Page 12 - AHATA

a8 local
Thursday 24 april 2025
The Lionfish

And its threat to our marine wild life

population in the area. How- Controlling the lionfish popu-
ever, as the lionfish feeds off lation is challenge, as each
of these tiny fish, it becomes female fish can lay up to
harder for the coral reef to 40,000 eggs a day. Luckily,
maintain its health. we have people like van
Brakel who dedicate their
Patrick also shares the origins lives hunting and capturing
of lionfish in the Caribbean these invasive species, using
Sea. It is theorized that the in- them for consumption and
(Oranjestad)—Despite its said that the sting of a lion- continue to reproduce and troduction of these fish in the jewelry making.
colorful and striking ap- fish can be up to 100 times expand to other parts of the Atlantic happened in Florida,
pearance, the lionfish has more painful than that of a Atlantic, become more inva- where people would buy li- They are caught with a
become a Caribbean-wide bee’s sting. sive and dangerous for other onfish from across the world hand spear, an object re-
problem for Atlantic sea life. types of fish. to keep in their aquariums. sembling a garbage picker
The Aruban marine wild life is Its natural predators in the However, lionfish grow, and with 4 sharp prongs. These
also affected by this beautiful Indo-Pacific are sharks and For Aruba, the lionfish is a as these buyers realized that spears are used like a sling
dilemma, as it is foreign to barracudas, but in the Carib- problem especially for our the fish were too much up- shot to catch lionfish from a
our waters and has become bean Sea, local fish do not local coral reefs. Accord- keep, they were let out into distance. These fish are then
a danger to our local fish and recognize the lionfish as part ing to Patrick van Brakel, li- the ocean to roam free. From put into a collecting tube
reefs. of their diet. In other words, onfish expert and hunter from continental USA, the lionfish and taken out of the water.
the lionfish has no predators the Hunting Lionfish Aruba travelled to and invaded the Van Brakel not only catches
Originating from the Indo- in the Caribbean Sea. And foundation, every reef has entire Caribbean area, from them himself, but also cooks
Pacific Ocean, the lionfish is this becomes a major prob- a “cleaning station”—tiny Aruba, Bonaire and Curacao them for locals and tourists at
a relatively small fish. It has lem for our local marine life; fish that eat algae and other up to New York. In Aruba, The LionFish Snack Aruba in
no teeth, but it does protect if there are no predators to types of waste on a reef, thus lionfish were discovered in Paradera. This way, he does
itself against predators using stimulate population con- maintaining the reef’s health 2009. his part in protecting the lo-
its sharp, colorful spikes. It is trol of lionfish, these fish can and providing food to the fish cal wild life. q

Why You Should Not Miss Aruba’s Free City Center Street Car Tour

ORANJESTAD - Aruba’s seats and a double-decker into a pollution-free pedes-
City Center Street Car - with 64 seats. The line was trian mall. The double-decker
or as we call it in Dutch; inspired by the popular offers you a 360 degree view
“Tram van Oranjestad’ - is battery-powered streetcar of the down town area with
a single track tram line in operation at the Grove in a picture perfect scenery of
Oranjestad, the capital Los Angeles, USA. Aruba’s the island’s clear blue skies.
city of Aruba. It was inau- streetcars are powered by Who would not enjoy a ride
gurated on 22 December hydrogen fuel cells, which on this beautiful and naturally
2012, being the first and so are charged by the island’s air-conditioned vehicle? The
far the only passenger rail year-round trade winds. tour consists of a total of 9
service on Aruba and the stops approximately 200 me-
rest of the Dutch Caribbe- Caya Betico Croes, mostly ters apart from each other;
an. There are two trolleys, referred to as our “main all stops are clearly marked.
a single-deck one with 42 street” has been developed The tram will bring you close
to different museums, histori-
cal plazas, monuments, the walk to the famous Renais- and ends at Plaza Nicky.
Protestant church, Aruba’s sance Marina showcasing The first ride starts at 10:00
high- end mall, retail shops, luxurious yachts and Aruba’s am sharp with intervals of
and a variety of local and blue waters. 25minutes. The last trolley
international cuisine restau- departs from the cruise port
rants. The “I love Aruba” The “Tram van Oranjestad” at 5:00pm. Don’t miss this
trademark also belongs to starts from a balloon loop tour of the beautiful Aru-
that list. The third stop on the near the Port of Call and ba’s City Center– it is free
route is close to a 5-minute serves the downtown area for all!q