See a lionfish in the wild? Report it using the new Report Florida Lionfish app. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) unveiled the new smart device app today (May 28) during a live Twitter chat. The first 250 people who successfully complete the Report Florida Lionfish app reporting form will receive a free, interactive and newly redesigned “Lionfish Control Team” T-shirt. The logo on these shirts is designed to come to life. Learn more about the new app, T-shirt and interactive logo by watching a video online.
Lionfish are an invasive species that are negatively impacting Florida’s reefs and wildlife.
The new Report Florida Lionfish app includes educational information on lionfish and safe handling guidelines, as well as an easy-to-use data-reporting form so divers and anglers can share information about their sighting or harvest with the FWC. App users also can take and share a photo of their catch. These photos may be used in future publications or social media efforts.
All data will be available to the public and shared with other groups and agencies who collect this kind of information. Don’t have a smart device? Submit your data online at MyFWC.com/Fishing by clicking on “Saltwater,” “Recreational Regulations” and “Lionfish.”
Interactive “Lionfish Control Team” T-shirts will be awarded one per household, and participants must provide a valid email to win. Staff will send all winners an email from Saltwater@MyFWC.com to the address provided, and participants must reply with their complete mailing address and selected shirt size (small through extra large) within 30 days of receiving the email. Entries must be recent. Photos of lionfish in tanks or aquariums and pictures of photos are not eligible. Twitter chat participants also received “Lionfish Control Team” T-shirts for answering trivia questions correctly. Make sure to follow us @MyFWClife or use the #FWCLionfish on Twitter to learn about other upcoming FWC events.
To make your shirt interactive, download and open the free Aurasma app. Once you complete the introduction, you will come to a screen that looks like the one your camera displays before you take a photo.
Tap on the Aurasma symbol (looks like an A) at the bottom of the screen, then click the magnifying glass so you can search for the MyFWCMarine channel. Once you’ve found our channel, hit the “Follow” button.
Finally, click the brackets at the bottom of the screen and frame the logo as if you are going to take a picture. You may have to wait a minute or readjust the angle, but the logo will come to life with a video telling you more about lionfish.
This feature can be used anytime you see the lionfish logo.
Be sure to check out the other ways you can use the Aurasma app to makes images come to life and don’t forget to tell others about the Report Florida Lionfish app today.
Learn more about lionfish at www.MyFWC.com/Nonnatives; click on “Marine Life.”
