Bimini BULL 'ish: Shooting Fish in a Barrel

Duncan and I spent an amazing day on the water to celebrate our one year wedding anniversary and decided to head to the north island for dinner. We sat on the Big Game restaurant deck and enjoyed our cocktails as we watched the sun slipping away. The fish-cleaning tables were bustling with activity as several guys cleaned the day’s Mahi Mahi catch. We watched as they leaned over the railings and pointed, no doubt spotting some of the bull sharks that cruise the area looking for free scraps. For decades bulls sharks have swam into the channel between the islands and gotten a free meal from fisherman cleaning their catch. The Sharklab has been collecting valuable data from these animals for years through their tagging program.



Tagging a bull shark in Bimini IMAGE: Grant Johnson


This year Big Game launched an operation allowing people to see these incredible animals up close from the comfort of a shark cage. No, it is not conditioning the sharks to associate people with food, it is simply allowing people a safe viewing window of a phenomenon that has been happening for year. We watched as one guy grabbed a rod and his fighting belt. I looked at Duncan and we knew what this idiot was planning. The deep-sea rod with high-test tackle was not designed for catching snapper, but was ideal for sharks. All of a sudden everyone was shouting and running down the dock. He had hooked a shark and was now trying to figure out what to do. Guys were scrambling to grab cameras in order to capture their latest Facebook status update in an attempt to prove how tough or manly they are.

I headed for the dock and Duncan headed for the office. The guy was shouting, “it’s in the pilings,” as I made my way over. I quietly asked one of the guys what was going on and he smiled as he shared with me the excitement of the bull shark on the line. I could see the shark in the distance and walked back to the office. I had to bite my tongue because in their drunken state of machismo, these men would most definitely be argumentative and this accomplishes nothing.

Duncan was explaining the situation to the security guard as I entered the office. We made our way back to the deck and watched as she went to speak with the men. The shark had by this time broken the line and was now, most likely, sporting some new and unnecessary jewelry. You may be wondering why I am writing about this and there are 3 simple reasons.

1. This marina is clearly labeled as Shark Free with signs posted in several locations.

2. The Bahamas is a Shark sanctuary and fishing for sharks is illegal. There is a sign posted on the fish-cleaning table that clearly states this.

3. Fishing for sharks at a shark research & diving site is pathetic and completely disrespectful to the animals, the research and the island itself.

Here is what Bimini Bull Run had to say in response to our report.
“We just got word that someone deliberately hooked one of the wonderful sharks at Bimini Big Game Club yesterday. The shark broke the line but still has a hook in it, which is TOTALLY unacceptable.

These persons willfully chose to ignore:

1. Multiply Shark-Free Marinas Signs

2. Multiple Active Shark Zone Signs

3. Multiple Area Under Surveillance Signs

4. 220 feet of chain link fencing, 100 feet of wooden fencing

5. One ACTIVE camera on a 60 foot mast

6. An informational website that clearly states no fishing (SFMI)

We will be taking further steps to prevent ANYONE from fishing sharks at the BBGC. At the time security was called by the locals who witnessed the event (thank you!) and the shark fishing ended.

Due to the newly installed fencing at BBR it has made shark fishing much harder (you really have to try) but yesterdays sad event showed us that there is more educational work to be done and more outreach that could happen.

Change will happen but sometimes people who feel entitled will ignore every sign posted and only stop poor behavior when confronted."




*****UPDATE*****

The vessel these men were on has been banned from Bimini Big Game Club! Bimini LOVES Sharks

Big Beautiful Bull Sharks

I love bull sharks. They are big, powerful and have a lot of attitude. They are also graceful, misunderstood and remarkable in the fact that they can travel through brackish and fresh water. Bulls are one of the many species that frequent the waters around Bimini and today we went in search of them.

The team included Lauran from the Sharklab, her family and Katie and Grant who now run the activities department at the Bimini Sands. We headed to the north island to bait off the docks in hopes of getting the chance to tag a big animal. It wasn’t long before two very large sharks began appearing in and out of the shadows. Massive tarpon and couple stingrays showed up as well. Eagles rays jumped in the channel and the energy was building. None of us were very patient, especially when the sharks are in the area. I decided to run to the bathroom, saying we would probably hook a shark while I was gone. As I was walking back down the dock with Katie, people were shouting and we ran to jump in the boat.

The sun was starting to drop in the sky and the clouds were really moody. It was like a scene from a movie as we brought the shark along side the boat with the sun beginning to drop behind moody late afternoon clouds. A seaplane took off and boats were zipping around. We made our way to shallow water and quickly began the workup. We did the standard three length measurements; took a DNA sample and I got to put the Casey tag in her. The total length of our big lady was 2.46m (8 ft) She had a ling running from her mouth a few cuts, no doubt the work of a fishing venture.

Our friends Dony and Michelle arrived from Toronto and Duncan got them over to us in time for them to snap a picture. I think they were a little shell shocked having landed and less than an hour later they were standing in shallow water touching a massive bull shark. So amazing! Unbelievable that our best friends arrive on island and this is how we welcome them!

As the sun painted the sky a beautiful orange we snapped some photos before watching her swim away with power and grace. Everyone was so excited. What a rush. My face hurt from smiling so much. I had wanted to give a bull shark a hug for a while and this was a pretty epic way to end 2012! Not only that, my friends arrived in time to see their first bull shark up close. I am still spinning from the whole experience.

From Florida to The Bahamas: Sharing Sharks with Students

As we anchored the boat just outside the entrance to the mangrove channel there was a lot of giggling and excitement on the boat. Fueled up with peanut butter and jelly sandwiches (official field work lunch) and chocolate cupcakes, the students were ready for adventure. Duncan and I, along with Jill, Michael and CJ from the Sharklab, were embarking on our epic day in the mangroves.

We warned the students and teachers about the bottom being a little squishy and to be mindful of sea urchins. We lead the charge and checked for critters as we made our way to the entrance. The four female students jumped off the boat, squealed a bit as their toes squished and sunk, but they giggled and charged on. The boys however, were a bit more reluctant. Everyone was en route and they were still on the boat. Finally, after a bit of heckling from their female classmates, the boys made the leap and followed us. They politely insisted, “ ladies first.” Nice to see such young gentlemen- ha!
As we neared the entrance we warned everyone about the center part getting pretty deep. This beautiful tunnel to paradise is about three feet wide and the mangrove branches wrap around it from top to bottom. This adds to the sense of adventure as you swim through like explorers charting a new path. As the water got deeper the giggles returned, but all made it through unscathed.

The tunnel pours into an opening in the mangroves that is truly paradise. This is by far, one of my favorite places in the world. It is wild, untouched and feels as thought you are on a different planet. The only reminder of civilization is the occasional plane passing overhead. It is here where we were going to share with the students and teachers, a beautiful moment with wild baby lemon sharks.

Sharklab manager Jill had made her way up to the spot and put some chum in the water. The baby lemon sharks head up the channel on the high tide to look for food and take shelter. The channel is a dead end, so we hoped that a few sharkies had ventured in and would come looking for a snack. Before too long, the tell tale wake on the surface indicated a shark heading our way. The kids immediately started imitating the, “ Jaws,” impending doom music. We all had a good laugh. The little sharks are always cautious, as you would be with a bunch of potential predators loitering about. Slowly, but surely they came to check us out. The first shark that approached had a green tag, showing it was one of the sharks currently involved in a Sharklab research project.

Finally the shark with the green tag came in for a snack. Word spread quickly and pretty soon we had five sharks cruising around. The excitement level rose as students anxiously waited for their turn to feed a shark. Fear and misunderstanding were replaced with laughter and a little competition to see who could feed the most. As their comfort level increased, the teachers decided to get in on the action. They each nudged their way to the front and shared a moment with the baby sharks. It is an amazing thing to witness people and sharks sharing a simple, but powerful encounter with the capacity to change a person’s entire perception. I watched, in awe, at the beauty of the moment. This is hope for our sharks and hope for our oceans. These little sharks are ambassadors for sharks all over Bimini and the world.

It was hard to say goodbye, but the tide changed and it was our time to go. Every student and teacher had a grin from ear to ear as we swam, stumbled and waded back to the boat. Everyone was glowing from such a unique experience, one most said they never expected to ever have, especially right in their own backyard. I can only hope that these students and their teachers will carry this experience with them and speak on behalf of sharks and how amazing they are.

The following day Duncan and I visited a group of students at the Louise McDonald High School on the north island of Bimini. We wanted to talk to the kids about sharks, their importance and the war built on greed and fear that is being waged against them globally. We also wanted to emphasize the standard for shark conservation Bimini is setting as part of the Bahamas Shark Sanctuary, Shark Free Marinas and a proposed Marine Protected Area. These students have a voice and they are a part of something that is making a difference for sharks. It is crucial for them to understand the value of the role they play and can continue to play on behalf of these amazing animals.

Earlier in the week we visited a group of first graders at the St Jerome school in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. My mom’s godson is seven, and like many 7-year-old boys, he has a healthy curiosity about sharks. We made arrangements to visit his class and it was a blast. First graders are one of my favorite ages to work with because they are excited, curious and manage to ask some pretty cool questions. They know more than one would expect, but so are so open to facts and positive information about sharks.

Whether is it high school students or first graders, the message is the same. Each one of us has a voice and the ability to help sharks. We can and should take action as a single part of something that impacts our entire planet. Without sharks there will be no oceans. Kids are the hope for sharks and the hope for our oceans.

Thank you to the St Jerome School, The Bimini Biological Field Station ( Sharklab) Ulf Marquardt, The Louise McDonald High School and Miss Lisa Wallace for making these incredible days a reality.

West Side Representing: A Sharky School Visit

The West End of Grand Bahama Island is a far cry from the hustle and bustle of the island’s major city-Freeport. Stacks of empty conch shells line the streets and potcakes dart around looking for a meal. The golden hour light drips over tiny fishing boats that have put in thousands of hours at sea; remodeled with the ingenuity of survival. Visitors to the island often overlook this community because it is not a cruise ship port of call, nor does it have a casino or square lined with shops and restaurants. West End, however, is the gateway to one of my favorite places on the planet-Tiger Beach.

Like many exotic dive destinations, the regular visitors are not from the local communities, but like myself, they travel thousands of miles to witness the natural wonders that lay in wait below the surface. There is no other place like Tiger Beach on the planet and everyone should put it on their, ”bucket list,” whether you are a certified diver or not. In all of my visits to the island, which number in the dozens no doubt, I had yet to visit one of the local schools. Inspired by the recent visits I did at schools in Maine, I decided that this had to change. I set about organizing a day and a time for Duncan and I to talk to the kids at the West End Primary about sharks.

The Bahamas has established a Shark Sanctuary thanks to the tireless efforts of many people and organizations, but it is the children of the Bahamas that will help ensure that sharks are a part of the future of the islands. Tiger Beach is in their back yard and I wanted the opportunity to share with them this amazing place and let them know that each and everyone of them could and should pay it a visit.
As Duncan and I walked through the door we were greeted with a dozen smiling faces. A young man took my bags for me and everyone was bouncing in their chairs. As we got the computer set with fingers crossed that it would project, more kids filed into the room with their chairs. Here I am, standing in front of 45 kids that will make a difference. They are the voice for our oceans. My shark talks are very interactive because I want the kids to know they have a voice and begin using it. I encourage questions and do my best to get to everyone. We talked about sharks, what they are and what they do and then I spent some time talking about Tiger Beach. I finished the hour talking about what they can do to help sharks and why sharks are so important to the Bahamas.

A lot of these kids have probably watched as tourists head out on boats to explore the pristine waters that surround their island, but I emphasized that they can do that too.

This presentation was emotional for me because I saw so much strength in these kids despite a lot of hard ships they have no doubt faced. The school is small and the desks are not lined with ipads or iphones. Technology or not these kids have heart and that will make a difference. They have the capacity to love and fight for the survival of their oceans. Our oceans.

Thanks West End Primary! I look forward to our next visit!

BAHAMAS WEEKLY

Shark Conseravtion: Highs and Lows

Everything we do in life has its positives and negatives; shark conservation is certainly no exception to this. Each week strides are made and then there are usually massive set backs. It would be easy to throw your hands up in defeat as it can be very overwhelming.

Early last week I received an email with a video link sharing some ego driven fisherman catching a bull shark on the dock in Bimini. The worst part was that not only were they fishing in a Shark Free Marina that bans fishing from the dock, but they highlighted the fact that they were breaking the rules with absolute disregard. The email explosion started and spread across social media outlets.The initial email responses were respectful and the host even asked if I wanted to appear on his show to talk about Shark Free Marinas and the work that is being done to protect these animals in Bimini. I was impressed with his openness to hear the other side of the story. A lot of time the responses are defensive and belligerent. When my mother drafted an email her response was a bit more entitled and I could tell that he was probably getting swamped with emails and calls and getting annoyed.

This one was extremely frustrating because I am on the board for Shark Free Marinas and it is something I am extremely passionate about as well as this being in my back yard. Bimini is home and these sharks deserve every bit of energy we can offer to protect them. It was amazing to see the manager of the marina, the Sharklab, former Sharklab staff and current members of Bimini Tourism board push hard to defend the sharks of Bimini. This isn’t just about sharks, but also about respecting rules that are put in place to benefit not only the oceans, but the community.

The next day I was scheduled to do a shark presentation for two groups of second graders at a local school. I gathered my frustration and turned it into enthusiasm for the time with the kids. I love this age and was excited to spend time with them. I went through the basics of what a shark is and what sharks do. We also talked about what they could do, even though they are young, to help sharks. They were all so excited, sharing stories and wanting to know more about different types of sharks. I love it. I love the energy and the hope that resonates within children. I left the school feeling recharged and ready to tackle the next shark obstacle.


I arrived home and checked my email only to find that within 24 hours, the owner of the video agreed to remove it from the internet. Again, we all have a voice and sometimes it is just a matter of speaking up. At this point, charged with energy from the kids, I felt like I could conquer the world and set to working on more projects and presentations. Every time there is a set back I try to think of the kids. There really is hope and we must keep that in mind. Fighting for something we care about and believe in is never easy, but it is worth every bit of the battle.

Monty and Lucky ready for their school visit!

Shallow Water Sun Tans and Snacks: Lemon Sharks on the Hunt

The research done at the Bimini Biological Field Station (Sharklab) has found that juvenile lemon sharks use the shallow flats to hunt on low tides. Different research projects have used tracking and visual accounts to record hunting, feeding and social behaviors in the regions. Juvenile lemon sharks use the mangroves as a nursery; the shallow waters reduce the risk of large predators being present and also reduce the area that prey has to escape.

Duncan and I recently joined Sharklab director Dr. Tristan Guttridge to film and do observations from a tower erected in the shallows. We arrived as the tide was falling and watched as one, two and then up to ten juveniles moved around our viewing perch. As the tide dropped so did the size of the sharks making use of the area. Pups born this year were working the patches of sea grass looking for small fish and crabs. Amazing to see a wild shark detect possible prey and use electroreception, scent and sight to track it down.

We watched patiently for hours and recorded behaviors, keeping an eye out specifically for sharks that had transmitters on them. Duncan and I were hoping to capture a predation event on camera and four hours into our watch we lucked out. As closing time was fast approaching we watched as a lemon shark, most likely born in the spring, worked an area of sea grass right in front of us. His large circles quickly tightened and his movements became sharper. Whatever was hiding in the sea grass had peaked his interest and he seemed determined to make a meal of it. We watched, cheering on the shark to, “ get it, get it, “ when finally a small shape darted from its hiding spot and the shark snagged it. The small fish dangled briefly from the clenched jaws of the perfect miniature predator before disappearing for good. Exciting for us to capture on camera, but even more incredible to witness.

We see sharks feeding all the time, but either we are generating the prey source or someone else is. We watch the sharks eat, but we do not get to appreciate the finely tuned hunting skills that have been perfected over years of evolution. We give presentations and tours, explaining to people how shark senses work and what happens when they go in hunt mode. Watching it brings a whole new level of appreciation for just how awesome these animals are.

As we packed up the gear and climbed down from our perch, we left with an ever- increasing enthusiasm for these incredible ocean predators that we love and are endlessly in awe of. Witnessing these behaviors also enhances our resolve to help the mangrove areas that are absolutely vital for these juveniles. Without their protection and the opportunity to feed in the shallow areas surrounding them, adult lemon shark populations will suffer drastically as will the other species of fish, conch and lobster that rely on the mangroves. Bimini is working hard to protect its natural resources despite the best efforts of outside forces to destroy the natural environment in order to create an entertainment space for the rich travelers that cannot possibly travel to an island without a golf course or casino.

Hopefully the marine protected area that is in progress of being finalized will ensure that at least some of these tiny sharks will have an ecosystem to thrive in and return as adults to give birth to the next cohort. Check out the SHARKLAB and Bimini MPA for more information on how you can help the sharks of Bimini and the Bahamas.