Native to the tropical Indo-Pacific region, red lionfish are often kept in both public and private aquariums. Since 2000, however, the red lionfish has been observed in coral and rocky reefs along the southeast coast of the U.S., from Florida to North Carolina and including the Bahamas, Bermuda and Cuba. There is concern among fishery scientists that the red lionfish, having no natural enemies, may adversely impact natural fish populations. In addition, this fish has venomous spines that pose a danger to divers and anglers.
In 2006, NOAA’s Invasive Species Program and Sea Grant Program provided funding to the Essential Image Source Foundation and the NOAA/NOS Coastal Center for Fisheries and Habitat Research to develop an outreach and education project to inform the primary users of coastal waters of the presence of the red lionfish, the risks involved with handling them, and to encourage the reporting of sightings and captures.
Although lionfish are being observed regularly along the southeast coast of the U.S., there is increasing concern that its geographic range will continue to expand throughout the Caribbean Sea, Gulf of Mexico and the Florida Keys.
The links below contain down-loadable flyers (in color) that contain information on how to identify red lionfish and report sightings. One flyer has been developed for divers and the other for anglers. Please use and distribute these flyers liberally, and encourage your friends and colleagues to do the same.
Numerous organizations have also posted these flyers on their web sites, as well. As such, we invite you to do the same encouraging your professional association, club, or any other diving or fishing group to post these flyers on their web sites, joining our outreach campaign. It is through this kind of active participation, that we can inform the public of this unwanted invasive species and encourage appropriate action.
Please continue to visit our web site for future outreach products and videos and register at our web site to receive further updates.
