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a8    local
                      Saturday 1 June 2024






























            The Lionfish


            And its threat to our marine wild life

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


            Aruba Tourism Authority honored loyal visitors at Aruba Marriott


            Resort & Stellaris Casino!


                                                 The Aruba Tourism Authority recently  secutively visiting Aruba)        for choosing Aruba as their favorite
                                                 had the great pleasure of recogniz-  Goodwill  Ambassador  (20>years  vacation destination, as their home
                                                 ing Distinguished Visitors of Aruba.  consecutively visiting Aruba)     away from home.
                                                 The  honorees  were  respectively  Emerald  Ambassador  (35>years
                                                 honored with a certificate for their  consecutively visiting Aruba)     The top reasons for returning to Aru-
                                                 years of visits, loyalty, and love for                                  ba provided by the honorees were:
                                                 the island of Aruba.                The honorees were:                  •   Aruba’s people.
                                                                                     Distinguished Visitors              •   Aruba’s beach.
                                                 The  honorary  certification  is  pre-  Mr. Richard & Mrs. Kathy Righi from  •   Aruba’s weather.
                                                 sented on behalf of the Minister of  Port  Jefferson  New  York,  United  •   Aruba’s restaurants.
                                                 Tourism as a token of appreciation  States.                             •   “The welcome you get when we
                                                 and to say “Masha Danki” to guests                                         reach Marriott Stellaris”
                                                 who have visited Aruba 10, 20, or 35  Mr. Jorgino Willems representing the
                                                 years or more consecutively.        Aruba Tourism Authority, and staff  On behalf of the Aruba Tourism Au-
                                                                                     members of Aruba Marriott Resort &  thority, we would like to express our
                                                 The three levels of honor are as fol-  Stellaris Casino bestowed the certifi-  sincere gratitude and appreciation
                                                 lows:                               cate upon the honorees, presented  to the honorees for their continued
                                                 Distinguished Visitor (10>years con-  them with gifts, and thanked them  visits to the “One Happy Island”.q
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