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 tecchniques, 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.

Upcoming Workshops:

Fort Lauderdale on Wednesday June 5th, 2012, co-sponsored by Divers Direct. If you would like to attend this workshop, registration is required and space is limited.  Please register here.   

Join us from 6:30pm-8:30pm at Divers Direct in Dania Beach on June 5th for a lionfish collecting and handling workshop.  Topics will include background of the invasion, biology/ecology of lionfish, impacts of lionfish and current research findings as well as collecting and handling tools and techniques.  Participants will also have the opportunity to obtain their permit for collecting lionfish within the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary no-take zones (SPAs).

Future Workshop Waiting List: Look for more workshops in the near future in Miami, Palm Beach, Ft. Lauderdale, and Key Largo! If you would like to be put on a waiting list for upcoming workshops please let us know by completing the waiting list form here.

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