Part IV "Colors Of The Reef"

[Jim Kelly-Evans]

Today's scuba adventure, my final dive this time around, was a visit to "Baleine du Pain de Sucre" (Sugarloaf Whale), a rock pinnacle that breaks the surface a short distance from the main Sugarloaf island. There were lots of colorful sponges and hard and soft corals, and resident fish and lobsters present. It's another very colorful and beautiful underwater spot in the St. Barth marine park.

 

[NancySC]

Another treat from Jim...thanks for your pix once again during your SBH sojourn & celebrating your birthday on island!

 

[elgreaux]

beautiful, hard to imagine all that lives beneath the surface of the sea, and you capture it so well...

 

[cec1]

Jim . . . photo #6 looks like an invasive species in Florida called ”lion fish.” Do you know if that’s what it is?

 

[cec1]

Lionfish are public enemy number one among Floridian conservation experts. We’ve written at length about these little monsters but we’ll cover the basics again. Because honestly, they’re a bigger problem than most of the others combined.

Lionfish have decimated fish populations all along the East Coast and right around the Gulf. Florida is “ground zero” for the Lionfish epidemic, and they’re such a big problem that the FWC even put a $5,000 bounty out on them in 2018.

As with all invasive fish, there’s no bag limit and no minimum size. The thing that makes Lionfish special is that you don’t even need a license to catch them if you’re using a pole spear. On top of that, they’re delicious! Just watch out for those spines – they’re full of venom and can give you a nasty sting.

Invasive Fish in Florida: All You Need to Know

The different invasive fish in Florida cause all kinds of problems. Learn what they are and how you can help to get rid of them while having a ton of fun!

fishingbooker.com

 

[Jim Kelly-Evans]

Jim . . . photo #6 looks like an invasive species in Florida called ”lion fish.” Do you know if that’s what it is?

Hi Dennis, Indeed, that is a Lionfish, an invasive species native to the Indo-pacific. Wiki has lots of info on them. I usually see at least one on each dive. There are efforts to control the population with culling, but apparently these efforts are not entirely successful.