DPNR Launches Annual Lionfish Derby in Bid to Protect Local Ecosystem

The V.I. Dept. of Planning and Natural Resources announced Monday that in an effort to manage the growing population of invasive lionfish, it has partnered with the Caribbean Oceanic Restoration and Education Foundation to sponsor the annual Lionfish Derby. Scheduled for Saturday, May 27th, the Lionfish Derby will allow participants to harvest lionfish from 6:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. across all of St. Croix's territorial waters, except for marine protected areas and Buck Island. Weigh stations for the harvested lionfish will be set up at Altona Lagoon, Molasses Dock, and the Frederiksted boat ramp, with final weigh-ins starting at 4 P.M. The following day, Sunday, May 28th, the public is invited to the Leatherback Brewery in the St. Croix Industrial Park for lionfish preparation demonstrations and tastings, as well as the awards ceremony. The event will run from 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. Cash prizes worth over $7,500 will be awarded to the teams that capture the largest and highest number o...