December 18, 2025

Battling Invasive Lionfish in the Gulf: Citizen Scientists Join the Fight

Four expeditions. More than 80 volunteer divers. Nearly 500 invasive lionfish removed from reefs in and around Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary.

In 2025, sanctuary scientists, partner agencies, and trained volunteer divers joined forces for a series of Lionfish Invitational research cruises in the northwestern Gulf of America. Conducted in partnership with Lionfish Invitational Inc., Texas Caribbean Charters, and the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, these citizen science expeditions give experienced divers a chance to support real NOAA research—while helping protect some of the healthiest coral reefs in the continental United States.

Read more. 

Community Members Join Sanctuary Staff to Dissect Lionfish Sanctuary staff, volunteers, research partners, and local university students dissected 145 invasive lionfish! The lionfish that were dissected came from the four Lionfish Invitational trips this year. During the dissections, muscle tissue samples were taken for ciguatera testing and microplastic research. Stomach contents were removed and identified to the lowest taxonomic level possible to better understand the impact on native reef species and lionfish heads were removed for otolith analysis for a high school class.

This is an electronic distribution list run by Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary (FGBNMS). This list was created to provide subscribers with information and the latest news about sanctuary management, research, events, and opportunities for involvement. To subscribe to this or any other FGBNMS email list, please visit https://flowergarden.noaa.gov/newsevents/subscribe.html

Postings made to this list are not the views of the Federal Government, inclusive of the U.S. Dept. of Commerce/NOAA/NOS/ONMS/FGBNMS. If you need additional assistance, please contact   flowergarden@noaa.gov.