 Governor Charlie Crist Secretary Michael W. Sole http://www.myflorida.com |
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 3900 Commonwealth Blvd., M.S. 49 Tallahassee, FL 32399 P: (850) 245-2118 F: (850) 245-2128 http://www.dep.state.fl.us |
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Volume 10, Issue 5 |
More Protection, Less Process |
February 5, 2010 |
The Unwelcome IntruderThe stately yet unwelcome Indo-Pacific lionfish (Pterois volitans) is a fish out of water, so to speak, and has become an intruder in Florida’s marine community. Although its apparent accidental introduction to the eastern seaboard and Caribbean was in the 1990s, the first confirmed sighting within the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary (FKNMS) occurred in January 2009. However unsolicited, the species has been steadily expanding its range and the gluttonous alien poses a serious threat to the coral reefs in Bermuda, the Caribbean islands, Central America, northern South America and the Gulf of Mexico, in addition to the American tropics of Florida. Since the lionfish has no known natural predators in the Atlantic, left unmanaged its voracious appetite for native fish and crustaceans could seriously affect the indigenous reef fish population. Add that to its ability to spawn year-round, the species could be disastrous to the natural balance of the reef ecosystem – and that greatly concerns ecologists, as well as biologists. Prior to the lionfish’s arrival in the Keys, FKNMS and other partners developed an early detection and rapid response plan for the invasive fish. Stickers were distributed to Keys dive operators and marinas, and workshops and outreach campaigns were held to raise awareness of the potential threat. When lionfish sightings increased during 2009, resource managers began enlisting the dive community to help remove the fish and trained divers were deployed to capture the lionfish. More than 100 dive operators, marine life collectors and members of the research community attended workshops which were a prerequisite for a sanctuary permit to remove the species, via hand nets, from the sanctuary’s 18 ‘No Take Zones.’ In the first year of the invasion, approximately 60 lionfish sightings were confirmed, with about 50 percent being successfully removed. Lionfish seem to have no depth preference and have been sighted around shallow seawalls to far below the surface around the artificial reef of the Vandenberg (140 feet). They do not appear to have a habitat preference either, having been found on reefs, in mangroves and in seagrass meadows. Anglers are encouraged to be cautious if they hook a lionfish and divers are advised not to approach it. If it becomes hooked, the line should be cut releasing the fish into a cooler. No attempt should be made to remove the hook itself since the venomous spines of the lionfish release a toxin that can be extremely painful. If accidentally stung, it is suggested that the wound be immersed in hot water and immediate medical attention sought. The 24-hour Aquatic Toxins Hotline at the Florida Poison Information Center in Miami has medical experts on hand and can be reached by calling 1-888-232-8635.
Although the lionfish is quite a beautiful specimen,
it’s another case of ‘looks can be deceiving.’
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