South Florida offers plenty of beaches and fishing spots for anglers and adventure seekers to unwind, recharge and connect with nature. In addition to species like wahoo, mahi-mahi, red drum and tuna that frequent the area, divers and anglers should also be aware of less-friendly marine life like lionfish, an invasive species first detected in Florida in the 1980s.
While not exactly known how lionfish first arrived, their populations have been resilient and fierce in spreading since then. They now inhabit reefs, wrecks and other marine habitats, causing the extinction of native organisms. Although fishing in Florida is legal with a license, lionfish aren’t allowed to be caught for recreational purposes, mainly because of the risk posed by their sharp, venomous spines.
Lionfish, however, are encouraged to be removed from the sea, and in South Florida, this has turned out to be a sought-after pursuit.
With that in mind, the 14th annual Lionfish Derby & Festival is taking place in Islamorada, known as the Fishing Capital of the World. The festival runs from Sept. 7-10.
Amy Lee, engagement and communications manager at Reef Environmental Education Foundation (the organization behind the festival, known as REEF), explains that lionfish are an invasive species in the Tropical Western Atlantic that negatively impact marine life, including grouper and snapper, vital food fish.
Beyond educating divers on how to handle this venomous species, the event offers more benefits that one might initially assume. With each capture, data such as length, weight, stomach contents, stage of reproductive maturity, otoliths (ear bones that measure a fish’s age) and tissue samples are gathered for scientific research.
During the festival portion of the event, which takes place on Sunday, Sept. 10, the caught lionfish are prepared and served. “These tastings educate the public and help promote lionfish as a sustainable seafood choice,” says Lee. “Derbies also draw media attention to the lionfish invasion and help promote the development of the commercial lionfish market.”
The weekend-long event includes the derby competition with training on proper lionfish capture techniques, two fishing days and an award ceremony on the festival day. According to Lee, 26 teams registered for the derby this year, and around 400 people are expected to attend the festival portion.
“The public is invited to watch scoring, taste free lionfish samples, watch filleting and dissection demonstrations, and learn more about lionfish,” she says.
The Lionfish Derby & Festival supports Florida’s marine ecosystem and encourages ocean conservation through one of the most effective ways to address the issue of the lionfish population. Plus, what’s better than spending a weekend in the picturesque Florida Keys?
For more information, visit reef.org.
Photo courtesy of Reef Environmental Education Foundation