Invasive lionfish found in Gulf of Mexico off Texas coast

HOUSTON — The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department wants people to know that having a pet red lionfish is OK, but dumping it in the Gulf of Mexico can lead to disaster.

The red lionfish are indigenous to the west Pacific Ocean, but they're starting to pop up off the Texas coast. It's believed that the takeover started in Florida when aquarium owners released them into the Gulf.

The lionfish, while beautiful, is aggressive and venomous and has no natural predators in the Gulf. 

TPW said it has become a major pest and is causing ecological and economic damage. 

The lionfish boom has reduced the number of local fish like juvenile grouper and snapper, shrimp and crab species. They can also completely strip reefs.

If you see one, report it to the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department immediately.

Lionfish can grow to be up to about 18 inches.

Lionfish prefer to live near reefs in depths between 10 to 175 meters, according to TPW. They camouflage themselves well at the bottom of the reefs. Their vibrant colors can also allow them to stand out and warn others of their toxicity.

It's believed that lionfish were introduced to US waters in the late 1980s or early 1990s. Researchers believe several factors played into the lionfish takeover.

“Lionfish feed on crustaceans, other invertebrates, and over 40 different species of fish. They forage among coral reefs and are very opportunistic. Red Lionfish are also known to adapt to new prey items quickly, which allows them to infiltrate novel habitats with ease,” according to TPW.

According to TPW, “Females are able to lay eggs every four days in the Bahamas and can spawn throughout the year. This means that female Lionfish are able to lay about 2 million eggs annually.”

Lionfish are already all over the Bahamian coral reef systems. They're also making their way to Florida and into the Gulf of Mexico. Off the Texas coast, anglers seek the fish to capture them before they can take over the ecosystem. They're being found in the Gulf of Mexico down to South Padre.

The invasive species is also being found as far up the Atlantic Coast as Massachussettes and also off the east coast of countries in South America.

Lionfish were first spotted about 100 miles off the Texas coast in 2011. By 2015, more than 2,600 lionfish were found in the same area of the NOAA Flower Garden Banks Marine Sanctuary.

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