2020 Art by Amber M. Moran
10th Annual Lionfish Round-Up
- re-imagined -
Due to the concerns over Covid-19 and with respect to recommended social gathering guidelines we are adapting our 10th Annual Lionfish Round-Up (slated for June 20th, 2020) to fit the changing world we live in. We are proud to have contributed 9 years of live, in-person events to the Lionfish education and removal in our region of the State of Florida. This has resulted in 365 divers removing 3,378 lionfish from our reefs and estuaries.
Please continue to follow us on Facebook as we adapt our program to continue our mission of informing the public and reducing the invasive presence of Lionfish. Most importantly, be safe and feel free to reach out to us in the future. Thank you for your near decade long commitment to Lionfish removal and education and stay tuned. If you have questions, contact April Price, (772) 285-1646, or visit; www.McLionfish.com
Lionfish are an invasive species that threaten our
reef systems throughout the Caribbean and along the southeastern seaboard of the United States.
Lionfish Facts:
· Lionfish (Pterois volitans and Pterois miles) are a venomous, spiny fish with a native habitat range in the Pacific and Indian Oceans.
· They are popular with aquarium enthusiasts around the world. It is likely these fish were introduced to the Atlantic via the aquarium trade or ballast tanks of transoceanic vessels.
· Lionfish are known to be highly territorial and can be found offshore or in estuaries. In Florida, lionfish have been found in all water depths; on hard bottom, mangrove, seagrass, coral, artificial reefs, oyster reefs, seawalls and other manmade structures.
· These areas provide a perfect concentrated food source that is comprised of a wide variety of small fish (including economically important gamefish) and crustaceans (notably lobster, crabs and shrimp). They also furnish excellent structure and hiding areas from which the lionfish can ambush and corner prey with its large fins before swallowing it whole. Lionfish can consume prey over 50% of their own body size and expand their stomachs to 30 times their normal size.
· Reproduction can occur every 4 days with up to 30,000 eggs per spawn. The lionfish eggs hatch in just 2 days and settle within a month.
· Lionfish (Pterois volitans and Pterois miles) are a venomous, spiny fish with a native habitat range in the Pacific and Indian Oceans.
· They are popular with aquarium enthusiasts around the world. It is likely these fish were introduced to the Atlantic via the aquarium trade or ballast tanks of transoceanic vessels.
· Lionfish are known to be highly territorial and can be found offshore or in estuaries. In Florida, lionfish have been found in all water depths; on hard bottom, mangrove, seagrass, coral, artificial reefs, oyster reefs, seawalls and other manmade structures.
· These areas provide a perfect concentrated food source that is comprised of a wide variety of small fish (including economically important gamefish) and crustaceans (notably lobster, crabs and shrimp). They also furnish excellent structure and hiding areas from which the lionfish can ambush and corner prey with its large fins before swallowing it whole. Lionfish can consume prey over 50% of their own body size and expand their stomachs to 30 times their normal size.
· Reproduction can occur every 4 days with up to 30,000 eggs per spawn. The lionfish eggs hatch in just 2 days and settle within a month.
