Matt Gaetz: “This amendment contains the relevant provisions of the Reef Assassin Act, which would attack the lionfish problem that…”

“This amendment contains the relevant provisions of the Reef Assassin Act, which would attack the lionfish problem that is very pervasive in the warm waters of the Gulf of Mexico and the Atlantic Ocean. Lionfish are an invasive species that are decimating our reef fish. One lionfish can consume up to 65 juvenile reef fish in one sitting. A female lionfish can release up to as many as 10 million eggs over the course of one lifetime. This legislation would allow our resources to be used to protect our resource by creating an incentive for fishers who harvest the lionfish and then turn them in to participating States that would choose, on a volunteer program, to be able to issue tags for one prized, coveted reef fish--a triggerfish, a gag grouper, or a red snapper--in the event that 100 lionfish tails were produced. Anyone who goes and slays 100 lionfish certainly has saved far more than one of our prized reef fish. That is why it is my belief that this amendment makes a great deal of sense for our environment and also for the overall health of our fisheries. Mr. Chairman, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Soto), the Democrat lead on the Reef Assassin Act.”