Venomnous fish endanger divers, fishermen

WILMINGTON, N.C., May 21 (UPI) -- Divers and deepwater fishermen along the U.S. Atlantic Coast are encountering lionfish, venomous fish that have found their way into East Coast waters.

Scientists at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration said they will conduct field studies this summer

of the lionfish population and attempt to determine the risk of lionfish to Atlantic coast ecosystems.

The first known capture of a lionfish by hook and line occurred off the coast of North Carolina last March. The fish was 17 inches long and weighed about 2.5 pounds -- the largest specimen to date in the Atlantic.

Lionfish, also known as Pterois volitans, are venomous coral reef fish from the Indian and western Pacific oceans that have invaded East Coast waters Florida to Cape Hatteras, N.C.

Lionfish are very popular in the aquarium trade and are commonly kept as aquarium pets, so the introduction of the fish probably occurred either from intentional or unintentional releases related to the aquarium trade, including amateur home aquarists, the scientists said.