More Lionfish

07/29/06

Chief Scientist Paula Whitfield popped up from the RIB onto the deck of R/V NANCY FOSTER beaming. ‘We hit the mother lode,’ she announced, in her effervescent way.

A record 16 lionfish had been surveyed in the transect – a 10m X 50m swathe of rocky ocean bottom.

But it was bittersweet news. High numbers were good for the scientists’ research, but bad for the environment. Invasive lionfish have a powerful toehold in their new habitat.

To do our part to slow their invasion, we ate some.

The crew was served blackened lionfish, along with vegetables, salad and yellow rice (we are fed well -- and did I mention, regularly? – on R/V NANCY FOSTER). Lionfish is a white fish with firm texture, like flounder; meaty and not at all oily or fatty. I think it would make a killer fish taco.

Another of the scientists aboard studying lionfish is Dr. David ‘Wilson’ Freshwater, a Research Analyst 2 for the Center for Marine Sciences at the University of North Carolina, Wilmington. With each fish collected and dissected, a small chunk of flesh is gathered for DNA testing at Wilson’s lab. These little glass jars of sushi line the table where we talk in the wet lab.

Wilson admits that he bartered his way aboard this research cruise, offering to work as a ‘grunt diver’ on deck in exchange for the chance to study the fish in person. The extensive work that Wilson and his associate Rebecca Hamner have done has proven so far that North Carolina’s invasive lionfish are all from Indonesia. One might expect a more diverse background – with a mix of fish from Taiwan, the Philippines and Mozambique. But Wilson says genetic markers indicated otherwise – and suggest a lack of genetic diversity in North Carolina’s invasive lionfish: what you might call ‘inbreeding’ – risky business for a species indeed.

The wet lab is unusually empty and quiet as we wrap up our talk. Wilson has stayed up late to ensure a good and thorough interview. But the days start early here on R/V NANCY FOSTER, so we put away the ‘sushi’ and sign off.

Even Paula, the Chief Scientist and orchestrator of all the activity, is asleep when I enter our quarters. The individual bunks have heavy maroon curtains drawn for privacy, and mine is the only one still open. As I get ready to crawl into bed I notice a small chocolate candy nested on my pillow, and smile. This may not be the QUEEN MARY but the R/V NANCY FOSTER is one special ship.