Yesterday I interviewed Adam Putnam, Florida Commissioner of Agriculture. We did discuss growing problem of lion fish invading Florida waters
“Lion fish virtually endemic in the Keys now and they’re moving up (the state),” said Putnam. “They’re up in the Panhandle now, but we’re seeing them more and more in Tampa Bay, Charlotte Harbor, those areas”
He said the issue is primarily being handle by Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC), but his department is working with them. “FWC is hosting the lion fish roundups and trying to draw more attention to the problem. I could see them getting to a point where they might create some incentive program for fishermen.”
Florida TaxWatch is very concerned about the potentially negative impact the species could have on our fishing industry. In a report released today, the non-partisan think-tank warned of the threat of the rapid growth of Florida’s highly invasive lionfish population to the state’s fishing industries that support thousands of jobs and bolster the state economy.
“Florida fishing provides jobs, local food and unique tourism experiences, which must be preserved as they are critical pieces of Florida’s diversified economy,” said Dominic M. Calabro, President and CEO of Florida TaxWatch. “By taking steps to control Florida’s lionfish population, the state is protecting valuable Florida resources and needed jobs.”
Florida’s saltwater commercial fishing industry is the second-largest in the nation, and supports nearly 65,000 jobs, while saltwater recreational fishing is responsible for more than 109,000 jobs.
The report notes that the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission is working to control the population of lionfish by encouraging lionfish removal in derbies around the state, promoting a lionfish reporting smartphone app, and prohibiting lionfish from being imported for aquariums.
Lionfish have no natural predators in Florida waters, and compete with other fish for food, while often feeding off of Florida’s native fish populations, including snapper and grouper. The Florida red grouper fishing harvest totaled more than $15.1 million in 2010-11.
Read the report.