[viewBag] title = "Problem" url = "/lionfish/problem" layout = "about-template" is_hidden = 0 navigation_hidden = 0 ==

Lionfish are an invasive species that is threatening the fish and coral native to the Atlantic Ocean Coastal waters. These fish, originally from the Indo-Pacific Ocean, are the causing many ecological changes to the southeastern coast of the United States, the Caribbean and the Gulf of Mexico. Lionfish were originally seen on the East coast in 1985 and have grown exponentially since then leaving only destruction in their wake. There is no agreed upon explanation for how the lionfish came to the Atlantic Ocean. It was hypothesized that they were introduced to the water following Hurricane Andrew in 1992, after an aquarium's glass wall broke. This, however, does not line up with the first lionfish sighting in 1985. Their presence in now explained through accidental and intentional release by private parties and traders who no longer wanted the fish. The map below, from NOAA, depicts the full extent for the growth of the species to 2013. This lionfish problem has continued to worsen in the past few years.


Damage

This prolific breeder who, at a mature age, can produce up to two million eggs per year is the reason for severe damage to the native fish and reefs of the areas the the lionfish are overpopulating.  They have very few predators and are a carnivorous fish that will eat anything that they can fit in their mouths. To add to this problem, lionfish are eating many of the fish that clean and maintain the reef, which puts extra stress on it. NOAA has determined that without intervention the lionfish population will continue to expand and have detrimental effects on the reef.      


Sources

[1] ScienceMag.org

[2] NOAA Fisheries

[3] NOAA Flower Garden

[4] NOAA Ocean Service