Reef Assassin Act
House of Representatives Passes Congressman Matt Gaetz’s “Reef Assassin Act” Amendment to H.R. 200 July 12, 2018 Press Release Washington, D.C. — The U.S. House of Representatives yesterday unanimously passed Congressman Matt Gaetz’s (FL-01) “Reef Assassin Act” amendment to H.R. 200, the Strengthening Fishing Communities and Increasing Flexibility in Fisheries Management Act. The amendment will encourage the elimination of lionfish from our waters. It allows individuals to trade 100 harvested lionfish tails for one tag authorizing fishing for coveted reef fish: red snapper, gag grouper, triggerfish, and amberjack. The lionfish population has exploded over the last three decades; they can now be found throughout the Atlantic coast, the Bahamas, and the Gulf of Mexico. A single female lionfish releases 30,000 eggs every two to four days — two million eggs per year. Lionfish harm … Read entire article »
Filed under: Alert, Article, Artificial Reefs, Conservation, Diver, Divetalking, Earth, Education, Featured, Fish, Lionfish, ocean, Recognition, Reefs, Reference, Report
Lionfish Education Exhibit Program
To increase awareness and ensure consistent, accurate messaging about the lionfish invasion in Florida waters by supporting the creation of lionfish educational exhibits in public facilities around the State FWC has initiated a Lionfish Education Exhibit Program. To learn more about the program and to see if you qualify to participate, follow the following link. Lionfish Education Exhibit Program … Read entire article »
Filed under: Article, Artificial Reefs, Earth, Education, Featured, Fish, Lionfish
Lionfish Harvest Charter Program
Program Overview Goal: The FWC Lionfish Control Team is asking for assistance from Florida’s divers and dive charter businesses to increase lionfish harvesting efforts . The program aims to incentivize dive charters to conduct lionfish-specific harvesting trips in an effort to increase the number of lionfish removed from Florida waters. To read more about how to apply for this program, click Requirements & Application Ready to purchase your lionfish hardvesting equipment? Click here to be taken to Zookeeper … Read entire article »
Filed under: Article, Boats, Diver, Earth, Featured, Fish, Lionfish, Preservation, Promotions, Reefs, Reference
Bonnier Corp. to stop printing 5 magazines
Magazine publisher Bonnier Corp., which has an office in Winter Park, plans to stop printing several of its special-interest magazines. The print edition of (READ MORE HERE) … Read entire article »
Filed under: Alert, Article, extinction, Featured, Publications, Reference, Report
PRODUCT RECALL: Suunto Wireless Tank Pressure Transmitter and Suunto Tank POD
Suunto announces a recall of all Suunto Wireless Tank Pressure Transmitters and Suunto Tank PODs Suunto has identified a potential safety risk affecting all Suunto Wireless Tank Pressure Transmitters and Suunto Tank PODs which wirelessly transmit tank air pressure to compatible Suunto dive computers. In two reported incidents, the exterior case of a Suunto Wireless Tank Pressure Transmitter has failed during regular dry land pressure testing. Although extremely rare, this represents a potential risk of injury due to the risk of bursting. Diver safety is of highest importance to Suunto. That is why Suunto has decided to initiate a recall of all Suunto Wireless Tank Pressure Transmitters and Suunto Tank PODs. All consumers who have a Suunto Wireless Tank Pressure Transmitter or Tank POD are instructed to bring their products to an authorized Suunto … Read entire article »
Filed under: Article, Computers, Featured, Products, Recall, Reference, Report
SAFETY ALERT
Gas cylinders manufactured from aluminum alloy 6351-T6 Safety Alert | 25/10/2016 This safety alert highlights the risks associated with filling gas cylinders manufactured from aluminum alloy 6351-T6 and updates a previous SafeWork NSW (formerly WorkCover NSW) 2009 safety alert. To read more click HERE … Read entire article »
RECALL – Scubapro Recalls Dive Computers Due to Serious Injury Hazard
Hazard: A short circuit allows the dive computer’s screen to freeze or display inaccurate information, posing a risk of serious injury to a diver underwater, including decompression sickness. Remedy: View Details Replace Consumer Contact: Scubapro at 800-790-3757 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. PT Monday through Friday or online at www.scubapro.com and click on “Galileo Recall” for more information Report an Incident Involving this Product Recall Details … Read entire article »
Filed under: Alert, Article, Computers, Diver, Divetalking, Education, Featured, Recall
Revolution – A must see. Rent or Buy your copy now
Yekra Player Yekra is a revolutionary new distribution network for feature films. Revolution Revolution is a feature documentary about opening your eyes, changing the world and fighting for something. A true life adventure following director Rob Stewart in the follow up to his hit Sharkwater, Revolution is an epic adventure into the evolution of life on earth and the revolution to save us.Discovering that there’s more in jeopardy than sharks, Stewart uncovers a grave secret threatening our own survival as a species, and embarks on a life-threatening adventure through 4 years and 15 countries into the greatest battle ever waged. Bringing you some of the most incredible wildlife spectacles ever recorded, audiences are brought face to face with sharks and cuddly lemurs, into the microscopic world of the pygmy seahorse, and on the hunt … Read entire article »
Filed under: Adv. Open Water, Article, Candidate, Conservation, Diver, Divetalking, Dolphin, Donation, Earth, Education, extinction, Featured, Lionfish, Manatee, Manta Rays, ocean, Open Water, Orca, Preservation, Products, Promotions, Recognition, Reefs, Reference, Sharks, Tuna, Turtles, Whales, Whaleshark
Obama approves use of sonic cannons to explore for oil and gas off the Eastern Shore
The Obama administration has approved the use of sonic cannons to explore for oil and gas off the Eastern Shore. The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management on Friday formally approved guidelines for using air cannons in the Atlantic Ocean from Florida to Delaware. Energy companies could buy new oil and gas leases and begin drilling in 2018 if they find profitable reserves. The guidelines are meant to protect endangered whales and other creatures from the loud noises and increased vessel traffic, but the government’s environmental impact study estimates that more than 138,000 sea creatures could be harmed. The decision opens an area of the eastern seaboard larger than two Californias to exploration for the first time in decades. … Read entire article »
Filed under: Alert, Article, Artificial Reefs, Conservation, Divetalking, Earth, Education, Events, Featured, ocean, Preservation, Reefs, Reference, Report
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
Gulf Oil Spill
The Gulf oil spill is recognized as the worst oil spill in U.S. history. Within days of the April 20, 2010 explosion and sinking of the Deepwater Horizon oil rig in the Gulf of Mexico that killed 11 people, underwater cameras revealed the BP pipe was leaking oil and gas on the ocean floor about 42 miles off the coast of Louisiana. By the time the well was capped on July 15, 2010 (87 days later), an estimated 4.9 million barrels of oil had leaked into the Gulf. The well was located over 5,000 feet beneath the water’s surface in the vast frontier of the deep sea—a permanently dark environment, marked by constantly cold temperatures just above freezing and extremely high pressures. Scientists divide the ocean into at least three zones, … Read entire article »
Filed under: Article, Conservation, Earth, Education, ocean, Preservation
Slow life – A must watch
Daniel Stoupin is a PhD student in the University of Queensland. His research is in the field marine biology. Mixing his passions of biology and photography, Daniel has produce stunning photos and videos. “My interest in photography, especially in photomicrography, came from the scientific background. Working with microscopic protists during my first research years and later swimming countless nights with glowing plankton in the ocean opened my eyes on the diversity and complexity of life that we can’t see without tools. Although I am obsessed with marine life, particularly microscopic one and whatever glows in the dark, my photography interests are growing and eventually this website will change its name and become a lot more diverse in content.” – Daniel Stoupin http://vimeo.com/danielstoupin/slowlife More pictures from Daniel ““Slow” marine animals show their secret life under high … Read entire article »
Filed under: Article, Conservation, Diver, Divetalking, Earth, Education, Featured, Fish, ocean, Photography, Recognition, Reefs, Reference