Abstract

Scientific findings have shown that eradication of the lionfish population is unattainable due to both financial and logistical limitations. Nevertheless, there is considerable interest in developing management strategies to mitigate the ecological impacts of lionfish on native coral reef ecosystems. Consequently, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission has initiated targeted removal efforts to detect recolonization rates on six different hard-bottom habitat types representative of the Florida Keys. The habitats include Gulf of Mexico reefs, solution holes in near-shore hard-bottom, near-shore patch reefs, Hawks Channel patch reefs, the offshore forereef and artificial habitat (30 – 40 m). In order to detect recolonization rate and estimate carrying capacities, three removal treatments were applied to the sample locations (continuous removal, one-time removal and no removal). At one-time removal sites, lionfish abundance rebounded to pre-removal levels in approximately three months, but has not exceeded pre-removal abundance. Additionally, abundance at non-removal locations has been stable since November. These results along with observations from continuous removal sites indicate that monthly removals have the capability to considerably decrease and control local lionfish populations in the habitats sampled. An acoustic tracking experiment was also implemented to observe lionfish behavior and movement patterns on selected sites during June 2014. Data collected provided movement and residence patterns that aided in identifying habitats affected by lionfish. Results from these experiments will provide managers and stakeholders with guidelines to prioritize locations for lionfish management.

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