Abstract

The Indo-Pacific lionfish (Pterois volitans) is an invasive marine predator now confirmed in all islands throughout the Caribbean region (Morris 2012, REEF 2012). Lionfish signify the first marine fish invader from the Western Pacific to the Atlantic and are believed to have been introduced via intentional and/or unintentional aquaria releases (Morris 2009). Lionfish are adaptable to many habitats and have colonised areas ranging from 1 to 140 m on reef walls, patch reefs, rocky areas, hard bottoms, ledges, crevices, mangrove creeks, isolated coral heads, blue holes, ship wrecks, and man-made structures (Coris 2009). Lionfish tend to live in small groups as juveniles and during reproduction but disperse and hide in reef shadows when they are adults (Fishelson, 1997). Lionfish are principally piscivorous but are known to feed on invertebrates (Morris 2009, Morris and Akins 2009). In their native range they occupy the higher levels of the food chain (Hare and Whitfield 2003, Bervoets 2009).

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