ASSIGNMENT-MKAK1003

SEM-I 2023/2024

ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT & SUSTAINABILITY

Submitted by

GROUP 4
ALIYU MUHAMMAD AMINU (MKA221059)
OBIEKWE JOHN CHIBUZO (MKA221047)
SELVARAJ KESAVARAJ ((MKA221058)
LAU LIN TAT (MKA221055)
XIE ZILONG (MKA221014)

UNIVERSITI TEKNOLOGI MALAYSIA

DECEMBER 2023

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 1. INTRODUCTION
Lionfish is an invasive species that has been causing damage to coral reefs and marine
ecosystems in the Atlantic Ocean for over a decade. The lionfish is native to the Indo-Pacific
region but was introduced to the Atlantic Ocean in the late 1980s or early 1990s. There are two
lionfish species, the Pterois volitans and the Pterois miles. The lionfish is a popular aquarium
fish but has become invasive in the western Atlantic, Gulf of Mexico, and Caribbean Sea. Figure
1 shows the lionfish where the image was taken from the bottom.

Figure 1: The Lionfish (bottom view)

It took as few as three lionfish to start the invasion. At least, that is the best guess. Genetic
tests show that there were not many. No one knows how the fish arrived. They might have
escaped into Florida's waters in 1992, when Hurricane Andrew capsized many transport

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boats. On the other hand, they might have been imported as an aquarium curiosity and later
released.

But soon those lionfish began to breed a dynasty. They laid hundreds of gelatinous eggs that
released microscopic lionfish larvae. The larvae drifted on the current. They grew into
adults, capable of reproducing every 55 days and during all seasons of the year. The fish,
unknown in the Americas 30 years ago, settled on reefs, wrecks, and ledges. That is when
scientists, divers, and fishermen began to notice.

Figure 2; Lionfish (Side View)

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 2. DESCRIPTION

Lionfish are known for their distinctive appearance, which includes a beautiful and unique
pattern of red and white zebra-like stripes, venomous spines, and long flowing fins that resemble
a lion's mane. They are generally small in size, ranging from 5-18 inches in length, and weigh
about a pound. They are carnivores that feed on small fish, crustaceans, and other invertebrates.

According to Anika G. (2019), Lionfish grow up to a foot long and sport candy cane stripes.
Their sharp spines contain a powerful venom. Although a single prick from a lionfish spine can
cause days of swelling, discomfort and even paralysis, Americans import thousands of lionfish
every year for aquarium use.

Lionfish are invasive species that feed voraciously on native reef dwellers, upsetting the
balanced ecosystem. Several efforts are underway to limit their further invasions north and south
along the Atlantic seaboard. Divers, for example, may be offered bounties on each dead lionfish
they bring back to shore. Because lionfish are tasty, many environmentalists encourage their
capture and consumption (Aguilar-Perera, 2012; Boehrer, 2017; MacGregor, 2018), although
lionfish can bioaccumulate ciguatoxins, which is another hazard they bring with them (Hardison
et al., 2018).

3. HABITAT AND DISTRIBUTION:

The lionfish population started to grow in the Atlantic after being introduced by the aquarium
trade, which resulted in its escape or release into the ocean. The first sighting of a lionfish in the
western Atlantic was in Florida in 1985. From there, they spread out through the Gulf of Mexico,
the Caribbean Sea, and the United States East Coast.

According to Anika G. (2019), Lionfish are the first exotic species to invade coral reefs. They
have multiplied at a rate that is almost unheard of in marine history, going from nonexistent to
pervasive in just a few short years. Along the way, they have eaten or starved out local fish,
disrupted commercial fishing, and threatened the tourism industry. Some experts believe that
lionfish are so widespread that their effect on the ecosystems of the Western Atlantic will be

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almost impossible to reverse. Still, some people are determined to try, if only to protect those
waters that have not yet been invaded.

Lionfish are native to the warm tropical waters of the Indian and South Pacific Oceans, nearly
10,000 miles away from the Florida shore. There are many species of lionfish in the world's
oceans, and they can be hard to tell apart. All the lionfish identified in the Bahamas have
been Pterois volitans, and the species is now common throughout the Western Atlantic, but some
closely related Pterois miles have been found as well. Scientists do not know which species was
the first to invade, but both invasions started small: genetic tests of the two species in the
Atlantic show very little genetic diversity (Anika G. 2019)

Lionfish are comfortable living in a wide range of marine habitats, including reef and non-reef
areas such as estuaries, shallow water, deepwater, and brackish water. They are also known for
their adaptability and have been found to thrive in different water temperatures, pH levels, and
salinity levels. Figure 3 below shows the distribution of lionfish Current in the waters of the
Caribbean Sea, Gulf of Mexico, and Atlantic Ocean.

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 Figure 3: Current distribution of lionfish Current distribution of lionfish in the
waters of the Caribbean Sea, Gulf of Mexico, and Atlantic Ocean

4. IMPACT:

The rapid growth of the lionfish population in the Atlantic has caused significant harm to the
marine ecosystem. Lionfish are an apex predator that consumes a variety of small fish and
invertebrates, destabilizing the balance of native populations and affecting the food chain, which
results in the reduction of the native species.

Lionfish are known to cause damage to coral reefs through their feeding habits, which involve
consuming juvenile fish, cleaner species, and essential herbivores that maintain the reef's health.
The elimination of these species results in excessive algae growth, reduced coral growth, and
reduced biodiversity. Lionfish venomous spines are a danger to human divers, and it is necessary
to take measures to ensure that people stay safe when diving in environments where they are
present.

In her publication in an Article titled “Invasion of the Lionfish”, (Anika, G. 2019) stated that
Lionfish herd smaller fish into pockets of a coral reef or up against barriers and then swallow the
prey in a single strike. In their native range, lionfish eat young damselfish, cardinal fish, and
shrimp, among others. In the Western Atlantic, samples of lionfish stomach contents show that
they consume more than 50 different species, including shrimp and juvenile grouper, and
parrotfish, species that humans enjoy. A lionfish's stomach can expand up to 30 times its normal
size after a meal. Their appetite is what makes lionfish such frightening invaders.

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) published in one of its articles that
as lionfish populations grow, they put additional stress on coral reefs. For example, lionfish eat
herbivores, and herbivores eat algae from coral reefs. Without herbivores, algal growth goes
unchecked, which can be detrimental to the health of coral reefs.

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 5. CONTROL MEASURES:

Various ways have been developed to control the lionfish population, such as fishing,
spearfishing, and trapping. In the Bahamas, where lionfish density was high, a marine park was
created to offer opportunities for hunters to spearfish and cull the lionfish population. Some also
advocate for the lionfish to be introduced into the human food chain as a means of controlling
their population.

Education and awareness campaigns are equally crucial in the control of the lionfish population.
Sharing information on the harm caused by these species to the coral reefs and the importance of
avoiding the release of non-native species, such as the lionfish, into the ocean, can minimize the
risk of future invasive species.

According to NOAA researcher, and lionfish expert, Dr. James Morris, at a hosted a symposium
at the 2014 meeting of the Gulf and Caribbean Fisheries Institute in Barbados, a workshop
focused on harvesting invasive lionfish found that:

 An invasive lionfish food fish market is practical, feasible, and should be promoted.
 Alternative invasive lionfish end-uses, such as the curio and aquarium trade, are also
viable markets.
 Regarding consumption and the risk for ciguatera poisoning, invasive lionfish should not
be treated differently than other tropical fish species and a general caution statement
should be displayed within all establishments that serve fish and on all fish products.
 Local control is effective at minimizing invasive lionfish impacts at local scales and
should be encouraged where possible.

6. CONCLUSION:

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The lionfish evasive species have proven an ecological threat and require continuous
management to control their population. It is important to reduce the introduction of non-native
species to allow for the preservation of the marine ecosystem. Like other invasive species, the
lionfish serves as a reminder of the importance of environmental conservation and responsible
human interaction with nature's resources.

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REFERENCES

1. Aguilar-Perera A. (2012). Eating lionfish: An effective solution to control its

invasion. Proc 65th Gulf Caribb Fish Inst 2012:315–20.
2. Anita G. (2019). Invasion of the Lionfish
3. Boehrer K. (2017). Eat the enemy: 3 ways to cook lionfish, the new king of the
underwater jungle [Internet]. Available from:: https://www.
huffpost.com/entry/lionfish-invasive-species-recipes_n_6296762
4. MacGregor J. (2018). The lionfish have invaded, but a ragtag army of divers and
chefs are fighting back [Internet]. Available from: https://
www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/lionfish-invaded-army-diverschefs-
fighting-back-180968999/.
5. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (2022). Impact of Invasive
Lionfish