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REEF Lionfish Research Media Coverage

REEF's critical research and education efforts on the invasion of the Indo-Pacific Lionfish into Atlantic and Caribbean waters have been featured in several news stories, publications and video media.

  • PULSE PBS News, "Invasive Lionfish Threatening the Caribbean?", 9/20/09
  • V-I Source, "Influx of Lionfish a Threat to Native Marine Life, Experts Say", 8/23/09
  • KeysNet.com, "Biggest Lionfish Found in the Keys", 7/11/09
  • Alert Diver, "Lionfish Make New Home: Invasive Fish are Settling In for the Long Haul", 7/1/09
  • The Abaconian, "Lionfish Derby Was Huge Success, caught 1408", 6/13/09
  • Smithsonian Magazine, "Invasion of the Lionfish", 5/8/09
  • Cayman Islands Daybreak - Morning TV Show, REEF and the Cayman Islands Dept. of Environment discuss the threat of the lionfish to Cayman reefs. The segment was filmed during a week of outreach and training workshops led by Lad Akins. 3/24/09
  • BVI Beacon. "Experts see lionfish in VI's future". 3/5/09
  • Channel 4 News Turks and Caicos, "The D.E.C.R. Holds Conference on Controlling Lion Fish Migration." News coverage of Lad Akins' recent trip to the Turks and Caicos. Lad led a series of education and training seminars covering ways to control the lionfish invasion in the TCI., 1/30/08.
  • Miami Herald, "Lionfish become more prevalant in South Florida", 1/30/08.
  • Miami Herald, "Newcomer to Keys is Unwelcome, Uncouth", 1/18/08.
  • KeysNews, "First Lionfish Found in the Keys", 1/9/09. These are two of dozens of articles published about the recent find by a REEF surveyor of the first documented lionfish in the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary.  Click here to read the REEF enews article on the removal effort.
  • Bonaire Insider, "The Pacific Lionfish Continues Spreading Southward in the Caribbean Region", 12/24/08
  • Turks & Caicos Weekly News, "Lionfish: Born in the Wrong Sea", 12/13/08
  • MenuPages Blog, "South Florida: Eat Lionfish, Save The Reefs", 10/20/08
  • The Times (London), "Lionfish devastate Florida's native shoals", 10/20/08
  • Palm Beach Post, "Scientists worried about more lionfish in the Atlantic", 9/23/08 
  • Time Magazine for Kids "An Alien Invasion", Part of a series on Coral Reefs for Grades 4-6. 9/5/08
  • Nature Conservancy Magazine (Autumn 2008) - A discussion about the lionfish problem in the Bahamas and the role REEF is playing with other Nature Conservancy partners in spreading awareness and conducting research.
  • Associated Press (AP) contacted REEF in June 2008 regarding the lionfish invasion in the Caribbean. Lad Akins, REEF’s lionfish expert and project leader put together a list of resources, experts, wrote a script, and secured all the footage needed to produce these stories. This material was used across the internet, newspapers and brought REEF to the attention of many as the pivotal source for information and contacts.

    - On August 4, the AP story was first featured on YouTube.

    - On August 13, the AP piece appeared in newspapers across the country and on MSNBC.

    - On August 22, National Geographic used the extended AP story on their Daily News website.

    Special thanks to Stuart Cove's Dive Bahamas and Sally Burrows, camera woman extraordinaire, for providing the support necessary to help REEF make this extensive AP coverage possible.

  • Scuba Diving Magazine Video News (August, 2008) - Anna DeLoach produced a 5 minute video that summarized the work REEF is doing on coordinating the Pacific Lionfish invasion. This video takes a look at the recent lionfish population explosion, the reasons lionfish are the perfect invader and how they got to the wrong sea. The video also provides ways for REEF Members to help, including in participating in a REEF Lionfish Trips to get your hands wet directly in the solution and by financially contributing to REEF so that we have the ability to continue research, set up management protocol and seek solutions. As Anna so eloquently states, "The threat is too grave, to sit back and do nothing."
  • Fox News Live Desk with Martha and Trace (August 15, 2008) - Lad Akins discussed the lionfish invasion and REEF’s Involvement.
  • The NBC Nightly News (June 30, 2008) - Michelle Kosinski reported on REEF’s crusade against the invasion of Pacific Lionfish in the Atlantic. 
  • Forbes On-Line Magazine (May 8, 2008)

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    REEF continues to work on focusing attention on and seeking solutions for this growing environmental problem affecting reefs in the Caribbean basin. For more information check out the REEF Exotic Species page, the REEF Field Surveys and Trips and to support our work on this project, please visit our Donate Now webpage.