The Role of Citizens in Detecting and Responding to a Rapid Marine Invasion

TLDR

Documenting and responding to species invasions requires innovative strategies that account for ecological and societal complexities. The study evaluated the role of stakeholders in documenting and responding to the rapid expansion of Indo‑Pacific lionfish in the northern Gulf of Mexico. Researchers combined an online survey of spearfishers and citizen‑science monitoring with traditional fishery‑independent data to compare detection timing and frequency. Citizen science detected lionfish 1–2 years earlier than traditional monitoring, first noting them in 2010 and documenting a 367 % expansion in 2011; spearfisher experience and personal sightings predicted perceived impacts and support for mitigation, underscoring the value of citizen engagement for rapid marine invasion response.

Abstract

Documenting and responding to species invasions requires innovative strategies that account for ecological and societal complexities. We used the recent expansion of Indo-Pacific lionfish (Pterois volitans/miles) throughout northern Gulf of Mexico coastal waters to evaluate the role of stakeholders in documenting and responding to a rapid marine invasion. We coupled an online survey of spearfishers and citizen science monitoring programs with traditional fishery-independent data sources and found that citizen observations documented lionfish 1–2 years earlier and more frequently than traditional reef fish monitoring programs. Citizen observations first documented lionfish in 2010 followed by rapid expansion and proliferation in 2011 (+367%). From the survey of spearfishers, we determined that diving experience and personal observations of lionfish strongly influenced perceived impacts, and these perceptions were powerful predictors of support for initiatives. Our study demonstrates the value of engaging citizens for assessing and responding to large-scale and time-sensitive conservation problems.