In the News...
SeaLife Test Diver, Discovers Lionfish in the Bahamas
July 28, 2006 Abaco, Bahamas - SeaLife Cameras Test
Diver, Brent White, discovers Lionfish in the Bahamas. An amazing
discovery considering the Lionfish is unique to the Western Pacific
and Indian Ocean, not the Atlantic. "It's like finding an
elephant in your neighborhood", said White. "This species of
fish simply doesn't belong here."
Lionfish photo taken on July 28, 2006 by Brent White with his SeaLife DC500 Maxx UW digital camera
The Lionfish is not your ordinary coral fish. It has long pointy
spines all over its body which are filled with a venomous poison.
Although there have been no known fatalities caused by lionfish
stings, they are reportedly extremely painful. Researchers urge
caution to anyone who encounters these fish.
NOAA Scientists say that lionfish are believed to pose particular
risks to the local environment. They are voracious predators and can
grow to about 17" inches long. They feed not only on small
shrimps but also on large fish, perhaps including the young of
important commercial fish species such as snapper and grouper, many of
which use the region's "live bottom" reefs as nursery
grounds. The invasive lionfish have few if any natural predators in
their new Atlantic environment.
NOAA also has reported sightings of Lionfish in the Atlantic as far
north as Bermuda. NOAA said it is likely that the introduction of
lionfish is from either intentional or unintentional releases related
to the aquarium trade including amateur home aquarists.
Brent White has been diving for 30 years and has logged over 6000
dives. In March 2001, he purchased Treasure Divers in Treasure Cay,
Bahamas. Brent dives almost every day and has never spotted a lionfish
in these waters. "It's a big deal when a new species is
introduced to your area because you never know what impact it will
have to your local environment", says White. "I'm glad I
had my SeaLife camera with me so I could take a few pictures as proof
of what I discovered."
Brent White is a SeaLife Test Diver and owner of Treasure Divers in Abaco, Bahamas.
For more information about this release, please contact SeaLife
Cameras at (856) 866-9191.
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