IT LOOKS LIKE THE LIONFISH ARE HERE TO STAY!

Lionfish, also known as zebra-, turkey- or firefish, occur exclusively in the Pacific Ocean and had never, ever been recorded anywhere in the entire Atlantic. Or so we thought…

...until 2001 when a local hobbyist entered a lionfish (Pterois volitans) in the Agricultural Exhibition, swearing he had collected it from a tide pool in Devonshire Bay. Nobody believed him...

...until later that year, when divers spotted more lionfish on Bermuda's reefs, and on reefs and wrecks along the southeastern US. It appears that a founder population, most likely released by marine aquarium hobbyists, became established off the coast of Florida some years ago, and the Gulf Stream is now carrying larvae or juveniles as far as Bermuda. We should be concerned about this addition to our fish fauna, for two reasons:
1. Lionfish may look like feathery butterflies and are not shy at all, but they have venomous dorsal spines that can give you a painful sting.
2. We cannot be sure whether this voracious fish will not gobble up or otherwise displace native species. Having fewer and less robust species to begin with, islands are particularly vulnerable to such invasions. But lionfish are beautiful, and it sure wasn’t their fault to be dispersed to our side of the globe. That's why we struck a compromise: catch the interlopers for as long as possible, give them government housing, and show how easily an island environment may be invaded by aliens from the other side of the globe.

NOTE: Should you get stung by a lionfish immerse the site in hot, non-scalding water for 20 to 30 minutes or until the pain stops. Lionfish venom contains proteins that are denatured by heat, preventing them from spreading in the bloodstream.

Lionfish
Pterois volitans

Heading for cover in cave dwellings during the day, the lionfish hunts for prey in open water during dusk and dawn. Popular in the pet industry these fish grow quickly to fifteen inches and have venom glands in their dorsal spine which can inflict excruciating pain of one gets jabbed by a spine.

Please report any lionfish sightings in local Bermuda waters to:
Contact: Judie Clee
bzsreef@logic.bm
(441) 293-4464 ext. 820 voicemail