May 25, 2013
They're a sight to see with a rainbow of colors and spots, but scientists warn when it comes to lion fish, don't touch. They are usually native to the warm waters of the Indian and Pacific oceans, but lion fish have slowly been making their way to the East coast from Florida northward. Now researchers with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's lab in Carteret County are finding dozens of those lion fish right off the Crystal Coast of North Carolina. They are becoming so prevalent that those scientists are worried about humans coming in contact with the fish’s dangerous, even deadly stingers. While researchers are not sure how the lion fish got into the Atlantic, they have been spotted as far north as New York. Researchers are encouraging the public to report their sightings to the NOAA office on Piver Island in Morehead City.
