Lionfish Endangers Caribbean Vacationers and Native Fish

The red lionfish, as venomous as it is beautiful, is turning Caribbean waters into a dangerous playground for vacationers. The Caribbean World News refers to the lion fish as a dangerous threat that may have been unleashed by an upturned Florida fish tank that released one or more of these lionfish into the waters. Devoid of predators that would normally curtail the red lionfish population, the species has propagated and is now found in the waters prized by Caribbean vacationers.

This is rather reminiscent of the alligator gar caught in Kiwanis Lake. In that incident a garfish not native to the Tempe, Arizona, body of water in which it was caught by a child made headlines. It also rekindled the debate over non-native animals released into wild - either on purpose or by accident - and which then tend to wreak havoc among the local flora and fauna since there are no predators to see to the checks and balances of the ecosystem.

Another case that is similar to these two is the accidental release of caulerpa taxifolia, the killer seaweed. The Alga Net website reports that this incident took place in 1984 when rumors began circulating that the Monaco Oceanographic Museum supposedly caused some of the algae to be released from an aquarium. This is a disputed story, and a variety of court cases have since cleared the name of the Monaco institution. What remains true, however, is that the alga somehow, somewhere was released into the Mediterranean Sea and from there it spread and choked out competing sea life.

It is astounding to see how the act of accidentally releasing flora or fauna into an ecosystem not its own can have dangerous and far reaching consequences. While on Star Trek we have been regaled for decades with the "Prime Directive," it appears that private aquarium owners either fail to be Trekkies or simply do not understand the impact one thoughtless or accidental act may have on the environment.

If you are the owner of an animal you no longer want and you contemplate releasing it in the nearest park, think twice! Surrendering it to an animal shelter, zoo or marine park may save you and the unsuspecting visitors to the locale a lot of grief. In addition, you may save the ecosystem of your neighborhood! As to the red lionfish, it is anyone's guess what may be done to remove it from its non-native waters. In the meantime, swimmers are urged to beware and not get in contact with the highly venomous and deadly fish.

Sources:
http://www.caribbeanworldnews.com/middle_top_news_detail.php?mid=1240
http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/920135/alligator_gar_caught_in_kiwanis_lake.html
http://www.alga-net.com/environment/killerseaweed.htm
http://holiday.monacoeye.com/monaco_caulerpa_taxifolia.php