“Eating Lionfish: Effective Conservation, or a Cure Worse than the Disease?”

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Save the reef. Eat a lionfish.

It’s a rallying cry heard ‘round the Caribbean.

Conservationists have embraced the call to stop this marine invasive species – via the dinner plate.

There are lionfish safaris. Lionfish derbies. Restaurants from Key West to St. Croix to Cancun serve lionfish ceviche, lionfish chowder, lionfish fritters.

There are even entrepreneurs selling jewelry made of lionfish.

Add to this diving courses, web sites and even a Twitter feed (@KillTheLionfish) all aimed at educating would-be lionfish hunters.

Is this a highly effective response to a conservation issue?

Food for thought!