The invasion has reached the Loxahatchee River.
Lionfish, native to oceans halfway around the world, have reached the estuary near Jupiter, threatening the local ecosystems.
Researchers at Florida International University have discovered the foreign predator, an invasive species originally from the Indo-Pacific region, nearly three miles inside the Loxahatchee River.
The inlet is of particular importance, FIU researchers say, because of the dozens of native species of juvenile fish that utilize the river as a nursery before making their way to coral reefs and other marine habitats.
“The presence of the lionfish inside the estuary is pretty striking,” said FIU Marine Sciences Professor Craig Layman, who specializes in tracking the fish. “This represents a totally new dimension of the lionfish invasion.”
The appropriately named lionfish, with its red stripes and elaborate venomous spines, was first discovered off the cost of Dania Beach in 1985. Scientists believe that through the aquarium trade, the species began spreading along the coast of Florida and the east coast of the United States, eventually crossing the Gulf Stream in 2005 into the Bahamas and Caribbean. Lionfish can now be found as far west as Louisiana and as far south as Venezuela.
Researchers from the University of North Carolina, in conjunction with Layman, also discovered that, because it is relatively new to the area, other fish still don’t recognize it as a predator, approaching it without fear. Similarly, other predators don’t see the lionfish as food. With no enemies and abundant naïve prey, as well as rapid reproductive abilities, lionfish have spread throughout the region.
Indeed, the presence of a single lionfish has been reported to reduce small fishes on patch reefs by about 80 percent in a five-week period, Layman said. Fish most vulnerable to this striped predator include parrot fish, damselfish and surgeonfish.
The lionfish’s invasion of the Loxahatchee River adds a new concern.
“It’s pretty phenomenal to find this fish inside the estuary,” Layman said. “I can’t think of any fish you would commonly find in a foot of water as well as depths of 1000-feet.”
But what if we became their predators?
“Lionfish are delicious to eat,” Layman said. “If a local market could be created for lionfish, the population could be controlled locally.”
The recently-published findings, written by FIU doctoral candidate Zachary R. Jud, can be found here.
I am a former student of FIU that lives in the Bahamas. As the article mentioned our waters were invaded by the lion fish in 2005. Currently the Department Of Marine hosts several meetings to find a means to eradicate this predator. What I do find interesting though is that they came up with the same theory of becoming a predator of the lion fish. They have held several cooking demonstrations with the public to encourage eating the fish.
As a graduate of FIU, I want to commend the researchers for the work done. The findings are timely and projects the university as proactive and current. Here in Jamaica fishermen have caught the lionfish and their presence in our waters is a talking point. Interestingly, the official word is that to control the population the people should become predators. Efforts are being made to encourage the consumption of the lionfish locally. There is however much caution and even though the word is that the fish is delicious the population is treading cautiously. Maybe as research deepens another way to control this predator will be suggested as anything that threatens the parrots and other small fish is definitely an enemy to our fishing industry. FIU its back to you.