The seventh edition of the Lionfish Capture Tournament in Gandoca, Manzanillo, Limon, will take place September 29 and 30th and registrations are now open.
This event is organized by the Association of Artisanal Fishermen of the South Caribbean through the Area of Conservation Amistad Caribe (ACLAC) and other institutions.

The purpose of the activity is to help control the invasive species, a predator which can cause direct and indirect damage to coral reefs, sea grasses and mangroves, threatening native fish and other species due to their high rate of reproduction and growth, its lack of predators and voracious feeding capacity.

A single lionfish can cause a 79% reduction in the population densities of other local species, such as young snapper fish, one of the most important fish species for local fishermen.

The tournament will have two modalities, freediving on September 29 with teams of one to three people, registration fee of ten thousand colones; and scuba diving on September 30 for teams of one to five people and a registration fee of fifteen thousand colones; both will allow the use of nets and Hawaiian harpoon.