Belize Lionfish Project
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SECTION I        RANGE      INVASION THEORIES      INVASION HISTORY        IMPACTS        QUIZ 1   

HISTORY OF LIONFISH INVASION INTO ATLANTIC OCEAN

This pictorial shows the spread of lionfish into the Caribbean and Atlantic Ocean.  The first lionfish were observed off Florida in 1985, thus the release of 6 lionfish from an aquarium in 1991 cannot be the cause of the invasion.

An interesting finding from the observation is that a period of 7 years passed in Florida, from 1985-1992, before other lionfish were observed in great abundance.  The exact same period of time passed in Belize from the first observation in 2001, until 7 years later, in 2008, when they were here to stay.
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1985




1992





2001





2008
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​


​2010
First lionfish observed in Atlantic Ocean off the coast of Florida

Lionfish observed in Biscayne Bay, Miami, Florida, within a year after Hurricane Andrew

One lionfish observed at Gladden Spit, southern Belize Barrier Reef

Lionfish observed east of Calabash Caye, Turneffe Atoll in December
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Lionfish observed in Glover's and Lighthouse Atolls 
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SECTION I        RANGE      INVASION THEORIES      INVASION HISTORY        IMPACTS        QUIZ 1   
SECTION I    SECTION II     SECTION III     SECTION IV     SECTION V     SECTION VI     SECTION VII     SECTION VIII
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St George's Caye, PO Box 1234, Belize City, Belize Tel: +(501) 223-3022, Cel: +(501) 673-3022
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  • Home
  • History
  • Honor Roll
    • Registration
    • Submit Catch Report
    • Lionfish Culling Map
  • Online Course
    • INTRODUCTION
    • Continued Reading
  • Contact