Are lionfish freshwater or seawater inhabitants?

Lionfish are seawater inhabitants native to the warmer waters of the Pacific Ocean and the Indian Ocean. They were reported in the waters around southern Florida in 1985, and as of 2014, they have been sighted along the east coast of the Atlantic Ocean as far north as New York.

Lionfish have been found in water from 1 foot to 1,000 feet deep. Popular as aquarium fish, lionfish are also a source of food in their native range. They are characterized by red- or brown-and-white stripes and long fins and spines. They can deliver painful stings via their dorsal fins.