Spear-wielding scuba divers are not the only ones waging war against invasive lionfish.

Tallahassee lawmakers are now taking on the flowing-finned menace native to the Indian and Pacific oceans that has a reputation for reproducing at an alarming rate in its non-native waters and decimating reef fish populations with is voracious appetite.

Two bills filed—one in the House and a companion bill in the Senate—if passed by the end of legislative session on May 2, would put an end to the public's ability to buy lionfish for the centerpieces of their aquariums. Raising them for sale would become a level two felony.

"What the bill is going to do is prohibit the importation and sale of them," said Sen. Greg Evers, R-Baker, who introduced the Senate version of the bill. "All of the details of the bill have not been decided. I'm saying let's get rid of them. Put an end to lionfish in aquariums."

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