Kill to Save or Save to Kill: Assessing Ethical Principles on Eradication of Invasive Pterois Volitans and Pterois Miles (Lionfish) in South East Coast of United States and Caribbean Region

The Pterois volitans (red lionfish) and Pterois miles (devil firefish) invasion poses unprecedented threat to biodiversity. The invasive lionfish has become an impending threat to native fish communities, human health, and fisheries resources. The specie has caused extensive impacts, harming native ecosystems in its new habitat waters of US south east coast and Caribbean coastal water. Their role in the food chain still remains vague as their dietary habits are unbiased and generally difficult to predict. The fish have been found to rapidly increase in population size and at present densities exceed those of all but the most common predatory fish species on many reefs in the Caribbean and off of South East United States (SEUS) coast. Various literature reviewed reveals that the impacts of the fish on the ecosystem would potentially result in a future marred with biodiversity loss. The invasive lionfish are out-breeding, out-competing and out-living native fish stocks and other marine species. The consequences impact the food security and economies affecting over a hundred million people. Application of ethical principles to finding a mitigatory stance for the problem at hand becomes key. This paper presents two theories, ecocentrism and biocentrism to aid rational approach and decision. Furthermore, our moral duty as humans to the environment prompts us to consciously decide on natures and our own behalf that the invasive fish specie be depopulated through killing. This would help the dwindling native species population to increase and would overall have equated ecological and economic benefits.