COZUMEL, March 24 .
There is still no effective strategy to stop the population of lionfish in the reefs of Cozumel, which could be a trigger for an invasion of this species.
The reefs of Cozumel are counting to the second largest barrier reefs in the world. The longest barrier reef in the Carribbean Ocean, with an area of thousands of square miles, get new attention in the presence of an exotic, dangerous fish, the lionfish (Pterois volitans).
Marine Park Authority and local divers have been given the task of catching every fish sightings to curb its population growth. Although this measure is not sufficient, because the fish is laying between 15000 to 30000 eggs every four days.
Within one year marinepark helpers and divers captured about 1600 fishes, mostly in the marine park, south of cozumel. A fishing tournament last week brought 279 fishes in five hours to the surface.
Cozumel measures 48 miles from north to south and 16 miles from east to west, the Marine Park occupies less than 40% of the island, starting on the "Paradise Reef" and covers a smaller area to the east (Maracaibo Reef), leaving 70% of the reefs in the east and north of the island, where nobody can make any effective control.
This will bring an invasion of the coasts, as happened in the Bahamas since 2004 when the first species where sighted there. In the Bahamas have been found up to 400 fish per hectar, almost five times more than in the Red Sea area where the presence of this fish is naturaly.
Experts from Universities in Mexico City, reveal that the lionfish may reduce 79% of the youth population of fish in a reef, and end the herbivorous species, bringing in a disproportionate growth of macroalgae, which would covering and killing the corals that are home to molluscs, crustaceans, and commercial fishes.
In the area north of Cozumel are lagoons and mangroves in which juvenile fishes refuge before leaving into the ocean, they become a easy prey to this voracious predator,
Since a year and a half this fish is counted in cozumel. It kills all kind of juvenilles in the reefs of Cozumel.
That means the end of the cristal clear water in the caribbean is near because of geting macroalgae which would covering and killing all our home corals.
Even though they are poisonous they do have some predators which are humans, large eels, angelfish, pufferfish, and more.
restaurantguide stuff:
If some body has this kind of enemy fishes in his Aquariums, bring those to cozumel that would help us a lot.
saludos
15 Mayo Elektro Fiesta Cozumel dont miss it
15 Mayo Elektro Fiesta Cozumel dont miss it
