English: This photo was not taken in the Indo-Pacific! It was taken today in Curaçao, in the southeastern Caribbean. I last dove here 5 years ago and this alien species was nowhere to be seen. On today's dive, on the island's west end, I counted three Lionfish.

Thought to have escaped from marine parks in Florida and into the sea during past hurricanes, these fish are spreading at an alarming rate for two reasons:

1. They have no natural predators in the Caribbean 2. Caribbean fish do not seem to recognize them as predators so they devour the indiginous species at will.

They threaten to upset the entire Caribbean ecosystem! Read more: Lionfish could upset ecological balance in Caribbean Lionfish Invasion BBC News - Lionfish Eating Their Way Through the Caribbean Lionfish Decimating Tropical Fish Population Filleting the Lion

Playa Forti - Curaçao, Netherland Antilles

Ikelite D125 Strobe on TTL setting