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First records of the red lionfish (Pterois volitans) in Martinique, French West Indies: monitoring invasion status through visual surveys

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  27 January 2015

Ewan Trégarot ,
Marine Fumaroli ,
Alexandre Arqué ,
Claire Hellio  and
Jean-Philippe Maréchal
Ewan Trégarot
Affiliation:
Observatoire du Milieu Marin Martiniquais, 14 rue Chéry-Rosette, Fond Lahaye, 97233 Schoelcher, Martinique, FWI, France
Marine Fumaroli
Affiliation:
Observatoire du Milieu Marin Martiniquais, 14 rue Chéry-Rosette, Fond Lahaye, 97233 Schoelcher, Martinique, FWI, France
Alexandre Arqué
Affiliation:
Observatoire du Milieu Marin Martiniquais, 14 rue Chéry-Rosette, Fond Lahaye, 97233 Schoelcher, Martinique, FWI, France
Claire Hellio
Affiliation:
LEMAR, Institut Universitaire Européen de la Mer, Université de Bretagne Occidentale, Technopôle Brest Iroise – rue Dumont d'Urville, 29280 Plouzané, France
Jean-Philippe Maréchal*
Affiliation:
Observatoire du Milieu Marin Martiniquais, 14 rue Chéry-Rosette, Fond Lahaye, 97233 Schoelcher, Martinique, FWI, France School of Biological Sciences, King Henry Building, University of Portsmouth, Portsmouth PO1 2DY, UK Nova Blue Environment, 14 rue Chéry-Rosette, Fond Lahaye, 97233 Schoelcher, Martinique, FWI, France
*
Correspondence should be addressed to: J.-P. Maréchal, Nova Blue Environment, 14 rue Chéry-Rosette, Fond Lahaye, 97233 Schoelcher, Martinique, FWI, France email: [email protected]
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Abstract

The red lionfish (Pterois volitans) was first recorded in Martinique on 1 February 2011. Three years later, despite control measures to prevent the increase of lionfish population densities, the species is now well established. Maximum density has reached 1320 individuals ha−1 in some locations and the maximum fish size of 41 cm total length has been observed. A monitoring program was initiated by the Marine Institute of Martinique (OMMM) in 2011 to monitor the invasion and adjust local control efforts. Our results highlight how fast lionfish have been able to invade new littoral areas, especially hard bottom habitats. It took two years for them to completely colonize the west coast of Martinique, despite increasing capture efforts. It is expected that small-scale fisheries would target lionfish. Coastal ecosystems are clearly being subjected to a new threat, which may negatively affect local biodiversity.

Keywords

invasive speciesPterois volitansPterois milesMartiniqueLesser Antillesmarine invasion
Type
Research Article
Information
Marine Biodiversity Records , Volume 8 , 2015 , e1
Copyright
Copyright © Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom 2015 

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