Friends of the Environment is issuing a challenge to all anglers, both near and far! Help Abaco’s environment by doing something that you love – catching fish!
Native to the Indopacific region, lionfish have now invaded Atlantic waters and reports indicate this invasive species is here to stay. Lionfish can breed as often as every four days with approximately 30,000 eggs at a time, and they have an advantage over many native fish because they can breed throughout the whole year. Lionfish have been observed to reduce native populations of small fish (and juveniles of larger fish) on coral reefs and in estuaries by up to 90%! This makes lionfish a formidable enemy to Atlantic ecosystems. Research is still underway to determine what keeps the lionfish in check in its native region. Meanwhile, there are no known controls in the Atlantic. There are isolated reports of lionfish being eaten by grouper, sharks and other large predators, yet none of these species seem to prefer it.
Nature in the Atlantic Ocean is not equipped to deal with the sheer numbers of lionfish and their invasive tendencies. This is one area where humans can help! The National Lionfish Response Plan in The Bahamas suggests that one of the best methods of controlling the population is by fishing it. Believe it or not, lionfish are delicious; so it is a win-win for everyone (except the lionfish)!
As part of FRIENDS education and marine conservation initiatives, a Central Abaco Lionfish Derby will be held at the Marsh Harbour Marina and Jib Room on Saturday June 23rd. The goal: catch as many lionfish as possible! Last year, 2,957 lionfish were caught in just one day! The winning boat “Lil Big Fish” brought in a whopping 622 lionfish! See if you can be the winning team this year. The prizes are amazing, not to mention the conservation result! The prizes for the Marsh Harbour derby include one for the Most Lionfish –1st place- $1,500, 2nd place- $1,000, 3rd place – $500–as well as prizes for the largest and smallest lionfish. Plus, for boats falling in 4th place and below $1 will be awarded per lionfish up to 100 fish.
The Derby is sponsored by Marsh Harbour Exporters and Importers, The Bahamas Marine Exporters Association, and Tropic Seafoods. There is no fee for entering the derby. Non-Bahamians are welcome (the more lionfish caught, the better!). Teams may be up to four people. For registration information please visit . Rules and derby information may change subject to Bahamas Department of Marine Resources approval. For more information on Friends of the Environment membership and/or programs, visit www.friendsoftheenvironment.org, email info@friendsoftheenvironment.org, or call (242) 367-2721.
[fb-like]