Lionfish Removal
Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary encourages the safe removal of invasive lionfish from its waters. Lionfish may be harvested from within the sanctuary without special permits as long as all existing state and federal regulations are followed regarding no fishing areas and allowable gear types, as listed below.
A Florida saltwater fishing license is not required to harvest lionfish from Florida waters if using hand nets, pole spears, Hawaiian slings, or spearing devices created and marketed exclusively for lionfish collection. There is no recreational or commercial limit on the number of lionfish an individual can collect from Florida. See the FWC lionfish page for specific information.
No Fishing Areas
Fishing, harvesting, or collecting of any kind, including lionfish, is prohibited in:
No Spearfishing Areas
Spearfishing is prohibited in the following areas of Monroe County. See the Spearfishing Regulations for Monroe County brochure for a summary:
- State waters from Long Key north to the Miami-Dade County line, including waters on the bayside (north/northeast) and oceanside (south/southeast) of Long Key
- All Florida state parks
- Everglades National Park and Dry Tortugas National Park (these National Parks are not within the sanctuary, but are within Monroe County)
- Key Largo Existing Management Area – Federal waters adjacent to John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park, extending to 300-foot depth
- Looe Key Existing Management Area – Five square nautical mile area of federal waters surrounding Looe Key Reef
- Sanctuary Preservation Areas
- Special Use (Research Only) Areas
- Ecological Reserves
- Man made canals in unincorporated Monroe County and city of Marathon
- Beaches, piers, bridges – Within 300 feet (100 yards) of a public swimming beach, any commercial or public fishing pier, or any part of a bridge from which public fishing is allowed
- Jetties – Within 100 feet of any part of a jetty that is above the surface of the sea, except for the last 1,500 feet (500 yards) of a jetty that extends more than 4,500 feet (1,500 yards) from the shoreline
Possession of Spearfishing Equipment
Possessing spearfishing equipment is prohibited in:
- All Florida state parks
- Everglades National Park and Dry Tortugas National Park
- Key Largo Existing Management Area – except while transiting through without stopping
- Looe Key Existing Management Area – except while transiting through without stopping
- Sanctuary Preservation Areas – except gear capable of harvesting fish may be aboard a vessel if it is not available for immediate use when entering and during transit through the zone
- Ecological Reserves – except gear capable of harvesting fish may be aboard a vessel if it is not available for immediate use when entering and during transit through the zone
Additional Lionfish Resources
- Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary works with research partners to provide special permission to remove lionfish from protected zones, and issues permits for organized lionfish derbies to cull this invasive species.
- Reporting lionfish sightings provides useful data to experts addressing the invasion. If you do see lionfish in the SPAs or other areas where they cannot legally be harvested, you can report them via Reef Environmental Education Foundation (REEF)'s online reporting form.
- Check out the REEF lionfish derby website for information on when the next derby is happening and how to get involved.
- While on REEF's website, why not sign up for a lionfish handling workshop? These workshops are free to all participants and ensure you'll know how to harvest lionfish safely.