Deadly fish makes an illegal visit
Bermuda was seized by Fisheries officials at the Agricultural Show.
Judges were stunned to spot the Lion fish inside the case of an exhibitor and called in Fisheries wardens.
The Lion fish, which is native to Australia and the Pacific, has spines which can inject a potentially deadly poison.
It is illegal to import non-native marine species in case they unwittingly carry pathogens which could devastate the eco-system.
Marine and Fisheries officials are still interviewing the exhibitor, who could face a fine of $5,000 and/or a year in jail.
The fish has been taken to the Bermuda Aquarium and Marine Zoo (BAMZ) and is expected to be put down.
Director of Agriculture and Fisheries John Barnes said yesterday: "The judges took one look in the case and knew it was a Lion fish. They called me in and we seized it and the Fisheries wardens began an investigation.
"We've been interviewing the exhibitor, who has been very co-operative. These things are taken very seriously because they have the potential to be disastrous.
"It is prohibited to bring in marine species because they could bring in disease, and also this one is very venomous. There have been cases where it has been known to be fatal.'' Mr. Barnes said wardens were still trying to find out where the fish was brought from, but said it was too early to say whether there would be a prosecution.
BAMZ principal curator Jack Ward said: "There are 17 species of this fish and they are all venomous.
"We believe it was illegally imported. The main reason we do not allow the importation of any marine species is the fear of what it could do ecologically to Bermuda. There have been cases when healthy organisms have been moved from one location to another and we have found they have been benign in their original environment but cause huge concerns here.
"If it was released in Bermuda's environment, or water from it released, there is the potential of some form of pathogen that could wreak havoc locally.'' GOVERNMENT GVT