On Tuesday, U.S. Rep. Curt Clawson, R-Fla., showcased a legislative proposal to ban the import of lionfish which are invading Florida waters.
Noting lionfish can decimate the native sportfish population -- eating up to 40 juvenile natives a day -- and lay 2 million eggs and have no predators in the Western Hemisphere, Clawson called for banning the import of all 11 species of lionfish in his bill.
“As a resident of Southwest Florida and as an avid diver who cherishes our natural resources, I have firsthand knowledge that the lionfish in our waters are devastating,” Clawson said on Tuesday. “The recreational collection of lionfish in Florida has contributed significantly to the reduction of our native fish population -- a population that sustains our way of life in Florida. It is astounding to me that as a country we are still importing thousands of these dangerous fish from Southeast Asia every year. This needs to stop immediately. These fish are significantly reducing our native fish populations – and we must take action to eliminate these predators.”
Through procedures, Clawson introduced the bill last week despite not being in Washington, D.C., after his mother passed away. Despite that, Clawson rounded up some co-sponsors including Florida Republican U.S. Reps. Ander Crenshaw, Carlos Curbelo, Mario Diaz-Balart, David Jolly, Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, and Pedro Pierluisi, D-Puerto Rico.
Jolly went to bat for the bill on Tuesday, saying it was needed.
“This bill is another step in an effort to stop the propagation of lionfish,” Jolly said. “Without action, lionfish have the potential to be economically devastating to marine fisheries in the Atlantic Ocean and Gulf of Mexico. Lionfish lack natural predators in our waters, leading to rapidly increasing populations. Once a population of lionfish becomes established on a reef, their feeding and breeding habits often crowd out native fish. In the coastal waters off Pinellas County, this means damage to economically important grouper and snapper populations. In other areas of the Gulf Coast, lionfish establish themselves in the coastal mangrove and seagrass areas, endangering the principle nurseries of countless native fish species.”
The bill is being backed by various groups including the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation (FWC) Commission, the American Sportfishing Association, the International Game Fish Association, Boat U.S., the National Marine Manufacturers Association (NMMA), 1,000 Friends of Florida, the Surfrider Foundation, the Sea Turtle Conservancy, and Oceana.
Clawson unveied a letter of support from the FWC.
"Federal listing of lionfish species as ‘injurious’ under the Lacey Act will prohibit lionfish importation and interstate transportation of lionfish,” the FWC wrote Clawson. “The LEAP Act will help prevent additional economic and ecological damage in Florida and other places around the country. Thank you for your leadership on this important issue. FWC looks forward to working with you to advance this legislation."
Reach Kevin Derby at kderby@sunshinestatenews.com or follow him on Twitter: @KevinDerbySSN
