Lionfish have become the poster child for invasive species issues in the western north Atlantic region. Their notoriety as invaders is on par with zebra mussels, snakeheads, and even Asian carp. Their populations continue to expand, threatening the well-being of coral reefs and other marine ecosystems.

Since arriving to the northern Atlantic Ocean less than 30 years ago, lionfish have quickly become one of the most widespread and voracious invasive species, negatively impacting marine ecosystems—particularly coral reefs—from the northeast coast of the United States to the Caribbean Islands.

2025年2月21日 · Invasive lionfish threaten native fish and the environment in U.S. Atlantic coastal waters. Invasive species are capable of causing extinctions of native plants and animals, reducing biodiversity, competing with native organisms for limited resources, and altering habitats.

2024年6月16日 · The lionfish is a carnivorous fish native to the Indo-Pacific that is now an invasive species in the Atlantic. The lionfish, a longstanding showstopper in home aquariums, is a flourishing invasive species in U.S. Southeast and Caribbean coastal waters.

Lionfish, a beautiful and exotic-looking fish species, are considered invasive due to their negative impact on ecosystems. Native to the Indo-Pacific region, lionfish have been introduced to the Atlantic Ocean through the aquarium trade and have since spread rapidly throughout the region.

2022年5月24日 · Invasive lionfish have spread through the western Atlantic Ocean, Caribbean Sea and the Gulf of Mexico over the last few decades. More recently, lionfish have also invaded the Mediterranean Sea via the Suez Canal, leading to concerns about their possible impact on …

Lionfish (Pterois volitans, Pterois miles), venomous fishes native to the Indo-Pacific and Red Sea, are the first invasive species of fish to establish themselves in the Western Atlantic.

Invasive lionfish feeding on a coral reef. Confirmed sightings of invasive lionfish throughout the Atlantic, Gulf, and Caribbean. Map courtesy of United States

Two species of lionfish (Pterois volitans and Pterois miles) are the first marine fishes known to invade and establish self-sustaining populations along the eastern seaboard of the United States. First documented off the coast of Florida in 1985, lionfish are now found along the Atlantic coast of the United States as well as in the Caribbean ...

Red lionfish are an invasive species, yet relatively little is known about them. NOAA research foci include investigating biotechnical solutions for control of the population, and understanding how the larvae are dispersed. [71] Another important area of study is what controls the population in its native area. Researchers hope to discover what ...