SAFESPEAR, LLC PRODUCT LAUNCH BNT Rand Centre April 14, 2010 Gregg T. Waugh, President Lisa A. Waugh, Vice-President SafeSpear, LLC
OUTLINE COST OF INVASIVE SPECIES DESCRIBE THE INVASION WHAT S BEING DONE THE PERFECT INVADER (BIOLOGY) COMMERCIAL & RECREATIONAL HARVEST SAFESPEAR S SOLUTION
COST Invasive species cost US $137B annually Over past century, >68 marine sp. introduced in FL, Carib. & Gulf of Mex. Flats fishing generates $141M annually in Bahamas
COST Irreversible domination of community structure (50-90% of fish biomass) Alteration of food web Corals Commercial fishing (2%- 3% of GDP) Recreational fishing TOURISM
INVASION Red Lionfish (Pterois volitan) 97% Devil lionfish (Pterois miles) 1 st. Reported 1980s along SE FL Commercial fisherman 1985 Dania Beach, FL Several indiv. fish observed by divers off Palm Beach & Boca and another by angler from Lake Worth Pier, Palm Beach 1992 Hurricane Andrew 6 escaped from aquarium on Biscayne Bay
INVASION 2000 & 2001 NOAA researchers report multiple lionfish off NC, SC, GA, FL & Bermuda 2004 1 st. found Bahamas by rec. divers May 2006 found in Freeport Canals (Mike Stafford)
INVASION Recent status USGS web site Source (James Morris)
INVASION Future Distribution Limited by Water Temp. Minimum temp. = 10 degrees C or 50 degrees F Source (James Morris)
What s Being Done? 2007 REEF worked with local dive operators & College of the Bahamas lionfish surveys August 2007 COB Marine & Environmental Studies Institute in collaboration with Department of Marine Resources established online reporting: http://www.bahamas.gov.bs/baham asweb2/home.nsf/vcontentw/gov-- Other--Marine+Resources+- +Lionfish+Survey!Opendocument
Bahamas Government Ministry of Agriculture & Fisheries Department of Marine Resources COB-Marine & Environmental Studies Institute NGOs (BNT, BREEF, The Nature Conservancy) Private Sector
Government, NGOs & Private
National Lionfish Response Plan COB-Marine & Environmental Studies Institute/Department Marine Resources (2009) High Priority Mgmt. Strategies (1-2 yrs) Amend Regulations Allow spearfishing w/scuba for tournaments & organized dive groups Unlimited bag limit of lionfish Allow spearing of lionfish around islands Encourage Commercial Fishery Expand & Improve Protection of National Parks & Marine Reserves
The Perfect Invader - Reproduction Mature in year 1 Males 4 Females 7 Eggs evolve & grow on stalks; each egg has somewhat of an umbilical cord Complex courtship female releases 2 egg masses Eggs encased in gelatinous mucous hollow & traps sperm 26 day larval duration Spawn year round every 4 days 25,000 eggs/batch >2 MILLION eggs per female per year
The Perfect Invader Feeding Eat > 40 species Stomach expands 30X in volume Eat fish ½-3/4 size Observed eating 20 small fish in 30 min. Nassau groupers & yellow tail snappers Picture from Morris Exuma work: reduce native fish by 80% LF consuming more biomass in some of higher densities that recruiting to site
The Perfect Invader - Predators Natural predators large groupers, coronet fish? Octopus mimics Native predators don t recognize LF as prey Found in Nassau groupers, greater AJ, sharks Exuma Feeding Trials Nassau grouper, red hind, grasby, nurse shark & octopus 5-39 days=no LF eaten NMFS Beaufort, NC Similar results with black sea bass, gag
Why? The Perfect Invader - Density Niche empty Lack of predators Lots of food Warm temperature Grow larger (18 + Bahamas versus 15 native range) Source: James Morris
VENOMOUS NOT POISONOUS!!!!!!!!!!!! D, V & A Spines Severe pain, swelling, rash 2 Glandular Groves Release venom when tissue is disturbed Venom is in the spines NOT in the flesh/meat Remove spines = Remove venom = Safe to eat!!!!!!! Source: James Morris
SafeSpear, LLC Formed in 2009 to market new polespear system (Patent Pending) Company Gregg Waugh, Pres. Lisa Waugh, VP; dayday & product research Andrew Cogswell prototype design/sales Margaret Cogswell web & drawings
SafeSpear, LLC The Lionfish Kit includes: Polespear (Patent Pending) Bag - Deep Water Lionfish Bag (shown) or Shallow Water Lionfish Bucket Float (Patent Pending) Lionfish Gloves Lionfish Grippers Lionfish Clippers Knife First Aid Kit/Info - heat pack shown; denatures venom Recipes Retail price for the Lionfish Kit is $350 (plus duty & shipping/handling).
Why SafeSpear, LLC? Lionfish not a part of my diving experience growing up around West End 30 years experience in fishery management limiting mortality, now encourage fishing; help rebuild other species Concerned about protecting environment and will be donating 10% profit to 4 Groups: Bahamas National Trust (BNT) Bahamas Reef Environment Education Foundation (BREEF) Friends of the Environment (FRIENDS) Gulf & Caribbean Fisheries Institute (GCFI)
THANKS BNT Cecilia Bodie, Karin Sanchez & Eric Carey UNEXSO Linda Osborne, Cristina Zenato & Nikki Waugh DMR Michael Braynen VIP Services Ltd. -Janet Albury & Liz Cheong Sonny & Alice Waugh Lisa Waugh Andrew & Margaret Cogswell Chris Waugh/Billy Brian Waugh Godfrey Waugh Lee Waugh Malone Michael & Megan Malone Michael Stafford & Dean Bethel (1 st. LF dive)