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Lionfish threatens Bahamas' coral reef system
Related to country: Bahamas

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Lionfish Concerns Linger -
By Kendea Jones:
Nassau, Bahamas:




Department of Fisheries officials are still looking for ways to deplete the population of lionfish in Bahamian waters, a species that threatens the well being of the coral reefs.

Lionfish are native to the tropical waters of the Indo-Pacific region, but also live in coral regions of the Eastern Atlantic and the Caribbean. They are active predators with quick reflexes that feed on smaller fish.
The lionfish, Pterois volitans, is a venomous predatory fish that is native to the Indo-Pacific and begun to populate Atlantic waters.
Unfortunately, according to officials some of the fish that these predators are eating happen to be food for the Bahamian grouper.

"We know that lionfish are fish that have a very, very healthy appetite and they feed basically on smaller fish," explained Director of Fisheries Michael Braynen.

"What this would mean is that if lionfish are prospering, they must be eating other fish," he said. "There had been some evidence presented that they were preying upon fish that we use."

"The threat that the lionfish pose is basically to the coral reef system. It doesn’t matter if they eat baby grouper or not if they eat the other fish that baby groupers and other groupers eat."

According to officials, the fish was spotted in The Bahamas late last year and has since been flourishing.

Mr. Braynen said since then the government has been working to study and learn the ways of the fish in order to deplete its population.

"We are trying to get as much information as we can about the distribution of lionfish in The Bahamas. We are working closely with the College of the Bahamas in regards to that. We have a national plan to the lionfish invasion that involves educating the public," he said.

"We are putting out information about the potential dangers that lionfish pose to the public health in terms of people getting stuck with their fins and that sort of the thing and what the first aid response should be. We are also encouraging scientific research in The Bahamas and we are considering how we could reduce the population of lionfish."

The government has also launched a Bahamas lionfish survey, where the public can report a sighting of lionfish.

However, Mr. Braynen said officials are also trying to introduce lionfish as a possible food source.

"One thing is that lionfish could be used as food and is in fact being used as a food source but we are hoping that if fishermen are able to derive some economic benefits from the lionfish then that will be something that can be used to cut down their numbers because they are multiplying quickly," he said.

The director said lionfish as food is not something that is widely accepted.

"Everyone has not accepted the concept of lionfish being used as food but there are some people that have tried them," he said. "There are places where you can actually buy lionfish."

Lionfish are dangerous with venomous dorsal, anal and pelvic spines which can cause nausea and vomiting, redness and swelling around the wound, as well as headaches and seizures.

If wounded by a lionfish spine the treatment is heat therapy. Medical treatment should also be sought.

July 23, 2008

July 24, 2008 | 8:05 AM Comments  0 comments

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