The Lionfish

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The Lionfish

• Introduction to the East Coast
• By
• Dylan Elks

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Outline

• I. Physical description
• II. Background information
• A. native waters
• B. Introduction to the East Coast
• III. Management issues

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The Lionfish (Pterois volitans)

• Can achieve length of 17 inches
• Up to 2.5 lbs
• Distinctive red or maroon and white stripes
• Fleshy tentacles above the eyes and mouth
• Fan-like pectoral fins
• Long separated dorsal spines.
• Dorsal, anal, and pelvic fins are venomous.

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The Lionfish

• Native to Indo-Pacific waters
• Occurs on deep ledges and hard bottoms
• Depths of 85 to 260ft
• Temperatures of 75-79F
• Live up to 15 years

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Lionfish on the East Coast.

• Aquarium Trade
• Florida, early 1990s
• Hurricane Andrew
• Spread to Cape Hatteras, NC by 2000
• Gulf Stream
• Transport of eggs and larvae.

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Management Issues

• Exposure to humans.
• Divers
• Fisherman
• Non-fatal
• Few natural predators.
• Feed on young of commercially important fish.
• Grouper
• Snapper
• Share a food source.

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Management

• NOAA Fisheries and NOAA Ocean Service are using
  several research techniques to determine extent,
  range, and population.
• Eradication
• UNCW. RV. Cape Fear
• Large number of adults and juveniles observed
• established and reproducing along the southeast
  United States coast.
• There is further evidence that lionfish numbers
  are increasing.
• There is no getting rid of them now.