Lionfish Research Paper

WHAT? The problem is the invasion of lionfish along the eastern coastal waters of North America, especially in North Carolina. Lionfish in the Atlantic Ocean have been classified as the worst marine invasion yet not just in the United States, but around the world as well. They travel extremely fast and spread more than other invasive species. Lionfish were first confirmed to be established off the coast of North Carolina in 2000. They have spread so fast that they have reached the caribbean are can be seen all the way in Venezuela. When lionfish come into contact with a reef, they decrease the native fish populations by almost 70 percent. They are substantially more dense than any other fish around them and there are approximately 450 lionfish per hectare in some areas of the world which is why it is considered such a powerful invasive species. Initially, lionfish were thought to have arrived in North Carolina waters by ships’ ballast water or Hurricane Andrew that caused coastal damage, but is actually humans who are at fault.

SO WHAT? …show more content…
The unique fins of lionfish have allow them to be used as pets and lured by aquarium dealers who believe these fish will give them a sense of security. Many people do not realize that these fish have a dangerous venom that although may not kill, it can cause an intense amount of pain We have trouble killing these fish because they are such beautiful creatures. We cannot kill these beautiful lionfish, so we make the horrible decision of releasing them into the wild. I personally care about this issue because it is time for humans to take responsibility for their actions and start working to prevent any further invasion of the lionfish species. When these fish are released after being pets, they cause even more destruction to the environment because they are not used to their new