Johnoly
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I went to the big FWC Lionfish summit in Cocoa Beach on Wednesday only. Lots of new contacts and of course meeting up with old friends . So much info presented, here's a small list of key takeaways I wrote down.
In Gulf testing,, 43% of the LF diet is unidentifiable. Vermillion snapper and flounder were the most prevalent
LF are cannibals!! As high as 70% of diet when found on artificial reefs.
On Tropical Storm Gordon with 70 mph winds ,, flat purse style traps did not move, but rather were sucked a few inches into the sand, even in 25ft swells.
Purse traps are catching four to six LF per soak on average
On short trap soak times,, a short 12 hours is yielding five times more LF than soaking for 4 days. LF's want to check out new territory.
LF with acoustical tags found on walls are moving vertically up-and-down 50 feet, but not side to side down the reef.
From thousands of head otolith samples, no LF's older than three years old have been found.
LF start reproducing at nine months old
Whole Foods has donated $47,000 to the lionfish tournament cash prizes.
Bermuda divers are getting $12.50 /lb selling to their fish houses.. Restaurants have been selling LF dinners at $42 a plate and can't get enough.
Lots of great outreach and education like Texas LF Control Unit, Whole Foods, Coastal Connections, Sea Grant, LF university, Coast Watch Alliance, & FWC
Really great meeting alot people and divers !
In Gulf testing,, 43% of the LF diet is unidentifiable. Vermillion snapper and flounder were the most prevalent
LF are cannibals!! As high as 70% of diet when found on artificial reefs.
On Tropical Storm Gordon with 70 mph winds ,, flat purse style traps did not move, but rather were sucked a few inches into the sand, even in 25ft swells.
Purse traps are catching four to six LF per soak on average
On short trap soak times,, a short 12 hours is yielding five times more LF than soaking for 4 days. LF's want to check out new territory.
LF with acoustical tags found on walls are moving vertically up-and-down 50 feet, but not side to side down the reef.
From thousands of head otolith samples, no LF's older than three years old have been found.
LF start reproducing at nine months old
Whole Foods has donated $47,000 to the lionfish tournament cash prizes.
Bermuda divers are getting $12.50 /lb selling to their fish houses.. Restaurants have been selling LF dinners at $42 a plate and can't get enough.
Lots of great outreach and education like Texas LF Control Unit, Whole Foods, Coastal Connections, Sea Grant, LF university, Coast Watch Alliance, & FWC
Really great meeting alot people and divers !
