Free Public Festival and Competitive Derby Aims to Pull Invasive Lionfish from South Florida Reefs
Key Largo, Fla. – (March 18, 2026) – Reef Environmental Education Foundation (REEF) will host its 17th annual Florida Keys Lionfish Derby & Arts Festival April 23–26, 2026, in Key Largo, bringing together competitive divers and the broader community to combat the invasive lionfish threatening South Florida’s coral reef ecosystems. The 2026 Florida Keys Lionfish Derby & Arts Festival is proudly supported by premier sponsors the Ocean Reef Conservation Association and the Monroe County Tourism Development Council.
The event kicks off Thursday, April 23, with a Captain’s Meeting and Kick-off Party at Sharkey’s Sharkbite Grill (522 Caribbean Dr, Key Largo) from 5:00–7:30 p.m. Registered derby teams will then take to the water Friday, April 24 and Saturday, April 25, fishing from sunrise to sundown in an effort to remove as many lionfish as possible from South Florida reefs.
The weekend culminates Sunday, April 26, with a free, family-friendly Conservation Science and Arts Festival at the REEF Ocean Exploration Center (98380 Overseas Hwy, Key Largo) from 12:00–4:00 p.m. Open to all ages, the public festival features interactive exhibits, lionfish fillet and dissection demonstrations, free lionfish tastings, live music from Jake on the Lake, food trucks, science activities, local artists and vendors, and the official derby awards ceremony. No registration is required to attend the festival.
Derby teams compete in one of two divisions: the Apex Predators division for more competitive participants, and the Reef Defenders division for recreational divers. Prizes are awarded for the most, largest, and smallest lionfish collected, and all teams are entered to win a $500 Golden Fish raffle award. Registration is now open, with early bird pricing of $90 per team available through March 20, 2026; standard registration is $120 per team through April 23. Teams must consist of 2–4 divers.
The derby serves as one of the most effective tools in the fight against the lionfish invasion. Last year’s Florida Keys Lionfish Derby & Arts Festival removed 1,618 lionfish from South Florida reefs in just two days. Across REEF’s full derby program, more than 36,333 lionfish have been removed from local waters since the events began — fish that would otherwise prey on native species and disrupt the reef ecosystem.
“Every lionfish removed from a Florida reef is a win for our native ecosystem. This derby brings together some of the most passionate divers in our community for a cause that truly makes a measurable difference. We are incredibly grateful to the Ocean Reef Conservation Association and the Monroe County Tourism Development Council for their premier support, which makes this event and its conservation impact possible.”
– Alli Candelmo, Ph.D., Director of Conservation Science, Reef Environmental Education Foundation
For more information on the derby and to register, visit http://www.REEF.org/derby. Questions can be directed to lionfish@REEF.org or 305-852-0030.
MEDIA
A selection of supporting images can be found here. These images are released for single use only to support this press release. Additional usage must be approved by REEF. All images must be credited using the file name.
Media Contact: Tom Sparke
Email: tom@REEF.org
Phone: +13058520030 ext. 1018
ABOUT REEF ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION FOUNDATION
Reef Environmental Education Foundation (REEF) is an international marine conservation organization that implements hands-on programs to involve local communities in conservation-focused activities. Founded in 1990 and based in Key Largo, Florida, REEF’s mission is to protect biodiversity and ocean life by actively engaging and inspiring the public through citizen science, education, and partnerships with the scientific community. REEF’s core programs include the Volunteer Fish Survey Project, the Grouper Moon Project, the Invasive Species Program, and the Ocean Explorers Education Program. For more information, visit http://www.REEF.org.