Scubamedicjoe
Contributor
CHARLESTON, S.C. - They are lovely to look at, but pack a painful sting and their numbers are growing, researchers say.
Related Links
_ Lionfish in the Atlantic (NOAA)
_ Lionfish Photo (Australian Museum)
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration researchers released a report Thursday saying that an "increase in abundance" of lionfish off the East Coast is irreversible.
Fishermen and divers should not touch the maroon-striped, fan-finned beauty if they come across it. Its dorsal, pelvic and anal spines can deliver a painful sting similar to that of the stingray.
The fish is found in water as shallow as 3 feet in its native South Pacific, Indian Ocean and Red Sea tropics. Little is known about its potential seasonal behavior in the Southeast as the population grows, but it hasn't been found in less than 80 feet of water and it tends not to stray from the warm waters of the Gulf Stream, said NOAA biologist Paula Whitfield.
It is a bottom fish that prefers reefs and jetties to open water.
It's unclear at what age lionfish begin to sting. "It's not aggressive," Whitfield said. "You can swim right up and photograph it. It's not like people need to be worrying about it attacking them."
But if people do bump into a lionfish, it can be painful.
"It causes big-time swelling and a lot of pain," said U.S. Commerce Deputy Assistant Secretary Tim Keeney, a veteran diver. "They're very seductive. They're gorgeous in the water. This is one of the fish that divers say can do serious damage to you."
The immediate treatment is to sink the stung flesh into hot water that's not scalding and seek medical help.
There were lionfish sightings at three locations in the Southeast in 2000, 12 in 2001 and 41 in 2002 _ including at least six off South Carolina, the NOAA report said. Researchers plan a sample count off North Carolina this summer.
A 17-inch-long lionfish recently caught off Cape Lookout, N.C., is the first reported catch of one of the fish by hook and line, Whitfield said.
Researchers think the invasive species spread from aquarium releases. Their effect was compared to that of the nuisance aquatic plant hydrilla.
"We have had enough bad experiences to know we should not be introducing new fish species," said Dean Wilkinson, National Invasive Species Council coordinator.
Related Links
_ Lionfish in the Atlantic (NOAA)
_ Lionfish Photo (Australian Museum)
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration researchers released a report Thursday saying that an "increase in abundance" of lionfish off the East Coast is irreversible.
Fishermen and divers should not touch the maroon-striped, fan-finned beauty if they come across it. Its dorsal, pelvic and anal spines can deliver a painful sting similar to that of the stingray.
The fish is found in water as shallow as 3 feet in its native South Pacific, Indian Ocean and Red Sea tropics. Little is known about its potential seasonal behavior in the Southeast as the population grows, but it hasn't been found in less than 80 feet of water and it tends not to stray from the warm waters of the Gulf Stream, said NOAA biologist Paula Whitfield.
It is a bottom fish that prefers reefs and jetties to open water.
It's unclear at what age lionfish begin to sting. "It's not aggressive," Whitfield said. "You can swim right up and photograph it. It's not like people need to be worrying about it attacking them."
But if people do bump into a lionfish, it can be painful.
"It causes big-time swelling and a lot of pain," said U.S. Commerce Deputy Assistant Secretary Tim Keeney, a veteran diver. "They're very seductive. They're gorgeous in the water. This is one of the fish that divers say can do serious damage to you."
The immediate treatment is to sink the stung flesh into hot water that's not scalding and seek medical help.
There were lionfish sightings at three locations in the Southeast in 2000, 12 in 2001 and 41 in 2002 _ including at least six off South Carolina, the NOAA report said. Researchers plan a sample count off North Carolina this summer.
A 17-inch-long lionfish recently caught off Cape Lookout, N.C., is the first reported catch of one of the fish by hook and line, Whitfield said.
Researchers think the invasive species spread from aquarium releases. Their effect was compared to that of the nuisance aquatic plant hydrilla.
"We have had enough bad experiences to know we should not be introducing new fish species," said Dean Wilkinson, National Invasive Species Council coordinator.
