Lionfish Removal Program
Gamified marine protection program offering rewards for capturing invasive lionfish.
About Lionfish Management
Lionfish are voracious predators that can reduce native fish populations by up to 90%, devastating reef ecosystems and local fishing industries.
By making lionfish removal fun and rewarding through competitions and incentives, we engage more participants than traditional conservation methods.
Local divers and fishermen become conservation heroes, earning rewards while protecting their reefs and supporting sustainable tourism and fishing.
A single female lionfish can produce over 2 million eggs per year, requiring sustained removal efforts to keep populations under control.
Problem Statement
Lionfish are rapidly destroying Caribbean and Atlantic reef ecosystems, consuming native fish at unsustainable rates. Traditional removal methods are expensive and cannot keep pace with their reproduction rate.
Lionfish can reduce native fish populations by up to 90% in invaded areas, devastating local fishing industries and tourism. A single female lionfish can produce over 2 million eggs per year, making population control extremely challenging.
Our gamified bounty program incentivizes local divers and fishers to remove lionfish through competitions, rewards, and community engagement, creating a sustainable, community-driven control mechanism.
Project Locations
Coordinates: 24.25°, -76°
Primary testing ground for the lionfish bounty program across multiple Bahamian islands, working with local dive operators and fishing communities.
Coordinates: 24.7°, -81°
Expansion of the bounty program to the Florida Keys, partnering with existing marine sanctuaries and dive tourism operators.
Coordinates: 18°, -66°
Regional expansion across Caribbean islands including Puerto Rico, Dominican Republic, and Jamaica to create a coordinated lionfish control network.
Milestones & Datapoints
Lionfish Bounty Program Project Intention
Initiative scope and objectives for gamified invasive species control through community-driven lionfish removal across Caribbean reef ecosystems.
Document Type
Program Guide
File Size
2.5 MB
Status
Available
Program Launch
Launch of the gamified lionfish removal program in the Bahamas with local dive operators.
Registered Hunters
156participants
Lionfish Removed
2,847fish
Reef Sites Protected
23sites
Regional Expansion
Expansion of the program to Florida Keys and additional Caribbean locations.
Active Locations
8regions
Total Participants
423hunters
Cumulative Removals
12,500lionfish
Technology Integration
Development of mobile app for tracking removals and automated reward distribution.
App Features
12features
Expected Users
1,000users
Get Involved
Tom De Block
Project Lead
Mariano Fragiacomo
Project Steward
Required Skills
Time Commitment
Open Opportunities
Organize and lead lionfish removal dives while ensuring diver safety and effectiveness.
- Advanced SCUBA certification
- Lionfish hunting experience
- Leadership skills
Organize local hunting events and manage community engagement activities.
- Event management experience
- Strong community connections
- Passion for marine conservation
Provide training on lionfish identification, safe handling, and ecological impact.
- Marine biology background
- Teaching or training experience
- Lionfish expertise
Contact
Have questions or want to learn more about Lionfish Removal Program? Get in touch with us directly.
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