If you’re a diver, you’ve seen first-hand how lionfish invade the reefs and threaten the balance that sustains many offshore species. You’ve probably also heard of the Lionfish Challenge, an opportunity to help reduce the population of this invasive species.
Here’s a chance for divers and anglers, both commercial and recreational, to make a difference while enjoying Florida’s reefs and wrecks.
The Lionfish Challenge, from May 24 – Sept. 2, is sponsored by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC).
The challenge is a free summer-long lionfish tournament open to recreational and commercial competitors of all ages in Florida. More than 195,000 lionfish have been removed as a part of this challenge since it began in 2016. In its ninth year, the Lionfish Challenge goal remains the same – remove as many lionfish as possible in just three months.
Participants will compete in either the commercial or the recreational division, with grand prizes to the top competitors in each division.
Prizes will be awarded in tiers as follows:
• Tier 1 – Harvest 25 lionfish (recreational) or 50 pounds of lionfish (commercial);
• Tier 2 – Harvest 75 lionfish (recreational) or 100 pounds of lionfish (commercial);
• Tier 3 – Harvest 150 lionfish (recreational) or 200 pounds of lionfish (commercial);
• Tier 4 – Harvest 300 lionfish (recreational) or 400 pounds of lionfish (commercial);
• Tier 5 – Harvest 600 lionfish (recreational) or 800 pounds of lionfish (commercial).
To read the full tournament rules and register, visit FWCreefrangers.com/lionfish-challenge.
Keep up with the challenge on Facebook.com/fwcreefrangers.
