News
Dive Ninjas expand their Striped Marlin Expeditions in Bahia Magdalena for 2020 (Watch Video)
Two of the leading names in conservation and exploration of Mexico’s Baja California Sur peninsula, are teaming up again for 2020 to create an even more incredible series of Striped Marlin citizen science expeditions in Bahia Magdalena, Mexico this autumn for the Baja California Sardine Run.
The 2019 season was jaw dropping to say the least. As if swimming with dozens of striped marlin and sea lions chasing bait-balls wasn’t enough, last year they encountered fin whales, pods of orcas, sailfish, and even mako sharks! The surreal encounters, and abundance of life experienced in this area, has inspired Dive Ninja Expeditions and Nakawe Project to look for more ways to help protect this remarkable area for the 2020 season.
Watch this video for a teaser of what’s in store:
https://youtu.be/nBbC9gMC8bQ
To start, they have recently announced that Dr. Rogelio Gonzalez Armas, will join this year’s ‘Nakawe Ninja’ expedition team. With over 30 years of hands-on research with the striped marlin of the Eastern Pacific, he will oversee the research end of the project as well as help redevelop the citizen science aspects of the expeditions, in hopes that they will discover where and when the marlin are spawning!
Second, the opportunity to swim alongside one of the fastest fish in the ocean will be more intimate than ever for 2020. The team has decided to cut the tours down to only four guests on each of the nine expeditions this year. Along with two expert guides, one representing Nakawe Project and the other representing Dive Ninja Expeditions – creating a 2:1 ratio of guests to expert guides creating a more intimate experience both above and under the water. The 2020 Striped Marlin expedition program will offer presentations on the striped marlin & conservation, interactive data collecting, and of course front row seats to one of nature’s greatest shows.
This upcoming season also sees the addition of new 6 day expeditions for those guests looking for a some extra in water time with these remarkable creatures. The expeditions depart from Cabo San Lucas to the small fishing village of San Carlos. From the picturesque accommodation overlooking Magdalena Bay, you can see every color of red, yellow, and pink reflected off of the glassy water from your balcony during the sunsets.
Join researchers, photographers, and passionate ocean conservationists to experience an adrenalin-pumping adventure in one of the world’s last wild frontiers, while simultaneously contributing to the protection and preservation of it. 50% of all profits from this expedition will be donated directly to Nakawe Project’s #SavetheMarlins Campaign.
Tickets are available now. To learn more about the Nakawe Ninjas Striped Marlin citizen science expeditions visit diveninjaexpeditions.com
Blogs
Heading out on the water this Summer? Watch for manatees
As National Safe Boating Week approaches, Save the Manatee® Club is urging boaters, and anyone that enjoys Florida’s waterways, to respect and protect the defenseless manatees that inhabit our shared waterways. From May 18 to 24, leading up to Memorial Day Weekend, the campaign aims to raise awareness about recreational boating safety and the importance of safeguarding imperiled manatees during the summer boating season. This week also emphasizes the importance of encouraging boaters to enroll in a boating safety course.
Manatees are semi-migratory marine mammals that are commonly found in shallow estuaries, bays, rivers, canals, and coastal areas throughout Florida and neighboring states. With some manatees venturing as far west as Texas and as far north as Massachusetts, collisions between these gentle giants and watercraft have become distressingly frequent. Boat propellers and high-speed collisions pose significant threats to manatees, often resulting in severe injuries or even death.
Save the Manatee Club is calling on all water enthusiasts to follow essential manatee safety tips to ensure the well-being of the imperiled manatee:
- Obey Speed Zone Signs: Familiarize yourself with and adhere to posted speed limits to prevent collisions with manatees.
- Reduce Glare with Polarized Sunglasses: Wear polarized sunglasses to enhance visibility and spot manatees below the water’s surface.
- Recognize Manatee Signs: Learn to identify signs of manatees in the area, such as swirls or flat spots on the water caused by their movements.
- Respect Manatee Sanctuaries: Keep a safe distance from posted manatee sanctuaries and avoid pursuing or harassing these marine mammals, as it is illegal and can disrupt their natural behaviors.
- Report Distressed Manatees: In Florida, promptly report distressed, injured, tagged, or orphaned manatees to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) at 1-888-404-FWCC (3922). Outside of Florida, report sightings to the appropriate state agency or rescue organization. A list of agencies to contact is available at savethemanatee.org/report.
- Protect Seagrass Beds: Avoid boating over seagrass beds and shallow areas where manatees may be feeding. Stick to deep water channels while remaining vigilant, as manatees also utilize these channels during their travels.
- Dispose of Fishing Line Responsibly: Anglers should properly dispose of or recycle used fishing line to prevent entanglement hazards for manatees.
“Each year, National Safe Boating Week provides an excellent reminder for all of us to be aware that we share our waterways with vulnerable manatees,” emphasized Patrick Rose, Aquatic Biologist and Executive Director of Save the Manatee Club. “With the recent Unusual Mortality Event on Florida’s East Coast claiming an alarming number of manatees’ lives, it is more crucial than ever to prevent preventable deaths caused by watercraft collisions. By following manatee-safe boating guidelines, such as obeying speed zones and remaining vigilant for manatees, everyone on the water can contribute to the protection of these gentle giants.”
Save the Manatee Club offers a range of free materials to help safeguard manatees and raise awareness about manatee-safe boating practices. Shoreline property owners and park or marina managers can order aluminum dock signs to alert others about the presence of manatees in their areas. Boaters and paddlers can request packets containing a safety tips card, a waterproof boat banner, and a decal to display on their vessels, providing the number to report manatees in distress. To view and request these materials, visit savethemanatee.org/resources. Save the Manatee Club will also be hosting a live webinar for National Safe Boating Week on Tuesday, May 21st at 6pm EST. To register, visit savethemanatee.org/register.
Marine Life & Conservation Blogs
Book Review: Shells of the World
Shells of the World: A Natural History by M.G. Harasewych
Shells of the world is a guide to the world of marine, shelled molluscs. And what a varied and interesting world it is. Some of my favourite things to find on a dive are detailed in this book, including disco clams (or Electric File Clams as they are correctly names), the cephalopods, giant clams and sea hares. There are also many on my wish list, top of which is the Nautilus.
Each chapter provides a detailed description of the species, along with beautiful images. You can dive deeper and discover where they live, both with global distribution and the habitat they prefer. Learn about their diet, reproduction and diversity.
Having dipped in and out of this lovely book over the past few weeks, it has inspired me to learn more about this group of animals that we see on most divers, wherever we are in the world. Some of the shells are incredibly intricate and beautiful. I have always agreed with never collecting, or touching, marine life. The description of a certain set of cone shells should be a warning to those that are happy to pick up marine life! One of the cone shells has a local name called the cigarette snail. Why? Because once the venom is in your system from this animal, you only have time to smoke one cigarette before the affects of the venom are fatal!
What the publisher says:
Mollusks are invertebrate animals with a remarkable natural history and a rich fossil record, and their shells are prized for their breathtaking variety and exquisite beauty. Shells of the World provides a wide-ranging look at the incredible diversity of marine mollusks. An informative introduction outlines the lineages covered, followed by a directory section, split into classes, that profiles a broad selection of different taxa to give a sense of their sheer numbers and variety.
- Features hundreds of beautiful color photos, depicting both the live animals and their shells
- Discusses mollusk evolution, anatomy, life cycles, behavior, and ecology
- Describes unique characteristics, distribution, habitat, and size
- Provides valuable insights into the conservation of the world’s marine mollusks
- Ideal for malacologists and shell collectors everywhere
About the Author:
M. G. Harasewych is research zoologist emeritus and former curator in the Department of Invertebrate Zoology at the Smithsonian Institution’s National Museum of Natural History. A fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, he is the author (with Fabio Moretzsohn) of The Book of Shells: A Life-Size Guide to Identifying and Classifying Six Hundred Seashells.
Book Details
Publisher: Princeton University Press
Hardcover
Price: £25
ISBN: 9780691248271
Published: 9th April, 2024
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