Lionfish Derby (click for more information)

Being sponsored by Friends of the St. Croix East End Marine Park

Please call 340-718-3367 with questions

Download/print the Derby poster and help spread the word!

 

 

REEF JAM 2012 LIONFISH DERBY

Coordinated by

The Department of Planning and Natural Resources

Benefiting Reef Jam & Friends of the STXEEMP

 

“Taming the lion in the USVI Seas”

Derby Details:

 

Help tame our USVI seas by participating in the Department of Planning and Natural Resources (DPNR) first Lionfish Derby and Lionfish “Cuisine Sampler”which will help control this invasive species population. There is a $15 registration fee per participant (includes entry to Reef Jam).

 

Participants will not be considered registered until waiver and entry forms have been signed and registration fee is paid.

  • Participants’ meeting at Luncheria Courtyard from 5:30pm to 6:30pm is encouraged for all participants. There will be a briefing on safe collection and handling procedures for lionfish. *Each participant must fill out a liability waiver and submit it before or at the Derby Participants’ meeting.
  • You may dive and/or snorkel while hunting.
  • Lionfish may be taken by pole-spear, slurp gun,or hand net. No chemicals are to be used.
    • Fishing must be done in accordance with territorial and federal fishing rules and regulations (i.e. NO fishing in NO-TAKE areas of the St. Croix East End Marine Park; NO fishing, extraction or possessionwithin Buck Island boundaries).
    • Lionfish caught must be kept on ice in a cooler to preserve the fish and also to neutralize the venom. It is up to the hunters to cut the poisonous dorsal spines off and count the lionfish before presenting them to the judges.
    • All lionfish must be caught the day before and the morning of the Derby. DPNR reserves the right to use the lionfish for the cook-off taste sampler at Reef Jam. In the event of a tie, the winning participant will be determined by the earliest recording of its lionfish at the Scoring Station.
    • The Lionfish Derby is an honor system tournament; anyone found violating Derby Rules will be disqualified from receiving any prize.
    • Proceeds will benefit Reef Jam and the Friends of the St. Croix East End Marine Park.

 

For more information please contact the St. Croix East Marine Park at 340-718-3367 or

the Division of Fish and Wildlife at 340-773-1082

 ***Remember, their spines are poisonous, so BE CAREFUL!!!

RULES:

    • ALL participants must be registered by Friday, May 25, 2012 (one person per registration)
  • Derby starts at 6:00 am Saturday, May 26th and ends at 12:30 pm Sunday, May 27th
  • ALL PARTICIPANTS MUST ARRIVE AT REEF JAM FOR WEIGH IN BETWEEN 1 PM AND 3 PM
  • No fish will be weighed in after 3 pm
  • All fish MUST be brought on-site to Reef Jam on ice, in cooler, or in an ice bag.
  • NO FROZEN LION FISH WILL BE ACCEPTED
  • ALL territorial and federal laws and fishing rules and regulations apply
  • MUST BE pre-registered and Entrant must be present at Reef Jam to qualify for winning prizes!

 

Prizes for:

  • Most lionfish caught
  • Biggest lionfish (length)
  • Smallest lionfish (length)

 

REGISTER AT THE FOLLOWING LOCATIONS:

 

ANCHOR DIVE CENTER

CANE BAY DIVE SHOP

DIVE EXPERIENCE

N2theBLUE

SCUBA

STXEEMP OFFICE

 

Lionfish Biology and Venemology

Understanding of Risk

 

Overview

Lionfish (Pterois volitans/miles) are members

of the scorpionfish family native to the Indo-Pacific.  They are now also found in waters throughout the Western Atlantic from Rhode Island through the Bahamas, Caribbean and Gulf of Mexico. Lionfish are predators reaching a size of more than 470 mm and reproducing year-round in the southern portion of their Atlantic range. They also posses venomous spines and potentially present both ecological and human health risks. Significant study, public education/outreach and control efforts are now being planned and implemented throughout the region.

 

Venemology

Lionfish spines, like those of many other scorpionfishes, contain venom. Spines located within the dorsal, ventral, and anal fins contain venomous tissue along the length of the spine. A sheath or ski

n covers the spine and glandular tissue which, when exposed in the act of punctu
re, releases venom into the wound. Severities and reactions to stings can vary, however lionfish stings are not known to be lethal. Reactions to venom typically include localized, moderate to severe pain and swelling, which normally subsides within hours and with first-aid treatment. Complications or increased severity of reactions could result from allergic reactions or severe punctures. Heat and time reduce the effect of this venom. As with any wound, cleaning and sterilization of the affected area is important to prevent infection.

 

Participation

There is a likelihood of coming in contact with a lionfish during this activity (Lionfish Derby) and therefore the possi
bility of being stung. All contact with lionfish, direct or otherwise, is voluntary in nature as is participation in this project, knowing the venomous nature of the subject.

 

Acknowledgement

I understand these risks and am willing to take part in the Lionfish Derby anyway, and indicate such acceptance through my initials on the Lionfish Derby registration form.

       

                                        

Quick Lionfish Facts from Reef.org

Invasion history

  • Two visually identical species of lionfish were introduced into the Atlantic via the US aquarium trade beginning in 1980’s
  • Lionfish invaded range is NC to South America including the Gulf of Mexico
  • Lionfish have established throughout most of the Caribbean in less than 3 years (first reports outside of the Bahamas in 2007)

Biology

  • Lionfish may live longer than 15 years reaching sizes exceeding 47cm (~20 in.)
  • Lionfish inhabit all marine habitat types and depths (shoreline to  over 600’)
  • Lionfish possess venomous spines capable of deterring predators and inflicting serious stings and reactions in humans
  • Lionfish become sexually mature in less than 1-year and spawn in pairs
  • In the Caribbean a single female lionfish can spawn over ~2 million eggs/year
  • Reproduction occurs throughout the year about every 4 days
  • Lionfish eggs are held together in a gelatinous mass
    and are dispersed at the ocean’s surface by currents, where their larval duration is ~30 days

Ecology

  • Lionfish can reach densities over 200 adults per acre
  • Lionfish are generalist carnivores that consume >56 species of fish and many invertebrate species, with prey exceeding half the lionfish’s body size
  • Many lionfish prey are commercially, recreationally, and ecologically important
  • Lionfish populations can consume > 2.1 kg (4.5 lb) of prey/ hectare/day
  • On heavily invaded sites, lionfish have reduced their fish prey by up to 90% and continue to consume native fishes at unsustainable rates
  • Native predators exhibit avoidance for lionfish
  • Lionfish have very few parasites compared to native species
  • Lionfish exhibit site fidelity

Control

  • Lionfish are edible and considered a delicacy
    ***NOTE: Recent studies have shown that lionfish may have ciguatera, so please take caution until more conclusive studies come out
  • Local removal efforts can significantly reduce lionfish densities

This entry was posted on Tuesday, May 24th, 2011 at 9:25 AM. It is filed under Jam Flash, Reeftivities. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed.

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