Florida lionfish taken to new home at The Georgia Aquarium
Florida lionfish taken to new home at The Georgia Aquarium Next time you are visiting the Georgia Aquarium, you may spy some lionfish that came from Florida. We worked with partners in Destin Fort Walton Beach to harvest lionfish and partners from the Georgia Aquarium came down to our offices in Tallahassee to transport several back to Atlanta for use in their educational display. Thanks to Sarah Peake, senior aquarist for the Georgia Aquarium; Mark Olsen, associate curator, acquisitions and quarantine for the Georgia Aquarium; and Alex Fogg, marine resource coordinator for Destin Fort Walton Beach. #georgiaaquarium #lionfish #fwclionfish #Destin #okaloosa #nonnative #education #aquarium\r\rFWC photo/Tim Donovan (Florida Fish and Wildlife Conser)
By Katrina Scales
Orlando, Fla. — Several lionfish captured off the coast of Florida are getting used to their new home at The Georgia Aquarium.
Earlier this month, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) partnered with experts to harvest and transport the non-native fish to Atlanta.
Florida lionfish taken to new home at The Georgia Aquarium Next time you are visiting the Georgia Aquarium, you may spy some lionfish that came from Florida. We worked with partners in Destin Fort Walton Beach to harvest lionfish and partners from the Georgia Aquarium came down to our offices in Tallahassee to transport several back to Atlanta for use in their educational display. Thanks to Sarah Peake, senior aquarist for the Georgia Aquarium; Mark Olsen, associate curator, acquisitions and quarantine for the Georgia Aquarium; and Alex Fogg, marine resource coordinator for Destin Fort Walton Beach. #georgiaaquarium #lionfish #fwclionfish #Destin #okaloosa #nonnative #education #aquarium\r\rFWC photo/Tim Donovan (Florida Fish and Wildlife Conser)
According to FWC's website, lionfish are an invasive species and are harmful to Florida's native marine life and ecosystems.
"We're going to be giving several of these lionfish to the Georgia Aquarium for display purposes and educational purposes," said FWC spokeswoman Amanda Nalley in a video.
The spiny poisonous lionfish were captured off the coast of Fort Walton Beach and moved to an oxygen-controlled tank in the back of a van.
Florida lionfish taken to new home at The Georgia Aquarium Next time you are visiting the Georgia Aquarium, you may spy some lionfish that came from Florida. We worked with partners in Destin Fort Walton Beach to harvest lionfish and partners from the Georgia Aquarium came down to our offices in Tallahassee to transport several back to Atlanta for use in their educational display. Thanks to Sarah Peake, senior aquarist for the Georgia Aquarium; Mark Olsen, associate curator, acquisitions and quarantine for the Georgia Aquarium; and Alex Fogg, marine resource coordinator for Destin Fort Walton Beach. #georgiaaquarium #lionfish #fwclionfish #Destin #okaloosa #nonnative #education #aquarium\r\rFWC photo/Tim Donovan (Florida Fish and Wildlife Conser)
Thankfully for humans, lionfish widely regarded as a delicious fish to eat.
“You can eat them you just need to be careful around those spines,” Nalley says.
The pointy spines are venomous but the lionfish can be easily filleted (see how here) or cooked whole (the heat neutralizes the poison.)