Invasion of the lionfish

INVASION OF THE LIONFISH

Do you know this fish?

Lionfish (ミノカサゴ ) Live in the Indo-

Pacific areaOn reefs down to

about 50 meters In harbors and near

the shore Range in size from

6.2 to 42.4 cmTypical adults

measure 38 cm and weigh an average of 480 g.

Lionfish

High reproductive rate2,000,000 eggs per year

Eat many different kinds of fishShrimp, reef fish, Compete with important commercial

fish Popular aquarium fish

Top predator Protected by

poisonous finsDangerous to

divers and fishermen

Usually not fatal, but can be very painful

Few predatorsGroupers and eels

Invasion

Lionfish were first found off Florida in the late 1990s

Probably aquarium fishDumped in ocean

Spread quicklySimilar environmentLots to eat

Spread

1999 2010

Growth

Problem

Eat other fish, especially commercial fish

Harm reefs

Solution Create a market

for lionfish Educate Offer bounties Report & research

Thank you for listening!