Lionfish Invades Florida

[Jupiter31]

Saw some in diving off Freeport, GBI this past summer.

The really sad thing is it was all so unnecessary, so preventable - the story is some folks who had aquariums let them go - and w/ no natural enemies (I hope the grouper eating them is true), they spread.

 

[JillGadget]

I have a friend in Boston, and she said she has seen them up there. And unfortuantly they don't have grouper... If we keep over fishing grouper we will help to perpetuate the lionfish over growth.

 

[LowVizWiz]

and w/ no natural enemies (I hope the grouper eating them is true), they spread.

SpringerLink - Journal Article

The natural predator of the Lion fish is the grouper:

Taken from:
Bahama Pundit: Invasion of the Lionfish Threatens Bahamian Fisheries

Lionfish can eat other fish up to two-thirds their own length, while they are protected from predators by long, poisonous spines. In the Pacific, other fish have learned to avoid them and they also have more natural predators, particularly large groupers. But Atlantic fish have never seen them before, and few local predators will eat them.

 

[cruiser]

Please fill me in. How can diving in Freeport EVER be depressing?

 

[Divergirl4U]

A scubaboard diver reported one at Blue Heron Bridge a couple of weeks ago.

 

[Divergirl4U]

That’s good information LowVizWiz I did not know that.

 

[tiggrr]

Please fill me in. How can diving in Freeport EVER be depressing?

Knowing what it was like 3 years ago and what it is like now.



I am always grateful to be in the water but, when you see such a drastic change in marine life, it is sad. It is very depressing to see a ton of lionfish and know they are the reason for this change.

 

[cruiser]

tiggrr--

Have you noticed other marine life disappearing because of the lionfish? I've heard they do eat other critters.

Knowing what it was like 3 years ago and what it is like now.



I am always grateful to be in the water but, when you see such a drastic change in marine life, it is sad. It is very depressing to see a ton of lionfish and know they are the reason for this change.

 

[tiggrr]

tiggrr--

Have you noticed other marine life disappearing because of the lionfish? I've heard they do eat other critters.

What critters do you mean exactly??


I noticed a lack of red banded shrimp and the little blue cleaner shrimp.

 

[Papa_Bear]

I was the first person to find them in the T & C's and have watched them expand in the Bahamas over the last three years! Here is everything you need to know about the Red Lion fish: Two Tanked Productions HD & SD Underwater Productions and video services