Wildlife officials say the lionfish species that stung a diver offshore Murrells Inlet on Friday is disrupting the local ecosystem.
According to the U.S. Coast Guard, that was the second lionfish sting in the Southeast Atlantic that week. Phil Maier with the S.C. Department of Natural Resources said lionfish stings are very rare off the South Carolina coast. He said the last one was almost ten years ago.
The red lionfish found in the Atlantic is also on display at Ripley’s Aquarium in Myrtle Beach. The venomous fish primarily stings defensively, according to Senior Aquarist Shannon Hughes. However, the stings can vary in severity.
“The toxin will cause swelling, aching, pain depending on how allergic you are to the animal itself. Some people get stung and they’re ok, some people can actually go into paralysis,” Hughes said.
“If you look at top of the fin, pelvic areas, they have a venom that’s in the tips of their spine,” he added.
That venom caused “excruciating pain” for the 31-year-old diver, according to the U.S. Coast Guard, about 30 miles offshore Murrells Inlet. According to Maier, the coral reef fish doesn’t usually come closer to the shore.
“Beach-goers have nothing to worry about. They’re not on the beaches. They’re not where swimmers are going to come in contact with them,” he said.
The red lionfish is a native of the Indo-Pacific Oceans, but Hughes said the lionfish population is growing in the Southeast Atlantic and Caribbean. According to Hughes, the venomous species is causing trouble off the South Carolina shore, and the rest of the region.
“All the smaller species of fish are dying because that’s what they’re feeding on. They have very big appetites so anything they can fit in their mouths they will,” he said.
Hughes said currently, there are no species to restore balance to the aquatic ecosystem.
“There’s nothing that really eats these animals in the wild. The predatory animals are trying to eat these, because they don’t know any better, so they’re dying,” said Hughes.
According to Hughes, humans are the only species along the Atlantic. that consume significant amounts of lionfish.
“Lionfish is supposed to be really really good to eat,” said Hughes.
“They are marketed and sold here in restaurants. I know there are several restaurants who offer it here in Charleston,” said Maier.
SC DNR advises anyone stung buy a lionfish to immediately apply warm water to the wound to alleviate the pain and swelling.
