Marine Life & Conservation
Lionfish And Tiger Sharks And Box Jellies Oh My!
Scientists think some home hobbyists bought these beautiful unsuspecting fish for their tanks and then the Lionfish either outgrew their tanks, (this fish grows super fast!) or ate the other specimens so the owners decided to release them into the ocean. The second theory is some of these fish found their way to the ocean during Hurricane Andrew in 1992 because it destroyed an Aquarium in southern Florida releasing 6 fish into Biscayne Bay. Scientists found most of the Lionfish tested have come from this same genetic pool.
The lionfish is a venomous fish. The difference between venom and poison is this, venom has to be injected into your bloodstream to be harmful, like through a Lionfish’s spines, a Banded Sea Krait’s fangs or a scorpion’s sting. Poison on the other hand has to be eaten or drunk, or touched, in some cases absorbed through the skin, like if you ate a puffer fish, touched a poison arrow frog or ate a poisonous plant.
Lionfish are considered ambush predators. This fish literally floats around the coral reefs waving its fins among the schools of larval fish and attacks so fast that the other fish don’t even realize what happened. A lionfish will eat anything that it can fit into its wide gaping mouth – it is able to eat things the size of itself. These Lionfish are munching their way through the coral reefs eating every larval fish in sight! Except for the occasional curious shark predator, Lionfish are free to flourish.
Organizations have started having Lionfish Derbies. Divers are challenged to catch as many Lionfish as they can. YES, there is even a Lionfish Cookbook!
Lions are one of the top terrestrial ambush predators on our planet. It’s ironic that a fish with the same name is an oceanic ambush predator as well. (I ain’t Lion to you!) I mean who thought a fish could cause so much trouble?
Find out more about marine life with Pamela at www.gotoceans.com.
Photo: Malcolm Nobbs
The Shark Trust is excited to announce that, for two more days only, all donations, large or small, will be doubled in the Big Give Green Match Fund!
Donate to Basking in Nature: Sighting Giants
The Shark Trust is hoping to raise £10k which will be doubled to £20k. This will go towards Basking in Nature: Sighting Giants. And they need YOUR help to reach they’re goal.
The Shark Trust’s citizen science project is to monitor and assess basking sharks through sightings; encouraging data collection, community engagement, and promoting nature accessibility. This initiative aims to enhance health and wellbeing by fostering a deeper connection with British Sharks.
Campaign Aims
- Increase citizen science reporting of Basking Sharks and other shark sightings to help inform shark and ray conservation.
- Provide educational talks about the diverse range of sharks and rays in British waters and accessible identification guides!
- Create engaging and fun information panels on how to ID the amazing sharks and rays we have on our doorstep! These can be used on coastal paths around the Southwest. With activities and information on how you can make a difference for sharks and rays!
- Promote mental wellbeing through increasing time in nature and discovering the wonders beneath the waves!
Donate, and double your impact. Click Here
Marine Life & Conservation
Leading UK-based shark conservation charity, the Shark Trust, is delighted to announce tour operator Diverse Travel as a Corporate Patron
Corporate Patrons provide a valuable boost to the work of The Shark Trust. The Trust team works globally to safeguard the future of sharks, and their close cousins, the skates and rays, engaging with a global network of scientists, policymakers, conservation professionals, businesses and supporters to further shark conservation.
Specialist tour operator Diverse Travel has operated since 2014 and is committed to offering its guests high quality, sustainable scuba diving holidays worldwide. Working together with the Shark Trust will enable both organisations to widen engagement and encourage divers and snorkellers to actively get involved in shark conservation.
“Sharks are truly at the heart of every diver and at Diverse Travel, we absolutely share that passion. There is nothing like seeing a shark in the wild – it’s a moment that stays with you forever!” says Holly Bredin, Sales & Marketing Manager, Diverse Travel.
“We’re delighted to celebrate our 10th year of business by becoming a Corporate Patron of the Shark Trust. This is an exciting partnership for Diverse and our guests. We will be donating on behalf of every person who books a holiday with us to contribute towards their vital shark conservation initiatives around the world. We will also be working together with the Trust to inspire divers, snorkellers and other travellers to take an active role – at home and abroad – in citizen science projects and other activities.”
Paul Cox, CEO of The Shark Trust, said:
“It’s an exciting partnership and we’re thrilled to be working with Diverse Travel to enable more divers and travellers to get involved with sharks and shark conservation. Sharks face considerable conservation challenges but, through collaboration and collective action, we can secure a brighter future for sharks and their ocean home. This new partnership takes us one more valuable step towards that goal.”
For more information about the Shark Trust visit their website here.
For more about Diverse Travel click here.
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