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Cozumel Lionfish Invasion

Divetalking has just returned from 8 days of diving the various reefs along the marine park corridor and have concluded the program put in place to control the Lionfish population is performing very well. During the 8 days of diving in the park, we came across very little lionfish, harvesting a total of 17 during the weeks dives. We did note they appear to be in groups, meaning there would be a number of lionfish clumped in an area, then periods of no lionfish. Most lionfish were in the depths 80+ foot, some can be found in the 50+ foot range and were usually smaller in nature. Congratulation to the people of Cozumel in promoting a program which appears to be working well within the marine park in controlling the lionfish population. … Read entire article »

Filed under: Conservation, Divetalking, Earth, Education, extinction, Lionfish

Lionfish, It’s whats for dinner

Lionfish, It’s whats for dinner

[singlepic id=743 w= h= float=center] You’re just know hearing our this fish called a Lionfish. Perhaps you already know what a Lionfish is. Perhaps you have never harvested, or even tasted lionfish. So where do you find lionfish to eat? You can acquire the sumptuous delicacy by harvesting them yourself or from divers who do  harvest. Perhaps stores in the area offer lionfish. What is becoming more popular is finding lionfish on the menu, at local restaurants around the … Read entire article »

Filed under: Conservation, Divetalking, Earth, Education, Featured, Fish, Lionfish, ocean, Reefs, Reference

Lionfish workshops throughout the Southeast United States

Lionfish workshops throughout the Southeast United States

Greetings Lionfish Enthusiasts! As part of our efforts to address the lionfish invasion to the western Atlantic, REEF received a grant from the US Fish and Wildlife Service Aquatic Invasive Species Program to organize and lead lionfish workshops throughout the Southeast United States. Workshop topics include background of the invasion, lionfish biology, ecological impacts, current research findings, market development, and ways to get involved, with an emphasis on safe collecting and handling tools and techniques. We have … Read entire article »

Filed under: Conservation, Convention, Divetalking, Earth, Education, Events, Expo, Featured, Fish, Lionfish, ocean, Open Water, Reefs, Reference, Report, Training

Lionfish Facts

Lionfish Facts

Pterois volitans Pterois miles The genus name, Pterois, pronounced (tare-oh-eese) is defined as “lionfish.” The word Pterois comes from the Greek word “pteroeis” meaning “feathered” or “winged” The species name, volitans, pronounced (vole-ee-tahnz), is Latin for “flying” or “hovering,” the complement of the Latin word “volitō,” which means “to fly” or “to hover.” The species name, miles, pronounced (mee-layz), is Latin for “soldiering,” the complement of the Latin word “mīlitō,” which means “to soldier.” They are so beautiful. I want … Read entire article »

Filed under: Artificial Reefs, Conservation, Diver, Divetalking, Earth, Education, extinction, Featured, Fish, Lionfish, ocean, Preservation, Recognition, Reefs, Report, Training

Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission 2013 Lionfish Summit

Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission 2013 Lionfish Summit

Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission announces the FREE 2013 Lionfish Summit. [singlepic id=949 w=320 h=240 float=center link=https://fwclionfish.eventbrite.com/] Click on the logo to register and for more information Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission Tuesday, October 22, 2013 at 1:30 PM – Thursday, October 24, 2013 at 12:30 PM (EDT) Cocoa Beach, FL … Read entire article »

Filed under: Artificial Reefs, Divetalking, Earth, Education, Events, Featured, Fish, Lionfish, ocean, Preservation, Reefs, Reference, Summit

Lionfish Found at Disturbing Depths

by Megan Gannon, News Editor Live Science The relentless scourge of lionfish has crept to unexpected depths: Off the coast of Florida, researchers say they found the venomous invader thriving around a sunken ship at 300 feet (91 meters) below the water’s surface. [singlepic id=945 w=320 h=240 float=right] “We expected some populations of lionfish at that depth, but their numbers and size were a surprise,” researcher Stephanie Green, of Oregon State University, said in a statement. Last month, Green and colleagues investigated the seafloor near Fort Lauderdale, Fla., in a deep-diving Antipodes sub. At 300 feet (91 m) deep, the team witnessed a large number of the spiny fish near the intentionally sunken Bill Boyd cargo ship, an artificial reef created in 1986. [See Photos of Lionfish & Other Freaky Fish] While lionfish are typically … Read entire article »

Filed under: Conservation, Diver, Divetalking, Earth, Education, extinction, Featured, Fish, Lionfish, Preservation, Reefs, Reference, Report

Lionfish prove to be formidable component to sharks

Jeanna Bryner, Managing Editor Live Sciences The invasive lionfish is native to the Indo-Pacific region, though has been eating its way through reefs of the Caribbean Sea and Atlantic Ocean, scientists are finding. With no effective predators, fishing by humans may be the only way to control the population, say scientists. CREDIT: Abel Valdivia [singlepic id=743 w=320 h=240 float=left] The eye-catching red lionfish is eating its way through Caribbean reefs, and nothing, not even a toothy shark, seems able to stop the voracious fish, a new study finds. “Lionfish are here to stay, and it appears that the only way to control them is by fishing them,” said researcher John Bruno, professor of biology at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. The research, detailed online July 11 in the journal PLOS ONE, focused on … Read entire article »

Filed under: Artificial Reefs, Divetalking, Education, Featured, Fish, Lionfish, ocean, Open Water, Reefs, Reference

Belize to export invasive species, lionfish

9th July 2013, Placencia, Belize – Along Belize’s world heritage site-listed barrier reef, coastal communities are making waves in fight against a rapacious predator. At 11am on Tuesday, 2 July, the first box of filleted invasive lionfish left Belize international airport bound for Minneapolis, Minnesota. Its contents: 5.2 kg of the invasive lionfish, Pterois volitans, a species that poses one of the greatest threats to the sustainability of coral reefs and fisheries throughout the Caribbean region. [singlepic id=941 w=320 h=240 float=left] First released accidentally into the Caribbean near Florida by aquarists in the 1980s, the predatory fish from the Indo-Pacific has no natural predators in the Atlantic, and an exploding population is steadily eating its way across the entire Caribbean Sea. From the Bahamas to Barbados, coral reefs – and the traditional fisheries they … Read entire article »

Filed under: Adv. Open Water, Artificial Reefs, Conservation, Divemaster, Diver, Divetalking, Earth, Education, extinction, Featured, Fish, Lionfish, ocean, Open Water, Preservation, Products, Reefs, Reference

Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, FWC – Lionfish

[singlepic id=819 w=320 h=240 float=left] [singlepic id=820 w=320 h=240 float=left] [singlepic id=821 w=320 h=240 float=left] [singlepic id=822 w=320 h=240 float=left] Above are pages from a recently published pamphlet by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, FWC. Stop by your local dive shop to pick up your copy. FWC References: Lionfish – Pterois volitans News Releases Lionfish (Pterois volitans, Pterois miles) Frequently Asked Questions Harvesting and Reporting Lionfish … Read entire article »

Filed under: Artificial Reefs, Conservation, Diver, Divetalking, Earth, Education, extinction, Featured, Fish, Lionfish, ocean, Open Water, Preservation, Promotions, Reefs, Reference, Report, Training, Volunteer

Reminder: Lionfish Derby Palm Beach Shores, Florida

  Lionfish Derby: A Lionfish Derby is Aug. 18 out of Sailfish Marina in Palm Beach Shores. Teams of up to four people collect lionfish while scuba diving or free diving. Entry fee is $150 per team and more than $3,000 in cash prizes will be awarded for the most, biggest and smallest lionfish. The captains meeting is 6:30 p.m. Aug. 17 at Sailfish Marina. To register, visit REEF.org/lionfish/derbies or call 305-852-0030. … Read entire article »

Filed under: Conservation, Contest, Divetalking, Earth, Education, Events, Featured, Fish, Lionfish, ocean, Open Water, Preservation, Reefs, Reference, Travel

Divers targeting lionfish on Florida reefs

It’s open season on invasive lionfish on the reefs of Florida and the Bahamas. By SUSAN COCKING scocking@miamiherald.com   On her first-ever scuba diving adventure on the colorful coral reefs and blue holes south of Eleuthera in the Bahamas, underwater photographer Maggie Martorell of Hollywood immediately noticed something was missing. “Where are all the little tropical fish?” Martorell wanted to know. The reef looked healthy; stands of mountainous star coral jutted up from the ocean floor, interspersed with tangled branches of staghorn. Soft corals, such as sea whips and sea fans, undulated with the gentle current. A few groupers swam around the entrance to a marine cave that descended into darkness in the middle of the reef tract. But Martorell was alarmed by what she didn’t see — convict-striped sergeant majors busily patrolling the reef to protect … Read entire article »

Filed under: Artificial Reefs, Divetalking, Education, extinction, Featured, Fish, Lionfish, ocean, Reefs, Reference, Report

Lionfish Derby Aug. 18 out of Sailfish Marina in Palm Beach Shores

Lionfish Derby: A Lionfish Derby is Aug. 18 out of Sailfish Marina in Palm Beach Shores. Teams of up to four people collect lionfish while scuba diving or free diving. Entry fee is $150 per team and more than $3,000 in cash prizes will be awarded for the most, biggest and smallest lionfish. The captains meeting is 6:30 p.m. Aug. 17 at Sailfish Marina. To register, visit REEF.org/lionfish/derbies or call 305-852-0030. … Read entire article »

Filed under: Artificial Reefs, Contest, Divetalking, Earth, Events, Featured, Lionfish, ocean, Open Water, Preservation, Promotions, Reefs, Reference, Report, Travel

Florida Fish and Wildlife Seeks Public’s Help with Lionfish Invasion

Florida’s lionfish invasion has become so dire that the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission have changed some fishing rules to allow for more people to start catching the pests in order to save their reefs. Lionfish, native to the Indo-Pacific, are indiscriminate predators, with virtually no natural predators of their own in these foreign waters. They gobble up literally anything and everything, including juvenile species who haven’t yet had a chance to spawn. Reports of reefs devoid of any fish save for lionfish are increasing, which opens up the lionfishing arena to just about anyone who can handle a spear. The changed rules are effective through August 2013, and are as follows: A recreational fishing license is not required when using a Hawaiian sling, pole spear, handheld net, or any … Read entire article »

Filed under: Alert, Conservation, Diver, Divetalking, Earth, Education, extinction, Featured, Fish, Lionfish, ocean, Preservation, Promotions, Reefs, Reference, Report

LionFish Hunt off Jacksonville Fl. July 29, 2012

Join Offshore Dive Charters on a Lion Fish Hunt @ the Artificial Reef: DryDock [singlepic id=744 w=640 h=480 float=center] Two Dives on the Casablanca, One dive on BR Ferry and One dive on the Huggins,  4 tanks, Deep Dives (approx 110 feet), must be Advanced and will need nitrox. Have your lionfish gear ready because they are there…..Need a puncture resistant gloves, pole spear, EMT shears, and either a bag or tube system that doesn’t allow penetration and a stringer (if you are going to cut off the spines under water – but this does take MORE time) [singlepic id=743 w=320 h=240 float=center] [singlepic id=781 w=320 h=240 float=center]   The Casablanca is 327 foot long LST landing craft, hull number CVE 55, was built by Kaiser S.B. Company in Vancouver, Washington. She was originally built as the Alazon Bay, … Read entire article »

Filed under: Artificial Reefs, Boats, Divetalking, Events, Lionfish, Master Diver, Open Water, Promotions, Reefs, Reference, Report, Trip Invitations, Wrecks

Lionfish Harvest Dry Docks Jacksonville Fl.

Join Offshore Dive Charters on a Lion Fish Hunt @ the Artificial Reef: DryDock [singlepic id=744 w=320 h=240 float=center]   [singlepic id=743 w=320 h=240 float=center] The Drydock. [singlepic id=745 w=320 h=240 float=center] Approximately 600 ft length and 120 ft width. Depths from 100 to 130 ft. The U.S. Navy Drydock was placed offshore in 1989 to serve as an artificial reef.  The drydock is heavily encrusted with Atlantic winged oysters, barnacles, and a type of soft coral (telesto riisei).  Sea urchins and arrow crabs are abundant, and occasional scallops and thorny oysters decorate the reef. Sunday, June 24, 2012 Embark on The “Diamond Diver” A 46 ft. Newton with full accommodations The largest diveboat serving Northeast Florida and Southeast Georgia Where to meet the boat? 9954 Heckscher Drive, Jacksonville, FL 32226 at 6:00 AM EST Boat located at map Saturday…Southeast winds 10 knots. Seas 2 to 3 … Read entire article »

Filed under: Adv. Open Water, Artificial Reefs, Events, Fish, Lionfish, ocean, Open Water, Promotions, Reefs, Wrecks

Got Lionfish?

Got Lionfish?

    Lionfish 101 at Billy’s Boathouse Grille, Jacksonville, FL. When Sat, June 16, 7:00pm – 9:30pm Where Billy’s Boathouse Grille (map) Description Got Lionfish? Learn about this invasive species in local waters and how our teams of divers and lionfish aficionados are combating their destruction of native fish and reefs. Seafood appetizer buffet with shrimp dip, hot crab dip, peel n eat shrimp and fish fingers (and maybe some lionfish filets!) to be served. Tickets are $18 per person, … Read entire article »

Filed under: Events, Featured, Fish, Lionfish, Open Water, Reefs

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