The IRL Lionfish Megatransect Survey, 2012

Lionfish in mangroves, Hole-in-the-Wall, St. Lucie Inlet, summer 2012 (E. Dark)

The IRL Lionfish Megatransect Survey, 2012

The lionfish invasion, largely documented offshore of the IRL region, has become concentrated within the IRL proper. Lionfish have been documented along seawalls, rip-rap, docks, and mangrove proproots according to the following (reliable) sources:

•Zack Jud (FIU): numerous sites in the Jupiter Inlet/Loxahatchee River area•Emily Dark (Antioch Univ/Smithsonian): numerous sites near St. Lucie and Ft. Pierce Inlets•Martin County Fish Tourney participant (Hannah): numerous sites in Jupiter Narrows and St Lucie River•Jon Shenker lab (FIT): Sebastian Inlet captures •FWC FWRI labs (Melbourne/Tequesta): captures in seines used for FIM program

We’ve reached critical mass and need to conduct a recon survey in order to understand the scope of the estuarine population and to plan future efforts.The following simple survey protocol was developed by FWC and FDEP CAMA to accomplish this goal. We’re asking resource managers, researchers, NGOs, and private citizens to contribute to this effort.

Mission ImplausibleYour mission, should you choose to accept it….

The following maps of the IRL estuarine region were developed to highlight areas of concern.Areas were chosen based upon proximity to ocean sources (bounded within 6 miles of inlets, Trident Basin), current flow, and apparent preferred settlement habitats. Potential hotspots are circled in red and some documented sightings are included as yellow dots.

Step 1: alert Jeff Beal (jeff.beal@myfwc.com) regarding what region you plan to surveyStep 2: survey using this protocol…Essential elements•Conduct visual surveys via snorkeling along 300m transects, preferably within the red-circled hotspots •Place transects such that preferred habitats (seawalls, rip rap, docks, submerged mangrove proproots) are captured•Log transect and lionfish locations using GPS and/or key landmarks•Fill out the field data sheet in its entirety for each transect completed•Conduct as many transects as you like during 2012! And ASAP!!Preferred elements•Attempt to capture lionfish, dead or alive using net, pole spear, other•Place bagged/tagged lionfish on ice in field and transfer to freezer ASAP (specimens eventually going to Jeff Beal FWC for ongoing gut content, Hg, ciguatera studies)Step 3: send scanned datasheets to Jeff and (if applicable) arrange for pick up of lionfish

IRL Lionfish Megatransect Field Data SheetDate_________ Survey lead______________________

300m transect boundary start_______________________ __________(lat/long or major landmark)

300m transect boundary end_________________________ ________(lat/long or major landmark)

Comments (on capture technique, etc)_______________ ________________________________

Transect name___________________

LF #, TL seawall riprap dock mangrove oyster other Captured Y/N Location (lat/long, landmark)

IRL Lionfish Megatransect Field Data Sheet ExampleDate_9/3/12__ Survey lead_Joe Liontamer___

300m transect boundary start__322 IR Drive, Ft Pier ce___(lat/long or major landmark)

300m transect boundary end_the point north of Fred’ s Fishhouse____(lat/long or major landmark)

Comments (on capture technique, etc)_1-3 using net; 4-5 with napalm; napalm easier__________

Transect name_IR Shores_______

LF #, TL seawall riprap dock mangrove oyster other Captured Y/N Location (lat/long, landmark)1, 5in Y 26 57.402 80 15.9082, 6in Y South End of Mike’s marina 3, 1.5in Y Lone mngrve, middle transect4, 2in Y Small dock 437 IR Drive5, 7.5in PVC Y Pole 50ft offshore of mngrves

near end of transect6, 3in N Bar at end of dock at 1/3 of

transect

IRL Lionfish Megatransect sample lionfish bag tags (use Rite in Rain or Duracopy paper)

Transect name Lionfish number Date Survey lead

Transect name Lionfish number Date Survey lead

Transect name Lionfish number Date Survey lead

Transect name Lionfish number Date Survey lead

Transect name Lionfish number Date Survey lead

Transect name Lionfish number Date Survey lead

Transect name Lionfish number Date Survey lead

Transect name Lionfish number Date Survey lead

Dunlawton CausewayPort Orange

East Ocean Ave,Edgewater

Ponce Inlet

Dunlawton CausewayPort Orange

Ponce Inlet

Ponce Inlet

East Ocean Ave,Edgewater

Canaveral National SeashoreMerritt Island NWR

Trident Basin (record of lionfish)

KSC IHA conducts visual survey 2x/yr

Indian River Lagoon Preserve State Park, Floridana Beach

Preachers Island, Wabasso

Sebastian Inlet

Indian River Lagoon Preserve State Park, Floridana Beach

Sebastian Inlet

Sebastian Inlet

Pelican Is NWR

Ft. Pierce Inlet

Round Island, Vero Beach

Little Mud Creek, St. Lucie County

Round Island, Vero Beach

Ft. Pierce Inlet

Ft. Pierce Inlet

Little Mud Creek, St. Lucie County

Jensen Beach Causeway

Lake Francis, Martin County

St Lucie Inlet

Jensen Beach Causeway

St Lucie Inlet

St Lucie Inlet

Lake Francis, Martin County

Indiantown Rd

Jupiter Inlet

Jonathon Dickenson SP office

Jonathon Dickenson SP office

Jupiter Inlet

Jupiter InletHundreds documented