The Lionfish Summit is a meeting of researchers, invasive species managers, divers and ocean conservationists dedicated to addressing the lionfish invasion of the Atlantic Ocean, Gulf of Mexico and Caribbean Sea. Invited oral presentations, expert panels, poster displays and facilitated discussions will focus on current projects and future research in controlling the lionfish invasion. This is a great opportunity to meet and collaborate with other professionals dedicated to addressing the impacts of lionfish and provide meaningful input on the future of research and control efforts.

Registration will close on Sept. 23.

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Venue Information:

Hilton Cocoa Beach Oceanfront (1550 North Atlantic Avenue, Cocoa Beach, FL 32931)

FWC has reserved a block of rooms with the discounted rate of $149 per night for a City View King or a City View Double Queen Room with complimentary Wi-Fi and discounted self-parking for $3.50 per night.

Group code: FWLION must be used when making reservation.

Booking Online:

1. To reserve your stay online, USE THIS LINK: https://secure3.hilton.com/en_US/hi/reservation/book.htm?inputModule=HOTEL&ctyhocn=CCBCHHF&spec_plan=FWLION&arrival=20181002&departure=20181004&cid=OM,WW,HILTONLINK,EN,DirectLink&fromId=HILTONLINKDIRECT

2. Click on book a room

3. Enter your arrival/departure dates and number of guests in each room

4. Confirm reservation with contact details and payment

Booking by Phone:

1. Reservation phone number: 1-866-580-7402

2. Provide the group code: FWLION

3. Provide your arrival/departure dates and number of guests in each room

4. Confirm reservation with contact details and payment

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2018 Lionfish Summit Agenda

Facilitated by Dr. James Perran Ross, Rocky Point Consulting Firm LLC

Tuesday, October 2, 2018

11 a.m. – 1 p.m. Registration & Poster Set-up (Horizons Banquet Room)

1 p.m. – 1:15 p.m. Welcome Address, Jim Estes, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission

1:15 p.m. – 1:45 p.m. Keynote Speaker, Invasive lionfish in the northeastern Gulf of Mexico: Population trends, ecological impacts, and potential mitigation, William F. Patterson III, University of Florida

1:45 p.m. – 2:15 p.m. State Updates, Lionfish Outreach and Control, Kali Spurgin, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission

Session I: Policy and Regulation

2:20 p.m. – 2:40 p.m. Adapting in the age of lionfish, Stephen R. Gittings, NOAA Office of National Marine Sanctuaries

2:40 p.m. – 3 p.m. A “hands off” management approach to reducing invasive lionfish populations in federal waters of the Gulf of Mexico and south Atlantic: Current strategies and future options, Kelli E. O’Donnell, NOAA National Marine Fisheries Service

3 p.m. – 3:30 p.m. Technology Break

3:30 p.m. – 4 p.m. Panel Discussion: Policy and Regulation, Daniel Ellinor, Stephen R. Gittings, Frank Helies, Kelli E. O’Donnell

Session II: Control Efforts/Research and Monitoring

4 p.m. – 4:20 p.m. An ecosystem-based approach to evaluating impacts and management of invasive lionfish, David Chagaris, University of Florida

4:20 p.m. – 4:40 p.m. Presence and abundance of lionfish within Biscayne National Park after Hurricane Irma, Vanessa McDonough,Biscayne National Park

4:40 p.m. – 5 p.m. Invasive lionfish have not significantly affected native fish in Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary, Gulf of Mexico, Michelle Johnston, NOAA Office of National Marine Sanctuaries

5:30 p.m. – 7 p.m. Poster Session and Social – Horizons Banquet Room, Sponsored by the American Sportfishing Association and the Fish and Wildlife Foundation of Florida

Wednesday, October 3, 2018

Session II: Control Efforts/Research and Monitoring

8:30 a.m. – 8:50 a.m. Fishing down an invasive species: How much effort does it take to reduce local lionfish populations and mitigate their effects?, Christopher D. Stallings, University of South Florida

8:50 a.m. – 9:10 a.m. Density-dependent condition, growth, and cannibalism in invasive lionfish from the northern Gulf of Mexico, Kristen A. Dahl, University of Florida

9:10 a.m. – 9:30 a.m. Efficiency of lionfish removals by divers and traps in the northern Gulf of Mexico, Holden E. Harris, University of Florida

9:30 a.m. – 9:50 a.m. Trends from 10 Years of REEF lionfish derbies, Alli Candelmo, Reef Environmental Education Foundation

9:50 a.m. – 10:10 a.m. Technology Break

10:10 a.m. – 10:30 a.m. Understanding the biology and ecology of invasive lionfish: Insights from northeastern Florida, Eric Johnson, University of North Florida

10:30 a.m. – 10:50 a.m. Temporal, spatial, and habitat dynamics of invading lionfish (Pterois spp.) populations in the eastern Gulf of Mexico as determined by stationary underwater camera arrays, Amanda Tyler-Jedlund, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission

10:50 a.m. – 11:10 a.m. Mechanical properties and puncture performance of the venomous spines of the red lionfish, Pterois volitans, Kate Galloway, Florida Atlantic University

11:10 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. Determining the etiology of an emerging ulcerative disease in invasive lionfish, Mohammad Shamim Ahasan, University of Florida

11:30 a.m. – 12 p.m. Panel Discussion: Control Efforts/Research and Monitoring
Lad Akins, David Chagaris, Eric Johnson, William F. Patterson III, Chris Stallings, Hanna Tillotson

12 p.m. – 1:30 p.m. Lunch (on your own)

Session III: Outreach and Education

1:30 p.m. – 1:50 p.m. Whole Foods Market: Role in the commercial lionfish market, David Ventura, Whole Foods Market

1:50 p.m. – 2:10 p.m. Norman’s Lionfish: Role in the commercial lionfish market, Charlie Gliwa, Norman’s Lionfish

2:10 p.m. – 2:30 p.m. Lionfish hunting: Getting the public involved, Brady Hale, Texas Lionfish Control Unit

2:30 p.m. – 2:50 p.m. Increasing the demand for delicious lionfish dishes: Sebastian Lionfish Fest, Kendra Cope, Indian River County/Coastal Connections

2:50 p.m. – 3:10 p.m. Technology Break

3:10 p.m. – 3:20 p.m. Florida Sea Grant: Partners in the control and management of invasive lionfish through research, outreach and education, LeRoy Creswell, Florida Sea Grant

3:20 p.m. – 3:30 p.m. Lionfish University: Outreach and education initiatives, Stacy Frank and Jim Hart, Lionfish University

3:30 p.m. – 3:40 p.m. DNA barcoding of invasive lionfish prey: A student citizen science project, Jeff Eble, University of West Florida

3:40 p.m. – 3:50 p.m. Assessment and management of invasive lionfish populations in Bermuda, Gretchen Goodbody-Gringley, Bermuda Institute of Ocean Sciences

4 p.m. – 4:30 p.m. Panel Discussion: Outreach and Education
Kendra Cope, Brady Hale, Rick O’Connor, Alan Peirce, David Ventura

6 p.m. – 8 p.m. Lionfish Social – Sea Oats & Sawgrass Banquet Room
Sponsored by the American Sportfishing Association and the Fish and Wildlife Foundation of Florida

Thursday, October 4, 2018

8:30 a.m. – 8:50 a.m. iClicker Exercise

9 a.m. – 9:20 a.m. FWC Lionfish Control Plan Update, Sarah Funck, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission

9:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. Discussion Groups and Technology Break, Sarah Funck, Policy and Regulation, Kent Smith, Control Efforts/Research and Monitoring, Erin McDevitt, Outreach and Education

11:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. Evaluations and Concluding Remarks

Adjourned

Poster Presentations

1. Alejandro Acosta, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission

2. Raven Blakeway, NOAA Office of National Marine Sanctuaries

3. David Camperman, Covenant Christian School

4. Alison Feeney, Shippensburg University

5. Alex Fogg, Okaloosa County Board of County Commissioners

6. Stacy Frank and Jim Hart, Lionfish University

7. Kate Galloway, Florida Atlantic University

8. Gretchen Goodbody-Gringley, Bermuda Institute of Ocean Sciences

9. Michael Helmholtz, Above SeaHorse Reef

10. Bob Hickerson, Team Frapper

11. Nancy Pham Ho, BioRad

12. Stephanie Mouchbahni-Constance, McGill University

13. Harley Myler, Lamar University

14. Brent Roeder, R3 Digital Sciences

15. Jian Smith, Reef Save Inc.

16. Kara Wall, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission

For more information or questions, contact Lionfish@MyFWC.com.

We look forward to seeing you at the 2018 Lionfish Summit in Cocoa Beach!