Lionfish Invasion Threatening Atlantic Ocean (VIDEO)

Here comes the Lionfish invasion. The venomous predator lurks beneath the picturesque Atlantic Ocean.

Lionfish are popular saltwater aquarium fish all over the world, but especially in the United States. Invasive species like the lionfish are becoming a major problem in many parts of the world.

The first confirmed sighting of the fish predator occurred within the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary (FKNMS) in January 2009. The lionfish has no known natural predators in the Atlantic, an appetite for native fish and crustaceans, and the ability to spawn year-round. Because of this, ecologists are concerned that lionfish could have an impact on native reef fish populations and the natural balance of the reef ecosystem.

As lionfish sightings increased during 2009, resource managers began enlisting the help of the dive community in control efforts to remove the invasive fish.

CNN VIDEO