REEF Invasive Lionfish Program

REEF Invasive Lionfish Program Reef Environmental Education Foundation (REEF) is dedicated to invasive lionfish research, education, and control throughout the Western Atlantic.

Calling all Lionfish hunters — our Fish out of Water 5K race starts in less than 2 weeks!Between June 7–13 log your 3.1 ...
05/27/2026

Calling all Lionfish hunters — our Fish out of Water 5K race starts in less than 2 weeks!

Between June 7–13 log your 3.1 miles however you like... Run, walk, bike, paddle, or swim. It's virtual, so your "race" can happen on your local trail, in the pool, or at your local dive site where you do your surveys.

Every registration helps fund REEF Oceans for All fund to support the next generation of ocean stewards!

Register: www.REEF.org/5k

🏆 A FLORIDA KEYS RECORD 🏆2,480 invasive lionfish removed. The biggest haul in 17 years of REEF derbies, and a new Florid...
04/28/2026

🏆 A FLORIDA KEYS RECORD 🏆

2,480 invasive lionfish removed. The biggest haul in 17 years of REEF derbies, and a new Florida Keys record!!!

The story this year wasn't just one dominant team, it was the depth of the field. Five Apex Predators teams each removed over 300 lionfish, something we've never seen before:

🥇 Badfish Slayers — 659 (a new REEF derby team record, beating Forever Young's 648 from 2023)
🥈 Aquamented — 395
🥉 Lionfish Exterminator Corp — 392

Other category winners:
📏 Largest fish: Lionfish Eliminators — 420 mm
🤏 Smallest fish: Badfish Slayers — 49 mm
🎯 Most fish, REEF Defenders: The Hunters — 121
🐠 Smallest live: Tequilla Little Time — 84 mm
✨ Golden Lionfish: Lionfish Exterminator Corp

Huge thanks to the Ocean Reef Conservation Association and the Monroe County Tourism Development Council for premier sponsorship 🙌 and to every team, vendor, volunteer, sponsor, artist, musician, chef and community member who made this happen.

Every lionfish off the reef is a win for native species 🪸, and this year was a record-breaking year! 🎉

04/25/2026

The REEF Lionfish Festival is TOMORROW! 🦁

Join us Sunday, April 26 for a day celebrating one of the ocean's most important conservation efforts — removing invasive lionfish from our reefs. Expect fresh lionfish tastings, live filleting demos, kids' activities, local vendors, and the results of our lionfish derby weigh-in.

Whether you're a diver, a seafood lover, or just reef-curious, there's something for everyone. Come learn why eating invasive species is one of the tastiest ways to protect native marine life. 🌊

📍 REEF Ocean Exploration Center, Key Largo
📅 Sunday, April 26 — starts at 12:00 PM (noon)
🎟️ Free & open to the public

See you there!

1 DAY TO GO — TOMORROW is the Florida Keys Lionfish Derby & Arts Festival!Our derby teams are on the water for their fin...
04/25/2026

1 DAY TO GO — TOMORROW is the Florida Keys Lionfish Derby & Arts Festival!

Our derby teams are on the water for their final day of lionfish hunting, and tomorrow we celebrate at the REEF Ocean Exploration Center in Key Largo (12–4 PM).

Join us for FREE: lionfish scoring and awards, fillet and dissection demos, tastings, live music, food trucks, local craft beer, local artisan vendors, interactive games, and educational activities for the whole family.

This is conservation you can taste, see, and celebrate. See you there!

Festival details: www.reef.org/LionfishFestival

2 DAYS TO GO until the Festival — and our derby teams are ON THE WATER!Right now, teams are out on the reef removing inv...
04/24/2026

2 DAYS TO GO until the Festival — and our derby teams are ON THE WATER!
Right now, teams are out on the reef removing invasive lionfish from sunrise to sunset. Every single lionfish collected helps protect native fish and coral reef ecosystems. The hunt continues tomorrow!

Then on Sunday we celebrate at the Conservation Science & Arts Festival at the REEF Ocean Exploration Center (12–4 PM). Free and open to all!

Festival details: www.reef.org/LionfishFestival

🙏 THANK YOU to our incredible sponsors! 🙏The 17th Annual REEF Lionfish Derby & Arts Festival wouldn't be possible withou...
04/23/2026

🙏 THANK YOU to our incredible sponsors! 🙏

The 17th Annual REEF Lionfish Derby & Arts Festival wouldn't be possible without the generous support of the businesses, agencies, and partners who share our mission to protect Florida's reefs from invasive lionfish.

From funding and gear to prizes, food, and on-the-ground support — your commitment helps us remove thousands of lionfish from our waters, train the next generation of marine stewards, and make this event a true community celebration.
A huge thank you to:

🌿 Monroe County Tourism Development Council
🌿 Ocean Reef Conservation Association
🌿 Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission
🌿 NOAA & Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary
🌿 Florida Department of Environmental Protection
🌿 Sharkey's Sharkbite Grill • ZooKeeper • Florida Keys Brewing Co. • Forever Young Outfitters • Conch Republic Divers • Waterlust • Key Weekly • Amoray Dive Resort • Divers Direct — and all of our amazing partners!
Your support continues to amaze us. 💙🐟

TONIGHT, derby teams gather at Sharkey's Sharkbite Grill in Key Largo for the Kick-off Party & Captain's Meeting (5–7:30...
04/23/2026

TONIGHT, derby teams gather at Sharkey's Sharkbite Grill in Key Largo for the Kick-off Party & Captain's Meeting (5–7:30 PM). They'll go over rules, permitting, and safe collection practices before hitting the water tomorrow. The public is welcome to stop by and join in on the celebration!

Then on Sunday — the Festival at the REEF Ocean Exploration Center (12–4 PM). Free and fun for the whole family.

Derby info: www.reef.org/derby
Festival details: www.reef.org/LionfishFestival

The 2026 Florida Keys Lionfish Derby kicks off TOMORROW,and everyone's invited! Join us at Sharkey's Sharkbite Grill (52...
04/22/2026

The 2026 Florida Keys Lionfish Derby kicks off TOMORROW,and everyone's invited! Join us at Sharkey's Sharkbite Grill (522 Caribbean Dr, Key Largo) on Thursday, April 23 for the Captain's Meeting & Kickoff Party. This is a public event, no team or registration required. Come meet the divers, hear about the derby, and enjoy an evening at Sharkey's with us!

Schedule:

5:00–6:15 PM — Team check-in and socializing (mingle with divers, sponsors, and REEF staff)

6:30–7:30 PM — Lionfish Derby Presentation (open to all — learn about lionfish, the derby, and REEF's invasive species work)

We'll cover safe collecting and handling techniques, derby rules, permit pickup, and draw raffle prizes.

Fishing runs sunrise to sundown Friday and Saturday, with the weigh-in, awards, and public Lionfish Festival at REEF Campus on Sunday, April 26 which is free and open to the public!

Last-chance team registration and full schedule: www.REEF.org/derby

4 DAYS TO GO until the Florida Keys Lionfish Derby & Arts Festival!Happy Earth Day! There's no better way to celebrate o...
04/22/2026

4 DAYS TO GO until the Florida Keys Lionfish Derby & Arts Festival!

Happy Earth Day! There's no better way to celebrate our planet than by taking action for our oceans. This Sunday, join us at the REEF Ocean Exploration Center in Key Largo for a free festival celebrating hands-on marine conservation — from invasive lionfish removal to education, art, and community.

Derby registration: www.reef.org/derby
Festival details: www.reef.org/LionfishFestival

5 DAYS TO GO until the Florida Keys Lionfish Derby & Arts Festival!Calling all divers — there's still time to register y...
04/21/2026

5 DAYS TO GO until the Florida Keys Lionfish Derby & Arts Festival!

Calling all divers — there's still time to register your team for REEF's 17th Annual Lionfish Derby! Captain's meeting on April 23 at Sharkey's (Key Largo), then teams head out April 24–25, sunrise to sunset, to remove invasive lionfish from the reef. Prizes for the most, largest, and smallest lionfish collected — and the awards are announced at the Festival on April 26.

It's competitive. It's fun. And it makes a real difference for our reefs.

Register now: www.reef.org/derby
Festival info: www.reef.org/LionfishFestival

Address

98300 Overseas Highway
Key Largo, FL
33037

Opening Hours

Monday 9am - 5pm
Tuesday 9am - 5pm
Wednesday 9am - 5pm
Thursday 9am - 5pm
Friday 9am - 5pm

Telephone

(305) 852-0030

Website

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