SAFESPEAR, LLCPRODUCT LAUNCHBNT Rand Centre

April 14, 2010

Gregg T. Waugh, PresidentLisa A. Waugh, Vice-PresidentSafeSpear, 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)• 1st. 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 1st. 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

•Exuma work: reduce native fish by 80%•LF consuming more biomass in some of higher densities that recruiting to site

Picture from Morris

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

The Perfect Invader - Density

• Why?– 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; day-

day & product research

– Andrew Cogswell – prototype design/sales

– Margaret Cogswell – web & drawings

SafeSpear, LLCThe 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 (1st. LF dive)