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;t - e °fit.>• � yy _ �� <br /> � � +may' 1 y�� 3 :OM1 ��:'^9 •i � � -Si'. .h+i __ <br /> -:c n'! ?:' y - - 5 �:' :.j, ._��'_ Y_�• i"�..�"- d _ _ .ten: �i..-.'_�+._._'r'_fr :>'•.� <br /> •Sty J,� ...��. s`'�'- 'r'` K` ;�� .'�t�-'S• •z - •''�� - ���''� +''•.r=�'S'_r�� ��� <br /> • ;f a• ra. .i _,'�� .;•':.� J 'Y rq�f, _`''r',?`.�*v �'.i.'.w''.e �.'�'t'� � i'� h ,s,, , <br /> WA <br /> �t r i,' ^t � � mac:- '�`a•..4 ..,x: o,t'` 4'" a x <br /> %hero Beach-contracior and"citizen scientist"Rob Hickerson has helped wage rhe war against the invasive lionfish by inventing-and selling <br /> h:'the Trapper,'a small slingshot-type spear for killing the fish at close quarters. <br /> i <br /> River Lagoon estuan;," says Beal as he begins rattling off the closely before we can figure out the best way to combat these <br /> 4t,; <br /> names: "Blenmy, hair), blennp, molly miller blenn%, goby, blue invaders:We admit we need all.the help we can get." <br /> =ciab,mud crab,sergeant major fish,grunt,mojarra."He pauses <br /> and then shows me:nwo more bottles."More bad news,"he says, TAM ERAPPER.tf Beal's Harbor B_rarichialioratory is <br /> ?s he hands me the bottles labeled "gray snapper" and "pink "Ground-Zero" in the scientific battle to combat.the <br /> P." These are very valuable to both commercial and rec- Tlndian River Lagoon honfish invasion;Bob and Maria ; <br /> eational fishermen. It's not just the honfish's varied menu that Hickerson's;modest bungalow in Vero Beach is:the unofficial. i <br /> s+.researchers like Beal concerned. "They are also competing headquartersfor"citizen scientists"battling,iheJhvadi!s, <br /> " �tb to Team <br /> l <br /> "W <br /> "h <br /> d f 'kr <br /> fish like grouper for the same food source," says. ecome to says Hickerson:as;he.grr eis <br /> `fin•-,;. - � _ ... - <br /> Beal.is quick to explain that research on the lionfish utva• me. Hickerson, 6S, a contractor specializing in concrete;resto <br /> into the lagoon is 'in its infancy"-Researchers believe the ration, confesses he "got obsessed" tivith lionfish.afien He.and <br /> :may-have first entered the lagoon at Jupiter Inlet where the Maria spotted their.first specimen in 2009 while-scuba diving in <br /> :Stream almost hugs the coast.?he y've also proven that the Jamaica."The minute we saly it,we knew it didn't-belori'.Here,'° YEP.oeEACF I <br /> . g. } p g- rssuaunE <br /> tsh have adapted to the less saline waters of the lagoon.But he recalls."li-didri't,act Bice any fish we'd ever seen:" ,anurRr <br /> e,ate man} questions still to answer. Says Beal, "We have Maria,9-5,an experienced Professional-Association•of bring. <br /> d'a lot more specimens and study the estuary much more Instructor, remembers being "amazed" when she-spotied the 185 yrt <br /> f <br /> 244 <br /> 1 <br />