August 7, 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 July 21-23, 2025 with participants from Florida, Texas, Dominica, New York, Indiana, Washington, and Pennsylvania.
The 24 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 158 invasive lionfish in and around Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary. 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.
Sanctuary researchers will examine the removed lionfish for growth and stomach contents to identify the native fish species lionfish consume. The second cruise of the summer is planned for August 2025. By better understanding the effects of lionfish on native fish communities and habitats, managers can work to minimize their impact on sanctuary resources.
Other notable trip observations included two juvenile manta rays (one at East Flower Garden Bank and one at West Flower Garden Bank), schooling sharks at HI-A-382-F, and a pod of spotted dolphins and two loggerhead sea turtles at HI-A-472-A.
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