Northwest Florida Regional Lionfish Workshop Notes Feb 8, 2024 – Ft. Walton Beach Lionfish first appeared in the northern Gulf of Mexico in 2010. At that time, it was a huge concern – and still is – but it got the public’s ... READ MORE
Category: Invasive Species, Natural Resources
The first day of Spiny Lobster Season was August 6, 2023. I was prepared for a glorious lobster hunt that day with my FWC saltwater fishing and lobster permit in-hand but instead found invasive lionfish. Luck was not going my way as I either ... READ MORE
Category: Coasts & Marine, Natural Resources
When invasive lionfish came on the scene in the Gulf of Mexico, one proposed solution came with them: Control their populations and impacts by commercially harvesting them. In other words, “eat them to beat them.” But large-scale lionfish ... READ MORE
Category: Coasts & Marine, Invasive Species, Natural Resources, UF/IFAS Research
Yep… I stole that line from Robert Turpin. He is well known for his ability to come up with great titles. What we are referring to here is the invasion of lionfish into Pensacola Bay. It has been well known over the last decade that ... READ MORE
Category: Invasive Species, Natural Resources
Native to the Indo-Pacific, lionfish cause problems when introduced to areas outside their native range. Two invasions are underway: one in the western Atlantic, and one in the Mediterranean Sea. Now scientists are applying lessons learned ... READ MORE
Category: Coasts & Marine, Conservation, Invasive Species, Natural Resources, Recreation, UF/IFAS Research, Water, Wildlife
Written by Holden Harris, Researcher at UF/IFAS Nature Coast Biological Station Indo-Pacific red lionfish (Pterois volitans/miles complex) in the Western Atlantic Ocean have been the most successful marine fish invasion on record and ... READ MORE
Category: Coasts & Marine, UF/IFAS Research, Wildlife
In the late 1980’s a few exotic lionfish were found off the coast of Dania Florida. I do not think anyone foresaw the impact this was going to have. Producing tens of thousands of drifting eggs per female each week, they began to disperse ... READ MORE
Category: Natural Resources, WildlifeMost coastal residents along the panhandle are aware of the invasive lionfish and the potential impacts they could have on local fisheries and ecosystems. Since they were first detected in this area in 2010, there have been tournaments, workshops, ... READ MORE
Category: Natural Resources, WildlifeLionfish (Pterois volitans): Hooking a lionfish in local waters is still a rare event but reported encounters with anglers are increasing. (Photo Courtesy of Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission). An Update on the Lionfish ... READ MORE
Category: Invasive Species, Natural Resources, Wildlife