The Lionfish Invasion of the Virgin Islands Is Being Eaten And Made Into Jewelry

Lionfish image by David Clode via Unsplash

Lionfish Origin, Domestication, Escape & Invasion

Lionfish (Pterois volitans) is a notorious invasive species that originated in the reefs of the Indo-Pacific and began to show up in the aquariums of pet stores as early as the 1960s, and by the mid-1980s they were escaping into the Atlantic Ocean where they found purchase to spread all the way into the Virgin Islands.

Busting The Original Lionfish Invasion Myth

A story spread about how lionfish became invasive, but it wasn’t true. The way it happened was like this: A secondhand source told a professor (Walter Courtenay) that six or so lionfish had escaped from an aquarium situated by Florida’s Biscayne Bay after it was shattered by Hurricane Andrew in 1992. The professor then released a report noting this secondhand observation, which is how this origin story rumor took off. There was no intention to create misinformation or a Birds Aren’t Real kind of hoax, and Courtenay has since dismissed this version of the lionfish invasion origin.

How Lionfish Really Got Into the Caribbean

Ecologist James Morris Jr. discovered that lionfish had been caught in the Atlantic as early as 1985, most likely due to a lionfish seller, breeder, or owner releasing the fish or its eggs into the wild as the original vector. It is most likely that an escape in the late 70s or early 80s caused the lionfish to become invasive to the waters of the U.S. Atlantic, and eventually the Caribbean in the first place.

How Lionfish Are Harming The Virgin Islands

As of 2024, lionfish are plundering Caribbean reefs by eating the smaller native fish inhabitants. Healthy reef ecosystems depend upon its small native fish population. Without these mini-herbivores the algae overgrowth would smother the coral, leaving them kneeling lifeless to this unwelcomed ‘King of the Caribbean’, The Lionfish.

Lionfish Impact On The Caribbean Economy

Because the Virgin Islands and Caribbean in general rely heavily on tourism and fishing, the lionfish is potentially devastating to its economy. In 2024 the Caribbean economy was $135.73 billion. The fishing sector accounts for $500 million of that, while tourism makes up a whopping $60 billion.

Efforts to Eradicate the Lionfish In The Virgin Islands

The lionfish invasion also threatens beloved troves of commercial fish, like snapper and grouper, by eating their prey. But, locals in the British Virgin Islands and U.S. Virgin Islands are fighting this assault by hunting and spearfishing for the lionfish. Spearfisherman hunt lionfish with their pole spears, and collect their quarry in underwater catch bags. Later they will be cleaned and cooked into lionfish fillet, burgers, or tacos, with the option of saving the leftover fins for jewelry.

Lionfish Near Me - For Sale To Eat

As far as finding lionfish meat for sale in the Virgin Islands, The Twisted Cork restaurant in St. Thomas VI serves the dish as “Lionfish & Chips”. It comes with coleslaw and sweet potato fries, and costs $30. There is also a House Special Piccata that comes with a lionfish meat option, at $32.

Lionfish dish at The Twisted Cork by Jason Meringolo

“Twisted Cork has been proud to feature Lionfish on our menu for about 9 years. Not only is it a very tasty and versatile fish, and it also needs to be eradicated from our reefs and we are happy to do this one dish at a time.

We currently sell our lionfish several ways. We have blackened lionfish tacos with homemade Pico de Gallo and an avocado sauce [and] Fish & Chips with a beer batter and Picatta which is lightly sauteed with an egg wash and a lemon butter sauce.

The majority of the filets we receive are much smaller than other fish we serve, so a dish may have up to 5 or 6 [lionfish] filets on it.

What we really love about Lionfish is its taste is much lighter than most fish and really picks up any of the sauces and seasonings used without overpowering them or being overpowered. Unfortunately, due to its; delicate nature, it is not a fish that can be easily grilled, but works well sauteed, fried or baked.

At the moment we are going through approximately 100 -300 pounds of lionfish per month. We source our fish from the local Frenchtown fisherman who have traps setup throughout the [Virgin Islands] territory and deliver to us cleaned and fileted with very little waste.”

- Proprietor of The Twisted Cork, Jason Meringolo

Is Lionfish Safe To Eat In The Virgin Islands

Back in 2014, the NOAA issued a report alerting the general public that the consumption of lionfish, like barracudas, can lead to ciguatera fish poisoning. It was estimated that 12% of the USVI lionfish meat had tested for excessive levels of ciguatoxin. However no USVI poisonings from lionfish had been reported to the FDA at that time.

Oceana published an article in 2017 that included a quote that may also be helpful: “Whether lionfish can actually cause ciguatera food poisoning is debatable though. Tests of their raw meat may give false positives, Hixon found in a 2015 study. And there aren’t any known cases linking lionfish to the illness, he says.”

However, it’s always best to check with local authorities on the matter before indulging.

Lionfish Jewelry

Once you’re done with lionfish happy hour, visit locals in the Virgin Islands who are also making art and jewelry from this invasive fish. The Invasive Fin, operating in St. Croix USVI sells many types of lionfish jewelry, like these statement rings, which places the red / black and white / black patterned pectoral, pelvic and tail fins on full display in an open-faced circular pendant.

According to The Invasive Fin’s about us page, owner Brittany Diorio holds a degree in marine biology and has a desire to save ocean environments from invasive destruction. She began her journey helping to eradicate the lionfish by hunting and eating them with her husband. But, then she noticed how beautiful the fins were and how she didn’t want to waste parts of the lionfish that she couldn’t eat, so she decided to start making lionfish jewelry to sell.

Lionfish Control Contests

In an effort to rid the USVI / BVI of this malicious pest, contests and events are held, and awards bestowed on those who can catch the most lionfish.

From August 16-18 of 2024 there is a Lionfish Derby Contest happening in St. John / St. Thomas USVI. Tickets are $50 each. Participants will “slay” as many of these invasive critters as possible. Join the hunt: event details here.

These types of events are promoted by nonprofit organizations like Core, which seek to exterminate, or at least slow the lionfish invasion into the waters of the Virgin Islands and Caribbean.

Helping the Cause

If you see lionfish in the USVI, please report it to help with the eradication efforts.