Known for creating chaos on reefs over several years and devouring fish who habitat the Lionfish have recently decreased in numbers according to an Associated Press article on abcnews.com.
According to an Associated Press article on abcnews.com, lionfish numbers are down on the island.
Lionfish, which were born in the Carribean Sea and Atlantic Ocean have decreased 66 percent in waters 75 deep or 23 meters according to information from Jamacia's National Environment and Planning Agency the AP article on abcnews.com reported.
The reason is believed to be a result of fishers catching them more and more, and
"After learning how to handle them, the fishermen have definitely been going after them harder, especially spear fishermen. I believe persons here have caught on to the whole idea of consuming them," Dayne Buddo a marine ecologist in Jamacia who researches sea species told the AP in an article posted on ABC News. Buddo also feels people like the taste of the fish.
The island has also focused on containing the fish sponsored by The Global Environment Facility and the United Nations Environment Program.
"I don't think we'll ever get rid of it, but I think for the most part we can control it, especially in marine protected areas where people are going after it very intensively and consistently," Buddo told the AP in the article.
According to CNN, Lionfish have also appeared around the island of Bermuda because pet owners put them in the Atlantic Ocean. Scientists have also traced six to eight Lionfish back to the blame.
The species are non-indigenous to the body of water or not common in the body of water. This makes the animal dangerous to the community it resides since other fish species which live in the ocean are not used to having Lionfish around, and therefore do not know to keep their distance from them.
Lionfish make 30,000 to 40,000 eggs over a period of a few days. The species also grows sexually by one year old.
