BERMUDA has been invaded. For the last eight years Bermuda has been infiltrated by a dangerous predator that has no natural enemies.

The first confirmed lionfish in Bermuda was in 2000 when someone had brought one to the Agricultural Exhibition. At the time organisers of the event found it hard to believe the fish had been caught in Bermuda as it is a native Pacific Ocean fish.

Fast forward to 2008. The lionfish is not only being sighted regularly in Bermuda waters but in the whole Eastern Atlantic from as far north as Long Island and down as far as Turks & Caicos.

In fact in the Bahamas the lionfish is threatening that country's fishing industry, destroying reef fish and native fish stocks at an alarming rate due to overeating. And environmentalists fear the dive industry there is about to collapse because there will be nothing left for vacationers to see butt lionfish.

But here in Bermuda environmental authorities are taking an active stance against this trespasser.

Chris Flook is no stranger to the ocean. He's been collecting fish and has been in and on the water his whole life and for the past 12 years he has been the collector of specimens for the Bermuda Aquarium Museum and Zoo (BAMZ).

He is also the person leading the charge when it comes to dealing with the lionfish and doing the research that is ongoing here in Bermuda.

"The goal is not to eradicate, but to manage the population," said Mr. Flook. "You'll never be able to fully get rid of the fish from our waters because it is too established to eliminate, but there is a great chance we can manage the problem where we won't lose all our native fish."

Back in March Chris was sent to the Bahamas to study the lionfish problem along with scientists from REEF (Reef Environmental Education Foundation) and NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration) and the National Aquarium in Baltimore.

"It was devastating to see. Some of the reefs we dove and inspected had nothing but lionfish" says Chris. "The scariest thing about the lion fish is how fast they are multiplying and what they are doing to native fish stocks. One lionfish can lay 30,000 eggs. Within one year those fish will be ready to lay their own eggs."

That means every five years one lionfish is laying 1,800,000 eggs. And with no natural predators in the Atlantic Ocean most of those fish will survive to grow to adulthood and lay their own eggs to continue the disturbing cycle.

One advantage Bermuda has in dealing with the lionfish problem is that our waters cool down in the winter enough so that lionfish will not breed. That has enabled us to manage the problem more effectively than Bahamas or Florida, where the fish are able to breed year round.

"With the lionfish spreading throughout the Caribbean at an alarming rate, Bermuda in a few years time could become the premiere dive destination for tourists because we might be the only place left that doesn't just have lionfish to look at," Mr. Flook explained.

Two weeks ago Mr. Flook was dispatched to Marathon, Florida in the Florida Keys where he was a keynote guest speaker at a two-day seminar entitled Marine Invasive Species in Southeast Florida. He was invited by organisers of the event because of the work he has done with BAMZ, REEF, NOAA and the National Aquarium in Baltimore.

"I was there because I am Bermuda's Lionfish Project team leader and I have been doing research on the lionfish for over five years and studying the magnitude and effect of the invasion," said Mr. Flook.

"I spoke for 45 minutes the first day about Bermuda's role in dealing with the lionfish problem in the Atlantic and the problems that we still face and the problems yet to come."

That's not surprising Bermuda is ahead of the game when you take into account the support from the Government.

"Bermuda is thinking outside the box," Mr. Flook said "The Ministry of the Environment and the Department of Environmental Protection have both been very positive in dealing with this dangerous invasion. We have huge support from the Government and from the private sector (Stuart Joblin at Makin' Waves donated resources). It is inspiring to see the Government take such a proactive response which has left us in the world view as leading the way."

One such initiative from Government was to create new licenses that will allow trained divers to target, catch and bring in the bodies of lionfish to Mr. Flook which will provide him with more scientific data and further the research already being done.

Mr. Flook warns swimmers and divers not to come into contact with the lionfish.

"I have been stung twice and the stings are real painful for over an hour with swelling that will last for months. People that are allergic to bees need to be particularly careful. If anyone is stung immerse the infected area in as hot water, not scalding hot, that you can handle and seek immediate medical attention.

"If you see a lionfish please report it ASAP to lionfishgov.bm or call 293-4464, ext. 820."