Lionfish in BVI waters. Photo: Dive BVI

The Conservation and Fisheries Department applied for and received a grant from the United Kingdom’s Joint Nature Conservation Committee.

The money will be used to monitor, control and raise awareness of the threat of the Lionfish in the Territory.

“We are pleased to have received this grant, but more pleased that there is recognition on the part of the donors that the potential of the lionfish to devastate our fisheries is very real,” said Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Natural Resources and Labour Clyde Lettsome. “It also bespeaks a confidence in our proposal that the funds will be put to good use.”

Chief Conservation and Fisheries Officer Bertrand Lettsome said the funds will be used for training of key personnel to learn of and capture the Indo Pacific lionfish within our Territory.

“It is crucial that we understand areas such as the ecology, behaviour methods and mitigation techniques of the lionfish,” he said. “The purchase of equipment is also necessary. Gloves, nets, weights, markers and special bags are part of the equipment stock needed to catch and handle the lionfish.”

Towards the end of 2009, the Conservation and Fisheries Department submitted a proposal to share monies sourced by the Joint Nature Conservation Committee to deal with the Lionfish.

A total of £60,000 (US$90,000) was granted to the Virgin Islands, the Cayman Islands and the Turks and Caicos Islands to be shared equally between the three United Kingdom Overseas Territories, which all sought financial assistance towards the lionfish fight.

On March 4^th, the Conservation and Fisheries Department confirmed the first lionfish sighting as discovered by Dive BVI, a private dive company out of Spanish Town, Virgin Gorda. The lionfish was photographed in 25 feet of water off Ginger Island.

Measures have since been put in place to capture the specimen and the Conservation and Fisheries Department has taken steps towards a strategic action plan to deal with the likely effects and public education.

Persons requiring more information should contact the Conservation and Fisheries Department at their office located on the second floor of the Quatisky building across from the Road Town roundabout.

Persons may also telephone the department at 494-5681, 494-3429, 468-9611 or 468-9678 for more information.