The lionfish, specifically the Devil firefish (Pterois miles), has been officially confirmed in Maltese waters for the first time, marking a significant milestone in the study of invasive marine species in the Mediterranean. The specimen was caught by local fisherman James Mamo and later verified by marine biologist Alan Deidun, who noted that while numerous unconfirmed sightings had circulated over the years, this is the first physical and photographic evidence. Deidun thanked Mamo for documenting the find, as well as research collaborators and the Annales journal for supporting the work.