New kit makes spearing lionfish safer
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Transcript of New kit makes spearing lionfish safer
SAFESPEAR, LLCPRODUCT LAUNCHBNT Rand Centre
April 14, 2010
Gregg T. Waugh, PresidentLisa A. Waugh, Vice-PresidentSafeSpear, LLC
OUTLINE• COST OF INVASIVE SPECIES• DESCRIBE THE INVASION• WHAT’S BEING DONE• THE PERFECT INVADER (BIOLOGY)• COMMERCIAL & RECREATIONAL
HARVEST• SAFESPEAR’S SOLUTION
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
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
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
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)
INVASION
• Recent status• USGS web site
• Source (James Morris)
INVASION• Future
Distribution – Limited by Water Temp.
• Minimum temp. = 10 degrees C or 50 degrees F
• Source (James Morris)
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
Bahamas Government
• Ministry of Agriculture & Fisheries
• Department of Marine Resources
• COB-Marine & Environmental Studies Institute
• NGOs (BNT, BREEF, The Nature Conservancy)
• Private Sector
Government, NGOs & Private
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
The Perfect Invader - Reproduction
• Mature in year 1• Males – 4”• Females – 7”• Eggs evolve & grow on
stalks; each egg has somewhat of an umbilical cord
• Complex courtship – female releases 2 egg masses
• Eggs encased in gelatinous mucous – hollow & traps sperm
• 26 day larval duration• Spawn year round – every
4 days• 25,000 eggs/batch• >2 MILLION eggs per
female per year
The Perfect Invader Feeding
• Eat > 40 species• Stomach expands
30X in volume• Eat fish ½-3/4 size• Observed eating 20
small fish in 30 min.• Nassau groupers &
yellow tail snappers
•Exuma work: reduce native fish by 80%•LF consuming more biomass in some of higher densities that recruiting to site
Picture from Morris
The Perfect Invader - Predators
• Natural predators – large groupers, coronet fish? Octopus mimics
• Native predators don’t recognize LF as prey
• Found in Nassau groupers, greater AJ, sharks
• Exuma Feeding Trials – Nassau grouper, red
hind, grasby, nurse shark & octopus
– 5-39 days=no LF eaten
• NMFS Beaufort, NC– Similar results with
black sea bass, gag
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
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
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
SafeSpear, LLCThe 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).
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)
THANKS• BNT – Cecilia Bodie, Karin
Sanchez & Eric Carey• UNEXSO – Linda Osborne,
Cristina Zenato & Nikki Waugh• DMR – Michael Braynen• VIP Services Ltd. -Janet Albury
& Liz Cheong
• Sonny & Alice Waugh• Lisa Waugh• Andrew & Margaret Cogswell• Chris Waugh/Billy• Brian Waugh• Godfrey Waugh• Lee Waugh Malone• Michael & Megan Malone• Michael Stafford & Dean
Bethel (1st. LF dive)