Photos right. Management of lionfish at Fernando de Noronha
A four-year review of the lionfish invasion at Fernando de Noronha, a Brazilian oceanic archipelago
Lionfish species (Pterois volitans and Pterois miles) are native to the Indo-Pacific Ocean, but were introduced into the Atlantic Ocean through aquarium releases, causing a widespread invasion that currently extends from Florida to the state of Alagoas in Brazil and through the Mediterranean Sea.
Although these species have already been recorded in ten Brazilian states, the first official records were only in late 2020 in the state of Amapá, located on Brazil's northern coast, and in Fernando de Noronha archipelago, approximately 360 km off the northeast coast of the Brazilian mainland. These records confirmed the invasion process predicted by researchers in 2013, which suggested that the lionfish would be capable of dispersing from the Caribbean and crossing the Amazon and Orinoco rivers plume.
In particular, the Fernando de Noronha archipelago encompasses two federal protected areas in Brazil: a National Marine Park that covers 70% of the archipelago and an Environmental Protection Area. Following the sighting of the first individual of these invasive species in the archipelago, the Chico Mendes Institute for Biodiversity Conservation (ICMBio), the agency responsible for the management and administration of federal protected areas, developed a management project for the species in the region. Over the past four years, ICMBio has led efforts to manage these species, working with the support of the local community, mainly scuba diving operators, as the archipelago is Brazil’s most frequented diving destination, with over 40,000 dives annually. Diving instructors trained by ICMBio are authorized to carry and use capture equipment (sling harpoon and zookeeper container) and have become valuable partners in monitoring and managing the species.
Professional divers currently play a central role in lionfish management in Fernando de Noronha, having captured more than 800 individuals since December 2022. ICMBio also collaborates with educational institutions and research groups across Brazil, as well as with researchers in the United States.
All fish captured in the archipelago are sent to these research groups to enhance knowledge on their population structure, genetics, feeding habits, reproductive biology, age and growth dynamics, and parasitology, which will guide future management actions.
ICMBio also acts as a live laboratory, pioneering management trials for capturing lionfish in deep-water areas, setting a benchmark for other marine protected areas in the country. Additionally, the Institution conducts environmental education initiatives through lectures, courses and workshops for the local community, reaching over 250 young residents of the island, 147 divers and 90 visitors.
Although the eradication of a widely distributed and established species, such as lionfish, is unfeasible, efforts in other regions of the world, particularly in the Caribbean, demonstrate that control is achievable. Lionfish pose significant threats to biodiversity, being a voracious predator of native species, including commercially important fish, which can lead to disruptions in local ecosystems and fisheries. The decline of native fish populations has a cascading effect on the coral reef's health and the overall balance of marine life. Therefore, controlling the lionfish population is crucial for preserving biodiversity and maintaining the ecological integrity of marine environments, as in Fernando de Noronha archipelago.
Accordingly, with the continued advancement of management actions in the archipelago, Fernando de Noronha is expected to become a successful example of invasive alien species control in Brazil, showcasing best practices and effective partnerships with the local community and researchers.
INVASIONS BULLETIN
Research
Clara Buck Pereira do Eirado Silva, Tainah Corrêa Seabra Guimarães, Luciana Carvalho Crema Faleiros Alves, Priscilla Braga Petrazzini,
Ana Luiza Castelo Branco Figueiredo, Luiza Gabriela Fulgêncio de Lima and Tatiani Elisa Chapla.