As the Caribbean reels from an onslaught of invasive Lionfish, we took a great idea from Scotty Grey owner of the M/V Kate and Blue Iguana Charters based in Florida and had some fun with it.
Welcome to LionErects TM.
The basic concept behind any successful invasive species culling effort is to create a marketplace for the species. It's not a new idea, and it's one that's been floating around for a while now.
Watching the reaction to our post on Facebook and within the dive industry was telling. Overwhelmingly folks got it, unfortunately LionErects TM is just an idea.
Which gets us to an earlier post about shark conservations need for funding, and the idea of generating funds not seeking funds as is the current model today.
We can do this. Tapping into established markets is an easy proposition and one that allows entities to enjoy long running revenues to work with instead of budgeting month by month.
In a perfect world the profits from one conservation effort fuels another. LionErect TM would not only provide a financial incentive to harvest lionfish but any profits from this operation could feed into another.
LionErects TM is the perfect business model to tackle a fish species that is devastating entire reef systems throughout the Caribbean. The other option is for some NGO to seek funds so they can pay fishermen to harvest lionfish with no real or lasting market incentive to do so.
Which model do you think will ultimately be successful in culling the lionfish invasion?
It's not some dark magic folks. It's just business. Conservation needs to become engaged in the business world soon, or forever be on the back burner. We can only get so far with the programs and funding sources in play today
Tomorrow's answers to conservation funding and to conservation inititaives will look a lot different.
shark diving, shark conservation and things we find "amusing." 
