Help Remove Lionfish From Florida Keys during Scuba Diving Holidays

Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary, Reef Environmental Education Foundation (REEF) and the diving community in Florida Keys have formed a partnership that will focus on the removal of the invasive Indo-Pacific red lionfish from the region's ocean waters.

Divers taking or planning to take scuba diving holidays in the area are being encouraged to take part in workshops where they can learn how to safely remove the fish from the waters. They can also take part in monthly contests sponsored by REEF where they will win cash prizes for the most lionfish caught.

The non-native fish is thought to have been introduced to Florida's waters in the 1980s by people who kept them in aquariums and carelessly released them.

Lionfish have venomous spiky tentacles that are not only used to catch prey but can also be dangerous to divers and fisherman. They are territorial towards other reef fish and because they have no known predators, they pose a threat to delicate reef systems. By removing the fish, native species are able to grow and balance can be restored to the fragile coral ecosystem in Florida Keys.

During the workshops, divers will learn how to catch, remove and clean the fish. Lionfish are safe to eat once the venomous spikes are removed before cooking and the white meat fillet tastes similar to grouper or snapper.

Many restaurants throughout Florida Keys are part of the "Eat them to Beat them" campaign and lionfish regularly feature on their seafood menus.

REEF is also sponsoring one-day derbies throughout the region where divers can compete for over $3,000 in cash prizes while helping to remove the fish from one of the world's leading scuba diving destinations and delicate ecosystems.

A Saturday derby event will be taking place on 8th September, 2012 at the Coconuts Restaurant in Key Largo. The event is open to all divers including tourists going on scuba diving holidays in the area and teams of up to four can register. The registration fee is $100 and divers can participate using their own boat or a professional diving charter.

Florida is one of the most popular destinations for scuba diving and it is home to the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary which covers an area of 2,900-square-nautical-miles. While scuba diving in Florida, divers can explore the colourful coral reefs, sea grass, mangrove forests, and thousands of beautiful marine creatures including sea turtles, butterfly fish, sharks, dolphins, whales, rays, and eels.