The seasonal fishing ban on endangered Nassau grouper spawning aggregation sites in the Cayman Islands, which was set to expire at the end of this month, has been extended for another eight years. The protections, which were initially enacted in 2003 and included an 8-year sunset clause, prohibit fishing for the species at spawning aggregation sites between November and March (the reproductive season). REEF has been working closely with the Cayman Islands Department of the Environment (DoE) since 2001 as part of the Grouper Moon Project to study Nassau grouper aggregations in the Cayman Islands and to determine how to best protect this iconic Caribbean reef species. Our research has focused on the west end aggregation site on Little Cayman, which supports one of the last great reproductive populations of this endangered species.

Normally solitary and territorial, during the winter full moons Nassau grouper travel and group together to spawn. Due to the reliable timing and location of the spawning aggregations, plus the ease with which these relative loners can be caught while congregating by the hundreds and thousands to spawn, most known Caribbean aggregation sites have been fished to exhaustion. The ground-breaking research conducted as part of the Grouper Moon Project by scientists and volunteers from REEF, the DoE, and Oregon State University, led the DoE to recommend a set of actions necessary to recover and protect the species throughout the Cayman Islands. Actions include: implementing a closed season for Nassau grouper in all Cayman waters from November through March, permanently closing the aggregation sites to fishing year round (because these special places host aggregations of dozens of species throughout the year), and modifying existing catch limits for the species during other times of the year. The Cayman Islands Cabinet is currently reviewing these recommendations. While all those involved in the Grouper Moon Project are pleased that the Marine Conservation Board was able to take action prior to the expiration of the current ban, we are hopeful that Cabinet will enact permanent protections to ensure that there are Nassau grouper on coral reefs for generations to come.

REEF is extremely proud of our involvement in the Grouper Moon Project and we look forward to similar conservation victories in the years to come. Lessons learned in the Cayman Islands have benefited Nassau grouper conservation efforts throughout the Caribbean. We greatly appreciate all our members who have contributed financially to REEF to make this important work possible. If you haven't yet donated during our Winter Fundraising Campaign, please consider making a generous gift to help REEF continue programs like the Grouper Moon Project.

To find out more about the Grouper Moon Project, visit http://www.reef.org/groupermoonproject. And be sure to watch this wonderful PSA . The Grouper Moon Project is a collaboration between Reef Environmental Education Foundation (REEF) and the Cayman Islands Department of the Environment. It has been supported in part by the Lenfest Ocean Program, the Disney Wildlife Conservation Fund, the NOAA International Coral Reef Conservation Program, Southern Cross Club, Little Cayman Beach Resort, Peter Hillenbrand, and REEF member contributions.

Over 4,000 Nassau grouper spawn at the aggregation site on Little Cayman.: Photo by Phil Bush.

          Reef Environmental Education Foundation (REEF) in partnership with Miami-Dade County Sea Grant Extension will be organizing a series of lionfish workshops open to the public for the Southeast Florida area. These workshops cover the history of the invasion, lionfish biology/ ecology/ impacts, how to safely collect and handle lionfish, lionfish venomology and first aid for stings, and recommended techniques for filleting lionfish.

          The first workshop of the series will be held Monday November 14th from 6:30 until 8:00 at Belen Jesuit Preparatory School, in the Cosculluela Hall, located at 500 SW 127th Avenue, Miami, FL. Belen has an active student scuba diving club that was eager to host this first workshop. Workshop participants will have the opportunity to sign up for one or both of the group lionfish collection dives that will be led by REEF Director of Special Projects and lionfish expert, Lad Akins. These dives will give workshop participants the opportunity to apply what they learned topside while gaining hands-on experience with lionfish removals.

         Future workshops and collection dives for Miami-Dade, Broward, and Palm Beach Counties will begin Spring of 2012 and will be posted on the REEF website ( www.reef.org ). Pre-registration for this workshop and future workshops is strongly encouraged. There is no cost to attend these lionfish workshops. For more information or to register for a workshop, please visit www.reef.org/lionfish/workshops

Divers successfully removed 675 invasive lionfish from Florida Keys waters on August 20, during the upper Florida Keys derby of the Second Annual Florida Keys Lionfish Derby Series in Key Largo, Fla., organized by Reef Environmental Education Foundation (REEF) and the FL Keys National Marine Sanctuary (FKNMS). 

   Nineteen teams of divers competed for $3,350 in cash and prizes in the categories of most, largest and smallest lionfish in the second of three Florida Keys lionfish derbies planned for 2011. Team “Strategery” of Key Largo netted $1,000 for most lionfish with their haul of 289 fish collected in the single day event. Team “Key Dives” of Islamorada, won $500 for largest lionfish with a 143/5-inch fish, while Team “Conch Republic Divers” of Tavernier took home $500 for the smallest lionfish at 23/4-inches. Some teams took prizes in multiple categories.

Researchers from the U.S. Geological Survey collected tissue samples from lionfish caught at the derby to learn more about lionfish genetics, growth and impacts to native marine life. Derby attendees sampled cooked lionfish appetizers and viewed fillet demonstrations. The Key Largo derby was sponsored by Divers Direct, Markey Marine Services, and Ocean Reef Conservation Association.  

The final 2011 Florida Keys lionfish derby is schedule for November 5 at Hurricane Hole Marina in Key West. Teams of up to four divers may register at http://www.reef.org/lionfish/derbies/keysderbies 

    Growing populations of lionfish off the southeast U.S. and Caribbean are impacting native reef fish communities and could hamper stock rebuilding efforts. Lionfish have no known predators and consume commercially and ecologically important fish species.

 Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary protects 2,900 square nautical miles of critical marine habitat, including coral reef, hard bottom, sea grass meadows, mangrove communities and sand flats. NOAA and the state of Florida manage the sanctuary. Visit us online at www.floridakeys.noaa.gov or on Facebook at www.facebook.com/floridakeysnoaagov. 

The Reef Environmental Education Foundation (REEF) is a 501 c (3) marine conservation organization dedicated to protecting and preserving marine environments. REEF has been leading lionfish research, education and control efforts throughout the invaded region. For more information visit www.REEF.org.

A good time was had by all who participated in the Third Annual Lionfish Derby at Green Turtle Cay, Abaco, Bahamas on June 24th and 25th, 2011.    The event was held at the Green Turtle Club, whose sponsorship, along with the Bahamas Ministry of Tourism, Brendals Dive Center, REEF and numerous donors from Palm Beach County, Florida make this one of the most exciting competitions of the summer.

1,318 lionfish were caught in a single day in the waters surrounding this small island resort.  These numbers are up from last year’s derby of 941, but less than the 1,408 captured during the inaugural event in 2009.   Participants and onlookers enjoyed tasty bites of lionfish during the late afternoon scoring part of the Derby and an awards banquet and live music in the evening.

First through Third place cash prizes totaling more than $5,000.00 were awarded for Most lionfish, Smallest Lionfish and Largest lionfish caught between sunrise and 4:00pm during the derby.  In addition to the $500 prize money for catching the biggest lionfish, a fabulous, custom-built trophy for the largest lionfish was donated and presented by Chris Burdett.  Mr. Burdett is an avid diver and frequent visitor to the area who resides in West Palm Beach.   His painful encounter three years ago with, at that time the virtually unknown lionfish, sparked the creation of the first Lionfish Derby ever held.  All subsequent derbies originated from the Green Turtle Cay Derby, which serves as the model for competitions being held across the Caribbean, Florida and the eastern seaboard. 

Derby founder, Bobbie Lindsay, from Palm Beach, Florida, said, “The tournament created here in Green Turtle Cay has been carried forward by our partners at REEF and Simon Fraser University, and has made a significant impact on awareness of the problem, local control of lionfish populations, and introduction of lionfish as an excellent food fish to residents and visitors.  REEF and SFU have insured that the education, science and research elements remain in the Derbies, which is critical to understanding how best to manage the invasion.”

According to Lad Akins, at REEF, “While we can’t stop the lionfish invasion, we can put them on the menu and help reduce populations in specific areas where the economy depends on fishing and/or tourism.  During the past month in the Abacos, over 4,300 lionfish have been removed by Derbies in Marsh Harbor and Green Turtle.”

The next Lionfish Derby will be held August 12-13th ,2011, at Sailfish Marina on Singer Island, FL.  For more information visit http://www.reef.org/lionfish and http://www.lionfishderby.com/ or call (305) 852-0030 or (561) 248-8332.