Lionfish growing like kudzu on state’s coast

Though the story by Leon Stafford focuses on the coast of Georgia lionfish have invaded the Caribbean with the same appetite. For those not familiar with kudzu, the invasive vine overgrows and chokes out any other plant in its path. The story comes from the Atlanta Journal Consistution:

You might call them the kudzu of the sea.

The Georgia Aquarium plans to open in April a 1,000-gallon exhibit on lionfish, colorful tropical fish with showy fins and venomous spines that are invading the state’s coast like an out-of-control weed.

Because lionfish, which are native to the South Pacific, have no natural predators in Georgia waters, their population is exploding, researchers said. And their presence is having a negative impact on native species, including small grouper, crustaceans and anything else lionfish can swallow whole.

“It’s a beautiful fish, but in this case it’s in the wrong place,” said Bruce Carlson, chief science officer for the aquarium. “It’s in Georgia and it doesn’t belong here.”

The aquarium will put more than 40 lionfish in the tank in an attempt to educate visitors about invasive species and discourage the practice of dumping unwanted fish in oceans and streams. The fish will be about 5 inches to 9 inches long.

Several fish are being held in quarantine until construction of the exhibit is complete.

“It’s so irresponsible,” Carlson said of ditching unwanted pets in areas in which they are not native, including snakes, lizards and other animals. “Once these things are loose in the environment, you can’t bring them back again. And they just wreak havoc.”