Latest weapon against lionfish invasion? Meet the Roomba of the sea.
If you can’t beat them, eat them. That is the common wisdom of many scientists, conservationists, and fishermen who dream of ridding the western Atlantic of invasive lionfish, a stunning aquarium fish that, when introduced in the wild, dominates and destroys reef ecosystems. However, catching lionfish has never been simple; they are not easily targeted by line or net fishing. Now, a surprising new invention may bring lionfish hunting to the masses and help clear the seas of this invader: a submersible robot.
With its striking stripes, diaphanous fins, and mane of colorful but poisonous spines, the exotic
Reef Roomba to the rescue Lionfish. It’s what’s for dinner.
