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Brazil Pays $10 Per Lionfish to Save Reefs
7 Sep
Summary
- Brazil pays $10 for each captured invasive lionfish.
- Lionfish threaten native species, reefs, and fisheries.
- Captured fish are used for scientific analysis in Bahia.
Porto Seguro, Brazil, is actively combatting an invasive lionfish population by offering a $10 reward for each captured specimen. This initiative targets a venomous predator that has rapidly spread, posing a significant threat to native reefs, fish, and fisheries. Nearly 500 lionfish have been removed from the waters near Porto Seguro in the past month.
The operation involves local fishermen and the Municipal Department of Environment and Animal Causes, aiming to control the species before it becomes firmly established. Lionfish, native to the Indo-Pacific, reproduce quickly and have few natural predators in the Atlantic, allowing them to thrive.
Beyond their ecological impact, lionfish also pose a risk to humans due to their venomous spines. Authorities are expanding their response after the first official sighting within the Recife de Fora Marine Natural Park on June 12, 2026.
Captured lionfish are being utilized for scientific research at the Federal University of Southern Bahia. Analyses are underway to understand the invasion's dynamics, including the fish's diet, genetics, and distribution along the Bahia coast. Similar concerns have been raised further north, with the Chico Mendes Institute for Biodiversity Conservation confirming lionfish presence in the Abrolhos Marine National Park in August 2026.
