Lionfish permit could land you a free meal

Want to help save our marine environment and get a delicious free lunch in the process? 

You might want to consider taking the Lionfish Culling Permit Courses which are now available. 

Scuba divers, snorkelers and free divers are able to obtain a permit to spear lionfish anywhere on the Bermuda platform. The invasive species is threatening Bermuda’s native and endemic fish populations so there is no limit to the number of lionfish that can be caught. The good news is that lionfish makes great eating once their venomous spines are removed. The taste of the fish is often described as a mix between hogfish and grouper. 

The course, which costs $20, lasts for about two hours and covers information on lionfish, safe handling and spearing practices and an explanation of how the permit programme works. Upon completion of the course, attendees will receive a plastic permit tag and lionfish spearing dive flag. Annual renewal of the permit is free, provided that the permit holder has reported their lionfish catches or sightings to the Bermuda Lionfish Task Force at www.oceansupport.org.

To find out about upcoming courses, email your name, email address and phone number to [email protected]. There is also a Facebook page about the Culling Program — https://www.facebook.com/BermudaLionfishCullingProgram

With a Lionfish Culling Permit, you can spear only lionfish on scuba or snorkel anywhere around the island including within the one-mile limit and on protected sites. 

Contact James Gleason by email on [email protected] or by phone on 441-704-5406.