July 3, 2025
Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary, along with Lionfish Invitational Inc., Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, 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 June 22-26, 2025 with participants from Florida, Texas, Louisiana, Tennessee, Indiana, North Carolina, and Colorado.
Over the course of three days, Invitational participants conducted fish surveys and removed 99 invasive lionfish from the sanctuary and surrounding artificial reef structures. Due to rough seas, some dives were cut short, but the group stayed in high spirits despite the seasickness. In addition, acoustic receivers were exchanged as part of the Texas A&M University at Galveston “Habitat requirements and ecosystem connectivity of reef-associated fishes in the Gulf of Mexico” project. Research partners from Texas A&M University Corpus Christi collected non-native Regal Demoiselle samples to assess life-history traits, dispersal abilities, trophic niche, and ecological impact of this non-native species.
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 July 2025. By better understanding the effects of lionfish on native fish communities and habitats, managers can work to minimize their impact on sanctuary resources.
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When the sanctuary first started tackling the lionfish issue, our analysis of captured lionfish supported a lot of separate research initiatives, such as lionfish genetics, diets, and growth. Since then, some of the focus has changed, but we are still gathering valuable information from the lionfish that are removed from the sanctuary. Numerous scientific papers have resulted from these efforts.
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