Calosso, M.C.

Claydon, J.A.B.

Jacob, S.E.

Aquatic Commons

 Proceedings of the 61st  Gulf and Caribbean Fisheries Institute     November 10 - 14, 2008   Gosier, Guadeloupe, French West Indies 
The Red Lionfish Invasion of South Caicos, Turks & Caicos Islands  
 
JOHN ALEXANDER BRIGHTMAN CLAYDON, MARTA CATERINA CALOSSO, and SIRI ELIZABETH JACOB 
The School for Field Studies – Center for Marine Resource Studies, 1 West Street,  
South Caicos, Turks & Caicos Islands, British West Indies 
 
ABSTRACT 
The first observation of red lionfish (Pterois volitans/miles) in the waters around South Caicos, Turks & Caicos Islands was 
made in December 2007.  From this time until the end of July 2008, lionfish sightings were recorded by staff and students from The 
School for Field Studies Center for Marine Resource Studies in South Caicos.  Twenty-five individuals were observed. Although 
effort was made to capture all specimens seen (with 23 individuals captured), sightings represent opportunistic observations made 
during other activities.  All except two were recorded in waters shallower than 2.5m, and specimens have been found in patch reef (n 
= 15), seagrass (n = 6), mangrove (n = 2), and deep reef (25m; n = 1).  Although individuals captured ranged in size from 4.1 to 
27.7cm TL, all but two individuals were < 15 cm TL.  This study documents the invasion of South Caicos by red lionfish, and 
although the effects of this invasion are unknown, the exponential increase of sightings per month is worrying.  Future monitoring 
will include targeted searches for red lionfish. 
 
KEY WORDS:  Red lionfish, invasión, Turks & Caicos Islands 
 
La Invasión de South Caicos, Turks & Caicos Islands, por los Peces León Rojo  
 
La primera observación de pez león rojo (Pterois volitans/miles) en las aguas alrededor de South Caicos, Turks & Caicos 
Islands fue hecha en Diciembre de 2007.  Desde esa fecha hasta fines de Julio de 2008, avistamientos de peces león han sido 
registrados por estudiantes y miembros de The School for Field Studies Center for Marine Resource Studies en South Caicos.  
Veinticinco individuos han sido observados. Aunque se realizaron esfuerzos para capturar todos los especímenes observados (con 23 
individuos capturados), los avistamientos representan observaciones oportunistas hechas durante otras actividades.  Todos, excepto 
dos, fueron registrados en aguas de profundidad menor a 2.5 m y especímenes han sido encontrados en manchas de arrecife (n = 15), 
hierba marina (n = 6), manglares (n = 2) y arrecife profundo (25 m; n = 1).  Todos los individuos capturados iban de una gama de 
4.1 a 2.27 cm TL, excepto 2 que eran de <15cm TL. Este estudio documenta la invasión de South Caicos por los peces león rojo y, 
aunque los efectos de esta invasión son desconocidos, el crecimiento exponencial de avistamientos mensuales es preocupante.  
Futuros monitoreos incluirán búsquedas específicamente orientadas al pez león rojo. 
 
PALABRAS CLAVES:  Pez león rojo, invasión, Turks & Caicos Islands  
 
Invasion de South Caicos, Îles Turks & Caicos, par le Poisson Scorpion 
 
La première obseration d’un poisson scorpion (Pterois volitans/miles) dans les eaux autour de South Caicos a été faite en 
décembre 2007.  Depuis lors et jusqu’à la fin juillet 2008, le staff et les étudiants de The School For Field Studies Center for Marine 
Resource Studies localisée à South Caicos ont pris note de toutes les observations de poissons scorpions.  Vingt-cinq individus ont 
été observés.  Tandis qu’un effort a été fourni pour capturer tous les individus observés (avec 23 capturés), toutes les observations 
représentent des observations opportunistes, réalisées pendant d’autres activités.  Toutes, sauf deux, ont été enregistrées dans des 
eaux peu profondes de moins de 2.5m et les spécimens ont été trouvés dans des récifs en patch (n = 15), herbiers (n = 6), mangroves 
(n = 2), et récifs profonds (25 m ; n = 1).  Bien que les individus capturés aient une taille de 4.1 à 27.7 cm TL, tous les individus 
étaient < 15 cm TL sauf deux.  Cette étude documente l’invasion de South Caicos par le poisson scorpion et, bien que les effets de 
cette invasion ne soient pas connus, l’augmentation exponentielle des observations est inquiétante.  Futures monitorings incluront 
des recherches spécifiques pour les poissons scorpions. 
 
MOTS CLES:  Poisson scorpion, invasion, Îles Turks & Caicos  
INTRODUCTION 
The red lionfish, Pterois volitans/miles, invasion of the 
western Atlantic is well documented (Whitfield et al. 
2007).  However, very little information has been collected 
in the Turks & Caicos Islands (TCI).  Whilst the first 
sightings in the TCI were made off West Caicos and 
Providenciales in 2005, in South Caicos no individuals had 
been documented until December 2007 (Figure 1).  This 
study documents the invasion of red lionfish in the waters 
around South Caicos following the initial sighting. 
 
 
 
MATERIALS & METHODS 
Lionfish sightings around South Caicos were recorded 
by staff and students from The School for Field Studies, 
Center for Marine Resource Studies (SFS-CMRS).  These 
sightings represent opportunistic observations made during 
snorkeling and SCUBA diving activities.  Depth and 
habitat were recorded, and specimens were captured to 
prevent multiple sightings of the same individual.  Total 
lengths were measured and maturity assessed through 
gonad analysis. 
 
 
 
 Claydon, J.A.B., et al.     GCFI:61   (2009)        Page 401 
 
RESULTS 
A total of 25 lionfish were observed, of which 23 were 
captured and measured.  The number of sightings per 
month increased exponentially during the study period 
(Figure 2).  Most lionfish (n = 24) were recorded at less 
than 2.5m depth.  The majority were found in reef habitats 
(15 on patch reefs, 1 on fringing reef, and 1 on the edge of 
the drop-off at 25 m).  Six individuals were seen in 
seagrass habitats of which five were sheltering in blow-out 
ledges (Figure 3).  A further two lionfish were found in 
mangroves (Figure 2).  Specimens ranged in size from 4.7 
to 27.7 cm TL, with 21 individuals < 15 cm TL (Figure 3). 
The largest specimen caught was the only sexually mature 
individual recorded. 
 
DISCUSSION 
The lack of sightings prior to December 2007, the 
exponential increase in sightings over time, and the 
predominance of immature and small individuals suggest 
that the lionfish invasion of South Caicos is in its initial 
stages.  Although the effects of the invasion are unknown, 
some results are of concern.  Lionfish were observed in 
blow-out ledges in seagrass habitats (5 during the study 
and 11 thereafter).  These structures serve as important 
microhabitat for juvenile Nassau groupers (Epinephelus 
striatus) around South Caicos (Claydon & Kroetz 2007; 
see Figure 3D).  A continued exponential increase of 
lionfish may lead to inter-specific competition for space in 
blow-outs.  This could impact populations of the regionally 
endangered Nassau grouper.  Although the majority of 
lionfish were found on reefs and at shallow depths, this 
may partly reflect disparity in sampling effort.  Future 
research will include a more systematic and representative 
monitoring protocol.  In addition, potential threats of the 
lionfish invasion will be investigated with the aim of 
identifying appropriate strategies of management and 
mitigation. 
Figure 2.  A. Lionfish sightings per month from August 
2007 to July 2008. B. Frequency of lionfish observed in 
reef, seagrass and mangrove habitats (n = 25). C. Size 
frequency distribution of lionfish caught around South 
Caicos (n = 23). 
Figure 1.  Location of South Caicos within the Turks & 
Caicos Islands. 
Figure 3. A. The smallest (4.7cm TL) and B. the largest 
(27.7cm TL) lionfish captured. C. Lionfish in blowout ledge in 
seagrass habitat. D. Juvenile Nassau grouper in blowout 
ledge. 
 Page 402  61st Gulf and Caribbean Fisheries Institute  
 
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS 
We would like to acknowledge: The School for Field Studies – 
Center for Marine Resource Studies for financial and logistical support; 
TCI Government Department of Environment and Coastal Resources for 
supporting the project; and for assistance in the field provided by staff and 
students of School for Field Studies – Center for Marine Resource Studies 
and the staff of the East Bay Development. 
 
LITERATURE CITED 
Claydon, J.A.B. and A. Kroetz.  2008.   The distribution of 
early juvenile groupers around South Caicos, 
Turks & Caicos Islands. Proceedings of the Gulf 
and Caribbean Fisheries Institute 60:345-350. 
Whitfield PE, J.A. Hare, A.W.David, S.L. Harter, R.C. 
Muñoz, and C.M. Addison.  2007.   Abundance 
estimates of the Indo-Pacific lionfish. Biological 
Invasions 9:53-64. 
 
 
 


The Red Lionfish invasion of South Caicos, Turks & Caicos Islands.

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The Red Lionfish invasion of South Caicos, Turks & Caicos Islands.

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