The lionfish has become the poste♦δr child for the invasive species problem∞π↔λ in the Northwest Atlantic. Lionfish are as infaΩ"™mous as zebrafish, snakehead, and even Asian cλ$→∑arp, and their numbers₽∑≥• continue to expand, thr eatening the health of corγ↔€al reefs and other marine <← ∞ecosystems, including vital fisheries that depe↓&"nd on them for commerce and recreat•σσ≤ion. NOAA and its part¥€∏ners are working to develγ₽op ways to prevent further spread and cont≠β&rol existing numbers.
History of Lionfish
Lionfish, also known as scorpionfish, belon©δαgs to the scorpionfish family •×among marine fish, and is mostly produced ÷↔in temperate coastal reefs or coral reefs. Nat≠α₽ive to the Indo-Pacific, lio♦↑nfish were first spotted off the coast✔φπ× of Florida in the mid-1980s, but their numbers &♠©"have increased dramatically over th"πβ÷e past 15 years. Lionfishσ↑α" are popular in aquariu'&<←ms, so repeated escapes to the wild through aπ&quarium releases are likely. Lionfφ≤ βish now live in the warm ocean wate≥≤∏ rs of the Atlantic Ocean, inha₽✘↕biting coral reefs, shipwrecks and other hab™σitats.
Impact on native fish anγ♠₹☆d coral reefs
Adult lionfish are mainly fish-e& ating, with few natural predators o§♥utside their range. Resea×¥rchers have found that a single lionfish living o ≠n a coral reef can reduce native fish stocks ₽∏™by 79 percent. Because lionfish typically prey ♣↕on snapper, grouper and oε>λther commercially valuable n←☆™ative species, their presence ca♦φ₩n negatively impact valuable≈∑↔ε commerce and fisheries.
As lionfish numbers grow, they put additional p€✔±♣ressure on reefs already deali≤'>∑ng with climate change, pollu£☆₩♥tion, disease, overfish"♣ε★ing, sedimentation and other stressors that ha& ₩ve led to seven coral species in ☆¥lionfish-infested areas of. For exampα☆Ω₹le, lionfish eat herbivores→¥, but herbivores eat seaweed from c≤↑☆oral reefs. When herbivores are absent, algae gro←∑wth is not inhibited♠¶±♦, which is detrimental to reef health.
In order to reduce the level of persecution of m∏®arine life, NOAA has launched an "↓♥•≥;eat lionfish" campai™γ≈gn aimed at promoting the consumption of lionfi±₹±sh. In partnership with ₹ the Coral Reef Environmental Education Founda★∏↓↔tion (CORE) and a number of ©± ∞other agencies, NOSA is promoting lελ≥×ionfish as a sustainable seafoo→≠φ≤d option through multiple media channels, andγ>∞ plans will provide guidance on invasi↓£πve lion The management of the fish ensuresγ₩ that they are all working towards ♠∞>a common goal.