Divers participating in the fifth annual Emerald Coast Open Lionfish Tournament set a new record with the successful removal of 24,699 lionfish.
Last year’s total was 13,835. Divers from around the country competed for prize money totaling more than $100,000 in an effort to eradicate this invasive species in the Gulf of Mexico. Lionfish have few known local predators due to their venomous spines.
