Exotic Fish Invading Atlantic

ST. JOHNS COUNTY, FL -- Lionfish are feathery, striped fish that may be great for the aquarium, but they're causing waves of concern in the Atlantic Ocean.

Lionfish are not native to the Atlantic. They're from to the Indo-Pacific, and they are invasive.

"Our fear is the lionfish are going to be competing with native fish species, probably preying on native fish species because they are a predatory fish," Maia McGuire explained.

McGuire is a Marine Extension Agent with the University of Florida.

She said lionfish can potentially wipe out some native Atlantic fish.

According to the USGS, lionfish have been spotted off the southeastern U.S. coast.

McGuire said reefs off northeast Florida are breeding grounds for lionfish.

She said lionfish have been spotted in the Atlantic since the 90s. They are growing in number.

A lionfish was spotted this month in the Keys.

McGuire explained the most likely way they got into the Atlantic is by "release of aquarium specimens, either deliberately or accidentally."

McGuire said it was "probably people who thought they were doing a good thing because they could no longer care for their fish. They knew it was a saltwater fish, so they decided to let it go into the ocean. The problem is -- it's the wrong ocean!"

Pet World in St. Augustine, like many pet stores, sells lionfish because they popular aquarium fish.

Nathan Lebon works at Pet World. He said he and the owner understand the concern with putting non-native fish into the ocean. So they tell people who want to get rid of their lionfish to bring them back to the store.

"It's just because we don't want the aquarium trade to look bad," Lebon explained, "...just because of a species being released by someone who wasn't being polite about it."

Lionfish have venomous spines, and their sting is similar to that of a stingray.

Divers rather than fisherman are more likely to see lionfish.

However, anyone who sees a lionfish is encouraged to report it to the USGS nuisance aquatic species hotline at 877-STOP-ANS (877-786-7267) or online by clicking here.

Please take note of its location and take a picture of it if you can.

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