PB Film

The American Family Life Lionfish Tournament And The Jupiter Riverwalk 5-K Run

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Woodie H. Thomas, III, Ph.D., Esq.

Email: AmericanFamily[email protected]

PALM BEACH GARDENS, FLORIDA - The American Family Life ("AFL")Lionfish Tournament and the Jupiter Riverwalk 5-K Run will be a live streamed televised event on Sunday, October 4, 2015 from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. an 7 a.m. to 9a.m., respectively, at the new 150 million dollar Harbourside Place Shopping Mall And Marina Amphitheater in beautiful Jupiter, Florida.  There are CASH prizes offered for the most Lionfish, the largest Lionfish and the smallest Lionfish. In addition, our Premium Sponsor, Stuart Scuba, is offering many prizes for your participation in the AFL Lionfish Tournament which are posted and updated on the American Family Life Interactive Website.

See www.AmericanFamilyLife.com

Also, posted and updated regularly are the special weekend packages with one and two night stays at the Wyndham Grand Hotel for the divers and runners including their family and friends. The restaurants and shops at Harbourside will offer substantial discounts to persons including their family and friends who are registered for the AFL Lionfish Tournament or the Jupiter Riverwalk 5-K Run.

The Lionfish Tournament will be filmed by world famous underwater cinematographer Mark Rackley and his crew member Ben Sampson. This underwater team has shot for National Geographic, The Discovery Channel, Shark Week and The Gator Boys to name a few examples of their work.

See www.MarkRackleyProducitons.com

Please visit www.AmericanFamilyLife.com to register and/or donate at www.fundly.com for the American Family Life Lionfish Tournament for either the AFL Lionfish Tournament and/or the Jupiter Riverwalk 5-K Run on Sunday, October 4, 2015. 

Additional Information: Woodie H. Thomas, III, Ph.D., Esq., American Family Life, 4521 PGA Blvd., #167, Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, 33418. (561) 622-2900/Cell: (561) 339-2900Email: [email protected])

LIONFISH INVASIVE SPECIES FACTS

www.AmericanFamilyLife.com

What are the issues with the Lionfish you ask? Lionfish are an invasive species with no natural predators. It's believed that the Lionfish were released into the ocean probably by aquarium owners in the early 80's. The Lionfish female lays about 20,000 eggs every 4 days. That's approximately 2,000,000eggs per year. There are two issues with the Lionfish that are destroying our ocean ecosystem. 1.) The Lionfish, with no natural predators, eat the fingerlings or baby fish of ALL of the ocean seafood including lobster. The result is with the diminished baby fish in our oceans, our seafood as a major source of our food supply and recreational sport fishing including scuba diving, is becoming substantially reduced and potentially eliminated in the Atlantic Ocean. 2.) The coral reefs are being systematically destroyed. Without the fingerling to eat the algae around the coral reefs, the coral reefs become overwhelmed, suffocate and die.  The coral reefs growth rate is 0.3 to 2 centimeters per year for massive corals, and up to 10 centimeters per year for branching corals, it can take up to 10,000 years for a coral reef to form from a group of larvae. 

The only way to deal with the issue is to manage the Lionfish by hunting them in the ocean with spears and nets to reduce their populations.  Lionfish cannot be caught by fishing. The good news about Lionfish is that they are good tasting and an excellent source of protein. The bad news is that the 18 spines have a toxic tip that can cause severe pain from a sting like a jelly fish sting. However, with careful handling during their capture, the quills can be cut off or an experienced chef can avoid the tips of the fish when preparing them for consumption. Lionfish whether as sushi, baked, fried, blackened or broiled are excellent eating.