The measure is being taken in response to concerns that rapidly expanding numbers of venomous Indo-Pacific red lionfish are threatening indigenous marine life.
The lionfish consume both fish and invertebrate species. The problem has been developing in particular along the USA’s south-eastern seaboard and through the Bahamas and Caribbean.
Sponsored by Reef Environmental Education Foundation (REEF) and the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary, the Floridian culls have been organised in the form of diving catch competitions.
The first Keys Lionfish Derby took place just over a week ago off Key Largo. In a one-day event, 27 teams involving more than 100 divers descended to catch 534 lionfish.
The winning team caught 111 lionfish and took away $1000 for their efforts.
The next Keys Lionfish Derby takes place on 16 October off Marathon. The third is on 13 November, off Key West.
It is hoped that the events and resultant publicity will encourage regular fishing of the lionfish both by sport divers and by the commercial sector.
This summer the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration launched a campaign, Eat Lionfish.
It is encouraging consumers to increase their consumption of lionfish which, in turn, would spur commercial harvesting.
Cleaned well, the creature’s white meat represents a safe and tasty morsel.
Related links
Keys Lionfish Derbies
Eat Lionfish campaign card
NOAA lionfish research
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