December 6, 2017 – Alexandria, VA – The American Sportfishing Association (ASA), along with other fishing and boating industry leaders and organizations, presented the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) with funding to support the 2018 tagged-lionfish removal incentive program. The program rewards harvesters who find and remove previously tagged lionfish from waters around the state of Florida. ASA’s contribution is part of an overall $25,000 donation presented at the start of the three-day meeting being held in Gainesville, Fla.

 

“The American Sportfishing Association is proud to help fund the FWC’s 2018 tagged-lionfish removal incentive program,” said Glenn Hughes, ASA’s vice president for Industry Relations. “We are thankful for FWC’s dedication to lionfish control efforts and their development of innovative approaches to combat this invasive species and to protect Florida’s native ecosystems.”

 

“It’s important for Florida’s recreational industry to be involved in the fight against invasive lionfish that threaten our fisheries, which is why ASA and Keep Florida Fishing® continue to strongly support the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission through programs like these,” said Kellie Ralston, ASA’s Florida Fishery Policy director.

 

Lionfish are a nonnative invasive species that can reduce native fish populations and negatively affect the overall reef habitat. This program will run May 19, through Sept. 3, 2018, and will coincide with the annual summer-long Lionfish Challenge, which rewards recreational and commercial lionfish harvesters with prizes for submitting their lionfish removal efforts.

 

About the 2018 Tagged-Lionfish Removal Program

The goal of the 2018 tagged-lionfish removal program is to increase statewide removal efforts by giving divers a greater incentive to harvest lionfish more often while in search of the valuable tagged fish. Additional non-cash prizes are also available for those that harvest and submit a tagged lionfish.  The program will also provide FWC with valuable data on the movement of lionfish.

 

Approximately six to eight lionfish will be tagged at each of the 50 randomly-selected public artificial reef sites throughout the Atlantic and Gulf between the depths of 80 and 120 feet. Participants will have access to the reef locations at ReefRangers.com. Additional information about the rules and requirements of the tagged-lionfish removal program will be announced in early 2018.

 

About Keep Florida Fishing®

Keep Florida Fishing® is an advocacy arm of the American Sportfishing Association with the goal of ensuring Florida anglers have clean waters, abundant fisheries and access to both. Learn more at www.KeepFloridaFishing.org. Find Keep Florida Fishing on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Pinterest.