2024 Artificial Reef and Lionfish Workshops in Northwest Florida

Regional artificial reef workshops are designed to bring together stakeholders involved in all aspects of artificial reef development, research, deployment, and monitoring. Workshops are held across the state as a cooperative effort between Florida Sea Grant and UF/IFAS Extension, Okaloosa County, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission Artificial Reef Program, and local artificial reef coordinators. These regional workshops provided an open forum to highlight local efforts while also providing information regarding new science and overall policy at the state and federal levels.

Invasive lionfish negatively affect native reef communities. They consume and compete with native reef fish, including economically important snappers and groupers, and their presence has shown to drive declines in native species and diversity. This regional workshop will highlight recent research and updates on the status of lionfish in the Florida Panhandle. This is a two day workshop with day 1 focusing on artificial reefs and day 2 focusing on lionfish. You may register for either day, or for both days. Trade show space is available as well if you want to have a display.

Agendas are tentative and subject to change.

Please email or call Laura Tiu (lgtiu@ufl.edu) 850-612-6197 if you have questions or concerns.