I have written several posts here on our blog about the dangers of the invasive spread of lionfish in the waters near the United States and Caribbean islands.  The feeding habits and aggressive nature of this fish is a serious threat to our reefs.  Reef.org has recently received the first “official” and documented sighting of the foreign predator in the Florida Keys.   While there have been undocumented sightings for over six months, this is the first to be photographed and reported in a timely manner.  This sighting allowed for capture of the sighted individual.  On January 12, 2009,  Lad Adkins from Reef.org  issued the following news release.

The first confirmed lionfish sighting in the Florida Keys occurred on Tuesday, January 6, 2009. REEF received this specific sighting report at 2:30pm on the 6th from one of our volunteer divers from South Carolina, who was diving on vacation in the Keys. She found the fish near the base of Benwood Ledge (66?) just offshore of the Benwood wreck, Key Largo. Via the numerous REEF media alerts and notices, she knew the invasion of lionfish was an issue and grabbed a few images with her digital camera to confirm the sighting. She then took detailed notes on the location of the fish in relation to the dive site and upon her return to shore, contacted REEF staff to report the sighting. Upon review of her images, we confirmed the sighting and gathered a detailed description of the location of the fish. Following protocols developed in a multi agency workshop held in June of 2008, the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary (FKNMS) was notified and the report was forwarded to the US Geological Survey (USGS) Invasive Species Program. Response plans were coordinated between REEF and the FKNMS and a removal team was assembled.

The removal effort was initiated on the morning of January 7th. Following the extremely accurate site descriptions provided by the volunteer, the fish was found at the same location reported. The fish was captured alive via hand nets by REEF staff and returned to the shore where it was euthanized in a eugenol solution prior to dissection. No other lionfish were observed in the immediate vicinity. Total time between initial report and successful removal was less than 24 hours.

Additional information collected as part of the response effort included site conditions, habitat characterizations, and prey community assessments. Data on size, reproductive status, and stomach contents were gathered during dissection and tissue samples, genetic material and otoliths were preserved for further analysis.

The process of early detection, verification, warning, rapid response, habitat characterization, collection and dissection follow protocols developed in close partnership by REEF, the NOAA Beaufort Lab, USGS, Simon Fraser University, the National Aquarium in DC, the Bermuda Aquarium and others participating in our June 2008 invasive species workshop held in the Florida Keys and through our work in the Bahamas and Caribbean.

Reef.org is operating an intensive investigative and research project to further study and develop an eradication plan for lionfish in the Florida Keys.  As I reported in previous posts, a few single specimen of this fish can quickly grow to an explosion of individuals combing the reef.

Reef.org is asking for anyone who spots a lionfish in the Florida Keys to develop clear coordinates of the location of the lionfish and to immediately contact Lad Atkins at (305) 852-0030.   Immediate notification is essential if they are to be successful in removing the pests from our waters.

Phil Ellis

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