Florida man does good: scuba diver has removed over 600 lionfish from local waterways

David Garrett of Ormond Beach, Florida, has removed a whopping 684 fish so far as part of Florida's Lionfish Challenge.

Garrett, a commercial fisherman and scuba diver, has reached the top of the ranks since the competition started in May. The second place contestant has brought in 374 so far.

The lionfish is a spiny, venomous invasive species that disrupts native Floridian fish habitats. There have been multiple attempts and initiatives to reduce the amount of the fish species in Florida, including our favorite: by eating them. Whole Foods both sells the fish and teaches customers how to cook them, and DeLand restaurant Cress often puts lionfish on the menu as a special.

Though Garrett is far in the lead, the competition will continue until Sept. 30. Participants need only to capture 50 lionfish to enter.