Find a Lionfish With an Ulcer? Here’s What You Need to Do Next.

Did you discover a lionfish with an ulcer, open sore, or strange looking wound? Here’s what that might mean and what you should do next.

Third Reef Thursday. Our typical run out to the deep reefs of Fort Lauderdale filled with marine life, winding coral reefs, and plenty of lionfish for hunting.

However, this Thursday went a little differently than normal. Sure, we removed a number of lionfish (business as usual) but one of them had an odd ailment.

I first noticed it underwater after I speared him. It looked like an open wound (and no, not the open wound I just punctured through him with my spear). But rather mangled flesh on its fin.

I thought, “did he get a in a fight with another fish? Has he been shot at before? Did someone skim his fin with a spear only to have him escape?”

Tough to say.

Upon Further Investigation

After returning to the boat and pouring my catch of lionfish from my Zookeeper into my cooler, we had to take a closer look.

Shuffling through the pile of freshly caught fish, we finally found the one that looked so strange down below. And sure enough. It was an open wound!

A perfectly round one at that. This wasn’t a spearing mistake. This was an ulcer. Possibly a disease!

READ MORE: Lionfish Hunting Resource Page

Lionfish With Ulcers Emerged in 2017

And that seems to be exactly the case. A report out of the University of Florida detailed the first sightings of lionfish with ulcers in 2017. In fact, they were showing up in masses in the Florida Gulf Coast with one fishermen reporting 201 out of 503 catched lionfish containing ulcers!

The ulcers seem to be the size of a quarter in an expanding circle with some deep enough to expose underlying muscle tissue. However, researchers are not entirely sure what’s causing the ulcer to develop. A parasite? A disease?

A Cause for Concern

The negative effects of the lionfish in the Western Atlantic are extensive and well-documented. So wouldn’t a disease causing ulcers that eventually kill lionfish be considered a good thing?

Possibly, yes. And possibly, no.

What researchers aren’t entirely sure of is whether the cause of the ulcers is transmissible to native fish populations. If that’s the case, any communicable spread among lionfish could be detrimental to coral reef health and fish populations.

Report a Lionfish With an Ulcer

The key takeaway? More research needs to be done and more information needs to be collected. If you’re hunting lionfish around Florida, be sure to report any ulcer sightings to the FWC.

All the information and links to download the report app are on their website.

Can I Eat a Lionfish With an Ulcer?

Researchers at the University of Florida advise against eating lionfish with an ulcer.