ORLANDO, Fla. — For years, an unwanted visitor has been massing off the coast of Florida, and now it’s moving in.
The lionfish was first spotted near the Bahamas and South Florida three decades ago. However, the fish has since been reported as far up the coast as Jacksonville, and scientists said reports have surfaced of the invasive species making its way into the state's brackish waters and lagoons.
"The lionfish has the ability to be one of the most devastating invasive species we've had," said Lee County environmental specialist Mike Campbell. "Part of the problem is that they reproduce so quickly. Another problem is access."
PDF: Lionfish: Threatening native fish and Florida’s fishing industries
A predatory fish, the lionfish eats native fish and disrupts reef habitat. The lionfish, which does not have a natural predator in Florida's waters, also competes with Florida's native fish for food, further damaging the ecosystem.
In addition to its feeding pattern, the lionfish also reproduces at a quick rate, with Florida Fish and Wildlife stating, “Females release two gelatinous egg masses of about 12,000-15,000 eggs each. These masses float and can drift for about 25 days. Lionfish can spawn every four days in warmer climates.”
“A lot of our native fish, our grouper and snapper, have the ability to eat them, they just haven’t figured out that it is something to eat yet,” said Campbell.
It’s not just the ecosystem, it’s also the economy.
"Invasive species can cost the state in a number of ways, depending on the effect it has on the economy," said Robert Weissert, of Florida Tax Watch. "It can affect jobs. It can affect real industries in Florida which are how families put food on the table, participate in our economic community and keep our state moving forward in a global economy."
In March, the nonpartisan research institute Florida Tax Watch released a report on the adverse economic impacts of the lionfish. The report called for increased efforts to eliminate the fish but also conceded that "complete eradication is unlikely, because the lionfish has reproduced to the point of being widespread, but strong control and management of the species can help reduce its impact and help the natural environment adapt to the presence of this invasive species."
“These are unnatural threats to Florida’s economy and economic well-being,” said Weissert.
To help fight the problem, many scuba clubs have set up what are known as "lionfish derbies." The event encourages divers to catch the lionfish, with many of the fish brought back to restaurants where chefs remove the venomous parts and cook the meat.
Tax Watch identified 10 such events scheduled to take place in 2014, from Naples and Key Largo all the way up the coast to Palm Beach County.
FWC has also created an online app ( http://www.myfwc.com/reportlionfish ) that gives divers the opportunity to report where they encounter lionfish.
According to the app, there have been at least eight reports off New Smyrna Beach in recent months, with another three reports near Palm Bay.
WFTV
