Upload
keen-i-media-ltd
View
1.909
Download
2
Tags:
Embed Size (px)
DESCRIPTION
The SafeSpear kit helps make spearing lionfish safer and more effective
Citation preview
SAFESPEAR, LLCPRODUCT LAUNCHBNT Rand Centre
April 14, 2010
Gregg T. Waugh, PresidentLisa A. Waugh, Vice-PresidentSafeSpear, LLC
OUTLINE• COST OF INVASIVE SPECIES• DESCRIBE THE INVASION• WHAT’S BEING DONE• THE PERFECT INVADER (BIOLOGY)• COMMERCIAL & RECREATIONAL
HARVEST• SAFESPEAR’S SOLUTION
COST• Invasive species cost
US $137B annually• Over past century,
>68 marine sp. introduced in FL, Carib. & Gulf of Mex.
• Flats fishing generates $141M annually in Bahamas
COST• Irreversible domination of
community structure (50- 90% of fish biomass)
• Alteration of food web• Corals• Commercial fishing (2%-
3% of GDP)• Recreational fishing• TOURISM
INVASION• Red Lionfish (Pterois volitan) – 97%• Devil lionfish (Pterois miles)• 1st. Reported 1980s along SE FL
– Commercial fisherman – 1985 Dania Beach, FL– Several indiv. fish observed by divers off Palm Beach
& Boca and another by angler from Lake Worth Pier, Palm Beach
• 1992 Hurricane Andrew – 6 escaped from aquarium on Biscayne Bay
INVASION
• 2000 & 2001 NOAA researchers report multiple lionfish off NC, SC, GA, FL & Bermuda
• 2004 1st. found Bahamas by rec. divers• May 2006 found in Freeport Canals (Mike
Stafford)
INVASION
• Recent status• USGS web site
• Source (James Morris)
INVASION• Future
Distribution – Limited by Water Temp.
• Minimum temp. = 10 degrees C or 50 degrees F
• Source (James Morris)
What’s Being Done?• 2007 REEF worked with local dive
operators & College of the Bahamas – lionfish surveys
• August 2007 COB Marine & Environmental Studies Institute in collaboration with Department of Marine Resources established online reporting:
• http://www.bahamas.gov.bs/baham asweb2/home.nsf/vContentW/GOV-- Other--Marine+Resources+- +Lionfish+Survey!Opendocument
Bahamas Government
• Ministry of Agriculture & Fisheries
• Department of Marine Resources
• COB-Marine & Environmental Studies Institute
• NGOs (BNT, BREEF, The Nature Conservancy)
• Private Sector
Government, NGOs & Private
National Lionfish Response Plan• COB-Marine & Environmental Studies
Institute/Department Marine Resources (2009)
• High Priority Mgmt. Strategies (1-2 yrs)• Amend Regulations
– Allow spearfishing w/SCUBA for tournaments & organized dive groups
– Unlimited bag limit of lionfish– Allow spearing of lionfish around islands
• Encourage Commercial Fishery• Expand & Improve Protection of
National Parks & Marine Reserves
The Perfect Invader - Reproduction
• Mature in year 1• Males – 4”• Females – 7”• Eggs evolve & grow on
stalks; each egg has somewhat of an umbilical cord
• Complex courtship – female releases 2 egg masses
• Eggs encased in gelatinous mucous – hollow & traps sperm
• 26 day larval duration• Spawn year round – every
4 days• 25,000 eggs/batch• >2 MILLION eggs per
female per year
The Perfect Invader Feeding
• Eat > 40 species• Stomach expands
30X in volume• Eat fish ½-3/4 size• Observed eating 20
small fish in 30 min.• Nassau groupers &
yellow tail snappers
•Exuma work: reduce native fish by 80%•LF consuming more biomass in some of higher densities that recruiting to site
Picture from Morris
The Perfect Invader - Predators
• Natural predators – large groupers, coronet fish? Octopus mimics
• Native predators don’t recognize LF as prey
• Found in Nassau groupers, greater AJ, sharks
• Exuma Feeding Trials – Nassau grouper, red
hind, grasby, nurse shark & octopus
– 5-39 days=no LF eaten
• NMFS Beaufort, NC– Similar results with
black sea bass, gag
The Perfect Invader - Density
• Why?– Niche empty– Lack of predators– Lots of food– Warm temperature– Grow larger (18”+
Bahamas versus 15” native range)
Source: James Morris
VENOMOUS NOT POISONOUS!!!!!!!!!!!!• D, V & A Spines• Severe pain, swelling, rash• 2 Glandular Groves• Release venom when tissue is
disturbed• Venom is in the spines NOT in
the flesh/meat• Remove spines = Remove
venom = Safe to eat!!!!!!!
Source: James Morris
SafeSpear, LLC• Formed in 2009 to
market new polespear system (Patent Pending)
• Company– Gregg Waugh, Pres.– Lisa Waugh, VP; day-
day & product research
– Andrew Cogswell – prototype design/sales
– Margaret Cogswell – web & drawings
SafeSpear, LLCThe Lionfish Kit includes:• Polespear (Patent Pending)• Bag - Deep Water Lionfish Bag
(shown) or Shallow Water Lionfish Bucket Float (Patent Pending)
• Lionfish Gloves• Lionfish Grippers• Lionfish Clippers• Knife• First Aid Kit/Info - heat pack
shown; denatures venom• Recipes • Retail price for the Lionfish Kit is
$350 (plus duty & shipping/handling).
Why SafeSpear, LLC?• Lionfish not a part of my diving experience growing up around
West End• 30 years experience in fishery management limiting mortality,
now encourage fishing; help rebuild other species• Concerned about protecting environment and will be donating
10% profit to 4 Groups:– Bahamas National Trust (BNT)– Bahamas Reef Environment Education Foundation (BREEF)– Friends of the Environment (FRIENDS)– Gulf & Caribbean Fisheries Institute (GCFI)
THANKS• BNT – Cecilia Bodie, Karin
Sanchez & Eric Carey• UNEXSO – Linda Osborne,
Cristina Zenato & Nikki Waugh• DMR – Michael Braynen• VIP Services Ltd. -Janet Albury
& Liz Cheong
• Sonny & Alice Waugh• Lisa Waugh• Andrew & Margaret Cogswell• Chris Waugh/Billy• Brian Waugh• Godfrey Waugh• Lee Waugh Malone• Michael & Megan Malone• Michael Stafford & Dean
Bethel (1st. LF dive)