Documenting the Invasion of Lionfish in Florida’s Waters and Management Efforts

to Control Them

Image credit: Image BryanFluech Scorpionfish Family

Two visually identical found in the Southeastern U.S.

Red Lionfish ( volitans) Devil Firefish (Pterois miles)

Image credits: www.lionfishhunters.org Native Distribution

Red Lionfish – Pterois volitans Devil Firefish – Pterois miles Location of Venomous Spines

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Venomology

Image Image credit:REEF

Lionfish venom is a protein based neurotoxin and is contained in glandular venom tissue in grooves along either side of each spine Image credit: Dawn Witherington Lionfish Envenomation

 Pain is immediate; intensifies “It won’t kill you, but it’ll over 60-90 minutes; may last make you wish you were 6-12 hours dead.”

 Treatment involves covering the wound with hot (not scalding) water; use of over-the-counter pain relievers

 Victims should seek medical attention

 Other symptoms might include ulceration of the wound site, headaches, nausea or diarrhea

Image Credit: Roxane Boonstra Lionfish Invasion

 First record : 1985 in Dania, FL

 Aquarium releases or escapes are most likely sources of the invasion  Over 60,000 imported into Florida annually*

 Mitochondrial data show no evidence of multiple independent introductions

Documenting the Invasion

Image credit: USGS Lionfish Issues

Image credit: Florida Sea Grant Highly Productive

 Year round reproduction  Can spawn every 2-4 days  20,000 – 30,000 eggs / spawn  Larvae dispersed by currents  Sexually mature within a year Egg Mass

Image credit: Dawn Witherington High Individual Growth Rates

 Grow faster and bigger than in native range  Growth rates have been documented as high as 1mm/day for juvenile fish

 Native length: 12-15”  Gulf and Atlantic length: 16-22”

 10-15 year life expectancy Image credit: Bryan Fluech

High Densities

Lionfish have been documented at over 300 fish per

hectare in their non-native environment

Image credit: Robert Turpin Robert credit: Image Highly Predatory

 Ambush predators  Able to consume prey more than ½ their length  Feeds on a variety of small fish and crustaceans  Stomach can expand up to 30x when feeding

Image credit: Brian Clark Impacts of Lionfish

 Dense lionfish populations can consume more than 460,000 prey fish/acre/year  Caribbean-reduction of standing biomass of native reef species by an average of 65%, with some sites showing a 95% decline in just a three year period*

 Consumption of recreational/ commercial important species & ecologically important species

 Direct competition with native species for food, space and shelter

 Disruption/alteration of food webs and community structure

Generalized Habitat

 Found in a number of shallow and deepwater environments  Natural and manmade  Prefer high relief structure

 Distribution thought to be limited by temperature, depth* and salinity

Image credit: USGS

Lack of Predators

 Native Range: Cornetfish  Western Atlantic— isolated/anecdotal reports of by , moray eels  Lab studies indicate that black sea bass, groupers , nurse sharks not willing to feed on lionfish

http://seahorsedna.org Lionfish Management Eradication not likely BUT… population control possible

Image credit: Robert Turpin Direct Control

Monitoring Efforts

http://nas.er.usgs.gov/sightingreport.aspx http://www.reef.org/programs/exotic/report

Ongoing Research

 Development/ application of lionfish specific traps  Deep water control

 Effort required to maintain control on managed sites?

 Lionfish in estuaries?

 Genetic manipulation?

 Broader ecological impacts?  Regional differences Clark Anna credit: Image  Larval recruitment?

“If you Can’t Beat Them, Eat Them”

Lionfish Regulations

 No size/bag limits

 Fishing license not required when targeting lionfish with specific gear  Use of rebreathers now allowed

 Permits available for traditional no-take zones

 Importation of live lionfish prohibited-Aug 1, 2014 Image credit: Florida Sea Grant

http://myfwc.com/fishing/saltwater/recreational/lionfish/

Selling Lionfish

 Commercial saltwater products license required

 www.myfwc.com/license  Click on “Commercial Saltwater Products”  2014–15 Saltwater Products License Application  $50 application fee

 Can only sale to licensed wholesale dealers Image credit: Naples spearfishing league

Outreach Materials

New Lionfish Portal http://lionfish.gcfi.org/index.php Final Thoughts

 Lionfish are here to stay  Future impacts?

 Direct control, monitoring, marketing, education, regulations & research all necessary for successful management efforts

 A lesson in personal stewardship

Thank You

Bryan Fluech Florida Sea Grant Agent County Extension Director UF/IFAS Collier County (239) 438-5594 [email protected]

Image credit: NOAA