The Bermuda Lionfish Task Force Winter Derby 2026

January 2026 will be the 12th Annual Winter Lionfish Derby, when teams of hunters remove lionfish for an entire month. We hope to remove at least 1,000 lionfish. Our hunters are very dedicated to preserving our delicate coral reef ecosystems. They will bravely endure the wind, waves and colder temperatures in pursuit of invasive lionfish on our reefs. Over the last 3 years our total catch of lionfish during this January tournament has ranged from 553 to 1215. (2025 = 553; 2024 = 1003; 2023 = 993; 2022 = 804; 2021 = 1215)

While there are incentives for the cullers to encourage them to maximize removals, you are invited to support their efforts and support the Bermuda Lionfish Task Force at the same time.

Why support the Bermuda Lionfish Task Force?

The mission of the Bermuda Lionfish Task Force ...is to raise public awareness of the lionfish invasion in Bermuda and to coordinate and support all activities to control lionfish population growth, thus reducing any negative impacts of the lionfish on our coral reefs, for the benefit of all Bermudians.

Our Mission is clear. The risk of lionfish proliferation on our reefs is clear. We must do what we can to reduce lionfish population growth, or risk significant harm to our reef fish populations. This would impact overall coral reef health and reduce the resilience of this critical ecosystem – an outcome that would be catastrophic for Bermuda.

We need your support so that we can improve our ability to manage, administer and communicate with our culling community via our website. We need to upgrade the site to make it easier to issue and renew permits, collect and manage catch data, and raise public awareness with up to date, relevant information about this ongoing issue. We need additional support to continue running tournaments with incentives for cullers, conduct training for new permit applicants, and consider important research opportunities that may give us new ideas for more efficient hunting techniques. Please consider supporting us now! Be part of saving our reefs!

You have several ways to DONATE on this page:

If you are just signing up:

Become a fundraiser which will allow others to donate towards your efforts
OR donate to another existing fundraiser
OR make a single donation amount with this entry by putting the amount in the custom amount box.

If you are just looking to donate:

Donate to an existing fundraiser (Lionfish Hunter)
OR Select a donation level without selecting a specific fundraiser (Lion Fish Hunter)
OR make a single donation amount by putting the amount in the custom amount box.

DONATE HERE TO SUPPORT THE EVENT AND OUR LION FISH HUNTERS!