Abstract

Although the first lionfish (Pterois volitans) was detected in the northern Gulf of Mexico (nGOM) in 2010, the first lionfish derby was not organized in the region until 2012. Since then, the number of derbies in the nGOM has increased in frequency and lionfish categories are now included in most fishing and diving events. The increase in lionfish derbies is likely due to dive industry engagement resulting from outreach, education and the increase of lionfish sightings throughout the region. From 2012 to 2014, 11,783 lionfish were collected during a total of 14 lionfish specific derbies from throughout the nGOM although the majority of the derbies were held east of the Mississippi river. Since 2014, more than 25,000 lionfish have been removed from a total of 27 lionfish specific derbies. At a minimum, collection date, location, and depth associated with capture were provided by each derby participant. Although, in many cases, more detailed information, including total length (TL), was recorded for each individual lionfish. Lionfish derbies are an efficient and accurate way to sample the population as there is incentive to harvest every lionfish observed (Akins et al. 2011), therefore reducing size-based bias commonly associated with ’trophy’ fishing tournaments. TL is a relatively simple metric to record from lionfish harvested during derbies and can be used to model population age structure (Johnson and Swenarton 2016), as well as a means to compare populations among years and locations that provides important information for developing sound management plans.

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