Lionfish, tropical fish native to the Indo-Pacific oceans, were first discovered on shipwrecks off the North Carolina coast in the year 2000. Nobody is certain of how they got there, but the possibility of an accidental or intentional release plus the proximity of the Gulf Stream current to the North Carolina coast is suggestive. They've multiplied rapidly since first discovered, and they're now considered to be an invasive species. This one was found on the wreck of the Papoose at a depth of 120 feet.
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North Carolina Lionfish (Pterois volitans)
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