HAMMERTIME: IT'S OFFICIAL

In the late hours of March 12 news of the historic CITES Appendix II approval for five species of sharks spread like wildfire. This listing will require strictly controlled permits to export fins from not only the 3 species of hammerheads( great, smooth and scalloped), but also porbeagle and oceanic white tip sharks. With the recent publication of scientific findings estimating the numbers of sharks killed each to year to be approximately 100 million (range of 63 to 273 million) this is a groundbreaking moment seeing science and conservation triumph over politics and greed.

This is a historic accomplishment for our oceans and offers hope that voices will be heard and the hard fought efforts have and do make a difference.

This victory is worthy of celebration, but also a reminder there is still a great deal of work to be done. You don’t have to be an expert, a biologist, a diver or on the frontlines of conservation everyday to make a difference. Every person can make a difference!

YOU Can Help Sharks

For more information:

Shark Savers

PEW

Shark Defenders

Sharks Bring The Community Together in Bimini

On Wednesday October 17, students from the Louise McDonald High School on North Bimini got the chance to get up close and personal with some pretty “fin,” tastic animals.
Bimini is home to the world-renowned Bimini Biological Field Station (Sharklab), founded by Dr. Samuel Gruber in 1990, and a diverse population of sharks in the waters that surround these, ”Islands in the Stream.” Just over a year ago a 243,244 square mile Shark Sanctuary was established in the Bahamas and it is crucial for this next generation to know what is in their own backyard and why it is worth protecting.

Grant Johnston and Katie Grudecki, Co-Directors of the Bimini Sands Activity Center, joined the staff and volunteers at the Sharklab to create a day of science and hands on experience for the local students. Activities included a presentation about the indigenous Bimini boa and ocean critters, snorkeling and a mock tagging workup of a juvenile shark.

Although sharks were the focal point of the day, there was also an emphasis on terrestrial and marine conservation issues. Katie and Grant spent time introducing the students to the Bimini boa, a rare snake found only on the two islands of Bimini. Habitat destruction that impacts the ocean has also affected these animals. It is important to understand the system as a whole and realize that everything is connected.

Lab managers Lindsey Biermann, Michael Timm and TJ Ostendorf took groups by boat out to the Sharklab pens were they got to snorkel with Southern stingrays, juvenile lemon sharks and juvenile nurse sharks. The pens are used for research and provide the perfect space for kids to get to know sharks. This was definitely the most exciting activity with lots of laughter echoing over the water.

Sharklab director Dr. Tristan Guttridge and lab manager Jill Brooks explained the life history traits of sharks and demonstrated shark tagging and workup. Students were able to learn about sharks and some of the ways they are studied. This was a great forum for questions and there was no shortage of excitement at this station, especially with the opportunity to hold a juvenile nurse shark. . The kids were a bit timid at first, but their massive smiles overshadowed any fears or doubts they had. Having a connection with something that small, and dare I say, “cute,” is a great way to break the stereotypes that surround sharks.

"Everyone at the shark lab was thrilled to be able teach local school students about our research and showcase Bimini's marine and terrestrial fauna and flora. The students were enthusiastic, engaging and fun to work with making it a rewarding experience for the shark lab team! We hope to have many more open days in the future,” Dr Guttridge had to say about the day.

For many of the students, this was their first opportunity to see a shark up close with the highlight for most being the chance to actually hold a shark. Sharks are vital for the islands of the Bahamas and it is necessary for children and the community to understand the importance of their place in the ocean ecosystem. It is amazing thing to see local businesses, the Sharklab and the community come together on behalf of sharks, the oceans and the island.

"Bimini Sands is always excited to participate in community projects, and it was great working with the BBFS team on this one. The students were so enthusiastic and eager to learn which made the day quite rewarding for all of us involved, ” Katie Grudecki said as she described the day.

I was fortunate enough to get to photograph one of the stations and the smiles on the students' faces were amazing. I love that energy and excitement that kids cannot possibly hide. They laughed, giggled and asked some great questions as Tristan and Jill showed them the baby sharks. Having the small sharks available for these kind of events is so important. Seeing a small shark that is cute can crush a lot of the man-eater and monster stereotypes that surround sharks. Really an awesome day and I can't wait for the next one!

The Bimini Biological Field Station will be offering more open days to the community in the future and if you are visiting the island make sure you book your lab tour! For more information about the Sharklab and the work that is being done there, check out. Sharklab

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

Coastal Angler: Cudos for Shark Killing

I was recently flipping through a copy of Coastal Angler while waiting at the airport in Bimini. I was shocked to find an article on killing thresher sharks from your kayak on page 5. This is frustrating and disappointing because this issue is designated for the Bahamas, a country now proud to be a shark sanctuary. I was also disappointed to see that several Shark Free Marinas had ads in the bag of the mag. I honestly believe they would be frustrated to see such dribble on the pages. Here is my letter to the editor. Please check out their page and send your own letter or use mine as a template. Ignorance is no longer an excuse and this garbage needs to stop being published. Email: editorial@coastalanglermagazine.com

To the Editor: I recently grabbed a copy of the magazine while waiting at the airport in Bimini and was extremely disgusted by the article on killing thresher sharks from kayaks. Sharks are threatened across the globe and the Bahamas is now a shark sanctuary. I know much of this issue reflects Florida fishing, but “The Bahamas,” is written in bold across the front page. If this is a magazine for, “ The Bahamas,” then it should reflect and respect the conservation efforts that have been put forth. Are you aware that many of the marinas in the Bahamas do not allow fisherman to land sharks or fish for sharks within the marina? There is no reason to catch and kill these animals other than the self-proposed glory that people define by killing such a magnificent animal. Have you ever considered an article about shark conservation, education and outreach? I have found that magazines like GAFF and Saltwater Sportsman are keen to promote sustainability and conservation. Not everyone may want to hear the fact that sharks are in trouble, but they need to. It also offers people information to think about and make changes for the future of the ocean. I am not anti fishing, but I am against the unnecessary and wasteful slaughter of sharks. As a magazine that exists because of fishing, you must understand that healthy oceans are vital if people want to continue to fish. We need sharks to keep our oceans healthy. Promote their survival and you are ensuring a future for fishing and for your magazine. Cheers, Jillian

Ban the Import of Shark Products in the State of Florida

2 weekends ago Duncan and I visited a few tourist shops on South Beach. We went in to see what shark products they were selling and were disgusted to find jaws and fetuses in jars. There is no way these items should represent the essence that is Florida and there is no way their sale and distribution should be legal. I traced the products back to a company called Holiday Souvenirs based in Fort Lauderdale. I called them and was told the items were " by products of overseas fishing," before I was hung up on.

I have started a petition to get the import of such products banned in the state of Florida. Also here is the contact information for Holiday Souvenirs. Please call and email to voice your opinion about this disgusting market that has no place in Florida. It is a global issue, but we must act locally. The goal is 10,000 signatures in order to get the attention of Florida Senators.

Holiday Souvenirs
3438 NE 5th Ave
Fort Lauderdale, Fl
33334
800-521-4302
954-564-6134
hsshells@bellsouth.net

PETITION

FOR SALE: NIKON D200, Tokina 10-17 lens, Titan Housing w/ Wide Angel Port

This housing is a beast that can perform in all elements. I have had numerous images published and win contests. NEVER any flood damage and in great condition.
$2450.00
Includes: Nikon D200 w/ strap, charger, 2 batteries & 8 GB card
Tokina 10-17 Lens for Nikon
Light & Motion Titan Housing w/ Wide Angle Dome Port










Nikon D200:




10.2 Megapixel effective high-performance DX Format CCD; Nikon's exclusive Image Processing Engine; 11-area Multi-CAM AF system with new 7 Wide-area AF; 1005-pixel 3D Color Matrix Metering II; Fast 5 fps continuous shooting, 0.15 second startup and short 50ms shutter lag; Built-in i-TTL Speedlight with two group Commander mode; New Image Enhancement options (Optimize Image); Multiple Exposure, Image Overlay and GPS positioning; 2.5" LCD with ultra-wide viewing angle; Durable Magnesium Alloy body and chassis; Electronically timed shutter tested to well over 100, 000 cycles; Shoot up to 1800 images on a single EN-EL3e battery charge; Exclusive smart battery monitor with informative Fuel Gauge function; Large full information top-deck LCD panel.

Tokina 10-17 for Nikon

designed exclusively for use with digital SLR cameras, and combines "full-frame fisheye" (180° diagonal angle of view at a focal length of 10mm) to super wide-angle performance in a single unit.
This lens makes it possible to capture images with an expanded perspective - wider than the human eye can see - including creative deformation of subjects and sharp pan focus that extends throughout the entire frame.
Note! Not suitable for 35mm film SLR cameras, or for 35mm size "full-frame" digital cameras, e.g. Kodak Pro SLR/n. AF not supported by D40 and D60 cameras.

Light & Motion Titan Housing:




The Light & Motion Titan underwater housing is designed for the Nikon D200 digital camera. It is a professional grade full featured housing that provides access to all camera controls in a user friendly layout. The housing uses USB technology to control aperture, shutter speed, ISO, mode as well as bracketing, exposure compensation and white balance.
High quality Light & Motion ports are available for macro, wide-angle and fisheye lenses. If you already own Aquatica, Sea & Sea or Subal ports they can be used on the Titan housing with the use of conversion rings.
The Titan D200 housing includes ROC (Remote Optical Controller). ROC is a strobe control device that is built into the Titan D200 housing which allows the user to obtain up to 12 manual power levels on most TTL compatible strobes. One or two strobes can be attached to the Titan D200 housing. Power levels for each strobe can be matched evenly or set independently of one another. Fingertip strobe control is located via push buttons and allows for 12 manual adjustment in 1/2 f/stop increments. Also included is a conveniently located LED panel that informs the user of current strobe power level.
USB Control
USB Advanced Technology enables finger trip control over control aperture, shutter speed, ISO, mode as well as bracketing, exposure compensation and white balance
Electro-Mechanical Shutter Release
Electro-Mechanical shutter release provides more control with tactile feel between half shutter and full shutter
Ports
High quality Light & Motion ports are available for macro, wide-angle and fisheye lenses; Aquatica, Sea & Sea or Subal ports can be used on the housing with the use of conversion rings
ROC Strobe Controller
ROC strobe controller provides manual control with up or down 12 half stop increments with the following strobes:
• Sea & Sea YS-250 (Might need software update)
• Sea & Sea YS-110a (Might need software update)
• Sea & Sea YS-110 (Might need software update)
• Sea & Sea YS-350
• Sea & Sea YS-300
• Sea & Sea YS-120
• Sea & Sea YS-90
• Sea & Sea YS-90 Duo
• Sea & Sea YS-90DX
• Sea & Sea YS-60
• Sea & Sea YS-30
• Nikon SB-105
• Nikon SB104
• Nikon SB-103
• Ikelite DS125
• Ikelite DS50
• Ikelite 400
• Ikelite 200
• Ikelite100

Sharky Images and Articles

The American Elasmobranch Society is a non-profit organization that seeks to advance the scientific study of living and fossil sharks, skates, rays, and chimaeras, and the promotion of education, conservation, and wise utilization of natural resources. I was honored to have one of my images selected to be the official 2011 AES postcard.





One of my other images was selected for the 2012 Calendar. This is an amazing organization and I am thrilled to be apart of their conservation and education efforts.



Also check out my article " Ghetto Shark Fishing," in the September/October issue of GAFF Magazine. The story was based on one of blogs and describes an encounter in Bimini, The Bahamas with some illegal shark fishing gear.

Big Win for Sharks

For nearly a year, a massive campaign to protect sharks in the Bahamas has been gaining momentum. Last week the hard work paid off, as the Minister of the Environment announced that legislation will be established to ban the export of sharks and shark products from the Bahamas.

The Bahamas National Trust was at the forefront of the push, gathering momentum from 5000 islanders along with PEW and numerous other shark and conservation organizations.
The Bahamas are home to a very healthy shark population, drawing scientists, divers and film crews from across the globe. They will stand to set a strong example of how powerful people can be when they unite for a common goal.

In my opinion, the islands of the Bahamas offer some of the most amazing underwater experiences in the world. From sunken shipwrecks encrusted in brightly colored corals to 14 ft tiger sharks, dense mangrove mazes and blue holes disappearing into the abyss; it is truly an underwater paradise. I am fortunate enough to spend a great deal of time there and consider the islands a second home. We were thrilled to provide photos and video footage for the campaign to push for the protection of these incredible animals. We will continue to do our best in offering conservation media to educate people about why sharks are so important for our oceans and for our future.




Tribune Article

Beyond Blue Magazine-Issue # 8

Please check out my article on the frigid winter we had in Florida this year.













www.beyondbluemag.com

Beyond Blue Magazine Article

Please check out my article about the mangroves of Bimini in issue #5 of Beyond Blue Magazine!














Download the article at www.beyondbluemag.com



Best Fishes,
Jillian