The Invasive Species Diet: The Ethics of Eating Lionfish as a Wildlife Management Strategy. Issue 3 (1st September 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Noll, Samantha; Davis, Brittany
• Is Part Of: Ethics, policy & environment. Volume 23:Issue 3(2020)
• Page Start: 320
• Page End: 335
• Publication Date: 2020-09-01
• Subjects: Lionfish -- fishing -- environmental ethics -- animal ethics -- wildlife management -- fisheries; Environmental ethics -- Periodicals; Environmental policy -- Periodicals; 179.1
• DOI: 10.1080/21550085.2020.1848189
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2155-0085

Abstract

ABSTRACT: This paper explores the ethical dimensions of lionfish removal and provides an argument supporting hunting lionfish for consumption. Lionfish are an invasive species found around the world. Their presence has fueled management strategies that predominantly rely on promoting human predation and consumption. We apply rights-based ethics, utilitarian ethics, and ecocentric environmental ethics to the question of whether hunting and eating lionfish is ethical. After applying these perspectives, we argue that, from a utilitarian perspective, lionfish should be culled. Rights-based ethics, on the other hand, are not applicable in this case, while ecocentric environmental ethics would support lionfish removal.