Local fisherman Roger Hosford is currently ahead in the Nature Foundation Lionfish Derby with him bringing in nearly three kilos of Lionfish. Ocean Explorers Dive Center is currently in second place. There are about two weeks left until the end of the second Lionfish Derby. To date nearly five hundred lionfish have been submitted as part of the lionfish derby.
Lionfish are an invasive venomous fish that can inflict a painful and sometimes fatal sting. Lionfish are usually found in the Indian and Pacific Oceans but were introduced into the Atlantic thru the aquarium trade. Native fish species do not recognize the Lionfish as a threat so they are unable to defend themselves against it. In other places were lionfish were spotted there are hardly any snappers and grouper left because those are the type of fish the lionfish likes to eat. Last week the Nature Foundation caught lionfish very shallow by Sunset Beach Bar in Maho.
The Nature Foundation encourages fishermen, divers and all those who may want to take part in the 2013 Lionfish Derby to register via email at manager@naturefoundationsxm.org or admin@naturefoundationsxm.org or by calling 5444267 during business hours.