Help REEF with lionfish research at Stuart Cove’s Dive Bahamas - May 11-17, 2008

Join a REEF expedition to study lionfish:

Over the past 15 months, REEF has led the charge in gathering research data on the recently established lionfish populations in the Bahamas. Working with dive operators Stuart Cove and Bruce Purdy to gather much needed data on age/growth, reproduction, prey preferences, behavior habitat preferences and population increases, REEF volunteers have collected over 1,000 lionfish for NOAA and Bahamian researchers. Data suggest a rapidly increasing population that reproduces regularly throughout the year and has few natural predators. This week-long collecting project will fill the final gap in a year-round study and enable completion of data analysis.

The focus of the week will be to document presence/absence of lionfish at specific sites near the west end of New Providence Island (Nassau), Bahamas. Working as part of a team, the divers will search for and collect previously tagged lionfish, collect and tag new specimens, document abundance of native reef fish at lionfish sites, help collect samples of lionfish for dissection to determine prey and reproduction, and learn about invasive species issues. Daily morning dives at Stuart Cove’s Dive Bahamas will be followed by hands on afternoon dissections, lectures and discussions. Andy Dehart, General Manager of the National Aquarium in Washington DC, Chris Flook, Collector of Specimens for the Bermuda Zoo and Aquarium, and Ned and Ann DeLoach will all bring their perspectives and expertise to the project and be integral parts of the lionfish team.

The project cost is $999.92 per person and includes hotel accommodations at the Nassau Cable Beach Wyndham Resort and five days of two tank morning dives. For more information or to book space, please contact Pam Christman at Stuart Cove’s Dive Bahamas at 800-879-9832 or Pam@stuartcove.com. For more info on REEF’s lionfish work, contact Lad Akins (Lad@reef.org) or (305) 942-7333.