Florida

Go fish: Floridians challenged to remove as many invasive lionfish as possible

Florida wildlife officials are issuing a challenge for people to help remove as many invasive lionfish from state waterways as they can this summer.

The 2022 Lionfish Challenge kicks off on Friday and runs through Sept. 6.

>>> STREAM CHANNEL 9 EYEWITNESS NEWS LIVE <<<

Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission officials said participants are invited to compete in either the commercial or recreation division to help fight the “lionfish invasion.”

Prizes will be awarded in the following tiers:

READ: 9 Investigates the effects of invasive species in Florida

• Tier 1: Harvest 25 lionfish (recreational category) or 25 pounds of lionfish (commercial category).

• Tier 2: Harvest 100 lionfish (recreational category) or 250 pounds of lionfish (commercial category).

• Tier 3: Harvest 300 lionfish (recreational category) or 500 pounds of lionfish (commercial category).

• Tier 4: Harvest 600 lionfish (recreational category) or 1000 pounds of lionfish (commercial category).

READ: Orlando man scratches his way to ‘gold,’ wins $5 million in Florida Lottery game

Click here to read the full tournament rules or register.

Click here to download the free WFTV news and weather apps, click here to download the WFTV Now app for your smart TV and click here to stream Channel 9 Eyewitness News live.

Sarah Wilson

Sarah Wilson, WFTV.com

Sarah Wilson joined WFTV Channel 9 in 2018 as a digital producer after working as an award-winning newspaper reporter for nearly a decade in various communities across Central Florida.