Lionfish Public Safety Announcement (PSA) Released In Conjunction With Florida’s Waiving Of The Requirement For License To Harvest Lionfish

PSA Created by DEMA and Divers Alert Network (DAN) Provides First Aid Instructions to Those Diving Near Lionfish

DEMA releases PSA aimed at providing effective basic first aid instructions for Lionfish. Release comes in conjunction with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) adopting changes that will waive the recreational license requirement for divers harvesting Lionfish using certain gear. The FWC has also excluded Lionfish from the commercial and recreational bag limits, allowing people to take as many invasive fish as they can.

The 30-second PSA provides divers with fundamental knowledge on how to immediately and effectively treat an injury sustained due to a Lionfish encounter . The PSA is available online on the Be A Diver YouTube channel and viewers are encouraged to share the PSA with others.

“With FWC lifting the license requirement to keep Lionfish, it will make it easier for Florida divers to help control the Lionfish population,” commented Tom Ingram, Executive Director of DEMA. “While more divers will now be hunting for Lionfish it is imperative for divers to equip themselves with proper first aid knowledge. By promoting this PSA we hope to empower divers with the knowledge necessary to quickly and properly handle an encounter with the venomous lionfish.”

Lionfish are an invasive species already spread throughout the Atlantic coast, the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean. Their simple presence along with organized culling increases the likelihood of envenomation of recreational divers and fishermen. You can find more detailed information about the Lionfish Invasion and how you can help at www.reef.org/lionfish.