Mortality in Lionfish Fishing Tournaments

For once, mortality of captured fish is the point of the events and there is no need for bass tournament-like claims that all captured fish survive.

In an attempt to eradicate invasive lionfish, or at least hold their numbers in check, Reef Environmental Education Foundation (REEF), a non-profit organization of recreational divers, organized the 1st Annual Florida Keys Lionfish Derby Series.

The inaugural series comprised three events:
Upper Keys Lionfish Derby, Key Largo, FL, held 11 September 2010,
Middle Keys Lionfish Derby, Marathon, FL, held 23 October 2010, and
Lower Keys Lionfish Derby, Key West, FL, held 13 November 2010.

Derby contestants competed for cash and prizes over more than $10,000 ($3,500 per event). Three prizes were awarded in each of three categories: most lionfish captured, largest lionfish captured, and smallest lionfish captured.

The derbies last from sunrise to sundown, and divers, armed with nets or spears attempt to capture and kill as many lionfish as they can. Captured fish are placed on ice and are eaten during the awards banquet.

The Upper Keys Lionfish Derby was the largest of the three events, with 27 registered teams. During the derby 534 lionfish were captured. In the Middle Keys and Lower Keys derbies, a total of 21 and 109 lionfish, respectively, were captured.

Earlier in year, on 6 June, REEF conducted its first Bahamas Lionfish Derby, in which 26 registered teams captured 1,408 lionfish during the one-day event.

Competitive fishing events with a soul. I like it.

Derby photo by Carlos Estape at http://boatermouth.com/.