Tropical fish becoming more common in N.S. waters

Warmer than usual weather has been affecting nativeflora and faunabut ithas also brought some unusual marine visitors to Nova Scotia waters.

A school of severalgrey triggerfish, usuallya tropical species,is giving Nova Scotia divers a unique view.

Bob Semple, a local diver, has been watching thesouthern visitors.

"Iheard this big 'crunch' and it went down and it got a green crab, and it ate a green crab," he said, "Probably not their typical food."

The small fish,usually less than 2.3 kilograms,is commonly found throughout the warmer parts ofthe western Atlantic Ocean.

Identifying characteristics of the species include tough, leather-like skin, and iridescent blue patches along its body.

Grey triggerfish arenot the only tropical aquatic visitors, flying fish were spotted in the waters around Halifax harbour last week.

Last August a180-kilogram tropical sunfish washed upduring low tide in Annapolis County.

At the Nova Scotia Museum, Zoology Curator Andrew Hebda says it is not unusual for warm water fish to hitch a ride on the Gulf Stream to Canada.

Triggerfish are occasionally found off the coast of Nova Scotia but usually in late summer to early fall when the water is warmest.

Hebda has beentracking all the unique arrivals.

"We're about two weeks ahead of what we normally see, which would mean, if it stays warm in the fall, we'll see more fish than we normally do," says Hebda.

While some of the fish may be able to find their way back to warmer waters, others won't survive the winter.

Hebda says it's possible for tropical marine species to become permanent fixtures off the coast of Nova Scotia.