Fort Lauderale Derby POSTPONED until a later date still TBD
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While we all knew it was just a matter of time, the call still came with a bit of surprise and dread as the first confirmed lionfish sighting in the Florida Keys came in on January 6th, 2009. REEF member Becky Fowler, from Greenville, SC, was diving just offshore of the Benwood Wreck in Key Largo when she spotted the invasive lionfish near the base of a ledge at 66'. With all of the recent focus and outreach efforts that REEF has been forwarding to our members, she knew immediately that she needed to document the sighting and gather a detailed description of its location.
Culling can be an effective management tool for reducing populations of invasive species to levels that minimize ecological effects. However, culling is labour-intensive, costly, and may have unintended ecological consequences. In the Caribbean, culling is widely used to control invasive Indo-Pacific lionfish, Pterois volitans and P. miles, but the effectiveness of infrequent culling in terms of reducing lionfish abundance and halting native prey decline is unclear.
Learn all about the invasive lionfish during this free, online workshop. Topics include background of the invasion, lionfish biology, ecological impacts, current research, and safe collecting and handling techniques.
Last week, representatives from the Florida House and Senate took the first steps in banning the importation or aquaculture of invasive lionfish. Representative Holly Raschein (R-Key Largo) and Senator Greg Evers (R- Pensacola) have filed HB 1069 and SB 1336 to address the devastation being caused by lionfish in Florida’s coastal waters. The bills will prohibit importation, aquaculture and sale of illegally imported lionfish and they authorized FWC to adopt a rule to that effect.
Thanks for your interest in the 2019 Pompano Beach Lionfish Derby, organized by Shipwreck Park Pompano Beach.
REEF staff co-authored a new publication in the scientific journal PeerJ that features research findings from our Invasive Lionfish Research Program. The paper, titled "Setting the record straight on invasive lionfish control: Culling works", evaluates the effectiveness of lionfish removal efforts. Frequent culling of the invasive Indo-Pacific Lionfish throughout the Caribbean has been shown to cause a shift towards more wary and reclusive behavior by lionfish, which has prompted calls for halting culls.
We are so excited for the 16th annual Florida Keys Lionfish Derby & Arts Festival! Starting this year, we are combining the Florida Keys Lionfish Derby with the annual Arts & Science Festival to form a conservation and arts festival! It will all take place at the REEF Campus and will feature vendors including artisans and local non-profits, along with lionfish scoring, fun conservation science and art activities, music, educational and cooking demos, food trucks and drinks, free lionfish tastings, raffle, and derby awards ceremony!
Mark your calendars! The 16th Annual Florida Keys Lionfish Derby & Arts Festival is coming up this month, on April 24-27, 2025. This event blends ocean conservation, art, science, and community fun, and it's free and open to the public! Join us for a weekend of lionfish hunting, eco-art, ocean education, and family-friendly festivities. The Lionfish Derby engages divers in a thrilling competition to remove as many invasive lionfish as possible, helping protect native marine ecosystems.
The Indo-Pacific lionfish invasion front is rapidly moving south into the Caribbean. Through REEF’s on-the-ground work, lionfish impacts are being documented in the Bahamas and initial results suggest these impacts will be devastating. Belize saw their first lionfish in 2008, and they are spreading fast. Divers are starting to see more fish on more sites. Now, Belizean organizations are offering a $50.00 per fish bounty to remove the fish before they become established.