Eleuthera, Bahamas. The first stop for the shoot
Dive expert Nick Poole teaches Carl how to use underwater communication equipment
Carl resurfaces to report the lionfish he saw on the Bahamian reefs below
Lionfish trick their pray by spraying jets of water in their face
Protective gloves are necessary to avoid getting stung by the fish’s venomous spines
Mark Hixon, lionfish expert from Oregon State University
Live lionfish in an open well, part of a research experiment
Director John Angier attaches a camera to the belly of a helicopter
Aerial shots of Eleuthera
Our tough underwater camerawoman—Valentina Cucchiara
The crew gathers around Mark Hixon to learn more about his research on lionfish
The next stop was Palm Beach, Florida where Carl participated in a lionfish derby organized by REEF
A quick pre-derby dive prep on the boat
Over a thousand lionfish were speared at the derby
Invasive lionfish in the Atlantic grow to much larger sizes than their native cousins in the Pacific
Baby fish taken from a lionfish’s stomach. Their ravenous appetite can decimate fish populations by over 80 percent
David Johnson, who started Traditional Fisheries, a lionfish wholesaling company, with a large lionfish he caught in the Mexican Caribbean www.tradtionalfisheries.com
Hardy Mexican fishermen from Puerto Morelos are now spearing lionfish as a source of livelihood
The invasion is at a peak in the Mexican Caribbean
Mexican cooperatives have started processing and packaging plants that send lionfish fillets to restaurants across the United States
Mexican chef Renato Luis Espinosa demonstrates different ways to cook lionfish
Two whole deep-fried lionfish flank grilled fillets, complete with a Thai peanut satay dip