2020 Lionfish Challenge Encourages, Rewards Divers to Remove Invasive Species from Florida Waters

winners will be announced each month and rewarded with substantial prizes

(FWC) – The Lionfish Challenge rewards lionfish harvesters with prizes for their lionfish removals.

The participant who harvests the most lionfish will be crowned the Recreational Lionfish King/Queen and the Commercial Champion.

The Challenge also has a tiered prize system that allows everyone to be rewarded for their removals.

The more removals, the more prizes you win. A new component this year is monthly Mini-Challenges. The winners will be announced each month and rewarded with substantial prizes.

As of this week:

■ 641 people have registered.

■ 157 people have submitted lionfish (150 recreational, seven commercials).

■ 12,580 lionfish submitted.

■ 48 checkpoints for recreational participant submissions.

Recent Mini-Challenge Winners: Most Lionfish between Aug. 21 – Sept. 1

■ Prize – $500 cash
■ Commercial – Isidoro Bedoya – 174 pounds of lionfish
■ Northwest – Bob Gamble – 61 lionfish
■ West – Jennifer Ford – 105 lionfish
■ Northeast – Russell Peters – 705 lionfish
■ Southeast – Shane Rasch 241 lionfish

Recent Raffle Winners

Sept. 2

■ Reef Ranger’s customized FWC lionfish long-sleeved Dry Fit shirt and 10L dry-bag

■ Luke Byous

■ France Mer

■ Upcoming Raffle Drawings

All qualified participants (submission of 20 lionfish or 20 pounds for commercial) will be entered into the drawing.

Sign up and learn more today by visiting MyFWC.com/Lionfish

Similar Stories