The Lionfish Invasion
By Brittany Diorio
It’s increasingly rare to find an ecosystem untouched by invasive species—and most of these problems can be traced back to human activity. Invasive species disrupt the delicate balance of natural habitats, often causing long-term damage. One striking example is the lionfish, a venomous predator that has made its way into the Atlantic Ocean. First detected off the coast of Florida in the mid-1980s, lionfish now thrive more than 10,000 miles from their native Indo-Pacific range.
So how did this happen?
The short answer: by accident. While there are several theories, the most widely accepted explanation points to the private aquarium trade. Thanks to their exotic, eye-catching appearance, lionfish became popular in home aquariums. But as predatory fish, they often ate their tankmates—leading some aquarium owners to release them into the ocean. It’s widely believed that this is how lionfish first entered Atlantic waters, where they’ve not only survived, but thrived.
As people often fail to understand, releasing a non-native species into a new ecosystem has deadly consequences. Since their initial discovery in Florida waters, the lionfish have migrated and expanded. Lionfish have now spread up the East Coast of the United States as far north as Cape Cod, Massachusetts, and as far south as Brazil. Every island in the Caribbean has been overrun, making their presence nearly impossible to ignore.
Why is their presence such a problem?
Lionfish are a top predatory fish. An adult lionfish can eat between 30-40 reef fish a day. Because they aren’t native, they have no natural predators. Their populations are unchecked, and they have taken over. It is nearly impossible to estimate how many are in the Atlantic Ocean because they reproduce so quickly. Lionfish can produce over 10,000 eggs every three days once they are mature.
What can be done?
Though it is nearly impossible to completely eradicate these animals, there are many people out there trying to fight this environmental concern. Many scuba divers, including myself, go out and hunt for them during their dives via spearfishing. They are safe to eat, and in some regions they are considered a delicacy. Popular dishes include lionfish ceviche, tacos, and nuggets.
When I moved to St. Croix, I started a small business called The Invasive Fin, where I use lionfish fins to make jewelry. This wearable art both functions as jewelry and a story piece. Conservation jewelry is a great way to help eliminate these creatures in our waters. Their beautiful and vibrant colors can be seen through each of the pieces. Just last year, I was able to take 1,041 lionfish off the reefs of St. Croix. This is estimated to have saved over 2.1 million reef fish!
How can I be a part of the solution?
You can support small businesses like mine and nonprofit organizations dedicated to reducing the lionfish population. If you ever see lionfish on a menu at a restaurant, order it! It’s delicious. If you are a scuba diver, learn how to spearfish for them and go on group hunts with other lionfish hunters. It is a lot of fun, and you may even catch dinner. One thing you should not do is feed the fish to other wild animals. This has unfortunately become a popular thing to do. While the intentions are good, feeding a wild animal is never okay. For example, if you feed a shark a lionfish from your spear, that shark won’t know they can hunt lionfish, but rather that if they follow divers, they may get a free meal.
The good news?
We can make a difference. With more awareness, responsible action, and community effort, we can help restore balance to our oceans—one lionfish at a time!
This article appeared in Beachcombing Magazine Volume 50 September/October 2025.
