“Lionfish are here to stay, and it appears that the only way to control them is by fishing them,”
“Ocean predator” conjures up images of sharks and barracudas, but the voracious red lionfish is out-eating them all in the Caribbean – and Mother Nature appears unable to control its impact on local reef fish. That leaves human intervention as the most promising solution to the problem of this highly invasive species, said researchers at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
“Lionfish are here to stay, and it appears that the only way to control them is by fishing them,” said John Bruno, professor of biology in UNC’s College of Arts and Sciences and lead investigator of the study. The research has important implications not just for Caribbean reefs, but for the North Carolina coast, where growing numbers of lionfish now threaten local fish populations.
“Native predators do not influence invasion success of Pacific lionfish on Caribbean reefs” was published July 11 by the journal PLOS ONE.
Lionfish, native to the Indo-Pacific region, have long been popular aquarium occupants, with their striking stripes and soft, waving fins. They also have venomous spines, making them unpleasant fare for predators, including humans—though once the spines are carefully removed, lionfish are generally considered safe to eat, Bruno said.
They have become big marine news as the latest invasive species to threaten existing wildlife populations. Bruno likened their extraordinary success to that of ball pythons, now eating their way through Florida Everglades fauna, with few predators other than alligators and humans.
“When I began diving 10 years ago, lionfish were a rare and mysterious species seen deep within coral crevices in the Pacific Ocean,” said Serena Hackerott, lead author and master’s student in marine sciences, also in UNC’s College of Arts and Sciences. “They can now been seen across the Caribbean, hovering above the reefs throughout the day and gathering in groups of up to ten or more on a single coral head.”
The international research team looked at whether native reef predators such as sharks and groupers could help control the population growth of red lionfish in the Caribbean, either by eating them or out-competing them for prey. They also wanted to evaluate scientifically whether, as some speculate, that overfishing of reef predators had allowed the lionfish population to grow unchecked.
The team surveyed 71 reefs, in three different regions of the Caribbean, over three years. Their results indicate there is no relationship between the density of lionfish and that of native predators, suggesting that, “interactions with native predators do not influence” the number of lionfish in those areas, the study said.
The researchers did find that lionfish populations were lower in protected reefs, attributing that to targeted removal by reef managers, rather than consumption by large fishes in the protected areas. Hackerott noted that during 2013 reef surveys, there appeared to be fewer lionfish on popular dive sites in Belize, where divers and reef managers remove lionfish daily.
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- Diving teams win thousands after removing record-breaking number of highly invasive lionfish: 'We are very thankful'on May 6, 2024 at 4:59 pm
Scuba divers at the 2023 Florida Keys Lionfish Derby & Festival caught 1,898 lionfish, breaking the previous records for Florida Keys derbies by more than 500. The derby, held in Islamorada by the ...
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The U.S. Navy's efforts to build a fleet of unmanned vessels are faltering because the Pentagon remains wedded to big shipbuilding projects, exposing a weakness as sea drones reshape naval warfare.
- Invasive lionfish continue conquering global marine ecosystemson April 26, 2024 at 7:58 pm
The Mediterranean Sea, the largest enclosed sea on Earth, is a unique ecosystem that is now threatened by invasive lionfish.
- Invasive lionfish colonized Mediterranean in just a decadeon April 25, 2024 at 3:53 am
Lionfish have colonized the Mediterranean Sea in just 10 years, reveals new research. The study highlights the invasive predators' rapid spread - and the potential ecological impacts. The lionfish ...
- Invasive lionfish colonized the Mediterranean in just a decadeon April 24, 2024 at 5:00 pm
Previous genetic studies revealed that lionfish found in the Med originate from the Red Sea and likely entered through the Suez Canal. The new study also highlights the "crucial" role of citizen ...
- Study highlights the impact of lionfish invasion in the Mediterranean Seaon April 24, 2024 at 5:00 pm
Genetic studies revealed that lionfish found in the Mediterranean originate from the Red Sea and likely entered through the Suez Canal. Through a detailed review of existing scientific data ...
- Unveiling the lionfish invasion in the Mediterranean Seaon April 24, 2024 at 5:00 pm
Researchers have published a comprehensive study on the invasion of lionfish in the Mediterranean Sea, highlighting a rapid spread and the potential ecological impacts. The research shows the lionfish ...
- Coral reefson April 8, 2024 at 5:00 pm
Here is the latest research in ecological science. The red lionfish (Pterois volitans) has decorated fish tanks, and invaded Atlantic waters, for decades. While sightings along the East Coast started ...
- These aggressive, venomous fish are taking over the Gulf of Mexicoon March 1, 2024 at 1:05 pm
The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department wants people to know that having a pet red lionfish is OK, but dumping it in the Gulf of Mexico can lead to disaster. The red lionfish are indigenous to the ...
- Red Lionfishon February 27, 2024 at 11:45 am
Intensifying hurricanes are helping invasive species spread across the U.S. Intensifying hurricanes are helping invasive species spread across the U.S. Lionfish May Finally Meet Its Match ...
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- Home chef shares photos of tacos made from invasive fish: 'I would love to contribute to eating the invasion'on May 12, 2024 at 3:15 am
Invasive species pose a major threat to the natural environment, but a home chef has found an effective way to combat them by chowing down. A Redditor posted photos of crispy fish tacos that would ...
- Diving teams win thousands after removing record-breaking number of highly invasive lionfish: 'We are very thankful'on May 8, 2024 at 3:30 am
"Lionfish derbies show how a community can come together to support ocean conservation while combating invasive species." ...
- Curaçao Hunts For Sustainability In The Caribbean—And A Lionfish Or Twoon April 28, 2024 at 3:42 am
Lisette Keus is on the hunt. The shallow waters next to the Curaçao Marriott Beach Resort are teeming with invasive lionfish, and Keus, an accomplished lionfish hunter, knows where they are hiding.
- Poisonous lionfish are making the Mediterranean unsafeon April 26, 2024 at 4:52 am
It's a veritable invasion: Indian lionfish are arriving in the Mediterranean from the Indian Ocean via the Suez Canal - and displacing the local biodiversity. Researchers have a rather unusual ...
- Lionfish restaurant closes, but Delray Beach lands this national celebrity favorite insteadon April 25, 2024 at 7:43 am
DELRAY BEACH — After 3 1/2 years in business, acclaimed seafood restaurant Lionfish of Delray Beach is closed. The modern coastal cuisine restaurant focused on sustainability and was twice ...
- Unveiling the lionfish invasion in the Mediterranean Seaon April 25, 2024 at 7:17 am
Researchers from Wageningen University and Research, the Netherlands, have published a comprehensive study on the invasion of lionfish in the Mediterranean Sea, highlighting a rapid spread and the ...
- Invasive lionfish colonized Mediterranean in just a decadeon April 24, 2024 at 5:00 pm
The lionfish species Pterois miles has "significantly expanded" its territory in the Medi since the invasion began around a decade ago, according to the Dutch research team. Their findings ...
- Invasive lionfish colonized the Mediterranean in just a decadeon April 24, 2024 at 5:00 pm
The lionfish species Pterois miles has "significantly expanded" its territory in the Medi since the invasion began around a decade ago, according to the Dutch research team. Their findings ...
- Study highlights the impact of lionfish invasion in the Mediterranean Seaon April 24, 2024 at 5:00 pm
More information: Lionfish (Pterois miles) in the Mediterranean Sea: a review of the available knowledge with an update on the invasion front, NeoBiota (2024). DOI: 10.3897/neobiota.92.110442 ...
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