Fried lionfish will be one of the treats for patrons attending this year’s Denbigh Agricultural and Industrial Show in Clarendon. The Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries, the National Environment and Planning Agency (NEPA), Food for the Poor, and the Culinary Federation of Jamaica under the umbrella of the Lionfish Sub-committee will be demonstrating how to prepare the lionfish for consumption. The demonstrations will feature safe handling, preparation and cooking of the fish, and will be done at the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries pavilion on Saturday, July 31 and Monday, August 2 between 12 noon and 2:00 p.m. The Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries Dr. the Honourable Christopher Tufton will be on hand to sample the lionfish on Saturday afternoon while doing his tour of the exhibits.  

The lionfish is a major threat to Jamaica’s fisheries as it consumes thousands of juvenile fishes each year. The fish is not native to Jamaica, and therefore has no aggressive natural predators. Its venomous spines also give it protection from other animals. The lionfish, which was first observed in Jamaica’s waters in 2006, has since increased significantly in number. Agriculture and Fisheries Minister Dr. Christopher Tufton, is encouraging the public to eat the lionfish. It will not only save the already depleted fish stock, but will provide the platform for the sustainability of our fisheries, he said.   

According to Nelsa English, National Project Coordinator for the Invasive Alien Species Project in Jamaica, “Since the lionfish has no aggressive natural predators the only way to control its population is through human consumption. The Bahamas has a similar problem with the lionfish, and they have been eating the fish for years. In fact, we have been working closely with our partners in the Bahamas through a project called Mitigating the Threat of Invasive Alien Species in the Insular Caribbean to control the population here.”   

The control of the lionfish in Jamaica is a collaborative effort. The recently formed Lionfish Sub-committee comprises organizations which represent key stakeholders who will be severely impacted by the invasion of the fish, and who can aid in the development and implementation of effective control and management initiatives. The members of the committee are: Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries, National Environment and Planning Agency, Food for the Poor, University of the West Indies, Jamaica Fishermen Co-op Union Ltd., Culinary Federation of Jamaica, Fisheries Advisory Board, Improving Jamaica's Agricultural Productivity Project, Jamaica Tourist Board, and the Tourism Product and Development Company.  These Agencies will be working closely to implement a mitigation plan which will include training fisher folk across the island on how to catch, handle and safely prepare the lionfish for consumption.

Persons who need further information on the lionfish may contact any of the participating organizations for more information..