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Two Duluthians are doing their part to help save coral reefs from invasive lionfish while also creating a sustainable supply chain.
Nathan Lipinski and Josh Helmer are two co-founders of Olacoral and Castawave, companies that work side-by-side to harvest invasive lionfish from coral reefs in Belize, then use the fins of the fish to create jewelry and sell the fish fillets to markets.
“We’re really creating an incredible supply chain that benefits every single person involved, from the fishermen, to the artisans, to the coral reefs, to our following of people who want to save the coral reefs, to feeding and supplying fresh fish to local markets in the USA,” Lipinski said.