Divers removed 312 invasive lionfish from Florida Keys waters during the final 2011 Florida Keys Lionfish Derby event last Saturday, Nov. 5. The latest results brought the total number of lionfish removed for the year during three Florida Keys lionfish roundups to 1,518 lionfish.
Release of Invasive Lionfish: A Guide to Control and Management
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.
REEF, with the ongoing support of local businesses, is continuing its monthly lionfish contest that awards both groups (shops, clubs, teams) and individuals who turn in the most lionfish each month. This is a fun competition to encourage ongoing removals of invasive lionfish.
|
Coral Restoration Foundation (CRF) and Reef Environmental Education Foundation (REEF), are working together to raise awareness about coral reef conservation in the Florida Keys. For the first time ever, the marine conservation groups will host a special event, “Coral In and Lionfish Out,” to engage the public and raise funds for coral restoration and lionfish removal efforts in the Florida Keys.
Join us for the second annual project to Curacao to document the establishment and consequences of invasive lionfish as part of REEF's ongoing effort to minimize the Indo-Pacific predator's impact on native fish populations. Participants will have an opportunity to be trained in lionfish collection and dissections of specimens to document prey. This unique research trip is led by REEF’s Director of Special Projects, Lad Akins and dive industry legend, Peter Hughes.
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). Please note, there is no dive associated with this workshop.
Join REEF in a special presentation on the background of the lionfish invasion, biology and ecology of lionfish, impacts of the lionfish and current research findings as well collecting and handling tools and techniques. After attending the Saturday morning workshop, each participant is welcome to attend optional lionfish handling dives on Saturday afternoon and Sunday morning.