Dive BVI out of Spanish Town has confirmed sighting of a lionfish in 25ft of water off Ginger Island. Photographs (see below) and video were taken, and efforts to capture the fish will be made tomorrow.

Consider this as biological warfare on the fisheries of the BVI. They will eat everything, leaving the reefs vulnerable to algal overgrowth and mortality. They are also venomous and a potential threat to fishermen and tourists that try to handle them. 

We have been in touch with the USVI on how to go about dealing with lionfish. The first "goal" is to get the word out to every resident and visitor to the BVI if they see one, they need to let us know so Conservation & Fisheries Department and the dive operators can start removing them.

We will be producing flyers to get out and about to the community as soon as possible. Any assitance will be appreciated. 

Shannon Gore
Marine Biologist
Conservation & Fisheries Department
Government of the Virgin Islands
P. O. Box 3323 Road Town, Tortola
284-494-5681 / 284-494-3429
FAX 284-494-2670