BIOLOGICAL POLLUTION - Marine Pollution: What Everyone Needs to Know - page 205

Spartina to return because the reed cannot tolerate the higher
salinity while cordgrass can.
A successful eradication of the black striped mussels from
marinas in Australia took place. Chemicals were used to kill
everything in the marinas, including all native marine life.
The operation involved chemically treating three marinas and
420 vessels, engaging 270 people (including sharpshooters to
protect divers from crocodiles) over four weeks at a total cost
of 2.2 million Australian dollars. In Hawaii's Kaneohe Bay a
“supersucker” vacuum device is used to remove alien algae
(Gracilaria salicornia) that forms a thick mat smothering and
killing coral.
Because lionfish are so damaging ecologically and envi-
ronmentally, countries have developed outreach and manage-
ment strategies to reduce their populations. Control efforts can
reduce lionfish densities and impacts, and in stressed systems
even a small reduction in impact could have long-term ben-
efits. Removal can be by professionals or staff of nongovern-
mental organizations (NGOs), using divers and volunteers.
Fishing and spearfishing tournaments have been organized
that include education about basic biology, ecology, impacts,
collecting, and handling techniques. Data collected during
lionfish derbies can be used to monitor populations over space
and time. Some derbies in Mexico and the Bahamas have
removed over 2,000 lionfish in a single day. Monthly ongo-
ing removal contests offer prizes and recognition to divers
and dive operators, some of whom include lionfish collecting
in their regular dive activities; customers are encouraged to
search for lionfish during their dives and notify the divemas-
ter. Lionfish are rather sedentary and bold, allowing a close
approach with a spear, but they have quick escape reflexes.
In Bermuda, divers are allowed to remove lionfish from areas
traditionally off-limits. They must attend a workshop for
safety. The fish can also be removed effectively with nets, and
they go into fish traps. A study followed divers who removed
lionfish weekly from several sites off Little Cayman Island,