The annual summer-long Lionfish Challenge in Florida saw a record number of participants resulting in an all-time high harvest of 36,187 lionfish from Florida waters.
Leading the way among the 533 registered participants were Hunter Ledbetter of Monroe County and Helen Rodney of Broward County, earning them Lionfish King and Lionfish Queen honors, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission announced
Monday.Ledbetter removed 1,541 lionfish; Rodney removed 1,488.
Ledbetter, a Marine Corps veteran and local charter boat captain, also won the Veterans Division of the competition.
“Winning both these titles was a real milestone and I could not have done it without a lot of good dive friends supporting me in the water and topside on the boat,
helping keep everything safe while I was diving,” Ledbetter told Keys News.
“Hopefully we can give our native fish populations a better chance to survive and thrive.”
"Anytime I scuba dive, I hunt them," Rodney told WGCU News after finishing third in the recreational division of the event last year with 962 harvested. "They’re hurting the coral reef. Also, I love to hunt. They're great fish to eat as well. I eat them in ceviche, and they're probably the best tasting fish out there."
The record harvest over the 1,468 dive trips from May 22 to Sept. 14 was an increase of over 5,000 from the year before.
“The record-breaking success of the Lionfish Challenge demonstrates the powerful conservation impact of collective action,” said FWC Chairman Rodney Barreto. “By removing 36,187 invasive lionfish from Florida’s waters, participants are helping reduce pressure on native marine species, protect biodiversity, and preserve the health of our precious marine ecosystems. This achievement reflects Florida’s growing commitment to safeguarding our underwater resources for future generations.”
Other winners:
Commercial Champion: David Garrett of Volusia County removed 1,136 pounds of lionfish.
Junior Champion: Meagan Huffman of Texas removed 185 lionfish.
Top Checkpoint: Dive Pros in Pensacola accepted more than 5,000 lionfish tails during the season.
“This year’s Challenge showcased the impact that recreational divers and commercial harvesters make to protect Florida’s marine ecosystems,” Marine Fisheries Management Director Jessica McCawley said.
This article originally appeared on For The Win: Lionfish king, queen crowned amid record harvest in Florida
