Lionfish in Barbados waters

The dangerous and invasive lionfish has been identified in the waters off Barbados.{{more}}

The Midweek Nation reports that three weeks ago, a spear diver caught the pretty but predatory fish on the West Coast, just off Porters, St James.

The fish was placed on ice and handed over to officials at the Coastal Zone Management Unit (CZMU) before being taken to the Fisheries Division.

According to the Midweek Nation, Fisherman Chelston Thomas expressed concern that up to this day the public had not been alerted about the catch, even though the Fisheries Division had promised to inform the public when the fish had reached our waters and the steps to take to control them, he said.

Meanwhile, on November 23, 2011, Minister with responsibility for Fisheries in St. Vincent and the Grenadines Montgomery Daniel informed the nation that the lionfish was found in the waters of this country on November 21.