New kit makes spearing lionfish safer
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The SafeSpear kit helps make spearing lionfish safer and more effective
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New kit makes spearing lionfish safer
- 1. SAFESPEAR, LLC PRODUCT LAUNCH BNT Rand Centre April 14, 2010 Gregg T. Waugh, President Lisa A. Waugh, Vice-President SafeSpear, LLC
- 2. OUTLINE • COST OF INVASIVE SPECIES • DESCRIBE THE INVASION • WHAT’S BEING DONE • THE PERFECT INVADER (BIOLOGY) • COMMERCIAL & RECREATIONAL HARVEST • SAFESPEAR’S SOLUTION
- 3. COST • Invasive species cost US $137B annually • Over past century, >68 marine sp. introduced in FL, Carib. & Gulf of Mex. • Flats fishing generates $141M annually in Bahamas
- 4. COST • Irreversible domination of community structure (50- 90% of fish biomass) • Alteration of food web • Corals • Commercial fishing (2%- 3% of GDP) • Recreational fishing • TOURISM
- 5. INVASION • Red Lionfish (Pterois volitan) – 97% • Devil lionfish (Pterois miles) • 1st. Reported 1980s along SE FL – Commercial fisherman – 1985 Dania Beach, FL – Several indiv. fish observed by divers off Palm Beach & Boca and another by angler from Lake Worth Pier, Palm Beach • 1992 Hurricane Andrew – 6 escaped from aquarium on Biscayne Bay
- 6. INVASION • 2000 & 2001 NOAA researchers report multiple lionfish off NC, SC, GA, FL & Bermuda • 2004 1st. found Bahamas by rec. divers • May 2006 found in Freeport Canals (Mike Stafford)
- 7. INVASION • Recent status • USGS web site • Source (James Morris)
- 8. INVASION • Future Distribution – Limited by Water Temp. • Minimum temp. = 10 degrees C or 50 degrees F • Source (James Morris)
- 9. What’s Being Done? • 2007 REEF worked with local dive operators & College of the Bahamas – lionfish surveys • August 2007 COB Marine & Environmental Studies Institute in collaboration with Department of Marine Resources established online reporting: • http://www.bahamas.gov.bs/baham asweb2/home.nsf/vContentW/GOV-- Other--Marine+Resources+- +Lionfish+Survey!Opendocument
- 10. Bahamas Government • Ministry of Agriculture & Fisheries • Department of Marine Resources • COB-Marine & Environmental Studies Institute • NGOs (BNT, BREEF, The Nature Conservancy) • Private Sector
- 11. Government, NGOs & Private
- 12. National Lionfish Response Plan • COB-Marine & Environmental Studies Institute/Department Marine Resources (2009) • High Priority Mgmt. Strategies (1-2 yrs) • Amend Regulations – Allow spearfishing w/SCUBA for tournaments & organized dive groups – Unlimited bag limit of lionfish – Allow spearing of lionfish around islands • Encourage Commercial Fishery • Expand & Improve Protection of National Parks & Marine Reserves
- 13. The Perfect Invader - Reproduction • Mature in year 1 • Eggs encased in • Males – 4” gelatinous mucous – • Females – 7” hollow & traps sperm • Eggs evolve & grow on • 26 day larval duration stalks; each egg has • Spawn year round – every somewhat of an umbilical 4 days cord • 25,000 eggs/batch • Complex courtship – female • >2 MILLION eggs per releases 2 egg masses female per year
- 14. The Perfect Invader Feeding • Eat > 40 species • Stomach expands 30X in volume •Exuma work: reduce • Eat fish ½-3/4 size native fish by 80% • Observed eating 20 •LF consuming more small fish in 30 min. biomass in some of • Nassau groupers & higher densities that yellow tail snappers recruiting to site Picture from Morris
- 15. The Perfect Invader - Predators • Natural predators – • Exuma Feeding Trials large groupers, coronet – Nassau grouper, red fish? Octopus mimics hind, grasby, nurse shark & octopus • Native predators don’t – 5-39 days=no LF eaten recognize LF as prey • NMFS Beaufort, NC • Found in Nassau – Similar results with groupers, greater AJ, black sea bass, gag sharks
- 16. The Perfect Invader - Density • Why? – Niche empty – Lack of predators – Lots of food – Warm temperature – Grow larger (18”+ Bahamas versus 15” native range) Source: James Morris
- 17. VENOMOUS NOT POISONOUS!!!!!!!!!!!! • D, V & A Spines • Severe pain, swelling, rash • 2 Glandular Groves • Release venom when tissue is disturbed • Venom is in the spines NOT in the flesh/meat • Remove spines = Remove venom = Safe to eat!!!!!!! Source: James Morris
- 18. SafeSpear, LLC • Formed in 2009 to market new polespear system (Patent Pending) • Company – Gregg Waugh, Pres. – Lisa Waugh, VP; day- day & product research – Andrew Cogswell – prototype design/sales – Margaret Cogswell – web & drawings
- 19. SafeSpear, LLC The Lionfish Kit includes: • Polespear (Patent Pending) • Bag - Deep Water Lionfish Bag (shown) or Shallow Water Lionfish Bucket Float (Patent Pending) • Lionfish Gloves • Lionfish Grippers • Lionfish Clippers • Knife • First Aid Kit/Info - heat pack shown; denatures venom • Recipes • Retail price for the Lionfish Kit is $350 (plus duty & shipping/handling).
- 20. Why SafeSpear, LLC? • Lionfish not a part of my diving experience growing up around West End • 30 years experience in fishery management limiting mortality, now encourage fishing; help rebuild other species • Concerned about protecting environment and will be donating 10% profit to 4 Groups: – Bahamas National Trust (BNT) – Bahamas Reef Environment Education Foundation (BREEF) – Friends of the Environment (FRIENDS) – Gulf & Caribbean Fisheries Institute (GCFI)
- 21. THANKS • BNT – Cecilia Bodie, Karin • Sonny & Alice Waugh Sanchez & Eric Carey • Lisa Waugh • UNEXSO – Linda Osborne, • Andrew & Margaret Cogswell Cristina Zenato & Nikki Waugh • Chris Waugh/Billy • DMR – Michael Braynen • Brian Waugh • VIP Services Ltd. -Janet Albury • Godfrey Waugh & Liz Cheong • Lee Waugh Malone • Michael & Megan Malone • Michael Stafford & Dean Bethel (1st. LF dive)