If you’re planning a visit to St. John soon, you’re likely looking forward to days spent at the beach, soaking up the sun and swimming in the famous, electric blue Caribbean water. If you’re looking forward to venturing beneath the surface to admire St. John’s colorful reefs, make sure to keep an eye out for the invasive red lionfish. A growing threat in the Virgin Islands, lionfish are causing significant damage to coral reefs and native reef fish. By learning how to identify and report sightings, you can contribute to CORE (Caribbean Oceanic Restoration and Education) Foundation’s conservation efforts.
The well-known phrase, “looks can be deceiving” comes to mind when I think of the lionfish, a beautiful yet venomous fish that is wreaking havoc on coral reefs and fragile marine ecosystems around the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean. With eye-catching red, brown and white stripes and 18 venomous spines, lionfish have an unusual and distinct appearance.
