T

he 5th annual Lionfi sh Removal and Awareness Festival took place on May 18-
19, at AJ’s Seafood & Oyster Bar and HarborWalk Village overlooking Destin 
harbor. The Director of Destin Fishing Rodeo, Bruce Cheves served as the MC 
at the event. The free event was open to the public and featured family-friendly 

activities, with over 35 vendors participating in the event with booths for art, diving marine 
conservation, live music, fi llet demonstrations, and lionfi sh tastings. The world’s largest 
lionfi sh spearfi shing tournament also took place where participants vied for the most caught 
Lionfi sh, the smallest and the largest Lionfi sh. 

The event which was hosted by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission 

and Emerald Coast Convention and Visitors Bureau, brought in professionals, scientists and 
volunteers from all over the United States who were on hand to educate those who came to the 
festivities. Since 2014 over half a million Lionfi sh have been removed from Florida waters. 

photos & story by

Zhalman Harris

   VIP Destin Aj’s

in 

Removal & Recovery Day

70     |    VIPDestinMagazine.com

Vivian Lucy & Sydney Cope

Daphne Woodson, Cheryl Booth, Tara Kenly & Angela Galbreath

Paula Bright & Beth Miller

Nikki Paschen & Cher Maestas

Randy Gross

Matt Lollar & Taylor Wilken

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5/30/19   1:18 PM