Bimini Blast: Our Staycation Part 1

I love it when people come to visit because it means we get to play tour guide and tourist. Although tiny, the islands of Bimini have an eclectic history and culture. We spend most of our time under the water, so exploring topside is always a blast. The best way to get around Bimini is either by bike or golf cart, so we made good use of both options as we set out on our “staycation.”

Dennis and Shari arrived and we hit the ground running. We stopped at Al’s Conch Stand, a rare treat because they are never open. We had negotiated a time for lunch the night before, but the cook had yet to crawl out from the debacle of the previous evening. We toasted their arrival to the island with a delicious nectar called Goombay Smash. This coconut rum and juice concoction is one of our favorites and we recommend to anyone visiting the Bahamas.

Al’s is conveniently located next to the water taxi and we hopped on board to head to the north island. The water taxi runs between the two islands fairly consistently, most of the day. Sometimes you wait a while if the driver is having a drink or had to run home for a minute. The quick trip across is always an adventure because you never know who is going to be aboard or what is going to happen.I love the idea that we take a boat to get to the,” big city.” Sometimes it can be an inconvenience, but having to take a boat to get to the grocery store is pretty awesome. The colors of Bimini are vibrant and with friends in tow, I found myself appreciating the details. The brightly painted bougainvilleas along the fence have bloomed. There are conch shells decorating a newly constructed gate and the small side streets are lined with possibilities.

We immediately trekked up the hill and headed to Sherry’s for lunch. The more Guinness that Sherry drinks, the longer it takes to get your food, but wow, can she cook! The brightly colored shack has a hand painted bar menu and as for food, well you just have to ask what they have going that day. Sherry works in a tiny kitchen and only has one small deep fryer. To appreciate how inadequate this is one must understand that EVERYTHING gets fried on the island. She labors away and cranks out food at a pretty impressive pace. Conch, snapper and lobster are in season and fresh, so we offered advice to Shari and Dennis on the menu items. We opted for ice cold Kaliks, the local beer, as we stuck our feet in the sand and enjoyed the blue ocean that drips off the beach. Very quickly we too were dripping as the humidity was fierce and sweating is more of an accessory than a bodily function in the Bahamian summer heat.

We walked down to Big Game to get our beach cruisers and hit the open road. We headed off with no plan and no limits, just living, “young and wild and free.” The island is small, but there are lots of little gems tucked away. In my travels I have found that most destinations require a bit of perseverance to really find the heart of a place and not just the tourist traps. I would say that sweating your ass off on a beach cruiser shows perseverance, no? It is also a good way to work up your thirst for a local libation when you make a pit stop. Our standard biking expeditions involve precariously balancing cans of paint, groceries and other supplies, so this was a nice change of pace.

Normally puppies are not part of a tour, but with some very cute potcakes ( dogs that are bit of everything mixed in the pot) on the island, it was a must. Duncan and I had spotted them on a trip to the hardware store earlier in the week and I was desperate to get back. I kept my slice of Bimini bread from lunch so that I could have a treat for our new friends. We made a quick stop to visit the lone goat that calls an abandoned yard of cement his home. As I called him, we realized that he was blind. He moved toward the sound, but didn’t even flinch as I waved the Bimini bread through the fence. We finally connected and he seemed to enjoy his treat.

Next stop Porgy Bay for some puppies. They came running, disregarding the trash that they were investigating. Apparently Bimini bread was a good choice, as they devoured it along with our attention. Their little collars are made of rope and they both have pretty pot little bellies. Good to see dogs that are a little chubby on the island as food and care can be severely lacking. Walking away was nearly impossible, especially when they run after us. I am pretty sure that this was one of the highlights for everyone.

After the puppy patrol we headed all the way to the end of the island. Bimini Bay Resort is at the very tip of the north island and we like to show people the damage that they have caused. Seeing piles of dirt being shoved into the lagoon tends to have a more dramatic impact than just talking about it. The resort is changing the island drastically and there are many battles waging to try and protect the natural wonders of Bimini.

As we cruised along, Duncan and I did our best tour guide impersonation with explanations of local heros, hijinks and random facts. Bonefish Ebbie’s place, Ansel’s boat shop, The Dolphin House, the hardware store, and various bars and bakeries.
We made our way to Stuart’s Conch Stand, so we could taste a bit more of the culture. Stuart’s is a Bimini icon and the myth, the man, the legend, Stuart himself got us our Kaliks with a smile. His face is worn with sunshine and life of hard work. The piles of conch decorate both sides of the stand and we moved outside to watch the guys cracking conch. The conch pistol is considered to be the local Viagra and we made sure that Dennis and Shari both tried a sample. I think it tastes like low tide, but people seem to enjoy it. With 2 or 3 pistols ingested each, it was time for a sample of conch salad. The open stand sits over the water with the shades of blue flowing past. We appreciated the breeze as we enjoyed the food, friends and ice cold drinks. The atmosphere was filled with laughter, the good old boys sharing stories of times passed and the essence of the island. It was something straight out of a movie. Moments like these are some of my absolute favorites. This is not your prefabricated and packaged cruise ship tour of the Bahamas; this is raw and real.

The afternoon slipped by and we returned to the South island for cocktails while wallowing in the ocean. The waves were a little aggressive, so the easy lounge turned into a keep the cups upright survival course. Fresh coconut and pineapple coladas eased away the heat of the day. Dinner was cooked on our little grill as we reminisced about the glorious day we have just had. The next day we headed off to join the dolphin boat for the week, an intermission to our land adventures.

Duncan left for a shoot at the begging of the week, so I took on the sole responsibility of tour goddess. We had a new addition to the group, as Walt joined us for our exploits. Walt was a dive student of mine 5 years ago and returned for another underwater adventure. We wasted little time and found ourselves back on the water taxi with the North island as our destination. We decided to ease Walt into the island life and made our way to Big Game for some cocktails. The outdoor bar called our name and we waited as the bar tended blended Goombay smashes and rum runners. Fun noodles floated in the pool, so we had no choice but to put them to good use. I was allotted two in an attempt to keep my spider bitten knee high and dry. I failed epically as I tried to do this and hold a drink. We giggled and floated as some local kids offered to wash our boat. I wish I had a boat they could wash. Walt participated in a cannonball contest as we sipped our tropical concoctions and relished in the island life. This was my first time stepping into the Big Game pool. Despite living on the island, Dunk and I do not luxuriate and lounge much. We toasted him and stated that a repeat performance would be necessary.

The afternoon once again slipped by slowly and we headed due South. Walt and Dennis went to rent a golf cart as I prepared dinner. Local fish, peppers, onions, plantains and tomatoes wrapped in tinfoil and baked in the oven. The boys returned with a fresh pineapple, 2 bottles of rum, sodas and coconut milk. Guess that meant we were having a party. We laughed about the dolphin debauchery of the week and the cast of characters we met. Dennis tried his hand as mixologist and whipped up some concoctions.

The next day Dennis, Shari and Walt headed off for a dive and I settled in to do some work that I was desperately behind on. They returned 2 hours early as apparent “boat issues,” cancelled the second dive. I made the executive decision to head north for round two. Walt picked us up and off we went. We rented a golf cart instead of bikes and once again set off to find some trouble or hope it found us. Cocktails for the warmup at Sherry’s seemed to be the obvious starting point. Shari and Sherry shared an ice cream cone before Shari decided she needed her own. The guys had a bit of bromance on the beach before we pulled them away to continue the tour.

I did the quick run through Bimini Bay before stopping at Stuart’s once again. This time we opted for the lobster and conch salad with cold beers to wash it down. Walt negotiated with a local for a clean conch shell to take home and tried his first conch pistol as Shari and Dennis laughed like old pros. I think Dennis snuck another one in when no one was looking. Maybe he had plans we were not aware of? Walt made his presence permanent as he inked his name on the bench. Another glorious day at Stuart’s.

I grabbed a box of Ritz crackers at the grocery store along with supplies for dinner before puppy time. We found the mischievous duo tied up this time and, “Stinky,” their owner explained that he didn’t want them getting in the road. Most dogs in Bimini are outdoor pets and they have rope for collars and leashes. Our news friends are named Buster and Sunshine. Stinky is a proud papa and he let us give them some loving and a snack. They were less partial to Ritz than they were to Bimini bread, but eventually munched away. Walt secured them to their house as we parted ways.

Our next stop was to visit the goat, which we affectionately named, “Stevie the Wonder Goat.” We called out to him and he made his way to us. His owner scooped him up and flung him over his shoulder. He then places his sunglasses on the goat for a picture before lugging him off down the street. We heard some unpleasant noises, so we rode away praying that we will still see Stevie on our next visit.

We stopped our for absolutely necessary visit with Hotness. Corvell is a voluptuous local lady that sells souvenirs and makes the best conch fritters in all of the Bahamas. We hired her to cook at our rehearsal dinner and she was nothing short of amazing. Walt, Shari and Dennis shopped for goodies and we all walked away with a few items; I with the most amazing shirt! Hotness gave us each a beer coozy and even made sure to send one to Duncan. We departed as she asked if Dennis had a lady at home because she was going to make her jealous. Hotness puckered up and attached herself to Dennis’ cheek and made him blush. I am guessing that was the absolute trip highlight for Dennis whether he will admit it or not.

Our final stop was at one of Bimini’s movie claims to fame. In the last scene of Silence of the Lambs Hannibal calls Clarice and says he is having, “ an old friend for dinner.” This was shot in Bimini and the phone is still there. We each borrowed Shari’s fedora and did our best reenactments for photographs. A perfect way to end the day.

Back at home I took Dennis down to the fish table to teach him how to pound conch. He was a born natural and our conch was pounded to perfection in no time. This mollusk is tough and pounding is necessary to tenderize it before cooking. I wrapped the conch in tin foil with peppers, onion, tomatoes, plantains, coconut milk and lime juice. A rogue potato had been lost on the ride home at the hand of Walt’s erratic driving. In his defense, the cart did only have two speeds; stop and go. The potato was recovered and served up much to Walt’s delight. More cocktails and a fabulous dinner with friends. I rocked my new shirt and we settled in to more laughs about the dolphin debauchery.

To Be Continued: ( Yes, there is more)

Dolphins and Sharks and Rays oh My

Our most recent adventure was quite a roller coaster with lots of ups and downs, but the shark moments were amazing and will remain the highlight for me. Duncan and I were set to lead a conservation trip aboard the M/V Indigo around our island home. The underwater wildlife surrounding Bimini is incredible and this week was designed to offer guests a great insight into the animals that we love to interact with. The focal point of the week was the wild spotted dolphins. Just north of Bimini lies a stretch of white sand bottom and crystal blue water that is known as the dolphin grounds. Atlantic spotted dolphins travel in ever-dynamic pods, playing, feeding and being promiscuous in this area. Spotted dolphins are highly intelligent and curious and will spend hours interacting with humans. I obviously prefer sharks, but the experience is pretty amazing. A random mix of guests including one of my former co-workers and one of my former dive students joined us.

When the guests arrived we did our intros and talked about the goals we had for the week. Our first stop was the Sharklab to get everyone ready for the shark dive that would happen the following day. The lab is an ideal place for people to see sharks and have a chance to process their own personal experience. Duncan and I corralled everyone into the pen and began talking about the amazing sharks that are found around Bimini. I always find that showing people baby sharks is a way to elicit an empathetic reaction. They are really cute and this distracts from the monster mentality that some many people posses. Each person took a turn holding the little nurse shark. A few of the guests were nervous, but actually holding a shark and connecting with it usually breaks even the strongest adversaries. I could spend hours just wallowing in the pens and watching the lemons cruise and the nurse sharks pile up on the bottom.

The next morning we headed to Honeymoon Harbor to get everyone in with some of the friendliest animals in town. The stingrays that hang around the harbor have been fed for years and have no hesitation in bestowing love and the occasional goose on unsuspecting visitors and by goose I mean a stingray face to your backside. Stingrays are another species that gets a bad reputation, especially with the Steve Irwin accident. They are not malicious animals and unfortunately his sad demise could have been prevented. Predators attack stingrays from behind and the minimal movement of their spine is really their only defense. If a predator sneaked up on you and grabbed you, your reaction of self-defense would no doubt be similar.

Although the animals are given a small amount of food, the interaction is predominantly wild. Even after the food is gone the animals hang around and weave around snorkelers effortlessly. People argue that the animal’s behavior is being altered and yes to some degree it is. They are aware that people bring food, but it is nowhere near enough food to survive. Like shark dives, this site is the epitome of breaking stereotypes about these gorgeous creatures. Having a massive stingray sit on your lap is a pretty unique experience and even the biggest tough guy usually lets out a little giggle.

Our next destination was the reef known as Triangle where we were heading to do a snorkel with Caribbean reef sharks. The site was established about twenty years ago and has been used for research, filming and teaching. The sharks have become conditioned like Pavlov’s dogs, but again there is not enough food introduced for them to be lazy and no longer seek out their own meals. This is one of my favorite places on the planet because I have had the opportunity to introduce so many people to sharks for the first time. It usually takes 3-5 minutes to break down the barriers and for fear to evolve into excitement and aw. That change in perception is what continues to give me hope for the future of sharks and our oceans.


As with life, sometimes things don’t work out as expected and the boat had some issues positioning where we needed it to be. We made the best of it and guests enjoyed 3 curious sharks that hung out as we explored the reef. The highlight for me was when Bonnie, who had just learned to swim before the trip, said, “ holy crap. There is a shark. I am swimming with a shark. “ Her face lit up with a great big grin. This woman had not only jumped in the ocean for the first time, but also loved the sharks that were sharing the space with her. This is a huge success in my book; an inspirational story that everyone can and should swim with sharks. Although the encounter didn’t go as it was planned, it was a still a beautiful day in the water.

Duncan got a last minute shoot and Nassau and had to leave us after the second day. On our way out to the dolphin grounds the boat grounded out on the sand bank. They are dredging the channel between the two islands of Bimini and are making a bit of a mess. We spent most of the day stuck on the bottom. Obviously not ideal, but guests enjoyed some sunshine and swam off the back of the boat. One of the guests had homemade dolphin tarot cards so we each got a reading. I got a goddess card, so I was pleased with the outcome.

The next two days included some amazing interactions with the spotted dolphins. The weather was perfect and the sea was like glass. The finally day found dolphins just after breakfast. On the way into port we came across a pod of feeding bottlenose dolphins. We were able to slip in and hang out with them as they fed in a circular pattern. It is pretty incredible to watch as a massive dolphin drives its head into the sand after a razor fish. Nurse sharks frequent the same area, so I happily watched them feed.

Despite a few mishaps on the boat, Bimini shined once again for our guests. The dolphins were beautiful, the weather was perfect and people walked away with an unexpected love for sharks, one I know they will pass on at home.

Shark Tacos:Tragedy and Triumph

I am a huge proponent of “thinking globally and acting locally.” This mentality inspires change and has far reaching impacts. With Shark Week approaching ,sharks are A List celebs making appearances in media across the globe (As they should be because they are AWESOME). Discovery has teamed up with some heavy hitters in the conservation world to make this year’s shows even better than ever with a strong focus on education and conservation.

The MexiBBQ in Astoria, New York has decided to celebrate Shark Week by serving SHARK TACOS! Yes, grilled bull shark tacos. I wrote to the restaurant and informed them that bull shark is listed as a near threatened species on the ICUN red list and that serving shark is unnecessary and unhealthy for people and the environment. I received a reply that assured me that they are using mako shark not bull shark, as if this remedied the whole situation. They also stated that they were “We respect and obey all environmental restrictions and thank you for pointing it out...” They probably honestly believe that this is what they are doing and do no understand that shark should not be served for any reason.


The food review has been circulating the Internet and no doubt they are feeling some pressure to make a more educated decision about their menu items. Not knowing is no longer an excuse. Do you homework. Sharks populations are being decimated across the globe, they do not need to be served in tacos or anything else. There is no shortage of food options for fancy restaurants in New York ,so there is absolutely no reason to offer it.

It is quite easy to point the finger at countries in Asia and other parts of the world, but the reality is that shark is being killed and served in our own backyards. The mako they are purchasing is probably being caught off New York, as they are regular catches in the fishing tournaments held there.

Just as I was finishing this blog I received an email from MexiBBQ stating, “In light of the recent awareness shown to us MexiBBQ will not serve Mako Shark. We were not aware that this breed of shark was on the endangered species list, and we have no intention of serving any fish that may become extinct. We apologize if we showed insensitivity to this matter.”

The rush of calls and emails from concerned ocean advocates made a difference. We all have a voice and if we speak with intelligence and compassion that voice can be very powerful. Thank you MexiBBQ for making a change to better help our oceans.

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.

Shark Killing Vigilante- Just What the World Needs

Enio Regis Biela is a self-proclaimed vigilante in a race to protect the human race from its eminent doom at the hands or mouths of sharks. He believes that in order for people to sleep soundly in their beds, he must rid the ocean of man-eating sharks Yes, that’s right, this man has gone on a shark- killing spree because he believes sharks will wipe out the human race if we do not wipe them out first. Nope, I am not making this up, but I wish I were. Shocking that such blatant stupidity still runs rampant in a world where environmental issues have become mainstream. I do not believe that ignorance is the sole culprit at the heart of this ridiculous situation. He may be blind to the reality of global shark devastation, but I do believe that he is completely ignorant. Ignorance is no longer a viable excuse in my book. Not everyone may be aware of the extent to which sharks are in trouble, but I am sure they have caught a news show, internet post or magazine article at some point. The world is a small place and the Internet is continuously making it smaller. We have access to a great deal of knowledge, albeit that some is complete crap, but we do have access.


I wonder if Enio believe his own conviction or if it is a ploy for attention. Maybe he is doing it to spite some, “tree hugging granola eating hippies that care about the planet?” Whatever the reason the outcome is unacceptable. Along with conservationists I am guessing that local fisherman are probably disgusted with the waste. I know in Bimini the locals were angered by weekend warriors cutting out the jaws of bull sharks and then throwing them back. They were wasting the whole animal that could feed a lot of people. I am not a supporter of fishing for sharks at all, but if the animal is dead at least make use of it.


I am sure by now, with the ever-growing power of social media, Mr. Biela is getting an ear full about his actions. I hate Facebook, but I also love it for this reason. I can reach out to a lot of my passionate friends who may not know a lot about sharks, but will definitely have something to say about this disgrace. Even if you do not want to jump in and swim with sharks, most people do not want to see them tortured. Look how small the sharks at his feet are. They are juvenile bull sharks that will never get the chance to reach breeding age. His conquest will no longer be quiet, as the release of this image has no doubt catalyzed a campaign against his stupidity and blatant disregard for life and the oceans.



Below is my message to Mr. Biela. I was not able to send it because his page no longer exists. In less than 24 hours I imagine the spread of his disgusting action has caused him to rethink, at least his heroic exploits via the Internet. We will be watching for his page to go live again and will not stop spreading the word.

Mr. Biela:
I am a concerned ocean advocate writing to you in regards to pictures that were posted on the Internet. Sharks are vital for our oceans survival and by no means is killing them the answer. If human were truly in danger of super predation by sharks then swimmers around the world would be wiped out. Sharks do not consider humans food. This is a scientific fact. Yes, attacks do happen, but most can be explained and possibly prevented. The media, leaving the truth out because it is not as flashy, exaggerates the stories. The juvenile bull sharks you have slaughtered pose no threat to humans, so in fact you are contradicting the goal of your vigilante mission. You are teaching those around you that merciless slaughter is acceptable. You have the right to hate sharks for whatever reason you deem worthy, although I doubt you have any reason ground in reality, you do not have the right to slaughter these animals.
I hope you think about all the letters and statements that you are undoubtedly receiving and ask yourself if this is really how you want to live your life. I have no doubt that you solo quest to save humans will be halted, but it would be an amazing thing if you chose to stop on your own accord.

Dangerous Waters for Sharks in Western Australia

I have quite a few friends that work in Western Australian media and have received emails regarding the recent shark events that have been happening. I respect greatly their want of a different perspective, other than the hunt down and kill all white pointers methodology that rears its ugly head. As representatives of the media it is their job to cover the news, but they want to understand what is happening and why, as to not get caught up in the monster mayhem.

My first response is that yes, there are sharks in the oceans. There are lots of sharks in oceans all over the world. The human race is doing an outstanding job at reducing their numbers drastically, but they are still there. Each day millions of people venture into the ocean for a swim, dive, surf and each day millions of people have no issues with sharks. Most do not even realize that there are sharks in their vicinity and I am doubtful that many even think about sharks.

Sharks are curious and when there is a foreign object introduced into their environment it is worth further exploration for the possibility of it being a prey item. If humans had to hunt and work hard for every meal, we too would be more observant of our surroundings and the happenings in them. When I speak to school groups and the question about shark attacks comes up I ask the kids this: if a new student walked into the cafeteria would you turn and look? Would you wonder who they were and what they were doing? I can ask adults a similar question: if you are sitting at your local watering hole and new face appears doesn’t everyone pause for a moment and assess them? It is a natural reaction among most animals, humans included, to respond to a new stimulus introduced in your environment. We do this all the time, but if a wild animal does it than they must be man-eating monsters with the sole mission of wiping out the human race. Way too many horror movies!

I am not claiming to be an expert on Australian sharks or sharks in general, but I do know a thing or two about shark behavior and migratory movement. Great whites, “white pointers,” are a highly migratory species of shark traveling thousands of miles each year. They travel for mating purposes and following optimum food sources. The white sharks return to Isla Guadalupe and the Farallon Islands from August to December to feed on juvenile and inexperienced elephant seals. If you had to hunt for every meal rather than ordering off a menu or walking to the fridge, wouldn’t you would follow the food too? This is not rocket science, but really common sense.

The human race slaughters a mere 100 million sharks a year and not to belittle the tragedy of human deaths that have occurred, but the numbers are not even comparable. If sharks wanted to consume humans as a food source then attacks would not be bite and runs, but instead be feeding events. Globally thousands of people would fall prey to these animals, if this were the reality. We are not on their menu. As food fish move towards shore sharks will follow them. We see the great migration of sharks each early spring in South Florida as the move along the eastern coast following shoals of fish. This is a logical explanation for their aggregation and a pretty remarkable sight to witness. If you chose to swim or surf in schools of baitfish then there might be issues. Would you take a stroll through a group of isolated juvenile zebras or antelopes on the Serengeti? No, that would be crazy right? Think about it? If you put yourself in the area of a massive apex predator that is looking for its next meal then you might find yourself as an item of interest. I grew up in Maine and people always go to the dump to see the black bears. People take donuts and other goodies and dangle them out of the car window for pictures. When the bear attacks, the people are considered idiots. A person swimming through schooling baitfish or water where fishermen are dumping scraps gets attacked and it is the shark’s fault? Really?

I have been in a shark cage in less than clear water and have looked up at a, “ seal” made out of carpet. It definitely looks like a seal, but I know it is not. A shark cruising in the area will no doubt come check it out on the off chance that it is a meal. Great whites do not have hands like we do and the element of surprise is important when trying to reduce the likelihood of a fight or the prey escaping. They move in hard and will use their mouths to determine whether the item is food or not. This is unfortunately a bite first and ask questions later situation. In most cases they let go, but human flesh is delicate in the jaws of a massive animal and severe damage is most usually the end result.

Because the attacks seem to be happening with more frequency people are assuming that there are more sharks and acting as thought this is a terrible revelation. According to the Australian Shark Attack File there have been 2 shark related fatalities in 2012 and there were only four in 2011. The news would make it seem as though hundreds of people were being decimated at the hands of a rogue man hunting white pointer. We should all be thrilled that there are more sharks, but in reality this is not likely the case. We are removing their food source at a devastating rate with commercial fishing and the slaughter of seals and sea lions in parts of the world. These animals are working hard to survive and may be taking greater risks at feeding opportunities. Moving close into shore with people, boats and pollution is a great risk for their animals, but it must be deemed worthwhile in an attempt to find nourishment. There are also more people going into the ocean as the human population continues to explode. These explanations are logical, but not nearly as exciting as sending people on shark killing missions of revenge. As I write this, the Western Australia government has issued a shark hunt to kill after the most recent incident. The mindless slaughter of a CITES protected animal is certainly not the answer.

The thought of removing great whites from the protected species list in Australian waters is absurd. Western Australia Fisheries Minister, Norman Moore has stated that he agrees to the removal if the government consents. These animals are in a desperate race against time and we are already doing a fantastic job at killing them off, why on earth would we make it even easier to continue the exploitation of these ocean guardians? Enjoy a big fish dinner? Without sharks you won’t enjoy much of anything from the sea? We need sharks. Our oceans need sharks. Australia’s waters are dangerous, for sharks that is.

Why Are We Teaching Kids to Kill Sharks?

My last blog highlighted a 12 year old boy that is speaking up on behalf of sharks; this blog is about encountering two different boys on the same day that were attempting to harass or kill a shark. We were able to stop one and actually get the whole group excited about sharks. It is amazing the impact that just five minutes of education can have.

On Sunday I was out boating with some friends just off West End Grand Bahama and we stopped at a small cay to enjoy the view and chat with some other boaters. Some guys were fishing in the flats and we really didn’t think anything of it. Our friend had mentioned that they see black tip sharks and nurse sharks out there, so we were hoping to get a glimpse. There were hound fish around, but not much else. We soon learned that they were catching hound fish to use for shark fishing bait. As this conversation started, Duncan and I were standing out in the water enjoying a good wallow and avoiding the army of mosquitoes. I was thrilled to overhear my friend, now an avid shark advocate and one of my dive students, explain why they should not be catching sharks. He was polite and informative. Duncan and I looked at each other and smiled.

The guy fishing pitched the bait into the water and said we might want to get out. We explained that we are those people that go into the water when someone yells, “shark.” He laughed. We grabbed some of the pieces and started breaking them up, trying to attract in some sharky friends. Within five minutes a good size black tip shark cruised in. The whole group got excited and seemed surprised that were trying to get it closer to us. We watched the shark for about fifteen minutes and then headed to shore. The fisherman explained that he thought sharks were really cool and asked why we loved them so much. I was a little confused, but expressed my love and passion for the ocean. This launched a great conversation with him and his fifteen year old son about sharks, shark diving and filming. The boy asked a lot of great questions and said he was thinking about being a marine biologist, but didn’t want to be stuck in a lab. His dad also said that he had once dreamed of being a marine biologist. You may not be a marine biologist, but anyone can be a shark and ocean advocate. I am hoping that we added a few recruits to the army.

The other kid we encountered was via the Internet and was actually fishing for sharks off the dock of a massive marina on the north island of Bimini; a Shark Free Marina I might add. The photos showed four or five adults around the boy as he hooked an adult lemon and reeled it in. I was so angry when I saw the images. Why put signs up? Why get involved if you do not care to educate the people that are in violation? I have no idea whether they killed the shark or released it, but this action should never have gotten to this point. Why harass animals, whether it is banned or not. What are you proving? What are you teaching your son? Is he a man because he can drag a shark onto the dock? Is he tough? Is he cool? What is the purpose? It is also frustrating that this marina is not upholding the commitment that it publically announced.

As an ambassador and a regional board member for the Shark Free Marina Initiative, I have done a lot of outreach and work in the Bahamas. I have seen first hand the disgusting act of sharks being strung up on the dock. I have witnessed fishermen catching sharks from the docks, only to drag them up and torture them. For some reason throwing a bunch of fish scraps in the water, luring in sharks and then dragging them on the dock to cut out their jaws, is entertaining.

Being a shark free is amazing, but only if you actually enforce it. The staff members at The Bimini Sands Resort and Marina and Old Bahama Bay are very diligent about upholding the commitment and explaining it to those in violation. There is a sense of pride in respecting the ocean environment that surrounds them. There may still be fear and misunderstanding, but the staff members are excited to be apart of something that matters. They are helping to take care of the beautiful ocean that surrounds the islands of the Bahamas.

This group probably did not go visit the Sharklab and learn about the mangroves and why this area is so crucial for the sharks. Maybe if that boy had gotten to touch a juvenile lemon shark he would not have wanted to drag one onto the dock. Maybe the adults wouldn’t have encouraged this unnecessary activity. Maybe if someone had been there to explain Shark Free Marinas, the whole group would have more respect for these animals. There are a lot of, “what ifs,” but education is powerful and we must keep pushing forward with that.