After a relatively brief lull in Lionfish activity the Nature Foundation is responding to increasing reports of Lionfish in local waters. A large specimen of 30 cm was caught on the wreck of the Fu-Sheng dive site outside of Cupecoy on Saturday at a depth of 90 ft by Nature Foundation staff and was immediately dissected while on Board the Marine Park Patrol Vessel Yellowtail. Nature Foundation Chief Ranger Etienne Lake brought the captured specimen to the surface and it was decided to immediately dissect the specimen in order to determine what it has been eating. A juvenile Yellowtail Snapper was recorded in a pre-digested state. This reinforces the concern that Lionfish are a significant threat to juvenile fish species in St. Maarten territorial waters. Lionfish are an invasive species that were introduced into the Caribbean in the early nineteen nineties through the aquarium trade and have invaded the marine ecosystem ever since. The fish poses a threat to local coral reef fish as local species have not adapted to protect themselves from this voracious predator. Lionfish also possess numerous venomous spines that can inflict a dangerous and harmful sting in humans. The Nature Foundation is continuously catching and responding to reports of Lionfish in local waters.
After a relatively brief lull in Lionfish activity the Nature Foundation is responding to increasing reports of Lionfish in local waters. A large specimen of 30 cm was caught on the wreck of the Fu-Sheng dive site outside of Cupecoy on Saturday at a depth of 90 ft by Nature Foundation staff and was immediately dissected while on Board the Marine Park Patrol Vessel Yellowtail. Nature Foundation Chief Ranger Etienne Lake brought the captured specimen to the surface and it was decided to immediately dissect the specimen in order to determine what it has been eating. A juvenile Yellowtail Snapper was recorded in a pre-digested state. This reinforces the concern that Lionfish are a significant threat to juvenile fish species in St. Maarten territorial waters. Lionfish are an invasive species that were introduced into the Caribbean in the early nineteen nineties through the aquarium trade and have invaded the marine ecosystem ever since. The fish poses a threat to local coral reef fish as local species have not adapted to protect themselves from this voracious predator. Lionfish also possess numerous venomous spines that can inflict a dangerous and harmful sting in humans. The Nature Foundation is continuously catching and responding to reports of Lionfish in local waters.
