Lionfish have become a major problem in the Caribbean and tropical Atlantic, with ever-growing populations of the invasive fish decimating native reef species at an alarming rate.

We’ve posted several times in Aquaviews about the lionfish, the damage it causes, and what action is necessary to mitigate the onslaught of destruction, and we always strive to keep you updated on lionfish derbies and events that you can get personally involved in if you want. The latest and greatest of these events is an upcoming lionfish hunt in Puerto Rico, called A la Caza del Pez Leon!.

The event itself is a small part of a larger ongoing experiment in which experienced and skilled hunters will be removing lionfish from the waters off La Parguera Beach, located on the island’s southwestern coast, in an effort to assess the effectiveness of small-scale lionfish removal for possible future tournaments and derbies.

The experiment will assess lionfish population densities before and after a series of 3 lionfish removal events in June, and re-colonization will be studied by tagging lionfish outside of the removal zones. The restoration of native populations will be studied simultaneously, giving researchers a more precise idea of what role lionfish removal events play in restoring reef communities.

A la Caza del Pez Leon! commences on June 1, and throughout the day there will be exhibitions that will discuss the lionfish invasion, as well as their ecology and biology, and a professional chef who will demonstrate the variety of ways in which lionfish can be prepared and cooked, along with free tastings, of course!

Additionally, there will be several organizations of Puerto Rico that will promote recycling and marine conservation, and vendors will be onsite with lionfish removal tools and products for those interested in removing a few of their own invasive species from the region. For the kids and kids-at-heart, there will be students from the University of Puerto Rico’s Department of Marine Sciences doing face painting and Japanese style fish printing, so there’s truly something for everyone to learn about lionfish.

The 15 divers chosen to participate in this particular removal event have been hand-picked for their skill, but the project hopes to be able to host future opportunities for the public to participate.

So if you’re going to be visiting La Parguera Beach in Puerto Rico — which has the added distinction of being the site of incredible displays of bioluminescence — be sure to check out A la Caza del Pez Leon! while you’re there. You can even look into sponsoring the event in some way if you won’t be able to personally attend; check out their website for details.

The primary goal of this outreach event is to prove that a little effort from a few dedicated divers can effectively keep Marine Protected Areas and other zones free from lionfish invasions, which is incredibly cost-effective as well. We here at Aquaviews would like to wish the organizers of this event lots of luck in fulfilling their mission, and commend them for their community approach to solving a substantial problem!

Puerto Rico Hosts Lionfish Removal Event on June 1 was written by Creedence for Aquaviews - SCUBA Blog - Bringing You The Other 70% Of Our World

• Boat Collision with Whale Sends Canadian Man to the Hospital
• Rat Poison Suspected in Sea Lion Deaths in Peru
• UW’s Conservation Canines Help Save Whales Worldwide

Boat Collision with Whale Sends Canadian Man to the Hospital

A Canadian boater was injured to the point of having to be airlifted to the hospital after an unexpected collision with a humpback whale. Ray Boyd was just 100 yards offshore on the eastern coast of Vancouver Island, BC, when he suddenly collided with the humpback whale.

The strike cracked the hull of Boyd’s 22-foot vessel, sending him through the windshield and rendering him unconscious. When he awoke, he made his way to shore where he was airlifted to a hospital. The impact with the whale caused extensive damage to his teeth and shattered his jaw; Boyd is preparing to undergo reconstructive surgeries and dental repair at a cost of more than $10,000.

The president of Marine Education and Research Society (MERS) stated that humpback whale breachings are unpredictable and they seem to be oblivious to boats, and encouraged boaters around Vancouver Island to be on the lookout for increased numbers of the cetaceans. Any boaters who experience collisions with whales must immediately notify the DFO Marine Mammal Incident Hotline, at 800.465.4336.

Rat Poison Suspected in Sea Lion Deaths in Peru

An investigation has been launched into the deaths of 20 sea lions found on the beaches of northern Peru, with some suspicion that the cause may be rat poison, fed to the sea lions by competitive fishermen. Although the species is protected in Peru, local fishermen find the sea lions to be a threat, resorting to feeding them poisoned fish in order to mitigate the perceived problem. Sadly, their targets are not the only ones removed from the scenario — dolphins and sea turtles have been counted among the recent deaths as well.

UW’s Conservation Canines Help Save Whales Worldwide

A Seattle program with University of Washington’s Center for Conservation Biology, called Conservation Canines, is putting its highly trained pooches to work sniffing out scat of various animals, including whales. The scat that the dog sniffs out is collected by scientists, who can then glean a surprising variety of information from it, such as DNA that identifies individual animals and their gender, eating habits, stress levels, pregnancy information, and all major chemical toxins from oil products, flame retardants, pesticides, and industrial pollution. Check out the incredible research being done here:

The Daily Reel: May 23, 2013 was written by Creedence for Aquaviews - SCUBA Blog - Bringing You The Other 70% Of Our World

• Fish Farmer Lauded as a Hero After Saving Beached Dolphins
• Study Finds Spread of Coral Reefs is Due to Volcanic Activity
• Great White Sharks Return to Cape Cod for Summer

Fish Farmer Lauded as a Hero After Saving Beached Dolphins

A worker on a fish farm on the northern coast of Ireland has been praised by his community as a hero after single-handedly rescuing two dolphins that were trapped on a nearby beach. Twenty-two year old Shea Cole was performing regular work duties at the salmon farm when he noticed what he thought were two surfboards turned upside down in shallow water on the beach, with just the tail fins exposed.

Upon further investigation, he realized it was actually two dolphins who had become embedded in the sand, unable to wriggle their way free. He was able to free one dolphin from the sand after about 10 minutes, and while the freed cetacean waited in deeper water, he wrestled the other one free as well. Cole said that the two dolphins hung around the pier after their release, jumping out of the water repeatedly as if to show their gratitude to their rescuer.

Study Finds Spread of Coral Reefs is Due to Volcanic Activity

A new study published by the Proceedings of the Royal Society scientific journal shows that the growth and biodiversity of coral reefs across the globe are directly linked to volcanic activity. Scientists conducting research on the coral biodiversity in the Coral Triangle, bounded by the Philippines, Indonesia, and West Papua, were searching for an explanation as to why diversity tapered off as they got further away from the triangle, even though the temperatures and environments remained similar.

They instead began studying coral species from the triangle that populate other reefs in the Indian and Pacific Oceans, and found that the species further away from the triangle were subsets of those within it, eventually dropping off on reefs that are located on tectonic plate boundaries. The findings indicate that coral diversity and abundance are directly tied to underwater volcanic activity that takes place slowly over the course of millions of years, which has serious implications for the future of corals in the face of climatic and oceanic changes.

Great White Sharks Return to Cape Cod for Summer

Cape Cod officials are warning swimmers and boaters to be aware of the return of great white sharks to the region, who migrate to these waters every summer to feed on the abundant population of grey seals, which are protected under federal law. But that doesn’t mean you have to stay on land all summer — more than 3 dozen individuals have been tagged over the course of several years, and their migration routes are regularly monitored by marine scientists, allowing them to know where the sharks are located on a daily basis. Nine municipalities in the Cape Cod region have divided state funds among each each other to post new signs alerting beachgoers of the presence of great whites, as well as public education and awareness.

The Daily Reel: May 22, 2013 was written by Creedence for Aquaviews - SCUBA Blog - Bringing You The Other 70% Of Our World

• Green Sea Turtle Swims Again with New Dive Belt
• Navy Dolphins Find 130-Year Old Torpedo
• Florida Wildlife Officials Search for Men Involved in Manatee Harassment

Green Sea Turtle Swims Again with New Dive Belt

A green sea turtle that was hit by a boat 11 years ago and rendered incapable of diving due to an air bubble that formed under her shell is now able to swim again thanks to a team of people from the Weymouth Sea Life Adventure Park in the UK city of Dorset.

The team constructed a weight harness that holds 2.5 lbs of lead weights, giving her just enough weight to be able to dive without going belly-up. Weights are normally affixed to an injured turtle’s shell to allow it to dive, but this turtle, called Ali by the staff at the park, had suffered damage that would not allow for a traditional solution.

If the harness proves to be a success, it could pave the way for the future rehabilitation of sea turtles that suffer injuries like Ali’s.

Navy Dolphins Find 130-Year Old Torpedo

One of the first torpedoes made to propel itself, dating back about 130 years was located by specially trained Navy dolphins off the coast of San Diego this week, who then directed divers to its location for retrieval. The 11-foot brass torpedo has been rendered inoperable due to its long duration in the sea, but is currently being cleaned and prepared for display at the Naval History and Heritage Command in Washington DC.

Florida Wildlife Officials Search for Men Involved in Manatee Harassment

A video depicting a young man jumping off a dock onto a mother manatee and her calf while the man recording eggs him on and laughs has incited a search for the responsible parties by Florida Fish and Wildlife officials. The video was posted on Facebook last year, and it has been determined that the two young men are from Brevard County, on the state’s Atlantic coast.

Although it shows one man landing on one of the manatees, there is no evidence of injury to either one. The investigation started immediately following the video being picked up by Fox 13 Tampa Bay, and if caught, each man could face a fine of $25,000 for the harassment of protected wildlife. Florida Fish and Wildlife is asking anyone with information to contact them at 888-404-FWCC.

The Daily Reel: May 21, 2013 was written by Creedence for Aquaviews - SCUBA Blog - Bringing You The Other 70% Of Our World

You’ve no doubt heard that there is a lot of plastic polluting Earth’s oceans, but it’s not uncommon to wonder, “Why is that so bad?” Plastics in the ocean have a hugely negative effect on marine life as well as on the humans who enjoy the endless recreation the sea provides, and who rely on oceans for their way of life. Oceans affect human beings in more ways than most people can even imagine. It’s important to keep them free of toxic waste, so this generation and future generations can enjoy the fun activities, delicious seafood, and breathtaking vistas of our planet’s spectacular oceans. Here are the three main levels of plastic ocean pollution.

Marine Life

Snorkeling, bird watching and scuba diving are such popular activities because of the beautiful creatures that inhabit the earth’s oceans. Over one million sea birds and over 100,000 marine mammals die every year because of ocean pollution caused by soda bottles, grocery bags and other similar items. The marine mammals and birds are killed from eating or being entangled in these particles that float on the water’s surface.

Great Pacific Garbage Patch

Earth’s oceans are so large that it’s hard to imagine them ever being taken over by garbage, but the Great Pacific Garbage Patch paints a picture of a grim future. Out in the middle of the northern Pacific Ocean, the currents move in a circular motion that is causing trash to collect. These currents have created a pile of garbage that is actually the biggest landfill on planet Earth. This garbage site is known as the Great Pacific Garbage Patch, and it’s growing every day. Because of the size of the Great Pacific Garbage Patch and its rate of growth, it will never be able to be fully cleaned up.

Chemical Leaching

The plastics that degrade in the ocean cause a whole different and destructive type of ocean pollution. When they degrade, toxic chemicals are released into the water. These toxic chemicals have been proven to interfere with the reproductive systems of animals. Additionally, these same chemicals have the potential to cause cancer in humans, so it’s no wonder that the simpler life forms in the ocean are being greatly harmed. When one animal eats another animal, the pollutants become more concentrated in the predatory animal. This means the animals that are higher up on the food chain will consume the most chemicals, and humans are the animals at the top.

Photos via Google Images

3 Levels of Plastic Ocean Pollution was written by Creedence for Aquaviews - SCUBA Blog - Bringing You The Other 70% Of Our World

• Leatherback Sea Turtles Make a Comeback in the Caribbean
• Indian Government Rejects Dolphinarium Plans
• Task Force Established to Curb Dynamite Fishing in the Solomon Islands

Leatherback Sea Turtles Make a Comeback in the Caribbean

Although leatherbacks are one of the world’s most endagered sea turtles, the northern coast of Trinidad, located in the Caribbean, has seen a very positive rebound of the giant reptiles in recent years. During the peak season of May-June last year, around 500 females were nesting along an 800-meter corridor of beach at Grand Riviere, now considered by scientists to be the most densely nested site for leatherback sea turtles in the entire world.

Turtle tourism has flourished in a region that was once a hotbed for poachers, with volunteers even shooing seabirds away as the hatchlings make their way to the ocean. Other places in the Caribbean, including Guyana, Puerto Rico, and Suriname have started to see drastic increases in the number of turtles nesting on their beaches each year.

Indian Government Rejects Dolphinarium Plans

Four states in India that had plans for dolphinarium attractions have been shut down by the Union Ministry of Environment and Forests, who has ordered state governments to reject any proposal that involves the import or capture of dolphins for commercial entertainment, as well as public or private exhibition.

The Union Ministry went on to proclaim the Gangetic dolphin as the national aquatic animal, and its order mandates that dolphins be treated as “non-human persons” with their own specific rights, deeming it morally unacceptable to keep them in captivity for entertainment purposes.

Task Force Established to Curb Dynamite Fishing in the Solomon Islands

A task force headed by the Royal Solomon Islands Police Force has been assembled in order to combat the practice of dynamite fishing within the islands. Though dynamite fishing is already illegal, monitoring and investigation of responsible parties has long been lacking in the region, according to acting police commissioner Junita Matanga. The task force will now regularly patrol and act on any reports of dynamite fishing, and those caught and found guilty will be prosecuted.

The Daily Reel: May 20, 2013 was written by Creedence for Aquaviews - SCUBA Blog - Bringing You The Other 70% Of Our World

Opisthognathidae, more commonly known as jawfish, are a colorful, somewhat odd-looking family of fish found in reefs throughout both the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans. These fish tend to prefer shallow waters, but some species have been found living in much deeper areas. Because of their bright markings, they are a favorite sight of scuba divers and snorkelers. However, there is much more to these fish than their coloration.

There are dozens of different species of jawfish. Location, coloration, size and behavior vary from species to species, although most species share many similar traits. Although many different jawfish have already been discovered, scientists believe that more species are still undiscovered, or have not yet been properly classified.

Jawfish have slim, long bodies. Generally, they grow to between three and four inches long. However, some species are slightly smaller, and some grow larger, up to nine inches. Along their bodies, Opisthognathidae have long dorsal fins, which usually feature several spikes. The heads of the fish are large when compared to the size of their bodies, and the eyes and mouth are also pronounced. These fish can be found in a range of colors, including red, blue, green, white, orange, pink, and yellow, and may have spots, stripes or swirls. The yellow jawfish is one of the more common sightings in the Caribbean Sea.

The jawfish lives in a burrow in the sand, which it digs itself. The fish scoops sand into its wide mouth, then spits it out in another location. The burrows they create are thin, usually only large enough for the fish to slip into, but can be several inches deep. These fish are extremely territorial. They will fiercely defend their burrows and the area around them.

Male jawfish with eggs

These diminutive fish  feed on very small marine creatures and plankton. They sit tucked into their burrows, with only their heads poking out, waiting for food to float by. This way, the fish are completely protected, and if they feel threatened, they can quickly dart back into the safety of their burrow.

They way jawfish breed is truly fascinating. These fish are mouthbrooders, meaning that once the females release the eggs and they are fertilized, the male will hold them in the safety of his mouth until they are ready to hatch. Although it can take these fish a full year to mature completely, they usually begin digging their burrows only a few weeks after hatching.

Images via PV Sea Dive, KAZ2.0

The (Mostly) Hidden World of Jawfish was written by Creedence for Aquaviews - SCUBA Blog - Bringing You The Other 70% Of Our World

• Phuket Volunteers Begin Reef Restoration Behind Sea Walk Tour Damage
• Swine Flu Virus Found in Seals Off Central California Coast Provides Researchers with Clues
• Stuntman Parachutes Into Reef Dive

Phuket Volunteers Begin Reef Restoration Behind Sea Walk Tour Damage

A week after a tour vessel for a controversial sea walking operation was booted out of the waters around Koh Kai Nai island for destroying over 300 square meters of coral reef, volunteer divers from Phuket have begun the restoration operation under the watchful eye of marine biologist Dr. Nalinee Thongtham from the Phuket Marine Biological Center.

The team has been working since Tuesday to expose the damage done by the Sea Lion, and stabilizing the damaged reef with wire netting and metal inserts that will help keep the repairs intact. However, although the Sea Lion was ordered to leave by Phuket officials, the vessel was spotted in the areas by volunteers as they began working. Marine police are unable to arrest anyone in relation to the operation unless they catch them in the act of destroying reefs.

Swine Flu Virus Found in Seals Off Central California Coast Provides Researchers with Clues

A new study published in the scientific journal PLoS ONE has shed new light on the nature of influenza viruses, as research turned up marine mammals that tested positive for the H1N1 virus, more commonly known as “swine flu.”

During the course of intensive research on influenza viruses in wild birds and mammals, marine biologists found two northern elephant seals on the central California coast in the spring of 2010 that were infected with H1N1, and 28 more that harbored antibodies, yet none showed visible signs of illness.The seals had previously tested negative for the virus in early 2010 before heading out to sea.

The results of the study are hoped to provide researchers with valuable information as to how influenza viruses jump from host to host, and about the extent to which they are able to spread without any indication of infection.

Stuntman Parachutes Into Reef Dive

While skydiving might be the thrill-seeking pinnacle for some, stuntman Gulliver Page seems to think it’s child’s play. He is one of 20 other filmmakers participating in the 1 Day in Paradise project, where contestants are filming their own paradise with a portable camera for a chance at $75,000. After jumping from a helicopter over the Great Barrier Reef, Page then released the parachute and immediately entered the water for a SCUBA dive. Check out the incredible footage here:

The Daily Reel: May 17, 2013 was written by Creedence for Aquaviews - SCUBA Blog - Bringing You The Other 70% Of Our World

• Xiamen Building China’s First Whale and Dolphin Lake
• Air Pacific Revealed to Be Shark Fin Trafficker
• International Coastal Cleanup Removes 10M Pounds of Trash from Beaches Worldwide

Xiamen Building China’s First Whale and Dolphin Lake

Huoshao, the largest uninhabited islet in the city of Xiamen is being prepared to become a habitat for dolphins and whales, the first of its kind in China, in order to familiarize the public with dolphins and increase awareness about the need for their protection.

Dredging work has been completed to create an artificial seawater lake, with workers now forming the banks to prepare for the addition of several species of cetaceans. A sluice connects the lake with the sea to maintain good water quality, and two bottlenose dolphins have already settled into the lake.

A Chinese white dolphin breeding center currently sits on the islet, as well as a special education center for children with intellectual disabilities, but the site will also feature a dolphin cultural corridor, dolphin landscape gallery, and a Chinese white dolphin themed sculpture when the attraction is complete.

Air Pacific Revealed to Be Shark Fin Trafficker

An international airline has recently been revealed to be one of the world’s major carriers of shark fins into Hong Kong, according to a coalition of environmental groups and an investigation conducted by the South China Morning Post. Suspicion arose when the Hong Kong Secretary for Transport publicly welcomed the addition of a new Airbus A330 to Air Pacific, noting that there was only 45 tons of cargo carried between Hong Kong and Fiji in 2009, but by the end of 2012, the airline was transporting upwards of 1,000 tons.

Speculation abounds that Air Pacific took over the cargo shipments once carried out by Cathay Pacific, who announced in 2012 that they would no longer transport shark fins in response to pressure from environmental groups. Air Pacific has launched an investigation into the claim.

International Coastal Cleanup Removes 10M Pounds of Trash from Beaches Worldwide

As a result of Ocean Conservency’s 27th annual International Coastal Cleanup, more than 550,000 volunteers in 97 countries removed an astonishing 10 million pounds of trash from beaches worldwide, roughly the weight equivalent of 41 blue whales. Once the trash is collected, it is sorted by type to get a breakdown of the most commonly found pieces by volunteers, which were listed as such:

• 2,117,931 cigarette butts
• 1,140,222 food wrappers or containers
• 1,065,171 plastic bottles
• 1,019,902 plastic bags
• 958,893 caps, lids
• 692,767 plastic cups, plates, forks, knives, spoons
• 611,048 straws and stirrers
• 521,730 glass bottles
• 339,875 beverage cans
• 298,332 paper bags

The Daily Reel: May 16, 2013 was written by Creedence for Aquaviews - SCUBA Blog - Bringing You The Other 70% Of Our World

Coral restoration by divers in Belize

Coral reefs are one of the world’s most important ecosystems, but they often get the shaft due to not being immediately visible at the surface. With over 500 million people worldwide dependent on their health and stability, they are a sector of nature that humanity cannot afford to lose. However, coral reefs face a number of threats from both natural and man-made sources, and if we mean to keep using them to our advantage, we have no other choice but to intervene for their survival.

Most species of coral are very slow-growing, taking years to establish themselves and grow. This means that any damage inflicted upon corals will also take years to heal, which has significant implications for life on land, as well as in the sea. Coral reefs are a focal point of healthy fisheries, providing habitat for many juvenile fish species as they grow to sexual maturity and reproduce. Without these safe havens, many fish populations would struggle to survive, having nowhere to safely lay their eggs or keep their young away from predators. This is just one way in which coral reefs are highly valuable to people’s everyday lives.

There are many programs across the globe whose focus is coral restoration, carried out by SCUBA divers and skilled fishermen who manually reattach coral pieces that have been broken, or take individual polyps and begin growing new pieces for implantation down the road. This type of “coral gardening” is very effective, but limitations on diving depths and bottom time render deep water corals without the attention they sorely need. This is where coral-bots come in.

Created by a team of experts in the fields of coral biology, autonomous underwater robotics technology, swarm intelligence, and video/image processing, coral-bots are a team of robots that will intelligently navigate around damaged coral reefs and transplant healthy coral pieces along the way. The coral-bots themselves have already been developed and tested in ocean environments, but they are missing two crucial elements for successful use: computer vision to “see” healthy coral fragments that need to be placed on the reef and where to place them, and robotic arms to pick up and put down the pieces in the correct places. Once these final pieces are added, a live demonstration of the coral-bots will be conducted on a coral reef within a public aquarium.

Coral-bot Nessie 4

The Coral-Bot Team has started a Kickstarter campaign in order to raise the funds needed for these last much-needed additions to their coral-bots, which they wholeheartedly believe will pave the way for coral reef restoration around the world. Their goal of $107,000 can be reached through a series of backing options, each of which offers investors a level of recognition in the project, from having your name etched onto one of the coral-bots, to direct involvement in the mission, to meeting the team and having your name indelibly etched on a stone that will serve as the foundation for a new coral reef.

Your level of involvement is completely up to you, of course, but the only way the restoration can begin is with all our help. Check out the video below to get a closer look at the coral-bot mission, and then check out the Coral-Bots Kickstarter campaign to learn more about how you can help.

Click here to help fund Coral-Bots!

Images via Lisa Carne, Coral-Bots Kickstarter Campaign Page

Help Restore Coral Reefs by Funding Coral-Bots! was written by Creedence for Aquaviews - SCUBA Blog - Bringing You The Other 70% Of Our World