- April 22, 2024
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Eitam Josef, 2
Volunteers caught 429 invasive lionfish.
Emily Stokes, of REEF’s lionfish program, measures lionfish.
Director of Marketing Liza Kubik and Executive Chef Gerard Jesse, of Seafood Shack
Catering chef Vinny Savadel and Executive Chef Alex Vazquez, of Mattison’s
Chef Erik Walker, of the Chiles Restaurant Group
Chef/owner Steve Phelps, of Indigenous
Valerie and Celeste Welch
Seafood Shack’s version of BLTs, with bacon, fried green tomato and lionfish
Isaac Escapa, 14, with siblings, Ian, 8, Isabel, 12, and Isaiah, 14, and friend, Maggie Bader, 13
Mote staff members Samantha King, Michelle Marinangel and Meg Simon
Bryann Dapra, 10, and Scotia Procopio, 9
Kaylee Sloan, 9, with brother, Espen, 6
Six teams of 19 divers caught 429 invasive lionfish from the Gulf of Mexico during the third annual Sarasota Lionfish Derby from July 8 to 10.
The third annual event ended with a scoring and awards ceremony July 10, at Mote Marine Aquarium. More than 300 people attended the event.
Local chefs Steve Phelps, of Indigenous, Gerard Jesse, of Seafood Shack, Paul Mattison, of Mattison’s, and Erik Walker, of Chiles Restaurant Group, served food made with lionfish.
By the Numbers:
Most Lionfish: Team We Be Dreamin’, 349 lionfish
Largest Lionfish: Team We Be Dreamin’, 385 mm
Smallest Lionfish: Team ZooKeeper, 112 mm
