Lionfish are marine fish native to the Indian and Pacific oceans. In U.S. coastal waters, NOAA encourages fishermen to catch as many lionfish as possible to reduce the populations of these non-native species which have no natural predators here. The Reef Environmental Education Foundation (REEF) sponsors Lionfish Derby Days to support these efforts and provide education to community members on safe practices for catching and eating Lionfish. Members of our team attended REEF’s 14th annual Florida Keys Lionfish Derby & Festival on September 10, 2023 at the Postcard Inn in Islamorada, FL. During the final Team Weigh-In and Drop Off, REEF conducted educational activities which included demonstrations of safe handling and fileting of lionfish harvested by Derby Participants. Our team members were allowed to collect samples of ichthyocarbonate and share with community members about our research into the role of marine fish in the global carbon cycle, and potential beneficial reuse strategies for ichthyocarbonate. For more information about lionfish in the Florida Keys, please see the NOAA webpage: https://floridakeys.noaa.gov/animals/lionfishthreat.html Thanks to REEF for allowing us to participate, and to the Derby Teams for allowing us to sample their fish!
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