Images and text by Erin Spencer

Check out some of the photos from our third day on the Lionfish Control Study in Curacao! After a two tank dive in the morning (where we collected 176 lionfish), the team celebrated with a Ceviche Party at Kura Hulanda Lodge. The event was attended by trip participants, local lionfish enthusiasts, and Lodge visitors alike. 

 

Want to learn how to make your own lionfish ceviche? Check out the REEF store to purchase your very own Lionfish Cookbook. 

Trip participants spent hours dicing hundreds of fillets for the ceviche dinner. It is important to cut the fillet into small pieces so the lime juice can permeate the meat, curing it thoroughly. (Photo credit Jaclyn Gerakios)

Lad Akins, one of the authors of the Lionfish Cookbook, demonstrates the proper way to prepare ceviche. The recipe calls for tomatoes, scotch bonnet peppers, onions, limes, and cilantro.

David, Luanne, and Landen are no strangers to REEF trips. Here, the family enjoys their first taste of fresh lionfish ceviche.

The divemasters, captains, and staff of Go West diving came out in full force for Ceviche Night. A huge thanks to Go West for all their hard work and enthusiasm throughout the week, we couldn't have done it without them! Visit them on their website: http://www.gowestdiving.com.

Jaclyn, a Florida teacher and trip participant, assists Lad with ceviche preparations.

This is the second year that Lad Akins and Peter Hughes have teamed up for the Curacao Lionfish Study, and next year's trip is already in the works! They also lead lionfish live aboard trips in the Bahamas. For more information, visit the REEF Field Survey Trips page and http://www.reef.org/trips

Ceviche is a popular dish popular in the coastal regions of Central and South America. Acidic juices are used to cure fish while maintaining that great "raw" taste. There are many ceviche variations, but trip participants agree that lionfish ceviche is the best (not that we are biased).

Want to make your very own lionfish ceviche? Check out The Lionfish Cookbook in the REEF store: http://www.reef.org/catalog/cookbook