{"id":21220,"date":"2025-07-24T19:15:12","date_gmt":"2025-07-24T19:15:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/21220\/"},"modified":"2025-07-24T19:15:12","modified_gmt":"2025-07-24T19:15:12","slug":"poisonous-lionfish-spotted-in-kornati-for-the-first-time-experts-warn-caution","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/21220\/","title":{"rendered":"Poisonous lionfish spotted in Kornati for the first time: Experts warn caution"},"content":{"rendered":"

by croatiaweek<\/a><\/p>\n

July 23, 2025<\/p>\n

in<\/p>\n

News<\/a> <\/p>\n

\"Lionfish\"<\/p>\n

Lionfish<\/p>\n

The Kornati National Park has announced the first confirmed sighting of the venomous lionfish (Pterois miles) within its protected waters. <\/p>\n

The invasive species, known for its striking appearance and harmful ecological impact, was observed during routine monitoring by the park\u2019s expert team.<\/p>\n

This marks the latest in a series of sightings that highlight the species\u2019 ongoing spread along the Adriatic coast.<\/p>\n

This is an invasive species (Pterois miles) that entered the Mediterranean Sea from the Red Sea through the Suez Canal. Due to its lack of natural predators, it quickly colonises new areas. <\/p>\n

Its high predation rate on native species makes it one of the most invasive and ecologically harmful fish in the region.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe lionfish also has venomous spines. If you come across one, be very cautious \u2013 its long, sharp spines are poisonous,\u201d Kornati National Park said.<\/p>\n

According to marine experts, the lionfish\u2019s impact can be devastating for biodiversity, especially in protected areas like Kornati National Park.<\/p>\n

Venomous Spines \u2013 Handle with Care<\/p>\n

Lionfish are not just dangerous to marine life. They pose a risk to humans as well. The fish has long, sharp spines that contain venom. <\/p>\n

While not deadly, a sting can cause severe pain and serious symptoms such as swelling, breathing difficulties, and even temporary paralysis in rare cases. No fatal cases have been reported, but authorities urge caution. If stung, immediate medical attention is strongly advised.<\/p>\n

\"lionfish<\/p>\n

Lionfish (Photo: Jens Petersen\/CC BY 2.5)<\/p>\n

Experts recommend soaking the affected area in warm water (between 40\u00b0C and 45\u00b0C) for 30 to 90 minutes to help neutralise the venom. Care must be taken to avoid burns from the heat.<\/p>\n

Although the first lionfish in the Adriatic was recorded in 2019, its numbers have surged in recent years. The northernmost sighting so far was near the island of Vis in 2021.<\/p>\n

Recent reports from Lastovo and Prevlaka sparked concern among marine biologists. By the end of 2024, the Institute of Oceanography and Fisheries in Split had received 122 confirmed reports of lionfish sightings. In 2025, that number has already been surpassed, with new sightings reported almost daily.<\/p>\n

Visitors, divers, and fishermen in the Adriatic \u2013 especially around Kornati and other regions \u2013 are urged to be vigilant. If you spot a lionfish, do not attempt to touch or catch it.<\/p>\n

Report the sighting to local authorities or relevant marine institutes to help track the spread and protect local ecosystems.<\/p>\n

\tSign up to receive the Croatia Week Newsletter <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"by croatiaweek July 23, 2025 in News Lionfish The Kornati National Park has announced the first confirmed sighting…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":21221,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[26],"tags":[49,48,66,323],"class_list":{"0":"post-21220","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-wildlife","8":"tag-ca","9":"tag-canada","10":"tag-science","11":"tag-wildlife"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/21220","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=21220"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/21220\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/21221"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=21220"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=21220"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=21220"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}