File:White. Pterois volitans (Linnaeus). Marshall's "Tropical Fishes of the Great Barrier Reef" (1966) colour plate 58 No 410.jpg

The lionfish is a predator native to the Indo-Pacific, however, they have successfully pioneered the coastal waters of the Atlantic in less than a decade and pose a major threat to reef ecological systems in these areas. Since lionfish thrive so well in the Atlantic and the Caribbean due to nutrient-rich waters and lack of predators, the species has spread tremendously. A single lionfish, located on a reef, reduced young juvenile reef fish populations by 79%.

In 2010, NOAA began a campaign to encourage the consumption of the fish. The "Lionfish as Food" campaign encourages human hunting of the fish as the only form of control known to date. Encouraging the consumption of lionfish could not only help to maintain a reasonable population density but also provide an alternative fishing source to overfished populations, such as grouper and snapper.

When properly filleted, the naturally venomous fish is safe to eat. The Reef Environment Education Foundation provides advice to restaurant chefs on how they can incorporate the fish into their menus. The NOAA calls the lionfish a "delicious, delicately flavoured fish" similar in texture to groper. Recipes for lionfish include deep frying, ceviche, jerky, grilling, and sashimi.

Description source: Wikipedia

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