Sadly, Lionfish Are More Widespread Than We Thought
The invasion of Caribbean reef systems by lionfish Pterois spp. is well documented, and they are now encountered commonly by anglers and sport divers in many areas. However, a trawl survey conducted by the authors found them to be even more widespread in deep (>30 m) low-relief habitats and abundance increased sharply during 2010–2013. This is problematic because it likely means that lionfish suppression or eradication at specific shallow sites will likely be temporary, as individuals invulnerable to capture would still be present in deeper waters. It also means that their potential impacts will extend beyond reef tracts into other habitats with potential interactions with the deepwater fish community. However, and fortunately for fisheries managers, the trawl survey was initiated just prior to lionfish establishment and will be able to track their future abundance and long-term consequences of invasion.
See original article here:
Cerino, D., Overton, A.S., Rice, J.A. and Morris Jr, J.A., 2013. Bioenergetics and trophic impacts of the invasive Indo-Pacific lionfish. Transactions of the American Fisheries Society, 142(6), pp.1522-1534. dx.doi.org/10.1080/00028487.2013.811098
