Divers remove over 7,000 lionfish during ‘world’s largest lionfish tournament’
DESTIN-FORT WALTON BEACH, Fla. (WKRG) — Divers put in “a lot of effort to help our ecosystem” during the 2024 Emerald Coast Open lionfish tournament this past weekend, according to a press release.
The release noted that 147 participants from around the country came to Destin-Fort Walton Beach’s Emerald Coast Open to take part in what is called “the world’s largest lionfish tournament.”
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During the tournament, the divers were able to remove 7,411 invasive lionfish, but the whole event —including the pre-tournament — led to the removal of 11,844 lionfish. Officials say this is important since “Lionfish have few predators due to their venomous spines and cause negative impacts to the native ecosystem.”
“These divers put in a lot of effort to help our ecosystem against this invasive species,” said Okaloosa County Vice Chairman Nathan Boyles. “I congratulate the winners and extend an invitation to all the participants to return next year to Destin-Fort Walton Beach for this worthy endeavor.”
Though all the efforts were helpful in protecting the environment against the invasive lionfish, officials say there were winners for a variety of categories including most lionfish, largest lionfish, and smallest lionfish.
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1st Place Most Lionfish: VJL Seafood (1,776 lionfish)
1st Place Largest Lionfish: Deep Water Mafia El Gato Negro (18.70 inches **new record**)
1st Place Smallest Lionfish: Lookin’ Back (1.89inches)
1st Place Pre-tournament: Bob Brown (590 lionfish)
Along with the lionfish tournament, the event included vendors along the HarborWalk who provided giveaways and lionfish education to visitors and a Restaurant Week that celebrated lionfish-featured cuisine.
“I’m extremely proud of how this event has grown over the years,” Destin-Fort Walton Beach Coastal Resource Manager Alex Fogg said. “I want to thank all of the sponsors, divers, and volunteers who made this annual event possible. They stuck it out in rough weather and still brought home a lot of lionfish.”
For more information, visit the Emerald Coast Open website.
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