Abstract

Since the first official sighting of the invasive lionfish (Pterois volitans and P. miles) in Bermuda nearly fifteen years ago, anecdotal evidence suggests their population has concentrated at depths of 20 meters and is expanding more slowly than in other parts of the northwestern Atlantic Ocean. However, research into the distribution, population status and ecological impact of lionfish in Bermuda has only recently begun. In 2013, approximately 60 sites in five depth bands were surveyed to determine lionfish and prey fish abundance. In the same period, approximately 250 lionfish were captured by surveyors, recreational spear fishers and SCUBA divers, and commercial fishermen. Captured fish were weighed, measured, and dissected to provide otoliths for age and growth studies, and various tissue samples for further analyses. Based on these efforts, we present a preliminary size distribution and abundance estimate for the invasive lionfish population in Bermuda, along with insights into their diet. Although still in the early stages, this research highlights some of the ways in which the invasive lionfish population in Bermuda differs from others in the region.

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