Lionfish vs plastic, which is worse?

[Ohioreefer7]

I am really interested in the lionfish invasion and what it is doing to the Caribbean Sea and the environmental problems they are causing. I read that lionfish are worse than oil spillls and polution but I watched a film called Plastic Oceans and I am starting to think plastic might be just as bad as the lionfish invasion. The amount of plastic in the ocean looks like it is huge and I am wondering why there doesn't seem to be as much concern about plastic as there is about lionfish. So am I missing something? Are they just exaggerating the damage from plastic? Just curious about what the forum members think.

 

[Valentini89]

I am really interested in the lionfish invasion and what it is doing to the Caribbean Sea and the environmental problems they are causing. I read that lionfish are worse than oil spillls and polution but I watched a film called Plastic Oceans and I am starting to think plastic might be just as bad as the lionfish invasion. The amount of plastic in the ocean looks like it is huge and I am wondering why there doesn't seem to be as much concern about plastic as there is about lionfish. So am I missing something? Are they just exaggerating the damage from plastic? Just curious about what the forum members think.

Just my opinion, but I think it's because there are enough divers and scientists who care about the lionfish invasion to do something about it, and with the plastic situation, well maybe nobody knows where to start, or there isn't enough money, or something along those lines.

 

[Alfrareef]

Both are right. It's all a question of visibility.
I've dived hunting for lion fish over the Caribbean seas. Also when I spot plastic during a dive I (and my buddies) collect and bring to shore.
If the plastic continent that stand in the middle of Pacific Ocean reaches America coast, then perhaps some one will do something.

 

[Alexraptor]

The problem with plastic isn't just the bags and stuff floating and settling, the real threat and most difficult problem to solve comes from the microplastics that directly interfere with the biological functions of virtually all living things in the ocean.

It's a sad state of affairs when aquarium water could potentially be cleaner and healthier than natural seawater.

 

[Ohioreefer7]

Here is a link about the movie I saw.

https://youtu.be/Kd_QlauNmcw

 

[banthonyb71]

Here is a link about the movie I saw.

https://youtu.be/Kd_QlauNmcw

Thanks for the list. Love to see people that care.

Not sure if youve checked chasing corals on Netflix.

Its more about the impact of global warming but very informative.

 

[Blizzard 123]

I say plastic


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[ReefsandGeeks]

I think a big part of the issue is too many people are too far removed from the issue. Those that live by the coast, or hobbiests seem to care the most and are more willing to do something about it, but many who live in the land locked areas may have never been to the beach, let along seen the coral reefs in all of their glory. Reefkeeping has gotten me hooked and I wish I could help more, but living in Pittsburgh doesn't exactly give a lot of opertinuty to directly help. Only time I've seen an actual reef was during my honeymoon in HI where I spent most of my 2 weeks snorkeling and freediving around the coral. It was an amazing experience and makes me want to help solve the issue even more, but what could I do from here? I'm sure many others have the same issue of not being able to help, or not being close enough to have enough desire to really try.

The lionfish and plastic pollution are both bad in different ways. Oddly, an invasive species seems to make more of a spash (pun intended) than pollution because it's such a sudden change and alters a smaller area rapidly, vs pollution which is slow and almost seems normalized. Anyone here pick up trash along the road? That we can all see, but very few will stop to do something about it, or even stop producing the trash in the first place.

 

[Ohioreefer7]

Maybe the reason there isn't so much outcry against plastic and pollution is because more plastic and pollution would likely help solve the lionfish problem? If the ocean ecosystem is destroyed then the lionfish numbers will be kept in check or even eliminated.

 

[Alexraptor]

Maybe the reason there isn't so much outcry against plastic and pollution is because more plastic and pollution would likely help solve the lionfish problem? If the ocean ecosystem is destroyed then the lionfish numbers will be kept in check or even eliminated.

But the reason we want to eliminate the lionfish is because they are destroying the ecosystem in the first place. :headwally:

 

[Rich1Reef]

I overheard a conversation once, I was standing right next to them, between a Navy Biologist and a few of her companions and she was actually saying the amount of life that is in that big floating plastic thing was astounding. Maybe that's a reason it's not high on the priority list.

 

[Kevin Guthrie]

doesn't seem to be as much concern about plastic as there is about lionfish.

Could be lionfish are way more interesting to watch - charismatic megafauna in comparison to junk floating in the ocean.

 

[Ohioreefer7]

Could be lionfish are way more interesting to watch - charismatic megafauna in comparison to junk floating in the ocean.

Here is a video about trash in a river going into the ocean. It looks more interesting than the micro plastic in the ocean.

https://youtu.be/Lr5PYFgXnYM

 

[alton]

Here is a video about trash in a river going into the ocean. It looks more interesting than the micro plastic in the ocean.

https://youtu.be/Lr5PYFgXnYM

That is just plain sick!!

 

[PStanley]

Plastic pollution is a real environmental disaster nowadays! When I was on the shore the last time in my parents' area there was a lot of rubbish there. When I was a kid the situation was definitely better... We have to do something to reduce the usage of plastic. I've already stopped using plastic bags. I don't buy bottled water as well. Even my bamboo toothbrush is organic just to bring less damage to the environment after throwing it away. I think that some plastic things should be banned at all.

 

[Schmidty76]

I think a lot of it comes down to money. Plastic is cheap and easy to make and use. It's far to convenient for companies to keep using plastic and because it involves business and profits the government, (at least the U.S. government) won't get involved.

 

[TheCamaroShow]

did you know people eat lionfish?