Grouper

Groupers are one of the common predators of lionfish that eat lionfish.

In the Indo-Pacific Ocean, groupers naturally prey on lionfish, just like sharks do. Groupers come in a variety of varieties, but they may often be distinguished by their huge, "sad" lips. Additionally, they possess very sharp tooth plates that they employ to crush their prey. Lionfish can be consumed by groupers if they wait for the appropriate opportunity to strike so that the poisonous spines won't pierce them. The grouper has little trouble swallowing the fish's poison since stomach acid can dissolve it.

In order to reduce the number of lionfish, scientists are attempting to encourage groupers in the Atlantic Ocean to attack more of them. Successful studies have demonstrated that groupers in the Caribbean may develop into a lionfish's natural predator. Researchers also discovered that lionfish populations are substantially less in oceanic regions with large numbers of groupers. However, because groupers are a preferred fish for human consumption, there are fewer of them in the water. In order to concentrate on reducing the lionfish population, scientists are hoping that groupers won't be overfished in the upcoming years.