Patrick Connolly/Orlando Sentinel
Lionfish swim in an aquarium tank at the Keys History and Discovery Center in Islamorada on Sunday, April 25, 2021.
Patrick Connolly/Orlando Sentinel
Sierra Barkdoll, an intern with the Reef Environmental Education Foundation, works to measure lionfish during the Lionfish Derby at ReefÕs headquarters in Key Largo on Sunday, April 25, 2021.
Patrick Connolly/Orlando Sentinel
Lionfish are brought in to be measured and recorded during the Lionfish Derby at the Reef Environmental Education Foundation headquarters in Key Largo on Saturday, April 24, 2021.
Patrick Connolly/Orlando Sentinel
Lionfish were battered and fried, shown by Lucy Kincaid, left, Patrick O'Neill, general manager, center, and Paul Steigerwald, owner, at SharkeyÕs Sharkbite Grill in Key Largo on Sunday, April 25, 2021.
Patrick Connolly/Orlando Sentinel
The dive team Forever Young brings in their catch of lionfish during the Lionfish Derby at the Reef Environmental Education Foundation headquarters in Key Largo on Sunday, April 25, 2021.
Patrick Connolly/Orlando Sentinel
Reef Environmental Education Foundation staff and interns measure lionfish during the Lionfish Derby at the Reef headquarters in Key Largo on Sunday, April 25, 2021.
Patrick Connolly/Orlando Sentinel
Lionfish are brought in to be measured and recorded during the Lionfish Derby at the Reef Environmental Education Foundation headquarters in Key Largo on Saturday, April 24, 2021.
Patrick Connolly/Orlando Sentinel
Lionfish are brought in to be measured and recorded, then some filleted, during the Lionfish Derby at the Reef Environmental Education Foundation headquarters in Key Largo on Saturday, April 24, 2021.
Patrick Connolly/Orlando Sentinel
A team of divers from Pirates Cove Watersports brought in a haul of lionfish to compete in the Lionfish Derby in Key Largo on Saturday, April 24, 2021.
Patrick Connolly/Orlando Sentinel
Reef Environmental Education Foundation staff and interns measure lionfish during the Lionfish Derby at the Reef headquarters in Key Largo on Sunday, April 25, 2021.
Patrick Connolly/Orlando Sentinel
Reef Environmental Education Foundation staff and interns measure lionfish during the Lionfish Derby at the Reef headquarters in Key Largo on Sunday, April 25, 2021.
Patrick Connolly/Orlando Sentinel
Lionfish are brought in to be measured and recorded during the Lionfish Derby at the Reef Environmental Education Foundation headquarters in Key Largo on Saturday, April 24, 2021.
Patrick Connolly/Orlando Sentinel
Lionfish are brought in to be measured and recorded during the Lionfish Derby at the Reef Environmental Education Foundation headquarters in Key Largo on Saturday, April 24, 2021.
Patrick Connolly/Orlando Sentinel
A baby lionfish is measured during the Lionfish Derby at the Reef Environmental Education Foundation headquarters in Key Largo on Sunday, April 25, 2021.
Patrick Connolly/Orlando Sentinel
A baby lionfish swims around a bucket during the Lionfish Derby at the Reef Environmental Education Foundation headquarters in Key Largo on Saturday, April 24, 2021.
Patrick Connolly/Orlando Sentinel
Lionfish are brought to be measured and recorded during the Lionfish Derby at the Reef Environmental Education Foundation headquarters in Key Largo on Saturday, April 24, 2021.
Patrick Connolly/Orlando Sentinel
Reef Environmental Education Foundation staff and interns measure lionfish during the Lionfish Derby at the Reef headquarters in Key Largo on Sunday, April 25, 2021.
Patrick Connolly/Orlando Sentinel
Lionfish were battered and fried at SharkeyÕs Sharkbite Grill in Key Largo on Sunday, April 25, 2021.
Patrick Connolly/Orlando Sentinel
A team of divers from Pirates Cove Watersports brought in a haul of lionfish to compete in the Lionfish Derby in Key Largo on Saturday, April 24, 2021.
Patrick Connolly/Orlando Sentinel
Lionfish are brought in on ice to be measured and recorded during the Lionfish Derby at the Reef Environmental Education Foundation headquarters in Key Largo on Saturday, April 24, 2021.
Patrick Connolly/Orlando Sentinel
Team Lion Kings won first place in the Òlargest lionfishÓ category during the Lionfish Derby at the Reef Environmental Education Foundation headquarters in Key Largo on Sunday, April 25, 2021.
Patrick Connolly/Orlando Sentinel
Lionfish are brought in to be measured and recorded during the Lionfish Derby at the Reef Environmental Education Foundation headquarters in Key Largo on Saturday, April 24, 2021.
Patrick Connolly/Orlando Sentinel
Lionfish are brought in to be measured and recorded during the Lionfish Derby at the Reef Environmental Education Foundation headquarters in Key Largo on Saturday, April 24, 2021.
Lionfish swim in an aquarium tank at the Keys History and Discovery Center in Islamorada on Sunday, April 25, 2021.
Expand![Patrick Connolly is a multimedia journalist with the Orlando Sentinel.](https://www.orlandosentinel.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/Headshot_New_2022-e1683736254161.jpg?w=85)
Lionfish are an invasive species posing threats to coral reefs. Key Largo’s Reef Environmental Education Foundation hosts an annual Earth Day Lionfish Derby to help remove fish from the ecosystem.