Volume 68

Potential for Introduction of the Invasive Lionfish, Pterois volitans,


Authors
Sellers, A.
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Date: November, 2015


Pages: 233


Event: Proceedings of the Sixty eigth Annual Gulf and Caribbean Fisheries Institute


City: Panama City


Country: Panama

Abstract

Lionfish (Pterois volitans) have established across the Western Atlantic, and may generate significant ecological and socio-economic impacts across region. Their impacts and rapid spread across the region have led to concerns of a secondary introduction in the Tropical Eastern Pacific across Central America. In this presentation we discuss the potential for spread of lionfish from the Caribbean to the Eastern Pacific across the isthmus of Panama, focusing on the Panama Canal as a route of introduction. Lionfish have established along the Caribbean coast of Panama, and are found in shallow areas near the Caribbean entrance to the Canal, however, they have not been reported within the waterway or along Panama's Pacific coast. Their spread through the waterway depends on their ability to overcome a number of barriers, including three sets of locks and two freshwater lakes. Although lionfish can tolerate low salinity and have invaded estuaries, their inability to sur-vive in freshwater may prevent the spread of individuals through the Panama Canal. Lionfish eggs and larvae could also be transported across the Canal in the ballast water of transiting vessels, however, it is unclear whether ballast water is a vector for the spread of this species. The Regional Strategy for the Control of Invasive Lionfish in the Wider Caribbean calls for lionfish monitoring programs across the invaded region. Given the impacts that lionfish could generate in the Eastern Paci-fic, however, additional monitoring programs should also be implemented in areas outside the invaded region that are at risk of secondary introductions.

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