Also called: Commercial Lionfish Diver, Lionfish Hunter
Spearfishes invasive lionfish on Florida and Gulf reefs and sells the catch to restaurants and seafood markets.
Lionfish are beautiful, venomous invaders that eat young reef fish. Harvest divers use spears and protective containers to collect dozens per dive, carefully avoiding the spines. Back on land they sell the fish to restaurants and grocers, and many enter derby tournaments with cash prizes.
Mostly part-time or combined with charter diving.
Approximate: anchored on Bureau of Labor Statistics data for a broader job group.
Certificate, about 0.5 years after high school. Scuba certification and lionfish handling training.
Ways in: Certification, Self-taught. Training cost: Under $15k.
Growing about average. Florida encourages removal; markets are still small.
Low risk for 10 years. Underwater robots that catch lionfish are being tested, but divers still do almost all the removal.
Age 18+. One way to start: Get scuba certified, then a Florida saltwater products license to sell your catch First: Scuba certification and a Florida saltwater products license
Classes: Biology, Physical education, Business.
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