September 4, 2025
Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary, along with Lionfish Invitational Inc., Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD), and Texas Caribbean Charters, LLC, welcomed trained volunteer divers, citizen scientists, and research partners from across the country to the annual Lionfish Invitational. The trip took place August 19-21, 2025 with participants from Florida, Texas, Maryland, Georgia, Wisconsin, South Carolina, Mississippi, New York, Rhode Island, and Louisiana.
The trained volunteer divers received permits to spear lionfish for the three-day removal event on board the M/V Fling. Participants conducted reef fish surveys and removed 92 invasive lionfish in and around Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary. This brings our total to 349 lionfish removed so far this year! Research partners from TPWD took lionfish fin clip samples for genetic analyses for every lionfish removed, a subset of samples for ciguatera analysis with NOAA partners, and fish and benthic surveys on artificial reefs. In addition, research partners from Moody Gardens Aquarium helped conduct fish surveys and remove lionfish on the cruise.
Sanctuary researchers will examine the removed lionfish for growth and stomach contents to identify the native fish species lionfish consume. The fourth cruise of the summer is planned for September 2025. By better understanding the effects of lionfish on native fish communities and habitats, managers can work to minimize their impact on sanctuary resources.
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Although they are quite beautiful, they are also skilled predators capable of eating any fish or invertebrate that will fit in their gaping mouths, and they have venomous spines that can cause serious injury to people.
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