Jay Harris

Title: Therapy

Association, Company, Affiliations: PADI Dive Master

Location: Curaçao

Your favorite quote: Better the pain of discipline than the pain of regret

Your message or mission statement: To do my part in controlling the lionfish population as long as I can hoist tanks and read gauges. Its good for the ecosystem and its therapeutic to remove lionfish who have been gorging on small marine life.

Your latest endeavors and where they take place: For ten years my wife Kelly and I vacationed throughout the Caribbean and Florida spearing lionfish. Four years ago we both retired and have since spent three months a year in Curaçao spearing lionfish. Kelly spots and I spear. Our next trip is planned for January 16, 2022 – April 15, 2022. In addition to spearing lionfish I plan to experiment with lionfish traps during this trip.

What efforts are you most proud of? Committing three months of each year to the never ending challenge. Teaching our son Matt and four other relatives and friends to spear lionfish. Also I like to go after the tiny lionfish which many divers don’t bother with. Takes more time however saves more fry. It’s also rewarding to spear a huge monster who has been successfully hiding from hunters.

Anything else you’d like us to know? Earlier this year Kelly and I were swimming out for a clandestine hunt with Lisette Keus to help restock her supply for her lionfish restaurant. It was during the pandemic lockdown in Curaçao and we weren’t supposed to be in the water. We were about half way to our dive spot when we were busted by the Coast Guard who spotted us from their helicopter. The Coast Guard notified the police who were waiting for us at the dive shop. Fortunately we got off with a warning when Lisette explained she was using the day’s catch to feed the many healthcare professionals who were on the island working long hours treating COVID patients. So a happy ending.