Get Involved

Statewide Lionfish Control Efforts

Get Involved to Control Florida's Invasive Lionfish

Are you a diver, seafood lover, or passionate about the environment? Learn about ways to support control efforts by removing lionfish, eating lionfish, and educating others about the effects of lionfish.


Interested in learning how to harvest lionfish?

 

WHAT: The current 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. This map will show you information including depth, structure type, condition, and exact coordinates for every public reef around the state.
HOW: Lionfish are easily harvested using a polespear 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 fiberglass), 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.


Are you a diver looking for ways to get involved? Check out these programs!

 

Participate in a lionfish tournament
    • Lionfish tournaments can significantly reduce local lionfish populations and they are a great way to meet other divers and get involved in the Florida lionfish community.
    • To support local tournaments FWC facilitates tournament sponsorship. Our 2023-2024 Lionfish Tournament Funds Request Form is live and can be submitted anytime before May 3rd, 2024. For any questions or to learn more about the program email [email protected].
Participate in the Lionfish Challenge 
    • The Lionfish Challenge is a statewide summer-long lionfish tournament put on by FWC. The Challenge is completely free to enter and open to anyone around the state! There are tiered prizes, so the more you harvest the more you win!
Sell lionfish to the commercial market
Organize a lionfish removal event from an area where spearfishing is otherwise prohibited
    • FWC issues permits to dive clubs, tournaments, and other organized events to remove lionfish from areas near public fishing piers, jetties, or areas that otherwise prohibit spearfishing activities. Contact us to learn more and apply for a permit.

Have you tried lionfish yet?

 

Lionfish have become a popular food fish throughout their invaded range! The fillets are firm, white, and flakey in texture and have a mild, non-fishy taste that is comparable to snapper, black sea bass, or hogfish.
While the spines of lionfish do contain venom, the flesh of a lionfish is not venomous or poisonous, making it completely safe to eat!
Lionfish can be found at many restaurants, seafood markets, and grocery stores across Florida. Click here to see a list of restaurants that previously or currently serve lionfish.


Help educate others to increase awareness about invasive lionfish and their effects on native species and habitats.

 

Lionfish Educational Exhibit Program (LEEP)
    • Approved applicants may be awarded up to $2,400 to offset costs associated with the creation of a lionfish educational exhibit at a public facility. Our 2023-2024 LEEP Funds Request Form is available.
Tell someone you know about the lionfish invasion
Check out our teacher resources
    • FWC visits classrooms all over the state to spread awareness about the lionfish invasion. We have lesson plans, classroom activities, educational modules, and dissection activities for teachers to use. Click here to learn more.
Host a Be the Predator Workshop at your local dive shop or dive club
    • FWC often visits dive clubs and other local organizations to spread lionfish awareness and educate divers about how they can get involved to stop the spread of the lionfish invasion. If you’re interested in hosting a Be the Predator workshop or presentation, send us an email!
Check out our Facebook page!
    • Click here to visit our Facebook page, and make sure to share our page with your friends!

We want to see your lionfish harvests!

Fill out the form below to share your favorite lionfish harvest photos with us. We love seeing what the Reef Rangers are up to, and we may even use your picture on our website, social media pages, or in other publications!

2024 Lionfish Tournament and Event Calendar

Date
Location
Derby Name 
Website
February 1- May 17, 2024 Statewide 2024 Emerald Coast Open Pretournament https://emeraldcoastopen.com/
May 17-18, 2024 Destin, FL 2024 Emerald Coast Open Main Tournament https://emeraldcoastopen.com/
May 18-19, 2024 Destin, FL Lionfish Removal Awareness Day Festival https://emeraldcoastopen.com/
August 16-17, 2024 Key Largo, FL REEF Florida Keys Lionfish Derby https://www.reef.org/derby

2023 Lionfish Tournament and Event Calendar

Date
Location
Derby Name 
Website
Results
February 1- May 18, 2023 Statewide 2023 Emerald Coast Open Pretournament https://emeraldcoastopen.com/ 5,139 Lionfish
April 1- June 30, 2023 Key Largo,FL REEF Florida Keys Lionfish Sweeps https://www.reef.org/derby 173 Lionfish
May 19- 20, 2023 Destin, FL 2023 Emerald Coast Open Main Tournament https://emeraldcoastopen.com/ 19,560 Lionfish
May 20-21, 1023 Destin, FL Lionfish Removal Awareness Day Festival https://emeraldcoastopen.com/
June 2-4, 2023 Key West, FL That’s What She Shot Spearfishing Tournament https://www.womankindkeywest.com/twss 38 Lionfish
July 15, 2023 Panama City, FL 2nd Annual Dive for a Cure https://www.facebook.com/events/divers-den/dive-for-a-cure-2023/303941821979491/ 67 Lionfish
July 14-16, 2023 Key West, FL 1st Annual Key West Lionfish Tournament https://finzdivecenter.com/lionfishderby/ 397 Lionfish
September 8-9, 2023 Islamorada, FL REEF Florida Keys Lionfish Derby https://www.reef.org/derby 1,898 Lionfish
September 10, 2023 Islamorada, FL REEF Florida Keys Lionfish Festival https://www.reef.org/derby
October 7-8, 2023 Navarre Beach, FL Navarre Fishing Rodeo https://navarrefishingrodeo.com/ 0 Lionfish
October 20-21, 2023 Pensacola, FL Pensacola Lionfish Shootout https://pensacolalionfishshootout.com/ 2,488 Lionfish
October 21-22, 2023 Pensacola, FL Pensacola Lionfish Festival https://pensacolalionfishshootout.com/

Add your tournament to our calendar!

Email the tournament name, date, location, contact information and tournament website to [email protected].