Regional REEF Lionfish Workshops Help Control the Invasion

Lad Akins, Director of Special Projects, and the REEF team conduct workshops throughout the region to educate resource managers, divers and other marine enthusiasts on the lionfish invasion. These workshops include background of the invasion, biology/ecology of lionfish, impacts, current research findings, collecting tools and techniques, market development and getting the community involved. Special workshops are also available to satisfy FKNMS permit requirements. Permitting workshops are intended for dive professionals and avid recreational divers interested in obtaining a permit to collect lionfish in the Sanctuary Preservation Areas. These workshops are sponsored by REEF and the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary.Workshops for lionfish permits only available in the Florida Keys and at certain locations. Permits for the FKNMS SPAs only allow hand net collection, not spearfishing.

Recently Added: June 4 & July 10, Key Largo, FL     Please register here.

Join us on Tuesday June 4th at 6:30 pm or Wednesday July 10th at 6:30 pm at REEF Headquarters (98300 Overseas Hwy., Key Largo, FL) for our lionfish collecting and handling workshops! Workshop topics will include the background of the invasion, lionfish biology, ecological impacts, current research findings, and collecting and handling tools and techniques. Following the workshop, each participant will also have the opportunity to get a Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary (FKNMS) lionfish collecting permit, allowing you to collect lionfish in the Sanctuary Preservation Areas using hand nets. Registration is required. Don't miss out on the fun, sign up today!

Can't attend this workshop? Want to attend in the future?

Workshops are routinely scheduled in the Florida Keys, and we travel often to Miami, Palm Beach, Fort Lauderdale, and more. If you would like to be put on an email list and recieve notifications when workshops are scheduled, join the Future Workshop Waiting List here.

Lad Akins showing the audience how to properly handle a captured lionfish in San Juan