Since the poisonous lionfish (Pterois volitans) has quickly become one of the most widespread and voracious invasive aquatic species. In the marine ecosystem, it was mainly coral reefs, from the northeastern coast of the United States to the Caribbean that were at the expense. Now, a study from the California Academy of Sciences, published in the journal Biological Invasions, reveals that the lionfish (also called “scorpion fish”) is spreading like wildfire in the South Atlantic as well, particularly in the waters of Brazil, where it has already been sighted four times. In the Mediterranean, however, the first sighting of this fearsome predator with a large mouth and protruding eyes dates back to 2017, along the Sicilian coasts.
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Research by Californian scientists aims to provide insights into how to manage the invasion before all local ecosystems are devastated. With its reddish brown livery and impressive mane of spines, the lionfish causes poisonings that can have three different degrees. At the first degree the toxin produces erythema, bruising or even cyanosis of the affected part. At the second degree, some blisters appear around the sting. At the third degree there is local necrosis and variations in sensitivity to touch, which can last for several days.
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Classic aquarium fish, lo Pterois volitans it is very coveted by collectors who then release it in nature, abandoning it in an irresponsible way. It is suspected that the invasion of the Atlantic Ocean began precisely in this way. Having a very large diet, which preys on through a unique hunting style, the lionfish reproduces all year round and its eggs can float for long distances at the mercy of the currents, facilitating their expansion with greater speed. to that of any other marine species.
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“The arrival of lionfish in Brazil’s ocean islands is of particular concern,” says the marine biologist and co-author of the study. Clara Buck. “These ecosystems hold a great variety of endemic species that are not found anywhere else on Earth.”
California scientists are convinced that to stop the lionfish invasion, one must first understand how it got to Brazil. There are those who think it has moved south from the coral reefs of the Amazon, those who opt for transport on ocean currents between the islands and those who point the finger at the aquarium trade. Whatever it is, the lionfish must be stopped. After the attempts of eradication from Brazilian waters have failed, the researchers suggest slowing down their reproduction, so that native species can devise a system to defend themselves from its voracity. The local government has therefore asked for help from fishermen and above all divers, who will have to identify the specimens on the one hand and render them harmless on the other. Human intervention is therefore fundamental in the management of this exceptional and dangerous invasion, to protect the coral reefs and aquatic species of the place.
Luiz Rocha, ichthyologist and co-author of the California Academy of Sciences study, seems optimistic: “Brazil, and the Fernando de Noronha Islands in particular, ravaged by lionfish, can count on the help of strong underwater fishing communities. the right tools, it is absolutely possible to keep the invasion under control. “
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