One less Lionfish in Chatham Bay, Union Island

Just a day after Caribbean Fisheries Ministers discussed the need to fight the lionfish invasion, a Union Island fisherman was back in the water continuing to do his part.{{more}} On June 16th, Elliot Lewis, known to most as “Boyo”, extracted another venomous lionfish from Chatham Bay on the western or leeward side of Union Island.

Boyo has participated in a number of successful lionfish hunts, organized by Glenroy Adams of Grenadines Dive, impressing his colleagues when he single-handedly killed six of the predatory invaders on March 10. Boyo was also a member of the Union Island team that dominated the Mayreau Regatta’s first-ever Lionfish Derby on April 26th.

The need for a coordinated regional action to control the negative impact of the lionfish on Caribbean sea life, especially fish stock, was discussed at the June 15th Sixth Meeting of the Caribbean Regional Fisheries Mechanism Ministerial Council in Nassau, The Bahamas. The Council’s June 21st media release highlighted the need for Caribbean governments to join forces to fight this invasive species that has been working its way down the island chain, arriving in St Vincent in 2011 and in Southern Grenadines waters by early 2012.