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Tag: lionfish

FWC announces 2024 Lionfish Challenge

Written by Rusty Chinnis on . Posted in Fishing, Outdoors, Reel Time.

If you’re a diver, you’ve seen first-hand how lionfish invade the reefs and threaten the balance that sustains many offshore species. You’ve probably also heard of the Lionfish Challenge, an opportunity to help reduce the population of this invasive species.

Here’s a chance for divers and anglers, both commercial and recreational, to make a difference while enjoying Florida’s reefs and wrecks.

The Lionfish Challenge, from May 24 – Sept. 2, is sponsored by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC).

FWC announces 2024 Lionfish Challenge
The beautiful but venomous lionfish threatens Florida’s reefs. – Submitted

The challenge is a free summer-long lionfish tournament open to recreational and commercial competitors of all ages in Florida. More than 195,000 lionfish have been removed as a part of this challenge since it began in 2016. In its ninth year, the Lionfish Challenge goal remains the same – remove as many lionfish as possible in just three months.

Participants will compete in either the commercial or the recreational division, with grand prizes to the top competitors in each division.

Prizes will be awarded in tiers as follows:

• Tier 1 – Harvest 25 lionfish (recreational) or 50 pounds of lionfish (commercial);

• Tier 2 – Harvest 75 lionfish (recreational) or 100 pounds of lionfish (commercial);

• Tier 3 – Harvest 150 lionfish (recreational) or 200 pounds of lionfish (commercial);

• Tier 4 – Harvest 300 lionfish (recreational) or 400 pounds of lionfish (commercial);

• Tier 5 – Harvest 600 lionfish (recreational) or 800 pounds of lionfish (commercial).

To read the full tournament rules and register, visit FWCreefrangers.com/lionfish-challenge.

Keep up with the challenge on Facebook.com/fwcreefrangers.

Help rid Island waters of lionfish

Help rid Island waters of lionfish

Written by Jason Schaffer on . Posted in Environment, Fishing, Outdoors.

ANNA MARIA ISLAND – The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) is seeking help from divers, anglers and commercial harvesters to remove lionfish from Gulf of Mexico waters.

Anyone is welcome to join the lionfish challenge, a summer-long tournament open to participants from anywhere in the state of Florida. In divisions for recreational and commercial divers, participants will compete for several prizes including dive equipment, a Yeti cooler and more, and for the title of Lionfish King and Queen or Commercial Champion.

Lionfish are an invasive marine reef fish species that have the potential to harm native wildlife and habitat. The fish are native to the Indo-Pacific and were first identified off the coast of Florida in Broward County in 1985. They are now found in large numbers on both coasts of Florida. Since their introduction, lionfish populations have exploded and they are well established in Florida waters.

Lionfish reproduce quickly, compete with native species for habitat and food and have no natural predators in the waters surrounding the Island. The fish are highly venomous, and according to the FWC, lionfish are the most harmful marine invader to date.

The FWC has been one of the lead organizations to initiate procedures to not only evaluate the extent of the invasion, but also support control efforts and initiate removal incentive programs.

Anyone interested in learning how to harvest lionfish should start with the following information:

WHAT: The most effective way to remove lionfish is by divers using spearfishing equipment.

WHERE: Although lionfish can be found in a variety of habitats, they are most commonly spotted on high relief structure in offshore waters. The state of Florida keeps data on all public reef sites located around the state.

HOW: Lionfish are easily harvested using a pole spear and a containment device. A pole spear is a very simple spearing device that consists of a short pole shaft (usually made of aluminum or Fiberglas), a removable multi-prong spear tip and a rubber band. A containment device is necessary for preventing a lionfish sting and for storing lionfish during a dive.

Do not grab a lionfish with bare hands. The venom of the fish is a neuromuscular toxin that’s similar to cobra venom, and is delivered through spines on its back. Despite that, if properly prepared, lionfish is edible and served at restaurants throughout Florida.

For more information on the tournament, visit the Reef Rangers website.

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission is seeking the aid of divers, anglers and commercial harvesters to remove lion fish from Florida waters.