Invasion of the Lionfish

Humans aren't the only ones posing a risk to valuable wildlife; Lionfish have found their way into U.S. waters, and they are ravaging their marine environments. This story has been developing for the past few years, and scientists have narrowed down the cause of the invasion, as well as begun work to remove many Lionfish from the wild.

by Michael Aston via Flickr.com - used under
Creative Commons License

Lionfish are native to the South Pacific and Indian Oceans, and are characterized by their 18 poisonous spines that can cause extreme pain and, in some cases, paralysis. Because of this, Lionfish have no natural predators in the Atlantic Ocean. As a result, they are able to eat and kill whatever they please, which is destroying native species and their habitats.

How Did They Get Here?

via Wikipedia - used under Creative Commons License

As of 2013, Lionfish have been spotted all along the East Coast of the United States, from Florida to New England. Scientists have studied the sudden invasion, and have come to the conclusion that the Lionfish were introduced into the ocean by Florida pet owners who set their fish loose, not realizing the effect it would have on native fish. The Lionfish reproduced incredibly quickly and their population grew like wild fire, partially due to the lack of natural predators, and partially because female Lionfish are known for being able to produce a massive amount of eggs.

What Can Be Done?

via Wikipedia - used under Creative Commons License

A study of the stomach content of one Lionfish determined that the species can ingest over 50 species of fish. Many of these fish are already endangered due to hunting or other environmental factors. Scientists are becoming increasingly concerned about the welfare of the native ecosystem, and have been hard at work to lower the quickly growing populations. The search requires special equipment that allows researchers to explore the depths where Lionfish are dwelling. 

Recently, Jamaica has reported a sharp decline in Lionfish population, largely due to an increased market for their fillets. Fishermen have learned how to handle and prepare the fish without getting stung by their poisonous spines, and have since claimed a 66% drop in Lionfish in the area.

Other places are not so fortunate: scientists in the U.S. still report the problem as being serious and hard to contain. Commissioners from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission will be meeting soon to discuss this issue. They will be consider making rules that make it easier to control the population, such as allowing divers to harvest them using rebreathers, which allow them to stay underwater for longer.



SOURCES

Wurzbacher, J. (n.d.). The Lionfish Invasion. . Retrieved , from http://sailorsforthesea.org/resources/ocean-watch-essays/lionfish-invasion

Linendoll, K. (n.d.). Lionfish infestation in Atlantic Ocean a growing epidemic. . Retrieved , from http://www.cnn.com/2013/10/18/tech/innovation/lionfish-infestation-atlantic-linendoll/

McFadden, D. (n.d.). Invasive Lionfish On The Decline In Jamaica After National Campaign To Save Reefs. . Retrieved , from http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/04/14/lionfish-jamaica-invasive-species_n_5143460.html

Lionfish Biology Fact Sheet. (n.d.). . Retrieved , from http://oceanservice.noaa.gov/education/stories/lionfish/factsheet.html

Cocking, S. (n.d.). Lionfish among several key topics for FWC at meeting . . Retrieved , from http://www.miamiherald.com/2014/04/13/4056108/lionfish-among-several-key-topics.html