Brazil’s coastal waters teem with a rich array of species that paint a living tapestry beneath the waves. This underwater world is particularly special because many of its species are endemic — they are found nowhere else on Earth. The southwestern Atlantic is home to 111 endemic reef fish species, each of which plays a crucial role in the intricate web of marine life.
But an uninvited guest has arrived in these tropical waters: the Pacific red lionfish (Pterois volitans). Renowned for its stunning appearance and voracious appetite, the lionfish was first detected off of Florida in 1985 and has spread throughout the Caribbean, killing reef fish in large numbers.
Now it has breached a formidable obstacle: the Amazon-Orinoco river plume, which flows into the Atlantic from northeastern Brazil. This massive discharge of fresh water has long functioned as a barrier separating Caribbean fish species from those farther south along Brazil’s coastline.
Scientists and environmental managers widely agree that the lionfish invasion in Brazil is a potential ecological disaster. Mitigating the damage will require a comprehensive approach that addresses the ecological, social, and economic harms wrought by this predatory fish.
Tracing the lionfish spread along the Brazilian coast
It’s easy to see why lionfish appeal to aquarium enthusiasts. Native to the warm waters of the Indian and Pacific Oceans, they are 12 to 15 inches long, with red and white stripes and long, showy fins. They protect themselves with dorsal spines that deliver painful venomous stings.
Lionfish were first detected in the Atlantic Ocean in 1985 off Dania Beach, Florida, probably discarded by a tropical fish collector. Since then, they have spread throughout the Caribbean Sea, the Gulf of Mexico, and northward as far as Bermuda and North Carolina — one of the most successful marine invasions on record.
A close relative, the common lionfish or devil firefish (Pterois miles), has invaded the Mediterranean...
Search
