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The National Environment and Planning Agency,
NEPA, is advising the public that it has received several reports
about sightings of the predatory Lionfish in Jamaican waters. To
date there have been eight confirmed sightings in St.
Thomas, four confirmed in St. Ann, two
unconfirmed in Portland and one unconfirmed
sighting in both St. James and Westmoreland. NEPA’s Ecosystems
Management Branch has so far retrieved six specimens of the
Lionfish. These specimens are now part of individual collections at
the Institute of Jamaica, University of the West Indies and NEPA.
The Lionfish has been
classified as an invasive species. The worry concerning this most
destructive animal is that it can devastate Jamaica’s fish
population and coral reef communities, especially as it has no known
natural predators in the wild. Once established the Lionfish can
literally gobble up schools of young lobster, grouper, snapper and
many more families of fish. Studies in the United States show that
one adult Lionfish has the capacity to deplete 79 percent of a reef
in just five weeks!
Also known as Turkey Fish,
Dragon Fish or Scorpion Fish, Lionfish are native to the reefs and
rocky crevices of the Indo-Pacific region. However, over the past 18
months they have found their way to warm ocean habitats around the
world. They are noted for their extremely long, separated spines and
sport a generally striped appearance. Different species boast
different colours; red, brown, orange, yellow, black, maroon or
white. They are very popular as pets in aquariums or other
enclosures but become destructive pests when released into the
marine environment. They can live for up to 15 years in the wild.
Lionfish can grow to
approximately 15 inches in length, though the average length is
closer to 12 inches. The venom of the Lionfish is its main form of
defence. This venom is delivered through up to 18 needle-like fins.
It relies on camouflage and lightning fast reflexes to capture prey,
mainly fish, crab and shrimp. A lionfish will often spread its
feathery fins and herd small fish into a confined space where it can
more easily swallow them.
The fin-spines of the Lionfish
produces painful puncture wounds. A person wounded by one of these
sharp spines will immediately feel strong pain. The pain from a
Lionfish sting can last for about 15 to 20 minutes with some victims
testifying that the wound can ‘burn like fire’. Rapid swelling of
the affected body area (usually the hand or foot) develops and makes
the movement of limbs very difficult. Lionfish stings can cause
nausea, breathing difficulties, paralysis and convulsions. It may
take several months for a full recovery and if the sting is left
untreated, gangrene may develop. Death may occur in extremely rare
circumstances; however most people will survive an attack.
The venom in the spines remains
active for days, so even discarded spines should be treated with
caution.
Persons are being advised to
do the following in the event they are wounded by the Lionfish:
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Immediately immerse the
affected area in hot water. This will improve blood flow and
disperse the venom. Local anesthetic agents may provide deep
relief in most cases and occasionally a nerve-block may be
required. Anti-Venom treatments against Lionfish wounds are
available in only a few countries
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An X-ray of the wound
should be performed to detect any broken spines. If broken
spines are indeed present, these must be removed immediately to
prevent the area becoming gangrened.
While the Lionfish is edible
and even considered a delicacy in some parts of the world, NEPA is
advising persons to exercise caution when preparing it for
consumption. Great care must be taken to ensure that all the spines
are removed and safely disposed of. The meat of the fish must be
thoroughly cooked to ensure that the toxins are broken down to a
level safe for consumption.
NEPA is calling on the public,
especially fishermen and providers of scuba diving services, to
alert us to the presence of the Lionfish in our coastal waters. This
will help in our efforts to control the spread of this voracious
predator. A prompt response will be to our advantage in this fight
against this invading species. Persons with information are being
asked to call NEPA at 754-7540 or 1-888-991-5005.
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