The hunt for the red lionfish — a beautiful and dangerous invaderEcological threat
Israel enlists local fishermen to hunt down the invader The stunning Red Sea predator is wreaking havoc on the Mediterranean ecosystem, prompting an unprecedented alliance to curb its rapidly expanding populationBy Aviv Lavie Somewhere off Israel’s coast, most likely near a rock or reef, a lionfish is swimming at this very moment, unaware that a bounty has been placed on its head. From Monday, June 1, thousands of Israelis with sport-fishing licenses were given the green light to hunt red lionfish, a strikingly beautiful fish but also a professional troublemaker, that is responsible for forging a coalition unlike any seen in Israel before. This is the first time that the regulator (the Agriculture Ministry), an environmental organization (Zalul), and the fishermen (represented by the Sport Fishing Association) — who in ordinary times tend to quarrel with one another — have joined forces in a campaign against a common enemy. The lionfish earned this honor because it is considered one of the greatest threats to the region’s marine ecosystem. It is an invasive species: it naturally belongs to the Indian Ocean and the Red Sea, where it has natural enemies that curb its aggressive expansion. https://www.timesofisrael.com/... |