Lad Akins, director of special projects for the Reef Environmental Education Foundation, a Florida based nonprofit group, will speak about the current status and groundbreaking successes of partnerships and rapid response to the unprecedented invasion of lionfish along the Southeast U.S. and Caribbean.

In addition, "Ocean Invaders,’’ the award-winning short film about lionfish in Georgia will be shown. The lectures and film are free and open to the public and will be held at the following locations:

• Wednesday, July 15: 7 p.m. in the meeting room at the First Presbyterian Church, 520 E.Washington Ave., Savannah.

• Thursday, July 16: 7 p.m. in the Tybee Island Community Building (Old Guard House) next to Jaycees Park, Tybee Island. Presented in partnership with the Tybee Island Marine Science Center

Invasive species cost Americans more than $130 billion annually. Hidden from easy view, aquatic invasive species cause significant impacts to native ecosystems, commerce, and recreation. The Indo-Pacific lionfish joins the Asian green mussel, Pacific pink barnacle, and porcelain crab on the list of aquatic invasives found in Georgia’s coastal waters. For more information contact Gray’s Reef National Marine Sanctuary (912) 598-2345.