Lionfish

An exotic species is one that is not native to the geographic location where it is found. An invasive exotic species is an exotic animal or plant whose presence disrupts the economy or ecology of the system where it is found.

The red lionfish (Pterois volitans), native to the Indian Ocean, is now prolific in North Carolina’s offshore waters as well as much of the East Coast. It exemplifies an invasive exotic species that arrived by means as yet unknown. Scientists theorize lionfish might have been carried to our coast in ballast water from ships or released from home aquariums. Visitors to the Aquariums at Pine Knoll Shores and at Fort Fisher can view lionfish on exhibit.

Beach vitex (Vitex rotundifolia), on the other hand, was intentionally introduced as an ornamental landscape plant, but this invasive exotic brought unintended, and unwanted, consequences. Imported from the Pacific Rim, it has rapidly proliferated and threatens to crowd out native plants in many North Carolina beach communities. Its heaviest infestations occur in South Carolina but it is rapidly expanding in our state and north to Virginia.

Beach vitex is a vine that expands aggressively on ground runners, but it does not hold dune substrate in place.

Melanie Doyle, Conservation Horticulturist at the North Carolina Aquarium at Fort Fisher, heads the North Carolina chapter of the Carolinas Beach Vitex Task Force. The task force has been active in eradicating this plant, which threatens the stability of local dunes. The task force brought the problem to the attention of state and local officials.

In January 2009, the North Carolina Department of Agriculture officially listed beach vitex as a state noxious weed, curbing the sale of the plant at nurseries. Several beach towns have adopted ordinances that outlaw the planting of beach vitex, and focus on eradication of the plant from their towns.