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.
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 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 Lionfish observed in Glover's and Lighthouse Atolls |
