Data Collection & Weigh-in Leads

Rachel Lynn Bowman has been involved in the fight against invasive lionfish since 2012.  She has provided data and specimens for lionfish research projects for academic and private research and non-profit institutions and has partnered with federal and state government agencies and elected officials to pass new initiatives and restrictions on invasive species management policies. 

Commercially harvesting and promoting the eradication of lionfish with a culinary solution, Rachel sold the very first lionfish to Whole Foods in May of 2016, resulting in a nation-wide demand for lionfish that has far exceeded the supply, along with setting a higher price-per-pound for fishermen. 

Rachel is also the Trip Coordinator for the Lionfish Invitational, a bi-annual lionfish research and removal trip to the Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary, and has won first place in both the Lionfish World Championship (with an all-female team) and the Emerald Coast Open, the largest lionfish removal event to date. Rachel has participated in many lionfish derbies.  When not diving for lionfish, she can be found conducting lionfish outreach programs for youth groups at public libraries, camps and schools throughout the Florida Keys.