Just read yet another article in lionfish invasion in the Western Atlantic in a recent issue of "Coral" mag. A week or so ago, I asked my Brother who lives in Va. Beach if he had heard of this and he said he recalled a fisherman mentioning it.
Every article I have read, including the Coral mag. and at a talk / presentation given at my house for local club, has mentioned a probable cause / start could be from hobbiest accidentally (via hurricane damage) or intentionally releasing in to the wild.
So, My Bro is a retired chief engineer who worked on container ships. He asked me if there was any mention of the possibility that juveniles, eggs or spawn were transported in SW ballast tanks that virtually all large ships use to equalize or balance loads. He thought this is the most likely scenario, and that ships would take on this ballast water in port, while docked adjacent to pier pilings which would be the local structure where these fish would tend to congregate.
I just wanted to mention this as it seems that we aquarists seem to be bearing the brunt of the blame for this potential disaster when, in fact, there is in my opinion, a more logical and likely explanation.
Every article I have read, including the Coral mag. and at a talk / presentation given at my house for local club, has mentioned a probable cause / start could be from hobbiest accidentally (via hurricane damage) or intentionally releasing in to the wild.
So, My Bro is a retired chief engineer who worked on container ships. He asked me if there was any mention of the possibility that juveniles, eggs or spawn were transported in SW ballast tanks that virtually all large ships use to equalize or balance loads. He thought this is the most likely scenario, and that ships would take on this ballast water in port, while docked adjacent to pier pilings which would be the local structure where these fish would tend to congregate.
I just wanted to mention this as it seems that we aquarists seem to be bearing the brunt of the blame for this potential disaster when, in fact, there is in my opinion, a more logical and likely explanation.
. Carp are probably a close 3rd, minus the transport by ballast.
