Page 15 - AHATA

Monday 24 March 2025 locAl
A10

The Lionfish

And its threat to our marine wild life

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

Aruba to me

our website, Instagram and light” Aruba is so much more don’t let the grind of taking
Facebook page! Thank you than a destination. The is- care or us get to you. I re-
for supporting our free news- land is so much more than cently experienced a small
paper, we strive to make you what we Americans are too van/bus ride that my fam-

a happy reader every day quick to judge and assume. ily and off shift locals were
again. Its people, and own cultural on from palm beach back
For today we received a identity are as warm as its to low rise after dinner and
lovely message from Adam weather. Its natural beauty could not help but notice the
Toth. has stand out allure that is daily grind of exhaustion in

unmatched in the world. your eyes. I know too well
He wrote to us saying: “Aruba So what I mean by not to how this feels like every day
is to me… Not to be taken for be taken for granted is that is Groundhog Day and how
granted by its people OR visi- one time visitors or welcome some guests may be chal-
tors. At first judgement years home visitors should not lose lenging but please don’t
ORANJESTAD — You are memory. Isn’t that a special ago upon my grandparents sight of how special Aruba judge all based on the few
back and we would like to way to keep your best mo- longtime love for the island really is. Clean up after your- baddies. And don’t take for
portrait you! By inviting you to ments alive? Please do note: and pleads for my family of selves, pick up your trash granted your beauty, kind-
send us your favorite vaca- By submitting photos, text or wife and then young daugh- and cigarette butts on the ness and duty you’ve shown
tion picture while enjoying any other materials, you give ter to join them for time away beaches, be kind and pa- on how special this place
our Happy Island. permission to The Aruba To- on Aruba was “where the tient to the people of this truly is and how I hope to not
day Newspaper, Caribbean heck is Aruba and what’s place, they have lives just like ever change but continue
Complete the sentence: Speed Printers and any of so great about it?”. I had you and remember that we to thrive. I love you Aruba!
Aruba to me is ……. Send its affiliated companies to been to other areas of the are all in this time and place Masha Danki!”
your picture with that text use said materials, as well Caribbean and been quick together. we are guests at
(including your name and as names, likeness, etc. for to judge Aruba as a stereo- their home and the respect Thank you for sending us this
where you are from) to: promotional purposes with- typical tourist destination of should be of utmost impor- wonderful message sharing
news@arubatoday.com and out compensation. commercialized same old. tance. And to the great what Aruba means to you

we will publish your vacation Last but not least: check out But to my absolute “hot de- warm people of Aruba, with us and our readers!q