The Problem with Lionfish in the Atlantic
by Edward Blackler
There is a growing crisis in the Atlantic ocean due to a non-native predator for which the Atlantic has no natural response: the Lionfish. The Lionfish is a beautiful and deadly carnivore native to the Indo -Pacific region has been cutting a path of devastation throughout the Atlantic due to their introduction in the 1990s. The accidental release of Lionfish during Hurricane Andrew in 1992 and the release of unwanted lionfish in subsequent years by people who owned them is how they were able to infiltrate the Atlantic's waters. The Lionfish is not native to the region and as such has no natural predators to keep the Lionfish population in check . As such valuable commercial fisheries and coral reefs in the Caribbean are in danger of being exterminated due to the presence of the Lionfish. This epidemic relates to what we learn in our Ecology class because it reflects how the entire Earth is a massive system that consists of a set of components that are interconnected and function with one another. The ecosystems that comprise of the Earth's biosphere are subject to variety of conditions and whenever those conditions are interrupted drastic consequences will ensue. Humanity has had a incredible impact on the planet and the problem of the Lionfish reflects how delicate Earth's ecosystems really are. It is because of the people's egregious actions (whether intentional or not) that many different species of fish are in danger of being wiped out. Some scientists have predicted that the Lionfish will spread as far as Brazil in the next decade. The feedback from the ecosystems in the Atlantic are positive feedbacks because the ecosystem cannot counteract a non-native species. This topic also relates to the Ecology course by indicating how humans are apart of and not separate from the ecosystems that make up this planet. I believe that the invasion of the Lionfish is at this moment a crisis and it is moving in the direction of becoming a disaster if the appropriate authorities do not act quickly and decisively. As far as the current solutions are to is to control the situation until a viable solution can be devised. This in unacceptable due to the fact at how quickly the Lionfish population is growing and the detrimental impact on the Atlantic that there population has had. There are certain measured that can be taken in order to save the situation before it is too late. While Lionfish is being offered as courses in restaurants across the nation I believe that the government should subsidize harvesting Lionfish in order to make more profitable and increase the rates in which the population is consumed. I also believe that if there was a decrease in the consumption of the fish that are prey to the Lionfish will help save the situation. Finally, this crisis represents the need to monitor and protect the ecosystems that sustain our lives and the planet.
Source for post information and picture
http://sailorsforthesea.org/resources/ocean-watch/lionfish-invasion
There is a growing crisis in the Atlantic ocean due to a non-native predator for which the Atlantic has no natural response: the Lionfish. The Lionfish is a beautiful and deadly carnivore native to the Indo -Pacific region has been cutting a path of devastation throughout the Atlantic due to their introduction in the 1990s. The accidental release of Lionfish during Hurricane Andrew in 1992 and the release of unwanted lionfish in subsequent years by people who owned them is how they were able to infiltrate the Atlantic's waters. The Lionfish is not native to the region and as such has no natural predators to keep the Lionfish population in check . As such valuable commercial fisheries and coral reefs in the Caribbean are in danger of being exterminated due to the presence of the Lionfish. This epidemic relates to what we learn in our Ecology class because it reflects how the entire Earth is a massive system that consists of a set of components that are interconnected and function with one another. The ecosystems that comprise of the Earth's biosphere are subject to variety of conditions and whenever those conditions are interrupted drastic consequences will ensue. Humanity has had a incredible impact on the planet and the problem of the Lionfish reflects how delicate Earth's ecosystems really are. It is because of the people's egregious actions (whether intentional or not) that many different species of fish are in danger of being wiped out. Some scientists have predicted that the Lionfish will spread as far as Brazil in the next decade. The feedback from the ecosystems in the Atlantic are positive feedbacks because the ecosystem cannot counteract a non-native species. This topic also relates to the Ecology course by indicating how humans are apart of and not separate from the ecosystems that make up this planet. I believe that the invasion of the Lionfish is at this moment a crisis and it is moving in the direction of becoming a disaster if the appropriate authorities do not act quickly and decisively. As far as the current solutions are to is to control the situation until a viable solution can be devised. This in unacceptable due to the fact at how quickly the Lionfish population is growing and the detrimental impact on the Atlantic that there population has had. There are certain measured that can be taken in order to save the situation before it is too late. While Lionfish is being offered as courses in restaurants across the nation I believe that the government should subsidize harvesting Lionfish in order to make more profitable and increase the rates in which the population is consumed. I also believe that if there was a decrease in the consumption of the fish that are prey to the Lionfish will help save the situation. Finally, this crisis represents the need to monitor and protect the ecosystems that sustain our lives and the planet.
Source for post information and picture
http://sailorsforthesea.org/resources/ocean-watch/lionfish-invasion
It was interesting to see how one invasive fish can threaten an ecosystem so much. Also, how if could affect such a wide range of other animals and reefs. I don't agree with fishing or reducing the population of their prey will help, instead it may cause other issues.
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