Fish On: Palm Beach County Lionfish Derby

Red Lionfish - REEF Lionfish Derbies - Fishing Tournaments for Invasive SpeciesFor those not familiar with the lionfish situation here in South Florida, here’s a quick primer. The Indo-pacific fish species, introduced into Atlantic waters by aquarium owners in the 1980s have become a nuisance. Over the past three decades, the fish, a vociferous eater and breeder, with a lone female producing up to one million eggs per breeding season, have gone from invasive species to established in the waters ranging from as far north as Rhode Island to as far south as Brazil, and every spot in-between, hitting hard the sub tropic and tropic waters of Florida, the Caribbean, and the Gulf of Mexico. Indiscriminate in in what they target as prey, lionfish feed on species that are economically viable, such as snapper and grouper, environmentally important, like wrasses (the medical doctors of the fish world) and parrot fish (important in keeping algae growth on coral reefs in check), as well as invertebrates, from lobster, stone crab, and shrimp to name a few. With no natural predators in Atlantic waters, the only thing that feeds on these fish is, well, us. Which is why the Key Largo-based nonprofit REEF (The Reef Environmental Education Foundation), with the help of NOAA and other research bodies began a campaign in 2009 urging divers and sea stewards to catch, filet, and eat these little devils.

Lionfish Derbies   The “eat ‘em to beat ‘em” motto has spurred lionfish derbies and rodeos, essentially fishing tournaments where teams of divers target lionfish, capturing them by net or spear, with no limit in terms of size (there are even awards for smallest catch), or bag (catch all you can folks, it is but a drop in the ocean). The fish are then brought back to the marina for fish fries, award ceremonies, and all around fish tournament fun—i.e. rum-heavy boaters drinks. The events, which are open to the public, also act as a way to raise awareness about the problem. For non-SCUBA divers, the problem is essentially out of sight. But as soon as you take to the reefs off shore, in depths as shallow as 40 feet, the problem becomes all too apparent: these things are everywhere. From coral and sponge reefs to rocky outcrops, lionfish are there; sometimes they are the only fish around. The situation is bad, and getting worse. Which is why these tournaments are so important. Hopefully, with enough public awareness, especially for the fact that the fish is actually really good to eat (tastes a lot like hogfish), the push for lionfish to make it to the fresh catch menu will happen.

REEF volunteers carefully filleting lionfish for a fish fry.  Celia Hitchins for the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary

REEF volunteers carefully filleting lionfish for a fish fry.

Photo by Celia Hitchins for the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary

   On August 14-15, the fifth annual Palm Beach County Lionfish Derby will return to Sailfish Marina. Part of REEF’s Summer Lionfish Derby Series (one of just three), this is the biggest derby to come to Palm Beach County all year. Since 2011, the Palm Beach County Lionfish Derby has bagged an astounding 3,000 lionfish, bringing them to shore for tastings, educational demonstrations, and research (derbies are one of the best ways for scientists to quickly collect a large sample size). On Friday, August 14 at 6:30 p.m. each team must attend the captains’ meeting at Sailfish Marina. Fishing begins at sunrise on Saturday, August 15. All lionfish must be turned in at 5 p.m. at Sailfosh Marina to count. From 6-6:30 p.m. the public is encouraged to join the festivities for tastings, educational demonstrations, a raffle, and award ceremony.

  • Interested dive teams, click here for more information about registration.

Each lionfish caught at a REEF derby is weighed and measured as part of an ongoing lionfish data collection effort. The more researchers learn about these fish, and the impact they are having on the environment, the better the plan to move forward on combatting the fish in the future.   Celia Hitchins for the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary

Each lionfish caught at a REEF derby is weighed and measured as part of an ongoing lionfish data collection effort. The more researchers learn about these fish, and the impact they are having on the environment, the better the plan to move forward on combatting the fish in the future. 

Photo by Celia Hitchins for the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary

 

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