Lionfish: "An Invasion of Unparalleled Speed and Magnitude"

Since first being reported off the coast of southeast Florida during the 1980s, the Indo-Pacific lionfish has spread rapidly throughout the Western Atlantic.

Lionfish are voracious predators, and their venomous spines are a deterrant to their becoming prey themselves.

This study documents for the first time the extent to which lionfish can alter the makeup of susceptible marine ecosystems.

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Do your part for the ocean. TAKE THE OCEAN PLEDGE.

Spotlight on Young Ocean Hero,
Ainsley Dacanay

Ainsley's grandmother, Cheryl Ann Hurt, wrote in to SeaWeb's Marine Photobank to thank us for making available an important resource showing people the true impact humans are having on the ocean. Ainsley and Cheryl Ann used the Photobank to raise awareness about the issue of shark finning and created a t-shirt and a club to educate others.

This is undoubtedly just the start of Ainsley's positive influence on the ocean. Find out why she's passionate and how she's inspiring other kids to help keep the ocean healthy.

Read our interview with Ainsley >>

Let your images of your research help illuminate ocean issues

The coral pictured here suffers from white-band disease. First identified in 1977 in the Caribbean, this lethal coral disease primarily targets elkhorn and staghorn corals.

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Upcoming Events >>

California Puts New Focus on Sustainable Forage Fisheries

California announced that state-regulated forage fisheries would become more focused on sustainability by utilizing a new ecosystem-based management system. The main objective of the new policy is to prevent the expansion of forage fisheries until their sustainability can be guaranteed. Forage fish like squid and herring are nutrient-packed and therefore critical for maintaining populations of larger animals like whales and seabirds.

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