Christine Raininger

Title: Lionfish Huntress

Location: Jupiter, FL

Your favorite quote: Always walk through life as if you have something new to learn, and you will. – Vernon Howard

Your message or mission statement: Keep up the work and try to make it good work! We all need to keep controlling the lionfish invasion in their non-native waters so that the native reef fish and the delicate balance of the coral reef ecosystem stands a better chance. Humans may have been part of the problem by releasing unwanted pet lionfish, but now we have to work together to save what we have left. Be a good humans and be part of the solution, however you can.

Your latest endeavors and where they take place: I would love to travel more, but mostly I stay close to home in Jupiter. I am SCUBA diving off Palm Beach or Martin counties maxing out at probably 100 ft with my Stuart SCUBA buddies (you guys rock!) or in the intracoastal waterway near inlets or under docks freediving with my small pole spear and lion-inn (where my lionfish check in but they don’t check out).

What efforts are you most proud of? The last couple years I’ve really progressed in my art of preserving and preparing fins. I’m proud of the improvements I see in every new batch of lionfish jewelry I create. It’s a hobby that I’ve begun to share at local fundraising events for reef- preserving and ocean conservation initiatives in Florida such as the Reef Institute, Save our Florida Reefs, Martin county reefs and soon Loggerhead Marine Centers turtle rescue facility here in Juno Beach, Florida.

Anything else you’d like us to know? Find me on Instagram @Lionfish_Huntress_Florida but before you follow me … squeamish folks be warned… sometimes I post pictures of lionfish gut contents after dissection! Their diets sometimes include other reef fish that I am surprised could even fit in their mouths!