Bahamian Lionfish

Here's a couple of interesting Lionfish shots I took off Grand Bahama a few weeks ago with my Canon G9. I actually went in the water on this dive looking to shoot shark pics, as there was an interesting feeding going on in the area at the time, but when this little cooperative subject showed up, I had no problem changing my plan!

Enjoy,

Adrian

Here's a couple of interesting Lionfish shots I took off Grand Bahama a few weeks ago with my Canon G9. I actually went in the water on this dive looking to shoot shark pics, as there was an interesting feeding going on in the area at the time, but when this little cooperative subject showed up, I had no problem changing my plan!

 

 

Enjoy,

 

Adrian

Very nice shots, so strange to see Lionfish here now (I actually have not been diving in areas yet where they have shown up in the Carribean. Must be very strange to see a Lionfish for the first time in those parts.)

nice shots.

lionfish populations are exploding in the Caribbean, especially the bahamas, and they are seriously threatening some commercial fisheries. aparantly it is on a very scary level. here in bermuda they've just started to form a stable population but we're taking the bull by the horns in an agressive culling programme.

the collector of species for our aquarium began noticing major drops in juvenile fish at his regular collection spots and went for training in the Bahamas. he is now training divers and has organized government permits for us to carry spears while on scuba (normally illegal) specifically to kill lionfish.

its difficult cause as photographers, we love lionfish, they are beautiful and cooperative. its too bad they're so destructive to Caribbean/Atlantic ecosystems.

beautiful pics though, cheers,

Chris

Thanks for the kind words regarding my pics!

With respect to the lionfish I saw...Yep, there were lots!!!

These shots were taken while I was on a weeklong trip aboard the Nekton Pilot livaboard on their NW Itinerary. Most of the diving was in the Grand Bahama area, but we also dove around the Bimini area near the end of the trip.

The first four days of the trip, I literally saw many lionfish on every dive - they're everywhere!

Consequently, even though I enjoyed shooting pictures of them, if they don't belong there and they're presence is hurting the balance of life in the area, then the local government should take reasonable steps to preserve the local ecosystem.

Thanks again,

Adrian

Unfortunately, I think the genie is out of the bottle with regards to Lionfish. They've been spotted from Rhode Island to the Caibbean, giving divers spears would seem like trying to bail out the ocean. Spearing could probably impact the Lionfish population on a particular reef for a while but the amount of ocean visited by divers is very, very small.

Just think of the Little Bahamas Bank, that's a huge area and only an extremely small area of the overall bank is visted by divers. Lionfish aren't going away.

Very nice shots, BTW.

Looks like a common Indian Ocean Lionfish to me and they certanily wern't in the Bahamas when I was there 8 yrs ago. Parrot fish are also a problem now. I have even heard reports of Lionfish found in the Hudson river.

The problem is the huge container ships, when they unload their cargo in Asia they need to take large volumes of water for ballast for the trans Atlantic/Pacific trip. Then when they get to the next loading point they dump the water and take on the cargo, hence the transfer of species.

Looks like a common Indian Ocean Lionfish to me and they certanily wern't in the Bahamas when I was there 8 yrs ago. Parrot fish are also a problem now. I have even heard reports of Lionfish found in the Hudson river.

 

The problem is the huge container ships, when they unload their cargo in Asia they need to take large volumes of water for ballast for the trans Atlantic/Pacific trip. Then when they get to the next loading point they dump the water and take on the cargo, hence the transfer of species.

Interesting info about the water transfer from ships being part of the problem - I hadn't heard anything about that before.

Now when you say Parrot Fish are also a problem, what exactly are you referring to? I did see a few Parrot Fish, but don't recall seeing them in any numbers that would give me any clue that they were a problem. I did see a few big ones, and of course they were chomping on the reef all day long...Is that the problem you are referring to?

Here's a picture I took in the Bimini area near the end of the trip. I followed this guy around for at least an hour and he was having a field day taking chunks out of the reef, with the trumpetfish as his personal bodyguard to fend off the Damsels!

Adrian

I like the sun rays in the first lionfish shot. Its very nice.

I had no idea about the extent of the problem in the Bahamas. Is there a good website to go looking for more details on the introduction of this species?

I like your images, Adrian....especially the lion fish pic with the sun in the background. Excellent composition.

What I have heard is that Parrot fish are appearing in increasing numbers and are chomping through the coral, just like in your shot.

There are a number of marine biologists that hang on this forum as well, maybe they can give you a more detailed explanation than me.

Spen

Here are some interesting links:

http://fl.biology.usgs.gov/lionfish_progre...rogression.html

http://nas.er.usgs.gov/queries/FactSheet.asp?speciesID=963

http://www.ccfhr.noaa.gov/stressors/invasi...ecies/Lionfish/

http://www.oceanservice.noaa.gov/education...sh/welcome.html

http://www.coastalscience.noaa.gov/education/lionfish.html

A number of scientists believe the source of the lionfish was originally from aquariums. There is a obscene number of lionfish imported regularly into Florida. Once established, they are able to breed.