Martin Dreyfuss
•4/8/2026
Lionfish, an invasive species with venomous spines, are posing a serious threat to coral reef ecosystems in Florida and the Caribbean.
At the Invader Aquarium at the IMAG, Kate shared that there are five subspecies of lionfish: Common, Red, Andover, Luna, and Plaintail fish. She said they originate from the Indian Ocean and the Western Pacific Ocean areas.
Christian emphasized the danger of lionfish, saying, "They have 18 venomous spines that
you will not want to be poked by." He added, "Catch, carefully remove the spines, fry 'em up, and Bon Appétit."
Learn more about IMAG by checking out its website.
Watch the full segment above.
DOWNLOAD the free Gulf Coast News app for your latest news and alerts on breaking news, weather, sports, entertainment, and more on your phone or tablet. And check out the Very Local Gulf Coast app to stream news, entertainment and original programming on your TV.