Invasive lionfish captured in Virgin Islands

Planning a vacation to the U.S. Virgin Islands soon? You may catch a glimpse of an invasive lionfish, and perhaps catch one with the encouragement of scientists who want to eradicate the fish from the area.

A lionfish was spotted in July near the islands and subsequently caught by a team of NOAA divers. The fish pose a huge threat to coral reef ecosystems in the area, as the native fish populations are defenseless against the predators. Once established, the lionfish are very difficult to control.