Spotted near Med resorts, poison fish that even sharks are scared of
A POISONOUS fish that can kill humans and even frightens sharks is invading the Mediterranean.
The Devil Firefish – a tropical creature with painful barbs and a potentially lethal sting – is spreading around popular holiday destinations, a conservation group has warned.
Experts say the fish has been seen in waters around Turkey and Cyprus in the eastern Mediterranean.
The highly invasive fish, also known as a common lionfish, is native to the South Pacific and Indian Ocean.
Maria del Mar Otero from the International Union for the Conservation of Nature said the sighting was a ‘cause for concern’. While human deaths from stings are rare, their barbs can cause extreme pain, vomiting and respiratory paralysis.
Environmentalists fear the fish’s arrival in the Mediterranean could decimate stocks of other fish, with knock-on effects on the rest of the marine environment.
Dr Carlos Jimenez, a marine biologist at the Cyprus Institute, said the species ‘could have a heavy negative impact on the ecosystems as well as on local economies’. Despite their conspicuous colours and slow movements, even sharks won’t go near lionfish, giving them free rein to feed and wipe out other species that normally keep algae in check.
The fish may have been let loose by aquarium enthusiasts or come via the Suez Canal from the Red Sea, where there is a flourishing population.
The dangerous predator caused environmental havoc when it was introduced to the Caribbean.
Lionfish were first recorded in Cuba in 2007, and within two years, were common in waters around the island.
The Association of Caribbean States even organised a summit to discuss ways of combatting the fish’s spread there.