How did Rachel Bowman become a commercial fisherwoman, scuba diving through the waters of the Florida Keys to spear the invasive lionfish, which she describes as a fish wearing a Mardi Gras costume, complete with venomous spikes? Why do you need to hunt them, instead of just using a net or a fishing pole? Rachel told us the how and why of hunting lionfish. She also shared what inspired her to move from her native North Carolina to the Keys sixteen years ago, how she became interested in hunting lionfish, and how posting on social media about her new hobby caught the attention of the state wildlife agency, who helped Rachel turn her hobby into a thriving business. She still works with them and other scientists and researchers, providing data about lionfish in the waters of the Keys, and serving as a public face of lionfish hunting. Rachel also told us the story of the Britney Spears, and why eating lionfish is a triple win: it's healthy; it's sustainable; and it actually helps the local ecosystem, by removing an invasive species from Florida's reefs.
Rachel Bowman was driving a boat for an avid scuba diver in the Florida Keys when she saw him coming up with fish like nothing she'd ever seen: lionfish. Rachel became scuba-certified, got in the water, and became the Lionfish Huntress. Today she dives off her boat, the Britney Spears and hunts lionfish commercially, selling them to restaurants and grocery stores, and collaborating with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission to gather data and raise awareness about this invasive species and healthy and sustainable seafood.
