Artificial Reefs
In the February issue of National Geograhic is the article “From Relic to Reefs” in it you will find an exciting story of what artificial reefs do for our ecology and economy. If you are a diver, you will understand the approach from underwater on a sunken object. Some placed there intentionally and some unintentional. The research is in studying the benefits of such placements and the reasons why. Besides bringing pleasure to divers, artificial reefs aid in building homes and safety stops or stations for nomadic creatures as well as those looking for a safe place to setup residence. They also provide a place for fisherpeople to go to catch bait and to catch prey. The economy prospers wth the increase of sales in sporting goods, fishing and diving, boating … Read entire article »
Filed under: Artificial Reefs, Featured, Reefs, Reference, Report
Reef Research and Reef Building Opportunities
Hello, I want to provide you with an update to our artificial reef projects. To date, we have 100’s of tons of concrete looking for a home. We have willing receipients, we have no money for the projects. While we investigate available avenues for the income, we continue to hunt for material suitable for reefing. Though concrete is a favorite, other material may do, such as steel. Should you learn of any opportunity around the state of Florida in need of experience people to work side by side in placing a reef in your area, please feel free to contact me or visit the TISIRI web site. If you line in or near Jacksonville, Florida and would like to become involved with reef research and artificial reef creation, please visit the Jacksonville Reef Research … Read entire article »
Filed under: Artificial Reefs, Featured, Fish, Reefs, Report
REEF Making It Count — February 2011
Making It Count – February 2011 Exciting Results from the 2011 Grouper Moon Project By Brice Semmens, Ph.D., Grouper Moon Project Lead Scientist Researchers and volunteers from REEF, along with staff from the Cayman Islands Department of the Environment, have just wrapped up another year of study on Nassau grouper spawning as part of the Grouper Moon Project. Our work this year focused on the spawning aggregation in Little Cayman, which is the largest (and one of just a few) known remaining aggregations of Nassau grouper in the Caribbean. Highlights from this year’s work include:- REEF launched the Baby Grouper Adrift! webpage, which shows the results of state-of-the-art satellite drifter research being conducted. Working with scientists from Oregon State University, the Adrift project aims to better understand where Nassau grouper larvae end up … Read entire article »
Filed under: Adv. Open Water, Artificial Reefs, Events, Grouper, Open Water, Promotions, Reefs, Reference, Report
Divers want marine sanctuary in waters around Blue Heron Boulevard bridge
RIVIERA BEACH — Scuba divers are asking Palm Beach County to begin the process of designating the waters around the Blue Heron Boulevard bridge and Phil Foster Park as a marine sanctuary. The move is intended to stop the collection of tropical fish for aquariums. County Commissioner Karen Marcus said divers approached her to request the sanctuary designation, which the Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission would have to approve. She was surprised to learn that the waters around the park and the bridge have become an internationally recognized hot spot for divers and underwater photographers. “This is a beautiful place, and I think biologically it’s very important,” said George Burgess, a zoologist who studies fish and the director of the Florida Program for Shark Research … Read entire article »
Filed under: Artificial Reefs, Diver, Fish, Open Water, Photography, Reefs, Reference, Report, Training, Videography
Urgent Legislative Alert Regarding Goliath Grouper
Next week, the State of Florida will decide the goliath grouper’s fate. Since 1990, possessing or harvesting this fish has been prohibited by law. After reviewing the available studies and reports, the PADI organization believes it is prudent to maintain the current “no-take” status quo until compelling evidence that the population has satisfactorily recovered to levels that would sustain harvesting is presented. The PADI organization believes it is premature to opening the fishery now because: – The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission’s staff analysis indicates there is insufficient data to use detailed assessment methods, thus requiring more assumption-based (rather than data-based) assessments. 2011 Goliath Grouper presentation – page 9<http://myfwc.com/docs/CommissionMeetings/2011/Feb/GoliathGrouperStock_presentation.pdf> – In the required formal review of the State’s goliath grouper population assessment, the appointed independent scientific panel deemed the assessment was not suitable because of these data … Read entire article »
Filed under: Artificial Reefs, Events, Featured, Fish, Reefs, Reference, Report
South Atlantic Fisheries Management Council
January/February 2011 Public Hearing and Scoping Meeting Series The Council will hold a series of public hearings and scoping meetings regarding fisheries management measure proposed for several federally managed species, including those within the snapper grouper management complex, dolphin (fish), wahoo, golden crab and octocorals within the South Atlantic region. These measures will impact both commercial and recreational fishermen. Members of the public are invited to attend the meetings at any time between the hours of 3:00 PM and 7:00 PM to learn more about the proposed actions and provide formal comments to Council members in attendance (See schedule below). Written public comments will be accepted until February 14, 2011. Email addresses for individual amendments are included below. Hard copies may be mailed to the Council office using the … Read entire article »
Filed under: Artificial Reefs, Boats, Featured, Fish, General Question, Open Water, Reefs, Reference, Report
TUFF-E-NUFF Almost Realtime updates – STOPPED. Placed 01/17/2011@16:52EST
TUFF-E-NUFF has left port this morning around 6am EST on her way to her new duty station. Sea conditions were as predicted, and are getting rougher. I have received a number of calls from the guys hitching a ride on TUFF-E-NUFF and the ride is making them nervous. Sea and wind conditions are picking up and a storm is on the horizon. TODAY SOUTHEAST WINDS 10 TO 15 KNOTS BECOMING SOUTH 15 KNOTS LATE IN THE AFTERNOON. SEAS 3 TO 4 FEET WITH A DOMINANT PERIOD 9 SECONDS. A MODERATE CHOP ON THE INTRACOASTAL WATERS. SHOWERS AND CHANCE OF THUNDERSTORMS. TUFF-E-NUFF is being pulled to the site and they have a good couple of hours of travel time remaining, if they do not abort due to bad sea conditions. The site is located at 27 12.6 – … Read entire article »
Filed under: Boats, Events, Reefs, Reference, Report, Wrecks
TUFF-E-NUFF Update on Placement
Saturday, the TISIRI team arrive at 10:30AM to find TUFF-E-NUFF moored along the end of the dock at Harborview Marina. Moored behind he was the Dawn Star, the Tug that towed TUFF-E-NUFF from St. Mary’s GA. to it’s present location. The day started off cool, but in a matter of minutes, we were all pulling off our warmer clothing and down to the T-shirts we went. The day was beautiful, sunny and warm. Sunday should be even better as far a weather goes. Now, this was the part that tugged at the heart. Friday January 14 friends and family of Kyle boarded TUFF-E-NUFF and written all long the port side and various locations in the tug are the fairwells, the notes and messages written to Kyle. Please see the pictures from ALL the … Read entire article »
Filed under: Artificial Reefs, Boats, Events, Reefs, Report, Wrecks
TUFF-E-NUFF to be placed this Sunday January 16, 2011
SUNDAY NORTHEAST WINDS 5 TO 10 KNOTS. SEAS 2 TO 3 FEET. Right now it looks like an early morning departure, perhaps 4-5am EST from Harbor Branch Sunday January 16, 2011. The local and time are not official at the time of this post, just what has been discussed to date. If you or someone you know has a boat and would like to watch and film this event, feel free to contact me for up to date information at CONTACT LARRY. You can get location and time of departure. Sea conditions as of Thursday Jan 13, 2011 18:40pm EST SATURDAY NORTHEAST WINDS 5 TO 10 KNOTS. SEAS 3 TO 4 FEET. A LIGHT CHOP ON THE INTRACOASTAL WATERS. SATURDAY NIGHT NORTHEAST WINDS 5 TO 10 KNOTS. SEAS 3 TO 4 FEET. MOSTLY SMOOTH ON THE INTRACOASTAL WATERS. SUNDAY NORTHEAST WINDS 5 … Read entire article »
Filed under: Artificial Reefs, Boats, Events, Photography, Reefs, Reference, Report, Video, Wrecks
Tugboat to be used as Kyle Conrad Reef en route to Treasure Coast
MARTIN COUNTY — A steel tugboat built over a century ago and originally powered by a steam engine soon will begin a new chapter in its history of service. The tugboat Tuff-E-Nuff has begun its 200-plus-mile tow from just north of Jacksonville to where it will eventually find its final resting place, on the sea floor about 10 miles northeast of St. Lucie Inlet. John Burke, founder of the MCAC Reef Fund, said if all goes as planned, the unique vessel will be sunk next week and take on its new name, the Kyle Conrad Memorial Artificial Reef. More than 100 friends and family of Kyle Conrad, the 21-year-old former soccer star from Jensen Beach High School and Lynn University, … Read entire article »
Filed under: Artificial Reefs, Boats, Events, Photography, Promotions, Reefs, Report, Wrecks
Divers Direct Sponsors Multi-Location Reef and Beach Cleanup
DANIA BEACH, Fla.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Divers Direct, the world’s largest retailer of scuba diving equipment, is proud to host its first annual “Scrub & Grub” reef and beach cleanup to benefit multiple locations throughout the state of Florida on Saturday, January 29, 2011. Each of the 5 Divers Direct Florida Dive Shops in Orlando, West Palm Beach, Fort Lauderdale, Key Largo and Key West will spearhead its own cleanup of a local beach, coral reef, or both. The cleanup will be followed by a celebration at each location with food and … Read entire article »
Filed under: Adv. Open Water, Artificial Reefs, Boats, Events, Open Water, Promotions, Reefs, Reference, Report
Hard-to-find fish reveals shared developmental toolbox of evolution
(PhysOrg.com) — A SCUBA expedition in Australia and New Zealand to find the rare embryos of an unusual shark cousin enabled American and British researchers to confirm new developmental similarities between fish and mammals. Elephant fish, a relative of sharks, utilize the same genetic process for forming skeletal gill covers that lizards and mammals use to form fingers and toes, researchers at the University of Chicago and the University of Cambridge found. The precise timing of when and where that gene is expressed during embryonic development produces dramatic anatomical differences between elephant fish and their close relatives, the dogfish. The study, published online January 10th by the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, confirms that organisms separated by hundreds of millions of years of evolution share similar genetic programs for … Read entire article »
TUFF-E-NUFF no longer in the St. Marys River, GA.
Today Saturday January 8, 2011, I, Larry Davis, Joe Kistel, and Ed Kalakauskis boarded TUFF-E-NUFF at 08:12 EST. While Joe and Ed prepared the pumps to remove any residual water, I took picutres and video. At 09:20 we are informed by David with the Marinia that he see’s Dawn Star, the Tug coming to tow TUFF-E-NUFF towards St. Lucie, FL. and Dawn Star ia about 20 minutes away. Well guess what, Ed and Joe jump on our boat and hustle to shore to get the something like 300lb anchor and bring it back before the tug arrives. Guess what? I pop out of the galley on the starboard side and look forward to see this red and white tug staring at me. WOW! kewl!!. I move aft where my camera is … Read entire article »
Filed under: Artificial Reefs, Boats, Events, Photography, Reefs, Reference, Report, Videography, Wrecks
TUFF-E-NUFF is on her way south
If you are interested in witnessing the placement of a century old tug as an artificial reef, we will be moving her south this Saturday along the eastern seaboard of Florida. The 19th century tug, TUFF-E-NUFF was scheduled to be moved and placed last year around the December time frame as the last artificial reef placed off the coast of Florida for 2010. Instead, she may be the first placement for the 2011 year. For more information regarding TUF-E-NUFF, you may contact me for more details, check back here at Divetalking.com and tisiri.org. … Read entire article »
Filed under: Artificial Reefs, Boats, Reefs, Report, Videography, Wrecks