Lionfish Now Invading The Mediterranean Sea

[Judi Lynn]

Lionfish Now Invading The Mediterranean Sea

By John Liang -
July 13, 2016



you thought Lionfish were a problem only off South Florida and the Caribbean, think again.

The Mediterranean Sea is the latest area to see a Lionfish invasion, with the invasive species having colonized Cyprus’ southeast coast over the past year, according to the academic journal Marine Biodiversity Records.

The recent widening of the Suez Canal and an increase in water temperatures are possible reasons for the fish’s presence, the journal states:

“Until now, few sightings of the alien lionfish Pterois miles have been reported in the Mediterranean and it was questionable whether the species could invade this region like it has in the western Atlantic. Here, we present evidence from divers and fishermen that lionfish have recently increased in abundance and within a year colonised almost the entire south eastern coast of Cyprus, likely due to sea surface warming. At least 23 different fish are reported of which 6 were removed. Groups of lionfish exhibiting mating behaviour have been noted for the first time in the Mediterranean. Managers need this information and should alert stakeholders to the potential ecological and socio-economic impacts that may arise from a lionfish invasion.”

More:
https://www.deeperblue.com/lionfish-now-invading-mediterranean-sea/

[center]

[/center]

[pansypoo53219]

1. do they make good fish sticks?

[mackdaddy]

2. Apparently they do actually.

According to this slate article, that is one of the things they are doing in the Carolina coast area is teaching people how to prepare and eat them. Looks like it will just make a dent in the invasion, but it is something.

http://www.slate.com/articles/health_and_science/science/2013/07/lionfish_invasion_the_invasive_fish_are_eating_so_many_native_species_that.html

[Nihil]

3. More bloody Middle Eastern migrants turning up unwanted in Europe ...