Off the coast of Miami, divers are gearing up for a lionfish derby, organized for the first time by Diver’s Paradise, a 40-year-old dive center in Key Biscayne. More than a hunt, the event is a crucial effort to protect Florida's marine ecosystems from the invasive, predatory lionfish.

“If we can get the information out there, then it's a win. That's exactly what we want to do—make people more aware,” says Michael Casey, Diver’s Paradise managing director.

A Troublesome Tale

Native to the Indo-Pacific, lionfish (which refers to two indistinguishable species found in U.S. waters Pterois volitans and Pterois miles) were introduced to the Atlantic likely through the aquarium trade in the 1980s. They were first noticed off Dania Beach, F.L. Since the mid-2000s, reports of the invader have increased rapidly, according to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC). Now, their range includes reefs, wrecks and other habitats in the Atlantic, Gulf of Mexico and Caribbean.

Though beautiful to look at, lionfish are harming the balance of the coral reef ecosystem. Outside of their native range, they have no natural predators, and can reproduce quickly— females can release up to 2 million eggs a year. They also have voracious appetites, particularly for important commercial fish like snapper and grouper. “These critters wreak havoc on the reef and they multiply like crazy,” says Casey.

Related Reading: Meet the Women Leading 'Mission: Iconic Reefs'

Derbies to the Rescue

In response to the invasion, conservation groups, dive shops and local communities have organized lionfish derbies—competitions where divers remove as many lionfish as possible in a set period. The hands-on conservation effort helps reduce numbers where scuba divers can reach. “It doesn't matter how much we work towards eradicating them, we're never going to get ahead of the game, but we can try, and let's have a little fun while doing it,” says Casey.

The Diver’s Paradise derby is open to divers who are proficient in buoyancy and knowledgeable about safely hunting lionfish, says Casey. The event is designed for a range of experience levels, with diving profiles at depths of 40 to 60 feet for entry-level divers and deeper areas reaching 80 to 100 feet for more experienced divers, ensuring safety and accessibility for all participants.

Casey says the shop has two boats allocated for participants on Saturday (morning and afternoon) and one on Sunday morning. Divers must check in at Diver's Paradise, and then return with their catch, where their lionfish catch will be counted and recorded by Florida Fish and Wildlife, Reef Environmental, and North Florida Divers. Participants can keep their fish or donate them for research.

Related Reading: Why You Shouldn’t Feed Lionfish to Sharks

A Delicious Dish

In the future, Casey hopes he can have someone on site that can filet and cook the fish for the event, “because they are delicious,” he says. For now, they’ll have people showcasing how to handle and clean them and be mindful of the spines.

Casey is excited to have divers from across the state, and working with agencies like REEF Environmental and FWC. “We've got people from all walks of life, all different companies … and we're all doing this for the right reason,” Casey says. “There's power in community.”

Get Involved

The 305 Lionfish Derby will take place from April 5 to 6, 2025.

The participant with that catches the most lionfish will win $1,000, with additional prizes and raffles for participants.

To learn more about the event or sign up for the derby visit https://diversparadisepro.com/305-derby/.