Invasive lionfish captured in the waters of the Virgin Island National Park
August 10th, 2010 - 7:39 pm ICT by Aishwarya Bhatt
St. John, Aug 10 (THAINDIAN NEWS) Divers say that they have identified and killed another lionfish in the Virgin Islands National Park waters last week, thus making it the fourth lionfish killed in the waters so far. Scientists fear that the deadly lionfishes are invading the water.
The lionfish, which is a native of Indo-Pacific, has successfully survived in other oceans across the globe.
The fish was first discovered outside its native Indo-Pacific habitat in 1990. Later the fish were discovered in the Caribbean waters as well. The fish was believed to have been released into the Caribbean waters by an aquarium hobbyist. Scientists believe that the lionfish poses a threat to the Caribbean ecosystem. It is feared they may disrupt the ecosystem permanently because the lionfish has increased greatly in numbers, since it was first discovered in the Caribbean waters.
But officials at the Virgin Islands in the United States say they are not taking any chances saying that the lionfish poses a great threat to the native fish population in the Virgin Islands National Park waters. The lionfish consumes native fishes when they invade the waters.
Scientists say they need to work closely with fishermen to monitor and reduce the numbers of the lionfishes to protect the reef ecosystems.
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Tags: aquarium hobbyist, caribbean waters, ecosystem, fish population, fishermen, globe, indo pacific, islands national park, lionfish, native fish, native fishes, oceans, park waters, reef ecosystems, scientists, st john, virgin island national park, virgin islands national park