Abstract

Since 2010, Red Lionfish (Pterois volitans) have become established in the northern Gulf of Mexico (nGOM) and can now be found in higher densities than anywhere else in their invaded range. The nGOM is an ideal location to conduct population-level monitoring due to relatively easy access to large number of samples both spatially and temporally. Nu-merous studies have investigated population structure as a method of assessing the efficacy of removal and control strate-gies. Similar to other western Atlantic invaded ranges, the nGOM Red Lionfish population structure exhibits a bimodal length-frequency distribution consistent with seasonal differences in reproductive output; this bimodal distribution allows for annual cohorts to be tracked over time to calculate growth rates. Red Lionfish age and growth has been quantified in the nGOM making a length-based, age-structured population model an appropriate method to calculate high resolution (monthly) growth rates during the warmer seasons when growth rate is greatest. From March 2014 to October 2014, in collaboration with Red Lionfish fishing tournaments being held in northwest Florida, Red Lionfish (n=700-2,233) were collected and measured for total length monthly during a 1-2 day period. Finally, monthly collection of Red Lionfish began in March 2018 (> 16,000 Red Lionfish processed to date) and will continue through December 2019 such that this addition-al sampling will provide higher resolution monthly growth rates throughout the year as well as to monitor recent changes to the population stemming from a number of environmental and biological events that have likely altered the population structure.

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