 24:48.420 --> 24:49.955 This is a man-made occurrence. 24:49.955 --> 24:53.525 It's, in effect, biologicalpollution that we're seeing. 24:53.525 --> 24:56.028 And it's up to us to fixthe problem. 24:56.028 --> 24:59.231 If we let it run its own course,our native species, 24:59.231 --> 25:01.233 who are not at fault,are the ones that are going 25:01.233 --> 25:03.435 to pay the price,and we will ultimately pay 25:03.435 --> 25:05.204 the price following that. 25:05.204 --> 25:07.373 And I think that'sa good enough reason 25:07.373 --> 25:08.841 for us to really want to address 25:08.841 --> 25:12.411 this invasionand remove lionfish. 25:12.411 --> 25:15.147 >>This really is a region-widethreat that's potentially 25:15.147 --> 25:17.016 one of the worstecological disasters 25:17.016 --> 25:19.551 that the Caribbean could face. 25:19.551 --> 25:22.654 But really, it's alsoa huge opportunity for us 25:22.654 --> 25:27.793 to be proactiveon a conservation issue. 25:27.793 --> 25:30.195 I think humans have made 25:30.195 --> 25:32.698 a history out of not beingproactive when it comes 25:32.698 --> 25:36.869 to conservation, when it comesto understanding the problems 25:36.869 --> 25:38.837 that are out there and doingsomething about them 25:38.837 --> 25:41.540 before they really take overa system. 25:41.540 --> 25:43.609 A lot of marine conservationyou're telling people, 25:43.609 --> 25:47.079 "Don't do this, don't do that,don't go here, don't go there." 25:47.079 --> 25:50.082 With lionfish we're saying,"Yes, do get involved! 25:50.082 --> 25:52.184 "Do go out and fish for them. 25:52.184 --> 25:53.352 Do eat them." 25:53.352 --> 25:55.120 And I think that is reallya benefit, 25:55.120 --> 25:58.590 if there is anythingto be optimistic about 25:58.590 --> 26:02.594 is the fact that you can bringpeople together on this. 26:24.750 --> 26:27.152 >>Major funding for thisprogram was provided 26:27.152 --> 26:29.054 by the Batchelor Foundation, 26:29.054 --> 26:31.857 encouraging peopleto preserve and protect 26:31.857 --> 26:35.857 America's underwater resources.