Lion fish spotted, and captured, in Mahahual
As we have been reporting on this blog, Lion Fish is an invasive species that is now threatening the Caribbean coral reefs and other related ecosystems. Many sightings have been reported along the Florida coastline and now we are starting to see them in the Mexican coastline too. First it was Cancun, the Playa del Carmen and Cozumel and the latest reports have come in Sian Ka'an Biosphere reserve, where Pez Maya is, and the coastal village of Mahahual, closest town to our Pta Gruesa Exp
edition.
edition.Chencho, an old friend of ours, amazing captain and conservationist, found the lion fish pictured here.
The invasion of predatory lionfish in the Caribbean region poses yet another major threat there to coral reef ecosystems -- a new study has found that within a short period after the entry of lionfish into an area, the survival of other reef fishes is slashed by about 80 percent.
Lionfish are carnivores that can eat other fish up to two-thirds their own length, while they are protected from other predators by long, poisonous spines. In the Pacific Ocean other fish have learned to avoid them and they also have more natural predators, particularly large groupers. In the Atlantic Ocean, native fish have never seen them before and have no recognition of danger. There, about the only thing that will eat lionfish is another lionfish -- they are not only aggressive carnivores, but also cannibals.
As per local authorities recommendations, we will keep reporting all sightnigs, and we hope this species does not continue to expand at the current rate.
The invasion of predatory lionfish in the Caribbean region poses yet another major threat there to coral reef ecosystems -- a new study has found that within a short period after the entry of lionfish into an area, the survival of other reef fishes is slashed by about 80 percent.
Lionfish are carnivores that can eat other fish up to two-thirds their own length, while they are protected from other predators by long, poisonous spines. In the Pacific Ocean other fish have learned to avoid them and they also have more natural predators, particularly large groupers. In the Atlantic Ocean, native fish have never seen them before and have no recognition of danger. There, about the only thing that will eat lionfish is another lionfish -- they are not only aggressive carnivores, but also cannibals.
As per local authorities recommendations, we will keep reporting all sightnigs, and we hope this species does not continue to expand at the current rate.
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