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
Florida Spiny Lobster Season – Things you need to know
Before reading the article below, take the quiz to evaluate your knowledge on the rules and regulations for harvesting Spiny Lobster off Florida waters. Lobster Seasons: The spiny lobster sport season is July 30-31 (always the last consecutive Wednesday and Thursday in July). The regular season begins August 6. Unless exempt, a recreational saltwater fishing license and a lobster permit are required to harvest spiny lobster. Commercial harvest is not allowed during the sport season. Florida Regulations: Spiny Lobster Sport … Read entire article »
Filed under: Artificial Reefs, Boats, Conservation, Diver, Divetalking, Earth, Education, extinction, Featured, Lobster, ocean, Open Water, Preservation, Reefs, Reference, Report, Spiny Lobster
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
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
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
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
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
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
Cozumel Lionfish Invasion
Divetalking has just returned from 8 days of diving the various reefs along the marine park corridor and have concluded the program put in place to control the Lionfish population is performing very well. During the 8 days of diving in the park, we came across very little lionfish, harvesting a total of 17 during the weeks dives. We did note they appear to be in groups, meaning there would be a number of lionfish clumped in an area, then periods of no lionfish. Most lionfish were in the depths 80+ foot, some can be found in the 50+ foot range and were usually smaller in nature. Congratulation to the people of Cozumel in promoting a program which appears to be working well within the marine park in controlling the lionfish population. … Read entire article »
Filed under: Conservation, Divetalking, Earth, Education, extinction, Lionfish