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Food Poisoning from Marine Toxins

By Vernon E. Ansdell Seafood poisoning from marine toxins is an underrecognized hazard for travelers, particularly in the tropics and subtropics. Furthermore, the risk is increasing because of factors such as climate change, coral reef damage, and spread of toxic algal blooms. CIGUATERA FISH POISONING Ciguatera fish poisoning occurs after eating reef fish contaminated with toxins such as ciguatoxin or maitotoxin. These potent toxins originate from small marine organisms (dinoflagellates) that grow on and around coral reefs. Dinoflagellates are ingested by herbivorous fish. The toxins are then concentrated as they pass up the food chain to large carnivorous fish (usually >6 lb, 2.7 kg) and finally to humans. Toxins are concentrated in fish liver, intestinals, roe, and head. Gambierdiscus toxicus, which produces ciguatoxin, may proliferate on dead coral reefs more quickly than other dinoflagellates. … Read entire article »

Filed under: Artificial Reefs, Boats, Conservation, Diver, Divetalking, Earth, Education, Emergency/FirstAid, Featured, Fish, ocean, Open Water, Reefs, Reference, Report, Training

NE Florida’s 2nd Annual Lionfish Derby

NE Florida’s 2nd Annual Lionfish Derby

Come on… You know  you love to hate lionfish. To help the state control lionfish population, NE Florida is conducting its 2nd annual lionfish derby. Last years event handed out thousands of dollars in cash awards and more. Be part of this movement. Sign up and join us August 8 for the captains meeting and August 9th for the hunt and harvest. Proceeds benefit the DSAJ (Down Syndrome Association of Jacksonville) and REEF as well as local … Read entire article »

Filed under: Alert, Article, Artificial Reefs, Boats, Conservation, Contest, Diver, Divetalking, Donation, Earth, Events, extinction, Featured, Lionfish, ocean, Open Water, Promotions, Reefs, Reference, Report

Hammerhead now under U.S. Federal protection under the Endangered Species Act.

    The federal government today listed four key populations of scalloped hammerhead sharks under the Endangered Species Act. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, for the first time in history, gave a shark species federal protections under the Endangered Species Act. The scalloped hammerhead shark is considered globally endangered by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN). The species is targeted primarily for its fins but is also killed as “by-catch” in fisheries targeting other species. NOAA Fisheries listed scalloped hammerhead sharks inhabiting the Eastern Atlantic Ocean and Eastern Pacific Ocean as “endangered.” The agency listed scalloped hammerhead sharks living in the Central and Southwest Atlantic and Indo-West Pacific as the less-serious status of “threatened.” The federal agency declined to list scalloped hammerhead sharks that inhabit the Northwest Atlantic or Central Pacific. “This … Read entire article »

Filed under: Article, Conservation, Divetalking, Earth, Education, extinction, Featured, Fish, ocean, Preservation, Reference, Report, Sharks

Expansion of US marine protected zone could double world reserves

  By Matt McGrath Environment correspondent, BBC News The US plans to create the world’s biggest marine protected area (MPA) in the middle of the Pacific Ocean. The White House will extend an existing protected area, known as the Pacific Remote Islands Marine National Monument. Fishing and drilling would be banned from an area that could eventually cover two million sq km. The extended zone would double the world’s fully protected marine reserves. Rare species The Pacific Remote Islands Area is controlled by the US and consists of seven scattered islands, atolls and reefs that lie between Hawaii and American Samoa. Essentially uninhabited, the waters that surround these remote islands are home to a wide range of species including corals, seabirds, sharks and vegetation not found anywhere else in the world. In 2009, President Bush declared … Read entire article »

Filed under: Alert, Artificial Reefs, Conservation, Divetalking, Earth, Education, extinction, Featured, Fish, ocean, Preservation, Recognition, Reefs, Reference, Report

Florida Turns to Smartphone App in Battle Against Invasive Lionfish

Florida Turns to Smartphone App in Battle Against Invasive Lionfish

ORLANDO Fla. – Florida has a new phone app to help cull the invasion of its waters by the spiked lionfish, a venomous species that is devouring other fish and harming reef ecosystems. The state is home to more than 500 non-native species, but few as rampant in the wild as the marauding lionfish, which is fast-reproducing and has a voracious appetite. It preys on native fish such as yellowtail snapper, Nassau grouper and banded coral … Read entire article »

Filed under: Artificial Reefs, Conservation, Diver, Earth, Education, Featured, Lionfish, ocean, Preservation, Reefs, Reference, Report

The Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill and its Aftermath

Prologue to The The Deepwater Horizon Spill 20 April 2010 began as a day of celebration for The Deepwater Horizon, a 9-year-old offshore semi-submersible drilling rig engaged in drilling a deep exploratory well 18,360 feet (5,600 m) below sea level, in approximately 5,000 feet (1,500 m) of water in the Gulf of Mexico. Located in the Macondo oil prospect in the Mississippi Canyon, a valley in the continental shelf, it was one of the 3,858 oil and gas platforms that dotted the coastline of the five States of the USA bordering the Gulf as on 20 April, 2010 (Figs. 1 & 2). Built by Hyundai Heavy Industries of South Korea, and owned and operated by the Swiss-based offshore-oil-drilling company Transocean, the rig was leased by oil company BP (ex British Petroleum) … Read entire article »

Filed under: Article, Conservation, Divetalking, Earth, Education, extinction, Featured, Fish, ocean, Preservation, Reefs, Reference, Report, Stories

Is it possible? 103 Y/O Orca… Sorry Seaworld.. Your professiona opinion is not accurate

  SeaWorld could be in trouble because of “Granny,” the world’s oldest known living orca. The 103-year-old whale (also known as J2) was recently spotted off Canada’s western coast with her pod — her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. But while the Granny sighting is thrilling for us, it’s problematic for SeaWorld. First of all, SeaWorld has claimed that “no one knows for sure how long killer whales live,” when simple figures or even living and thriving examples — like Granny — can give us a pretty good idea. The Whale and Dolphin Conservation project estimates that whales born in captivity only live to 4.5 years old, on average; many of SeaWorld’s orcas die before they reach their 20s. Perhaps because of their reduced lifespans, the whales are forced to breed continuously and at perilously young … Read entire article »

Filed under: Conservation, Divetalking, Earth, Education, extinction, Featured, Fish, Killer Whale, ocean, Orca, Preservation, Recognition, Reference, Report, Stories, Whales

Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, FWC

  April, 2014 Commission Meeting Time: 8:30am each day Dates: April 15 – 17, 2014 Place: Florida Public Safety Institute 85 Academy Drive Havana, FL 32333 https://www.tcc.fl.edu/Current/Academics/FPSI/Pages/Directions.aspx This meeting is open to the public   8:30 a.m., Wednesday, April 16, there will be a presentation on the subject of LIonfsh Lionfish – Lionfish are invasive marine species that pose a threat to native  marine species and ecosystems.  Three draft rules will be proposed to prevent further lionfish introductions and facilitate efforts to remove these non-native predators.  Harvest by divers using either spearing gear or hand held nets is currently the primary means of lionfish population control. Persons diving by means of a rebreather are currently prohibited from harvesting any marine species in state waters.  A proposed draft rule would create an exception to allow persons using rebreathers to harvest lionfish.  In addition, there are several … Read entire article »

Filed under: Artificial Reefs, Divetalking, Earth, Education, extinction, Featured, Fish, Lionfish, ocean, Preservation, Rebreather, Reefs, Reference, Report

Whaling in the Antarctic (Australia v. Japan: New Zealand intervening) – Judgment of 31 March 2014

  Today, The International Court of Justice ruling regarding Japanese whaling in the south seas is illegal. “Japan shall revoke any existant authorisation, permit or licence granted in relation to Jarpa II [research programme] and refrain from granting any further permits in pursuance to the programme,”  Peter Tomka, International Court of Justice’s Judge said on Monday. Since 1988 Japan has slaughtered more than 10,000 whales. A victory for the whales and all those who stood to protect them. April 2013, Japan announced its haul from the Southern Ocean was at a record low by “unforgivable sabotage” by activists from the environmental group, Sea Shepherd. Here is the link to the findings It chronilogically outlines the compant, and the courts findings. … Read entire article »

Filed under: Alert, Article, Conservation, Divetalking, Earth, Education, extinction, Featured, ocean, Preservation, Recognition, Reference, Report, Whales

California Lawmaker to Propose Ban on Orcas in Captivity

If passed, the bill would be the most comprehensive protection law for captive orcas in the United States in more than 40 years.   By David Kirby David Kirby has been a professional journalist for 25 years. His third book, ‘Death at Seaworld,’ was published in 2012. full bio follow me In a surprising move that is sure to send shock waves across the entire captive whale and dolphin industry, a California lawmaker will propose legislation to outlaw Shamu shows at SeaWorld San Diego. State Assemblymember Richard Bloom, D–Santa Monica, will introduce Friday the Orca Welfare and Safety Act, which would make it illegal to “hold in captivity, or use, a wild-caught or captive-bred orca for performance or entertainment purposes.” The bill would also ban artificial insemination of captive killer whales in California and block … Read entire article »

Filed under: Alert, Conservation, Divetalking, Dolphin, Earth, Education, extinction, Featured, Killer Whale, ocean, Orca, Preservation, Recognition, Reefs, Reference, Report, Training, Whales

6 Ways You Can Help Save Captive Killer Whales Right Now

If you’ve ever wondered what one person can do for caged orcas, this is for you.   By David Kirby David Kirby has been a professional journalist for 25 years.   ‘What Can I Do?’   Ever since my book Death At SeaWorld was released, nearly a year ago, I have received countless emails from concerned readers, who were so disturbed by the lives of killer whales in glass and concrete tanks owned by powerful corporations that they wanted to do something to help. But how? Emily Vargo, a Spanish teacher from Maryland, for example, told me about how her father, a former SeaWorld employee, who is now “very critical of the treatment of park animals,” read her excerpts from the book. “I cried and asked him to stop—I couldn’t take it!” she wrote. “I just wanted to write … Read entire article »

Filed under: Alert, Article, Conservation, Divetalking, Dolphin, Earth, Education, extinction, Killer Whale, ocean, Orca, Preservation, Recognition, Reefs, Reference, Report

Hollis Explorer Counter Lung Recall

Hollis is recalling Explorer counterlungs due to a leaking issue caused by weak welding around the retainer fitting.   Here is the official press release: Discontinue use of your Explorer until new counterlungs are installed. Continued use of the original parts could lead to flooding of the counterlungs, Pre-Dive Check failures, and possible drowning. We have received some counterlungs back due to leaking. We have traced this problem back to one production lot of counterlungs that had weak welds around the retainer fitting. Affected counterlungs can develop leaks over time. Explorers within the serial number range provided below are the only units shipped with these counterlungs. We will send send a free pair of counterlungs to owners of units within the serial number range below. Owners of effected units are asked to complete the return form … Read entire article »

Filed under: Article, Divetalking, Education, Featured, Products, Recall, Report

Narcosis, The Great White Seen at Ginnie Springs

**** FLASH ***** Narcosis the Great White discovered at Ginnie Springs. The individuals who found Narcosis writes: “My son-in-law and I found Narcosis in the bowels of Ginnie Springs.  He attacked us….but we were able to fend him off.  He still calls Ginnie home.” See the clip of the attack. Though Narcosis has thought to have been docile, this is the first report of an attack. Though there is no real danger of injury from Narcosis, she is still considered a safe and friendly Great White and loves to interact with divers. So, should you find Narcosis during your dive within the Ginnie Cavern, snap a photo and send it to Divetalking along with a brief description of the occurance. We will post your find here on Divetalking. … Read entire article »

Filed under: Cavern, Diver, Divetalking, Earth, Education, Featured, Fish, Games, Open Water, Photography, Promotions, Recognition, Report, Springs

The Cave at Blue Grotto

The Cave at Blue Grotto

For many years, Blue Grotto, located in Williston Florida was known for the large and spacious cavern. Through the years, Open Water divers, cavern, cave and students made their way to train, explore and work on their skills. [singlepic id=993 w= h= float=center] Hidden in the back of the property was a a secure pathway leading down to an area closed to all divers. A Cave. When Blue Grotto was sold and transferred to new ownership in 2013, … Read entire article »

Filed under: Cave, Cavern, Diver, Divetalking, Earth, Education, Featured, Open Water, Promotions, Recognition, Reference, Report, Springs

Narcosis, the Great White is found

Narcosis, the Great White is found

This past weekend, Divetalking received texts containing two photographs of a diver, Tom Booker holding the Great White Narcosis. Narcosis was found in the Ginnie Springs. She is the cousin of Deco, the Great White that once lived in Ginnie Springs and has since migrated to and last seen in the Virgina area. Narcosis was last reported as being sited in January 2013.. 11 months later she is discovered once again. A third great White is located … Read entire article »

Filed under: Cavern, Contest, Diver, Divetalking, Featured, Open Water, Promotions, Recognition, Report, Sharks, Springs

Mexico tourism tax increase from 14 to 19%

We have just been informed that the tourism tax for the state of Quintana Roo, Mexico is about to increase from 14 to 19%. This will effect Cozumel, Cancun, Playa del Carmen, and Isla Mujeres.  This higher tax rate is slated to take effect on January 1, 2014. Most hotels are not allowing to prepay to avoid the increase. … Read entire article »

Filed under: Diver, Reference, Report, Travel

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