Blue Realm - Toxic Invaders

Blue Realm - Toxic Invaders

They’re beautiful - and deadly, with venomous spines that resemble a lion's mane. They’re lionfish, a tropical reef species normally found in the Indo-Pacific. Now, they’re wreaking havoc in the Caribbean and Atlantic – all thought to have descended from a handful of aquarium fish carelessly released into the sea. In these regions, they are potentially a greater threat to coral reefs and commercial fish populations than global warming or pollution.
Prolific breeders and aggressive predators, they quickly spread - wiping out native species at an alarming rate. Most fish aren't afraid of them because they've never encountered lionfish in the past. Eradication programs are in place, but they are barely making a dent in a booming population. Handling the prickly invaders can be a daunting task. A lionfish envenomation is one of the most painful wounds in nature. In the Florida Keys, some practical and novel approaches are making progress in the fight against these Toxic Invaders.