Biologists recently witnessed an extraordinary sight while conducting an underwater study of mutton snapper in the Florida Keys.
For the first time in Florida waters, scientists with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission’s (FWC) Fish and Wildlife Research Institute, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and the University of South Florida observed this species spawning in a Marine Protected Area in the Florida Keys. The site was established, in part, to protect spawning schools of snapper and grouper in the Tortugas Ecological Reserve.
Mutton snapper is an important species to both recreational and commercial fisheries. When fish group together in large numbers to spawn, they are more vulnerable to fishing pressure. Allowing the fish to spawn without angler pressure will help sustain the fishery. The data collected from this study will help biologists understand the effectiveness of creating no-take Marine Protected Areas to protect a variety of sea life, including fish and coral reefs.
Biologists spotted the large school of spawning snapper while working on an acoustic tagging project. The purpose of this research is to obtain information regarding the movement, spawning and migratory habits of snappers and groupers. They conducted surgeries underwater at depths of up to 120 feet to implant acoustic tags inside the fish. Conducting the tagging at this ground-breaking depth causes less stress to the fish than bringing them to the surface by conventional hook-and-line methods to complete the surgeries.
Biologists will continue to receive data from the tagged fish for the next few years. This information will help them learn more about the movement, spawning and migratory habits of these fish.
For more information on FWRI’s marine fisheries research, visit http://research.MyFWC.com.
Diving for lobster in Florida’s upcoming mini-season can be deadly, warns a leading dive-safety organization.
“Divers get excited and rush to dive without preparation, and most of them are out of shape,” said Petar Denoble, a physician who serves as senior research director for the Divers Alert Network. ”They underestimate the level of exercise required for diving, particularly lobster diving,” said Denoble, author of a recent report published in DAN’s Alert Diver magazine. The past four years have seen 14 divers die during Florida’s annual two-day mini-season — 10 of them in Florida Keys waters, the leading destination for lobster hunters.
In contrast, only six divers died while hunting lobster statewide in the regular eight-month lobster season in the same 2005-08 period. This year’s lobster sport-diving season arrives July 29 and 30.
“Why the higher percentage of deaths in the two-day preseason? Our best guess is that mini-season may be the time many divers take their first plunge of the year,” Denoble wrote. “Or they’ve made relatively few dives thus far and haven’t gotten up to speed on their skills and conditioning…. The underwater chase, frequent ascents and many repetitive dives over the two-day season can take a toll, even on the most experienced divers.” He pointed out that most of the mini-season deaths can be traced to heart problems in divers in their late 40s and older.
There was no evidence that air embolisms, typically responsible for about a third of all diving deaths, caused any of the 20 lobster-related deaths that DAN staff studied. Denoble called that finding “interesting,” but cautioned against drawing broad conclusions from the relatively small number of case studies.
After three divers died in Monroe County waters during the 2005 mini-season, authorities called for increased caution. All three were out-of-county residents; the youngest was 49.
But the 2006 season was even deadlier, with four fatalities.
There were two lobster diving deaths in the Keys last year, after one death in 2007.
Many of the deaths could be linked to those with known medical problems, or who had undiagnosed conditions.
A lobster-season safety campaign was launched this spring to warn divers to check their equipment and be aware of physical demands. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, the Diving Equipment and Marketing Association and DAN prepared the program.
“People who live a sedentary lifestyle must assume they are out of shape,” Denoble said. “Divers may try to chase lobster the same way they did it when they were 25. But at 50, it doesn’t work that way any more.”
Denoble recommended that older divers have regular checkups, and exercise throughout the year.
“Get prepared. You cannot go out and play a game without practice,” he said. “This is your game, and you need to win.”
An estimated 30,000 divers go out for lobster in a typical mini-season, with about 60 percent of them planning to do it in the Keys.
Admitted Lower Keys lobster poacher David Dreifort was sentenced Friday to two and a half years in prison, and his wife [Denise D. Dreifort] to seven months in jail, for leading what’s been called the Key’s largest lobster poaching operation ever. Their sentencings by U.S. District Court Judge Jose Martinez put the lid on a case the feds dubbed Operation Freezer Burn. According to evidence presented through pleadings, trial and other in-court statements, the six defendants in Operation Freezer Burn were directly involved in illegally taking 1,197 lobster on the opening day of Florida’s commercial lobster season in August 2008, and stockpiling approximately 1,700 pounds of wrung lobster tail harvested during the closed season. The operation was based out of Cudjoe Key.
In addition to prison, David Dreifert was ordered to serve three years of probation following his release, and is prohibited from fishing for five years in South Florida. [That's NOT long enough] His wife follows her jail time with seven months of home confinement with electronic monitoring, and is also banned from fishing South Florida waters for five years. The Dreiforts also forfeited to the U.S. government their three vehicles and three vessels, used in the lobster poaching operation. On June 11, Robert Hammer was sentenced to two months in jail, home confinement for six months with electronic monitoring, and supervised release for two years. In a parallel civil action, they were ordered to pay $1.1 million toward restoration of the marine sanctuary, including removing 700 casitas. The couple is expected to raise the money by selling their Cudjoe Key home and another property on Little Torch Key.
On June 10, Sean Reyngoudt was sentenced to home confinement for four months with electronic monitoring, four years of probation and 300 hours of community service. He’s banned from fishing South Florida waters for four years.
On June 2, Key Wester Michael Delph was sentenced to 10 months in jail, home confinement for six months with electronic monitoring, 100 hours of community service and supervised release for two years. Delph is the only one who went to trial. [This is the saddest case, local fishing legend's son.]
John Niles, the first to enter a guilty plea, cooperated in the case, and testified against Delph. He received a year of probation.
Applicants must be capable of passing an AAUS diving physical examination and swim test upon employment.
Position is located in Key Largo, Florida.
Performs topside and underwater technical support for the Aquarius underwater laboratory. The Aquarius undersea laboratory is a unique tool that is used to support marine science in the Florida Keys. The undersea laboratory is part of a world-class research program; safety is paramount.
Services, maintains, and operates all underwater laboratory equipment and support systems (for example, high and low pressure gas systems, life support components, environmental control units). Services and maintains diving equipment, small boats, and diesel and outboard engines. Assists scientists/aquanauts in the accomplishment of underwater tasks.
High School diploma or equivalent, and demonstration of ability to meet certification standards to dive through American Academy of Underwater Sciences (AAUS), recreational or military equivalent.
All diplomas and degrees must be received from appropriately accredited institutions.
General knowledge and technical skills to effectively and safely carry out previously determined methodologies.
Knowledge of basic study design and general diving methods of data collection applicable in scientific operations.
Working knowledge of safe scientific diving procedures, practices and standards.
Certified SCUBA diver is desirable.
May vary
Monday – Friday (Weekends and evenings may be required)
12 months
$31,777
$44,773
NG
Contributing
PLEASE NOTE: You will be required to attach a resume to successfully apply for this position. To receive full consideration, please be sure you have completed the ‘Work History’ section of the application before you submit it.
For NC State employees with RIF priority re-employment rights, this job is considered a salary grade 68.
Key West’s nightly Sunset Celebration has been named America’s best unheralded free attraction, and Bahia Honda State Park near Big Pine Key has been ranked number two in a list of best United States beaches by TripAdvisor.
Both accolades were determined by the TripAdvisor Popularity Index and TripAdvisor editors.
TripAdvisor-branded Web sites provide online travel reviews and feature more than 25 million monthly visitors and 10 million registered members.
For more than 30 years, Key West’s Sunset Celebration at Mallory Square has drawn large nightly crowds to applaud talents of colorful street performers, view local artisans’ handmade wares and watch the sun sink beneath the horizon beyond Key West Harbor. A tightrope walker, jugglers, mimes, quirky animal acts, fortune tellers, musicians and foodstuffs including “Pretty Good Popcorn” are among attractions as well as unobstructed views of the setting sun.
In its announcement of the designation, TripAdvisor lauded the nightly event as “a celebration of dazzling Key West sunsets” and quoted a TripAdvisor traveler who said, “You can’t imagine the beauty of this, it is just awesome.”
Any doubt about the prevalence of lionfish in Florida Keys waters ended July 5. The largest lionfish yet captured in the Keys — 9 inches total length — was netted at The Elbow Reef off Key Largo. It was the eighth exotic lionfish taken in Keys waters since the first capture in January, an average of better than one a month.
“This was the largest Keys fish so far, and certainly reproductively capable,” said Lad Akins, special projects director at the Reef Environmental Education Foundation. “We’re getting lionfish sightings with more frequency,” said Karrie Carnes, information officer for the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary.
A response team formed by the sanctuary and REEF headed to The Elbow after the big lionfish was spotted around 11 a.m. July 5 by Quiescence Diving Services instructor Chelyn Shaw. Quiescence staff volunteered a boat and crew.
“At 3:30 p.m. the fish was located in exactly the same location as reported,” Akins said. “The fish was first noted resting upside down under a ledge, but during the removal dive it was found hovering over the sand bottom under the ledge, hunting.” It took divers just eight minutes to find and net the fish, the most efficient capture yet, Carnes said. Read more »
With ESPN2 camera crews stalking competitors in the Florida Keys Outfitters IGFA Inshore World Championship this week, ESPNOutdoors.com is able to offer viewers with an exclusive video segment of a successful tarpon catch.
During the first day of competition, Houston’s Carlos Duncan hooked up with a good-sized tarpon, worth 200 points towards his tournament total. Duncan and guide, John Donnell, found a spot filled with roughly 15 tarpon and what ensued was a typical fight, lasting a couple of minutes, and covering a healthy stretch of water.
Interesting was the duo’s persistence in landing this particular tarpon. While the area was clearly a hot spot for the species, Duncan had a hard time getting any to fall for his fly. After working the area for about two hours, he was finally successful. A definite lesson in persistence for fledgling anglers.
The clip also provides insight into the teamwork — between guide and angler — necessary to succeed at a tournament like this. While the anglers are typically the ones that garner the praise, guides play an integral part in finding fish, boat control and effective communication.
Duncan, who was highlighted in earlier article, landed one snook and one redfish Wednesday, completing a three-fish SLAM. In the fly division, that is good enough to be in contention and if Duncan can put some points on the board and satisfy another species category Thursday, he has a reasonable shot at victory.
The silver anniversary of the Underwater Music Festival will be a decidedly yellow affair.
This will be the 25th time the Underwater Music Festival heads out to the waters of the Looe Key Reef. Each year has brought a different theme, and in honor of the 40th anniversary of an iconic Beetles album, the Underwater Music Festival will be paying tribute to the music of the Yellow Submarine. The event is held each year in an effort to raise awareness for the local coral reefs. Read more »
Due to resurfacing and other roadwork, the north lane of U.S. 1 on the 18 Mile Stretch from Mile Marker 109 to 113 will be shifted onto the 10-foot wide evacuation lane from 8 p.m. to 5:30 a.m. Tuesday through Thursday
The work is part of the Florida Department of Transportation’s Jewfish Creek Bridge construction project from Lake Surprise Boulevard, Mile Marker 106 in Key Largo, north to the Miami-Dade/Monroe County line, Mile Marker 113. The schedule is tentative and may change due to bad weather or other factors.
Motorists are encouraged to call 511 or visit www.fl511.com to get real-time traffic and lane closure information.
Sharks play a vital role in maintaining the health of marine ecosystems but their stocks are in serious trouble. More than one hundred million sharks are killed by fisheries every year. They are intentionally harvested for their fins, meat or liver oil, and they are incidentally caught as bycatch in fisheries targeting other species.
Sharks are highly migratory and regularly cross national boundaries. However, outside of Antarctica, there are no international limits on shark harvest. With increasing demand for shark fin soup, and little protection, sharks worldwide are at great risk.
Oceana is working in U.S. waters to protect and restore shark populations. Through our policy, science, legal and communications work, Oceana is pushing for true finning bans, species specific shark management and reduced shark bycatch, as well as decreasing the demand for shark products such as shark fin soup and cosmetic products containing squalene. The loss of sharks, many of which are top predators, will have devastating and unpredictable consequences for ocean ecosystems. Immediate action is needed to protect sharks.
Oceana is also working in other parts of the world to protect sharks. Check out what Oceana is doing in Europe and South America. Please visit http://oceana.org/scaredforsharks.
Biologists recently witnessed an extraordinary sight while conducting an underwater study of mutton snapper in the Florida Keys.
