By Michelle Kosinski, NBC News correspondent
A few weeks ago, on a flight over the Pacific, I was surprised to be handed a menu-- with a gleaming photo of a lionfish on the cover. It wasn't actually ON the menu that night, but it reminded us that the formidable fish with the mane of poisonous spines and a seemingly boundless appetite of its own, is actually a food item on the other side of the world, and decidedly NOT an environmental menace.
Over here in the Atlantic, not so much.
Scientists with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, among other entities studying the issue, have made lionfish Priority One, in the battle against invasive species. A rapid response plan is being crafted, to deal with them in our waters.
Avid divers, who know the reefs off Florida and the Bahamas, tell the story: A few years ago, they were somewhat awed to suddenly see the gorgeous specimen show up outside the Pacific. A fluke, they thought... maybe someone had released one from an aquarium, once they realized it would devour all the other pet fish in short order. Irresponsible to release them, but no real harm done-- they thought.
But since around 2000, those divers, fishermen, and scientists have rapidly had their amazement turn to dismay. On some reefs where they would see one or two lionfish, they began seeing dozens. In the Bahamas, they're now calling it an infestation.
Turns out, these lovely lions of the sea take no prisoners. Eat everything in sight. Multiply like there's no tomorrow. And grow. And spread. And spread.
The Atlantic has been very good to them. Lots of food, and no known predators. In just a few years time, the lionfish has made its merry way all the way up the East Coast to Massachusetts. It is the first time a Pacific marine fish has moved on into the Atlantic and thrived.
This is what happens when species invade.
We've seen it happen with pythons in the Everglades, or the snakehead fish in American rivers. Even invasive plants have caused trouble on our shores.
But many researchers told us they've never seen anything quite like this. How quickly and efficiently this one type of fish has been able to spread, and gain a foothold in delicate reef ecosystems. They're worried about the potential effect on native fish species and the ocean food chain.
One study that's to be published soon shows that ONE of these lionfish can devour around 80 percent of all new fish larvae on a section of reef in matter of a few weeks.
As NOAA biologist Paula Whitfield told us, " The densities of lionfish in North Carolina have increased over 300 percent since we started doing surveys, and that was in 2004. They have almost every attribute that could be valuable to survival."
It's too early to know what impact the lions are having, but anecdotally you hear it-- from fishermen and divers who say that where they see more lionfish, they see fewer of certain other species on a reef.
NOAA and other groups are working together to come up with a plan that will likely entail some localized eradication efforts. Bermuda has already started one, and the Bahamas has alerted fishermen to the problem. It is possible such efforts could help, as they've had success with other invasive species this way. It's just that when you see so many, in such a short amount of time, it's daunting.
"Cockroaches of the sea" is how one scientist glumly referred to these magnificent creatures. Yes, all depends on your perspective.
Sprung from their aquariums, these fish they must have thought they'd found paradise along the Gulf Stream.
One more reason why the House Natural Resources Subcommittee on Fisheries, Wildlife and Oceans is now reviewing draft legislation that would set up a screening process for bringing non-native animals into this country.
Lionfish are still legal to buy and keep-- and feed-- at home. Many people we talked to in researching this story, feel that ought to change.
