The Pride of the Gulf

Invasive Lionfish have been a big problem in the Gulf for decades. These beautiful, venomous visitors from the Indopacific wreak havoc on native fish populations. A single female is capable of producing 50,000 eggs every three days for her entire life, and once grown, Lionfish lack any natural predators to keep their populations from spiraling out of control.

Like many ecological conundrums, the presence of Lionfish in the Gulf is thought to be the result of human activity and may require human intervention to correct it.

For the last 10 years, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration has led the Lionfish Invitational, a Lionfish culling event designed to prevent the species' spread into the Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary, a series of deep-water reefs off the coast of Louisiana and Texas.

In this episode, four Tennessee Aquarium aquarists invited to take part in the Lionfish Invitational recount their time actively working to stave off an invasive species while also experiencing the real-life inspiration for the Aquarium's largest exhibit: the Secret Reef.

Watch a video of the Tennessee Aquarium's participation in the 2023 Lionfish Invitational: https://youtu.be/_FW_M_ebFZM?si=b8hCyz6v_L5bKDZR

Additional resources:

• Impacts of the Invasive Lionfish (NOAA): https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/southeast/ecosystems/impacts-invasive-lionfish
• Understanding the pain experience of lionfish envenomation study (NIH): https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10789455/
• Scientific studies produced from the Lionfish Invitational: https://www.lionfishinvitational.com/publications

Episode Cast

• Casey Phillips, host/senior communications specialist
• Avery Millard, senior aquarist
• Kimberly Hurt, senior aquarist
• Kyle McPheeters, lead aquarist (life support systems)

The Podcast Aquatic is made possible by support from The Tennessee Conservationist, the official magazine of Tennessee State Parks.

Printed sustainably on 100% post-consumer recycled paper with UV ink, each issue is filled with fascinating stories about Tennessee’s native species, rich history, and unique culture. It’s also your guide to exploring state parks and planning your next outdoor adventure.

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