Source: FWC The highly anticipated eighth Lionfish Challenge ended on October 1st, and the competition was fierce until the very last submission.
The highly anticipated eighth Lionfish Challenge ended on October 1st, and the competition was fierce until the very last submission.
Participants demonstrated their resolve to rid Florida waters of invasive lionfish in a year that broke previous records, earning them the prestigious titles of Lionfish King or Queen and Commercial Champion.
With 281 registrants submitting lionfish, the 2023 Lionfish Challenge, sponsored by ZooKeeper, saw an unprecedented spike in participation.
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This figure is almost twice as high as the program’s all-time record for participation.
Over the course of the four-month competition, these committed divers made 917 trips all over the state and successfully removed 30,494 lionfish from Florida state waters—nearly 5,000 more than the previous year.
Since the establishment of the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission’s (FWC) Lionfish Control Team in 2014, this tournament total represents the highest one.
In the middle of these astounding results, two people were declared the winners.
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Introducing the 2023 Lionfish Challenge winners:
Lionfish King (First Place Recreational Division): Baye Beauford – 1,514 lionfish.
Second Place Recreational Division: Dale Wolber – 1,145 lionfish.
Third Place Recreational Division: David Connerth – 773 lionfish.
Commercial Champion (First Place Commercial Division): Jerry Butler -1,208 pounds of lionfish.
Second Place Commercial Division: David Garrett – 744 pounds of lionfish.
Third Place Commercial Division: Alex Fogg – 516 pounds of lionfish.
Military Prize: Eric Larson – 591 lionfish.
“I would like to extend my sincere gratitude to every individual who participated in the Lionfish Challenge, and a special congratulatory thank you to our 2023 Lionfish King and Commercial Champion,” said FWC Commission Chairman Rodney Barreto. “Our Lionfish Challenge participants have become environmental heroes, defending our marine ecosystems against invasive lionfish and exemplifying the spirit of conservation.”
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