Hunt for lionfish on

Fishers are being advised to report any sightings of the ferocious Pacific lionfish, which has invaded Jamaican waters.



It is unclear what the current population of the fish is, but it was recently caught in the traps of fishermen off the coast of St Thomas.



The lionfish is a voracious predator, which eats only other fish and occasionally young lobsters.



The National Environment and Planning Agency (NEPA) says depending on their species, the fish can appear yellow, brown, red, orange, black, maroon or white.



The lionfish is often placed in aquariums for attraction because of their colourful bodies.



According to lecturer in the department of Life Sciences at the University of the West Indies, Dr. Karl Aiken, the fish is believed to have found its way into the region\'s waters after an aquarium in Florida was damaged by a hurricane in 1992.



The fish confuses and traps its predators by extending its long spines, moving closely towards it.



Before the prey can escape, it charges and gobbles it in a split second.



Dr. Aiken says the lionfish could severely impact the fishing industry especially since Jamaican waters are already over-fished.



The fish can also be dangerous to humans as its spines contain toxins that produce a sharp pain upon contact.



Jamaicans are being advised to report any sightings of the fish to NEPA.