They have no business residing in the Atlantic. REEF officials, based in Key Largo, Florida, have been keeping track of this alien species since 1994. At first, the appearance of two Pacific batfish wasn't much cause for concern. But when one more appeared on the reef, the National Marine Sanctuary officials worried that the fish would breed and displace native animals. Experts speculate home aquarium owners probably released the batfish when their small juveniles quickly grew and became too big for their tanks.
Adults can reach two feet across.
New England Aquarium senior aquarist and dive instructor Holly Martel Bourbon eagerly jumped at the chance to round up the batfish and display them at the popular Boston facility. In a carefully coordinated expedition, two of the three alien batfish were captured in just a few hours. The third, not seen for about three months, was just recently spotted again at Molasses Key. After a short stay at Dynasty Marine in Marathon, Florida, the two batfish flew to Boston courtesy of American Airlines. Introduced species can wreak havoc with native plants and animals.