| The 1st confirmed record of lionfish in the Western Atlantic was in October 1985 when a lobster fisherman captured a specimen off Dania, Florida. Has eventually spread to the Florida Keys (Ref. 87861, 87862). First documented release of lionfish in the eastern US was in Florida on August 24, 1992 (Ref. 83503). Known from as far north in New York to as far south in Florida. Source of the fish may have been the six lionfish lost during Hurricane Andrew, deliberate releases from private aquarium keepers when the fish became too big for the aquarium and small lionfish larvae which came in through ballast water of ships from the Indian or South Pacific oceans (Ref. 49194). A parasite Myzobdella lugubris has been recorded on a male lionfish collected off Jacksonville (FSBC 19403), first record of this piscicolid leech in a marine fish. Currently, the population size of the species is small and may suggest minimal ecological impact, however if there would be an increase in population size they may significantly affect marine communities of Florida (Ref. 83503). In a 17 year survey study in Southeast USA, the significant decrese in abundance (46%) of the Haemulon aurolineatum has been attributed to the arrival/presence of the species (Ref. 117434). Also Ref. 50574, 51238, 83503).
Ref:
Pickrell, J., 2004
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