Abstract

In the Western Atlantic, lionfish (Pterois volitans and P. miles) are highly invasive and can have negative impacts on ecosystems. Divers have reduced lionfish abundance in waters within SCUBA diving depths; however, the depth range of lionfish greatly exceeds common diving limits. Commercial spiny lobster (Panulirus argus) trappers in the Florida Keys (USA) occasionally catch lionfish in their wire-basket traps when fishing at depths between 30 and 100 meters. The goal of this project was to modify lobster traps to maximize lionfish catch in these deep waters while reducing non- lionfish bycatch. Modifications of throat type, throat location, escape gap, and bait type were evaluated to determine the best trap designs with respect to bycatch reduction and lionfish catch. The preferred trap design was then fished among a commercial fisherman’s traps to directly compare trap performance. Simple modifications to these lobster traps increased lionfish catch and reduced bycatch. Critical elements of a species-specific lionfish trap include narrowing the top-entrance plastic throat to preclude entry of legal-sized lobsters and large fish and adding an escape gap to reduce the retention of small lobsters and fish. Bait type did not have a strong influence on lionfish catch. We postulate that the use of lionfish-specific traps as a commercial fishery for lionfish will need to be assessed by individual fishermen. Strategic use of modified traps could be used to remove lionfish, reduce their ecological impact, and enhance commercial fisher income when used as supplemental gear alongside existing lobster traps.

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