Welcome to the Lionfish Policies Around the World
We have worked with divers, scientists, misters of fisheries and a lot of environmentally caring individuals to put this document together. It is a great tool to help inform everyone what the policies are from area to area. Let us know if there is anything that needs correcting or you feel should be added to this list.
Thanks and enjoy!
North Carolina (US) - Western Atlantic
Jurisdition: 2000 (1987?). One reliable account from a person claiming to see a lionfish in 1987, but also see Hunter et al. (2021) https://doi.org/10.3354/meps13841
SRG 11/16
Year of first sighting: No special exemptions or other changes were made to facilitate lionfish removal.
SRG 11/16
Policy changes: No special exemptions or other changes were made to facilitate lionfish removal.
SRG 11/16
Informal enforcement allowances: NA
Trap development: No special exemptions or other changes were made to facilitate lionfish removal.
SRG 11/16
Training: N0
Permissions: Lionfish can be culled and permissions are not needed due to wider policy changes. Not referenced (HEH).
Recreational fishing license required to spear in state waters out to 3 mi. See: https://deq.nc.gov/about/divisions/marine-fisheries/licenses-permits-and-leases/recreational-fishing-licenses
SRG”
Derbies: Coastal Carolina Derby 2014; https://www.reef.org/reef-sanctioned-lionfish-derbies Cell Info Entered 2021-11-29 ACC
Awareness: Yes. See NC Sea Grant article: https://ncseagrant.ncsu.edu/coastwatch/previous-issues/2013-2/autumn-2013/local-catch-hunting-lions/
SRG 11/16
Spearfishing while freediving: Allowed
Spearfishing on SCUBA: As lionfish is not a managed fishery, there are no bag or size limits. see https://spearoscout.com/north-carolina-spearfishing-the-10-best-places-to-spearfish-in-north-carolina-and-types-of-fish/
SRG 11/16
Sales: Only licensed commercial fishermen can sell seafood and only commercially caught seafood can be sold
https://dmr.ms.gov/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/Title-22-Part-07-20200520.pdf Commercial sales permitted and encouraged. See: https://deq.nc.gov/about/divisions/marine-fisheries/licenses-permits-and-leases/recreational-fishing-licenses
SRG 11/16
Notes:
South Carolina (US) - Western Atlantic
Year of first sighting: 2000
Policy changes: No special exemptions or other changes were made to facilitate lionfish removal.
SRG 11/16
Informal enforcement allowances: NA
Trap development: N0
Training: N0
Permissions: Saltwater recreational fishing license required to spear in state waters out to 3 mi., no limits, no closed season https://www.eregulations.com/southcarolina/fishing/general-information
SRG 11/16
Derbies: No
Awareness: No
Spearfishing while freediving: Saltwater recreational fishing license required to spear in state waters out to 3 mi. https://www.eregulations.com/southcarolina/fishing/general-information
Cell info entered 2021-11-10 SRH
Spearfishing on SCUBA: Saltwater recreational fishing license required to spear in state waters out to 3 mi., no limits, no closed season https://www.eregulations.com/southcarolina/fishing/general-information
SRG 11/16
Sales: Commercial sales license required. https://www.dnr.sc.gov/fish/devices/gigspears.html
SRG 11/16
Notes:
Georgia (US) - Western Atlantic
Year of first sighting: 2009
Policy changes: No special exemptions or other changes were made to facilitate lionfish removal.
SRG 11/16
Informal enforcement allowances: NA
Trap development: No
Training: No
Permissions: Fishing license with the free Saltwater Information Program (SIP) permit to spear in state waters out to 3 mi https://www.eregulations.com/georgia/fishing/license-requirements/
SRG 11/16
Derbies: No
Awareness: No
Spearfishing while freediving: Allowed with recreational fishing license if complete submerged https://www.eregulations.com/georgia/fishing/fishing-methods
SRG 11/16
Spearfishing on SCUBA: Allowed with recreational fishing license https://www.eregulations.com/georgia/fishing/fishing-methods
SRG 11/16
Sales: Commercial fishing license required, and if a boat is used, a commercial boat license
https://coastalgadnr.org/CommercialFishing
SRG 11/16
Notes:
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Year of first sighting:
Policy changes:
Informal enforcement allowances:
Trap development:
Training:
Permissions:
Derbies:
Awareness:
Spearfishing while freediving:
Spearfishing on SCUBA:
Sales:
Notes: