Join Portofino Diver Academy for their first annual Lionfish Hunt in partnership with REEF Environmental Education Foundation!



The Lionfish is an invasive species that is decimating native fish in Florida waters. Join us on December 11, 2016 for a special workshop, hunting dive and a delicious lionfish cookout.


Join REEFs 2023 Florida Keys Lionfish Sweeps! 

Steady removal of Lionfish from our local reefs can help protect native fish species & ensure a balanced ecosystem

Participants can remove Invasive Lionfish from April to June 2023 for entry into cash raffles & final cash prizes and donate the fish to REEF's Education & Outreach Programs

To Participate Drop off lionfish between April 1 to June 30, 2023 at:

REEF Campus, Key Largo, FL 9AM-5PM Monday-Friday each week

Join one of REEF's valued Conservation Partners, CoCo View Resort in Roatan, Honduras for Wednesday Night Fishinars! This week, "2017 Lionfish Update" will start at 7:30pm in the CoCo View Clubhouse. Join this fun, informal presentation to learn about the threat of exotic and invasive speices on marine ecosytems, and what is being done to help. These viewings are free and open to all CoCo View guests.

 

Join us for a free screening of the NOVA Documentary Ocean Invaders! Lionfish, long prized in home aquariums, have invaded the Atlantic and are now one of the ocean's most successful invasive species. Join ocean explorer Danni Washington on a journey to discover how they took over, why they are doing so much damage, and what can be done about it. 

Tim Robinson has taken on the mighty mission of tackling the invasive lionfish crisis. But that’s not all – Tim is a lifelong entrepreneur with deep roots in philanthropic endeavors. In 2021, Tim made a bold leap and snatched up ZooKeeper, transforming it from a humble, one-color, garage-built startup into a global contender in the hunting and ocean conservation arena.  For the past several years, Tim has been a vibrant force, creating challenges and paving paths for others.

Announcement -  Derby Cancelled due to Weather
Lionfish Public Culinary Tasting at Mote Marine Laboratory and Aquarium still on as scheduled

 

 

Join us July 12-14th, 2019 for REEF's 6th Annual Sarasota Lionfish Derby
hosted by MOTE Marine Laboratory & Aquarium

Fort Lauderale Derby POSTPONED until a later date still TBD

 

 

 

REEF's 17th annual Florida Keys Lionfish Derby culminated on Sunday April 26, 2026 at the REEF Ocean Exploration Center. This included a lionfish weigh-in, awards, and conservation science and arts festival open to the public.

Click here to view the full team results

Please contact lionfish@REEF.org with questions

Information for the 2025 Florida Keys Lionfish Derby & Arts Festival will be posted soon! 

REEF's 15th annual Florida Keys Lionfish Derby will culminate Sunday August 18, 2024 at the lionfish weigh-in and awards at the REEF campus.

Please contact lionfish@REEF.org with questions

Unfortunately, REEF’s Winter Lionfish Derby Event at Sharkey’s Pub and Galley for April 4, 2020 has been cancelled. We have exhausted the options of hosting a remote competition where teams can just drop off their fish, but at this time we are going adhere to the recommendations worldwide and encourage social distancing.

We will try to reschedule the Lionfish Derby competition in some capacity if possible in the upcoming months.

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