Latest news with #lionfish
Vogue
14 hours ago
- General
- Vogue
I Am Prepared to Make Snorkeling My Entire Personality
Off the coast of Kefalonia, there's an underwater cave where a school of fearsome lionfish holds court. To call on them, you must gulp in enough air to last about 30 seconds, plunge a few feet below the water's surface, and hold yourself down by clutching onto a rocky outcrop. 'Just stick your head in and you'll see them,' a fellow snorkeler shouts at me. What I've yet to mention is that the lionfish's venomous sting is agonizing. I read somewhere that thrusting your hand into a pot of boiling water hurts less than a lionfish sting. And I'm supposed to just 'stick my head' into their lethal sanctum? When I finally work up the courage, three are floating motionless, staring back at me as if to say, don't even think about it. They are a peculiar species with riotous stripes extending out onto a flamboyant mane of fins and spines (hence the 'lion' moniker). Like a fish that swallowed a grenade and is halfway through exploding. I pop back up and spit my breathing tube out. 'Incredible!' This was two years ago, and one of my first real snorkeling experiences. I more or less grew up in the water. My dad, a surfer from Santa Monica, put me on his board before I could walk. My sisters and I used to choreograph dances and songs to persuade our parents to take us to the p-o-o-l. Summers were spent camping at Refugio Beach along the California coastline. And despite all this, I've only arrived at this love of snorkeling in the last few years. Among the irrational fears I inherited from my mother, an anxiety surrounding not being able to breathe is one of them. But here's the thing about anxieties: usually when you confront them, they chill out. This Kefalonia excursion was part of an 'earlymoon' in Greece that my fiancé and I went on, and in an effort to share his passion for snorkeling, I rearranged outdated assumptions about myself. In this case: That I can't inhale and exhale through a tube while submerged underwater. And reader, I'm glad I did.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Science
- Yahoo
Massive fishing tournament takes aim at species harming local waters: 'They're venomous, they're invasive, and they're delicious'
It turns out invasive lionfish aren't only delicious but can also earn people big cash prizes for catching them in state tournaments. That's the idea behind the Emerald Coast Open Lionfish Tournament — the world's largest lionfish tournament — which aims to keep the fish from destroying delicate marine habitats and ecosystems. According to WTTV, the nonprofit Live Wildly Foundation sponsored the tournament, which took place in Destin, Florida, in mid-May. The competition "encourages restaurants and their customers to discover the joy of eating lionfish," which has a mild, delicate, and subtle flavor, according to Lionfish Central. Teams of fishers competed to catch either the most, the largest, or the smallest lionfish, and winners received cash prizes of up to $10,000, per the tournament website. During the week of the tournament, local restaurants promoted lionfish dishes on their menus and took the opportunity to raise awareness with customers about the dangers the fish pose to coastal habitats. CBS4 said that lionfish has a similar flavor profile to snapper and black sea bass, both popular fish in many locales. Many restaurants have started serving lionfish, and some dishes are such a hit that they sell out in minutes, like at North Carolina-based Rx Chicken & Oysters. Sarah Doss, the restaurant owner, told The Assembly: "They're venomous, they're invasive, and they're delicious." The more restaurants that serve the invasive species and the more tournaments that are held to reduce their populations, the better. CBS4 explained that lionfish don't have natural predators in Atlantic waters, meaning they can reproduce with virtually no limits. One lionfish can produce around 2 million eggs per year, and the fish have become a problem up and down the Eastern Seaboard. They're not only a threat to ecosystems but also a hazard to the food web, as they prey on algae-eating species and other important fish, such as seabass, grouper, and snapper. Additionally, since the fish are invasive, lionfish outcompete native species for resources, contributing to ecological imbalances. Countries such as Costa Rica have started hosting yearly culinary festivals to encourage people to eat lionfish, and one Tampa Bay-based company is even making handbags out of the creatures. With solutions like these, taming the uncontrolled lionfish may not be too difficult. "Florida's unique marine areas are not just beautiful; they also are the backbone of our tourism, commercial fishing, and outdoor recreation economies," Lisa Shipley, CEO of Live Wildly, told CBS4. "Lionfish are an invasive species that pose a real threat to Florida's natural systems, native wildlife, and nature-based economy." "Getting outdoors to catch lionfish is a great way to enjoy wild Florida while also keeping it healthy," Shipley added. "Restaurants that serve lionfish are not just providing great food to their customers; they're also helping keep Florida's marine systems strong and productive for residents, tourists, and local economies."
Associated Press
07-05-2025
- Associated Press
Live Wildly Joins Campaign to Turn Invasive Lionfish from Malicious to Delicious
Emerald Coast Open - the largest lionfish tournament in the world - encourages restaurants and their customers to discover the joy of eating lionfish TAMPA, FLORIDA / ACCESS Newswire / May 7, 2025 / Live Wildly has joined the Emerald Coast Open Lionfish Tournament as a sponsor to help stop dangerous invasive lionfish from destroying Florida's native marine life and habitat. The tournament takes place in Destin, FL, May Credit: G.P. Schmal NOAA Photo Credit: G.P. Schmal NOAA 'Florida's unique marine areas are not just beautiful, they also are the backbone of our tourism, commercial fishing, and outdoor recreation economies,' said Lisa Shipley, CEO of Live Wildly. 'Lionfish are an invasive species that pose a real threat to Florida's natural systems, native wildlife, and nature-based economy.' The Emerald Coast Open brings together teams of fishers who compete to catch the most lionfish. Live Wildly is sponsoring a team organized by Ocean Strike Team , a group that supports ocean conservation, citizen science, and research through ecotourism experiences and actions. Winners of the tournament receive cash prizes for the most, the biggest, and the smallest lionfish caught. Live Wildly is also sponsoring AJ's Seafood and Oyster Bar which is participating in the Emerald Coast Open's Restaurant Week which runs May 9-17. Live Wildly is proud to be the first-ever sponsor of Restaurant Week, during which local eateries feature lionfish dishes on their menus, educating customers about the invasive species and encouraging other restaurants to serve lionfish year-round. Lionfish - which can be fried, baked, broiled, steamed, poached, or even eaten raw in sushi - are firm, tender, and flakey with a mild taste similar to snapper, black sea bass, and hogfish. But while lionfish may be delicious to eat, they are malicious when it comes to the threats they pose to Florida's marine systems and native fish populations. Originally from the South Pacific and Indian Oceans, lionfish were first spotted in Florida's waters in the 1980s, believed to have been released by home aquarium owners who originally kept them as pets. Because lionfish have no natural predators in Atlantic waters, and because a single lionfish can produce up to 2 million eggs a year, lionfish have quickly spread from Florida's coasts all the way up to New York posing severe environmental threats up and down the East Coast. Lionfish can grow to more than 18 inches long and have long venomous spines. They are voracious hunters, eating nearly any living creature that can fit into their mouths, including juveniles of many commercially important fish such as grouper, seabass, and snapper. Lionfish also threaten Florida's extensive reef habitats by preying on algae-eating species that help keep corals clean and healthy. And lionfish compete for food with native fish species, further harming their populations. Commercial and recreational harvesting of lionfish are some of the most effective ways of controlling its spread and environmental damage. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission hosts seminars and workshops throughout the year to train people how to catch lionfish and to educate the public about the dangers of invasive species. 'Getting outdoors to catch lionfish is a great way to enjoy wild Florida while also keeping it healthy,' Shipley said. 'Restaurants that serve lionfish are not just providing great food to their customers, they're also helping keep Florida's marine systems strong and productive for residents, tourists, and local economies.' Contact InformationPress Contact SOURCE: Live Wildly Foundation Related Images press release
CBS News
24-03-2025
- Business
- CBS News
New Jersey's Atlantic City Aquarium reopens for the first time in 5 years
Reintroducing the newly renovated South Jersey attraction, it's the Atlantic City Aquarium! After closing its doors in March 2020 due to the pandemic, the Atlantic City Aquarium has reopened and is ready to welcome visitors once again! Atlantic City Mayor Marty Small Sr. joined aquarium staff and city leaders on Monday for an official ribbon cutting outside the building before taking a first look inside with city partners and stakeholders. According to a release from the city, the new and improved AC Aquarium at Historic Gardner's Basin has more than 100 species, including Groman, a 225-pound Loggerhead Sea Turtle, along with several diamondback turtles, southern and cow nose rays, sea horses, pipe fish, lionfish, horseshoe crabs — just to name a few. The aquarium also debuted new exhibits, like its "Under the Sea" coloring area, hurricane simulator and photo booth. Come summer 2025, there will also be six hands-on touch tanks with daily feeding shows for visitors to enjoy. So how did this all come about? Before the South Jersey attraction closed its doors in 2020, grant funding was secured from the NJ Casino Reinvestment Development Authority for necessary capital improvements. However, the much-needed improvements were greater than originally expected and the COVID-19 pandemic's impact on supply chains created delays in the construction schedule. The aquarium has since implemented new roofing, windows, flooring, decking, bathroom renovations, HVAC replacement, lighting replacements, interior drywall replacement and painting, new doors at several locations, duct work, and electrical and plumbing repairs. The city secured more money for exterior upgrades through the American Rescue Plan so the building could look brand new both inside and out. The aquarium is now open seven days a week from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Ticket prices are available online .
