On October 2-4, REEF’s Invasive Species Program Coordinator, Dr. Alli Candelmo, and Environmental Leadership Intern, Sophie Costa, joined regional researchers, invasive species managers, divers, and ocean conservationists at the Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission 2018 Lionfish Summit. The summit addressed three main themes: Policy & Regulation, Control Efforts/Research & Monitoring and Education & Outreach. Alli presented as an invited speaker on the trends of ten years of REEF lionfish derbies and lionfish movement patterns and the application to improving removal efforts. The summit included facilitated discussions which focus on current and future research and management strategies in controlling the lionfish invasion.
REEF is once again facilitating an Invasive Lionfish Panel at the DEMA Show 2018 in Las Vegas on Saturday, Nov. 17. The panel, "DEMA Lionfish Update: Invasive Lionfish — Future Directions in Research, Management and Control," will include esteemed panelists to discuss the latest invasive lionfish issues including innovations driving future directions for the dive industry, fishing communities, and markets. Discussions will focus on how to continue to engage divers and the public in participating in removal efforts and derbies and what information managers and scientist can provide to help improve these efforts. There will be a free raffle for fabulous prizes including: a Mares Puck Wrist dive computer, 2 DIY Zookeeper kits (not available yet in the US: this will be its premier) and 2 Lionator pole spears. Thank you to Jon Wilkins, Allie ElHage, and Walt Deelman for the donations.