I am sure you have heard of divers and snorkelers using spear guns on the invasive beauties known as the lionfish. I have spent many a morning pulling the rubber bands back on an aquatek 75 speargun. Close to three feet long, this gun only allows me to get within three or four feet with the extended reach of the speargun.
A media blitz has told millions about how the lionfish is taking over our reefs, and in a way has created a “wild west” syndrome to snorkelers and divers. Now more than ever it is important for a group of people and businesses to step up and create a real world approach to sustainable harvesting.
In order to keep current lionfish from “learning” about the intentions of lionfish hunters, it is vitally important to make sure the rate of successful spearings is as close to 100% as possible.
Early on, using the aquatek, my hit rate was only around 60%. This means 40 out of 100 “learned” that the hunteres were there to kill them. Given a few more encounters like this, and the species may not be as easy to spear anymore.
Enter The Reef Protection company. Tal and Bob have developed a tool that we feel is a step above the rest. It’s small size keeps hunters from spearing fish other than lionfish by offering a precise short range.
Reef Protection Inc is now a Fulfillment Partner of The Florida International Teaching Zoo and Project Green Jungle’s Lionfish Harvesting project.
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