Fisherman injured by lionfish sting

A fisherman off Destin had to be medevaced by the Coast Guard on Tuesday after he had an allergic reaction to a lionfish sting.


A 45-foot Response Boat from Coast Guard Station Destin recovered the fisherman and transferred him to emergency medical services at Station Destin where he was reported to be in stable condition.

Lionfish are a nonnative, invasive species that hurt Florida’s native saltwater fish and wildlife.

They have a tall row of spines that you need to be careful about because they are extremely poisonous.

The poison is not fatal to humans, though it is supposed to be extremely painful, causing headaches, vomiting, and breathing difficulties.

Because the fish are not-native to our waters, Florida is doing everything it can to eradicate the fish from local waters.

Right now fishermen can take part in the Panhandle Pilot Program and help remove lionfish from the waters off Escambia, Santa Rosa, Okaloosa, Walton, Bay, Gulf and Franklin counties.

For every 100 lionfish harvested from this seven-county region between now and next May, the fisherman will be eligible to receive a tag allowing him to take either a legal-sized red grouper or a legal-sized cobia that is over the bag limit from state waters.

The state will issue 100 red grouper and 30 cobia tags in total to successful participants in the pilot program.

In addition, any person or group that harvests 500 or more lionfish during this one-year period will be given the opportunity to name an artificial reef.

Find out more on-line at myfwc.com



http://myfwc.com/fishing/saltwater/recreational/lionfish/challenge/

http://live.oysterradio.com/