Holidaying in the Med this summer? Here’s one very good reason you shouldn’t go in the sea
The poisonous Devil Firefish, which can kill humans, is spreading in the region, a conservation group warns
IF you're holidaying in the Mediterranean this summer, you may want to think twice about going for a swim.
The tropical Devil Firefish, a creature with poisonous spikes and an agonising sting that can kill humans, is becoming rife in the region, according to a conservation group.
The predatory fish, more commonly known as a Lionfish, is native to the South Pacific and Indian Oceans, but has recently been spotted around Turkey and Cyprus.
Maria del Mar Otero, a representative of the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (UICN), warned the sightings are a "cause for concern".
While its sting is only fatal to humans in very rare cases, it can still lead to extreme pain, vomiting and respiratory paralysis.
Environmentalists are also worried the arrival of the fish in the eastern Mediterranean could obliterate other species of fish, which would have a knock-on effect on the marine environment as a whole.
The fish was first registered as being present in the Mediterranean in waters off Israel in 1991.
According to the UICN, they have recently been recorded in Lebanese and Tunisian waters.
How they ended up there is a mystery.
It could be down to aquarium enthusiasts who released them into the wild, or they may have travelled from the Red Sea, where the fish are flourishing.
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The Devil Firefish is an extremely invasive breed as even sharks give them a wide berth, enabling them to feed on other species of fish that normally help control algae.
Dr Carlos Jimenez, a marine biologist at the Cyprus Institute, warned the vicious fish could have "a heavy negative impact on the ecosystems as well as on local economies".
According to Dr Jimenez, a weakening of the local fauna and flora paves the way for the arrival of other invasive species like the Devil Firefish.
This was the case when the fish was introduced in the Caribbean almost 10 years ago.
They were first recorded in Cuba in 2007, but in just two years they spread like wildfire and became a common breed in waters around the island, according to Delmis Cabrera, a marine biologist at the National Aquarium in Havana.
In order to try to get the numbers down, Cuba, Colombia and the Bahamas now encourage their residents to eat the fish, and Cuba holds an annual fishing tournament dedicated to the Devil Firefish.