WARNING: FATAL LIONFISH IN THE MEDITERRANEAN

First in Tunisia, then in the Straits of Sicily: lionfish, coming from the Red Sea, has been seen in the Mediterranean,.

ISPRA ( Superior Institute for Protection and Research) says. In Sicily, two specimens have already been seen and captured and the warning immediately went out because the fish is extremely dangerous.

” These captures suggest an imminent arrival of lionfish in Italian waters, as it already happened in the case of Lagocephalus sceleratus“, ISPRA claims. Hence, the urging to be vigilant and alert. Whoever catches or sees a lionfish is invited to photograph it, freeze it if possible and contact the local Port Authority and the Ispra seat in Palermo (telephone number: 091/6114044-7302574; e-mail address: alien@isprambiente.it).

The whole with due consideration: lionfish has, in fact, long and thin poisonous spines on its dorsal fins which, according to ISPRA , ” make it extremely dangerous to human health. These spines, in fact, contain some glands on their base which produce a powerful poison. At worst, the eventual sting can even have fatal effects. Poison remains active from 24 until 48 hours after the fish’s death: so, it continues to be dangerous even many hours after its death”.