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Palms West Monthly • June 2021 • Page 1
WELLINGTON • ROYAL PALM BEACH • WEST PALM BEACH • LOXAHATCHEE GROVES • THE ACREAGE Volume 11, Number 6
Hometown Hero Appreciation Day comes to South Florida Sceince Center in June
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PalmsWestMonthly.com
FREE • June 2021
New COVID-19 cases plummet to lowest levels since last June By STEPHEN GROVES Associated Press
Palm Beach Dramaworks launches grand re-opening The 2021-2022 season begins in October. Find out which plays are coming and how to get tickets.
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Dramaworks Armory Art with announces ‘Young Beyond Van Gogh Armory Art Center is offering Playwrights’ luxuary rides to the Beyond Van winners
Gogh exhibit at the Ice Palace Palm Beach Dramaworks has Studios. Finditsout about announced 10more winners of the this world-renowned exhibit. Young Playwrights 10-Minute
PAGE 7 Each winning play Play Contest. will be read by a professional actor on March 24.
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Florida takes steps which may allow Volunteers help catch and kill of distribute PPE to goliath grouper area driven non-profits Almost to extinction 30 years Clinics Can ago, Help theand Florida United Fish Way Wildlife joined forces with dozens and Conservation of area volunteers recently to Commission is considering give awaya$350,000 worthofof allowing limited harvest personal protective equipment. the goliath grouper.
PAGE PAGE 510
New coronavirus cases across the United States have tumbled to rates not seen in more than 11 months, sparking optimism that vaccination campaigns are stemming both severe COVID-19 cases and the spread of the virus. As cases, hospitalizations and deaths steadily dropped this week, pre-pandemic life in America has largely resumed. Hugs and unmasked crowds returned to the White House, a Mardi Gras-style parade marched through Alabama’s port city of Mobile, and even states that have stuck to pandemic-related restrictions readied to drop them. However, health experts also cautioned that not enough Americans have been vaccinated to completely extinguish the virus, leaving the potential for new variants that could extend the pandemic. As the seven-day average for new cases dropped below 30,000 per day this week, Rochelle Walensky, the director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, pointed out cases have not been this low since June 18, 2020. The average number of deaths over the last seven days also dropped to 552, a rate not seen since July last year. It’s a dramatic drop since the pandemic hit a devastating crescendo in January. ``As each week passes and as we continue to see progress, these data give me hope,’’ Walensky said Friday at a news conference. Health experts credit an efficient rollout of vaccines for the turnaround. More than 60% of people over 18 have received at least one shot, and almost half are fully vaccinated, according to the CDC. But demand for vaccines has dropped across much of the country. President Joe Biden’s administration is trying to convince other Americans to sign up for shots, using an upbeat message that vaccines offer a return to normal life. White House health officials on Friday even waded into offering dating advice. They are teaming up with dating apps to offer a new reason to ``swipe right’’ by featuring vaccination badges on profiles and in-app bonuses for people
Photo by Palms West Monthly
On May 4th, 2021, The Village of Wellington, in partnership with Feeding South Florida and the Florida Division of Emergency Management, offered free Johnson & Johnson single-dose vaccines at the Village Park gym. who have gotten their shots. Ohio, New York, Oregon and other states are enticing people to get vaccinated through lottery prizes of up to $5 million. Across the country, venues and events reopened after shuttering for much of the last year. On Saturday, Karen Stetz readied to welcome what she hoped would be a good crowd to the Grosse Pointe Art Fair on Michigan’s Lake St. Clair. With natural ventilation from the lake and mask and capacity restrictions easing, Stetz was optimistic that artists who make their living traveling a show circuit that ground to a halt last year would begin to bounce back. The event usually draws from 5,000 to
10,000 people. ``I feel like most people are ready to get out,’’ Stetz said by phone shortly before opening the fair. ``It seems like people are eager, but it’s hard to know still. I’m sure there’s a percentage of people that are going to wait until they’re comfortable.’’ In Mobile, thousands of joyful revelers, many without masks, competed for plastic beads and trinkets tossed from floats Friday night as Alabama’s port city threw a Mardi Grasstyle parade. But only about a quarter of the county’s population is fully vaccinated. Many went without masks, though health officials had urged personal responsibility. Alabama’s vaccination rate, 34% of people have received
` “As we continue to see progress, this data gives me hope”
-Rochelle Walensky, Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
at least one dose, is one of the lowest in the country. It’s part of a swath of Southern states where vaccine uptake has been slow. Health experts worry that areas with low vaccination rates could give rise to new virus variants that are more resistant to vaccinations. ``My biggest concern is new strains of the virus and the need to remain vigilant in the months ahead,’’ said Boston College public health expert Dr. Philip J. Landrigan. A medical center in Louisiana reported Friday it has identified the state’s first two cases of a COVID-19 variant that has spread widely since being identified in India. The COVID19 variant has been classified as a ``variant of concern’’ by Britain and the World Health Organization, meaning there is some evidence that it spreads more easily between people, causes more severe disease, or might be less responsive to treatments and vaccines. The variant has also been reported in several other states, including Tennessee, Nebraska and Nevada. Though Landrigan said the big drop in cases nationwide was ``the best news we’ve had on the pandemic’’ and showed that vaccines are working, he warned that people should remain vigilant for local flareups of new cases. COVID CASES PLUMMET/ PAGE 5
Page 2 • Palms West Monthly • June 2021
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FACES & PLACES
Adopt-A-Family holds 9th Annual Better Ball Tournament to support families in need
Photo by Tracey Benson Photography
Golf Committee at the Adopt-A-Family Better Ball Golf Tournament. Left to right: Sean Bresnan, Frank Bresnan, Joe LaRocca Jr, Ned Grace, Joe Carron, Layren Calvo, Matt Constantine and Jeff Preston. By ASHLEY MASELLI Palm West Montly Adopt-A-Family of the Palm Beaches 9th Annual Better Ball Invitational raised over $200,000 in donations to assist the organization’s mission of reinforcing the stability and welfare of Palm Beach County’s families in need. The event was held at the award-winning Banyan Cay Resort & Golf Club in West Palm Beach on Friday, May 7, 2021. Lunch was provided by The Kitchen and an awards reception and dinner was held on the Banyan Cay terrace after the tournament. The sold-out event included 24 foursomes competing for the championship. “The past twelve months presented challenges no one expected,” said Matt Constantine, CEO of Adopt-A-Family of the Palm Beaches. “The number of calls we received increased significantly, but Adopt-A-Family of the Palm Beaches, Inc. remained a constant source of support for
families in need. Our golf committee also remained focused and dedicated--this tournament’s success is because of them. They stepped up and raised more money than ever to help fund our programs that serve a growing number of families in our community. We are fortunate to have their unwavering support.” However difficult this past year has been, there have been significant achievements. Adopt-A-Family provided support for 1,516 assisted 728 vulnerable families and their 1,418 children overcome homelessness. Classrooms becoming completely virtual in 2020 presented many obstacles; however, the organization’s Project Grow after-school initiative succeeded in helping 98% of students advance to the next grade, well above the state and national average. The opening of Julian Place, AdoptA-Family’s latest 14-unit townhome community is a great success for lowincome families with children attending Highland Elementary.
YOUR FLORIDA HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
We are here to serve YOU. Let us help you navigate Florida State Agencies, Departments and more. Call (561) 791-4071 or Email Matt.Willhite@myfloridahouse.gov
REPRESENTATIVE
Matt Willhite Florida House District 86 Tallahassee Office 400 House Office Building 402 South Monroe St., Tallahassee, FL 32399 (850) 717-5086
District Office 12133 Ken Adams Way, Suite 300, Wellington, FL 33414 (561) 791-4071
Adopt-A-Family’s efforts are confirmed with a 4-star rating awarded by Charity Navigator for the 14th consecutive year, an achievement reached by less than 1% of nonprofits nationwide. To learn more about Adopt-A-Family’s initiatives in Palm Beach County, please visit www. Photos by Tracey Benson Photography adoptafamilypbc.org or call (561) 253- Top: Tim Rappold, Todd Weidert, Joe LaRocca 1361. Jr and Danny Lopez Bottom: Ira Marcus and Gerry Greenspoon
Page 4 • Palms West Monthly • June 2021
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SCENE &FROM FACES PLACES WEST PALM by Aaron Wormus | awormus@palmswestmonthly.com
Wellington Garden Club honors Gold Star Families with Memorial Day dedication The Wellington Garden Club is proud to honor Gold Star families by dedicating a Gold Star Memorial Marker at the Memorial Day ceremony in Wellington. The dedication will take place at 8:30 am on Monday, May 31 at the Village of Wellington Veterans Memorial. All community members as well as veterans, their families and their loved ones are invited to attend. The Gold Star Families organization supports those who have lost a loved one while in service to our country. The organization is designed to help family members of heroes who paid the ultimate sacrifice defending our freedom while in the US Armed Forces. All branches of service, conflicts and circumstances of death are supported. The Village of Wellington Memorial Day Ceremony is a partnership of Wellington and the American Legion Post 390. The Wellington Garden Club provided funds to install the Gold Star marker, which will be unveiled
Photo by Wellington Garden Club Gold Star Memorial sponsored by Bowmansville Garden Club.
Marjorie Hendon, president of the Florida Federation of Garden Clubs
during the ceremony. The tribute line on the Gold Star Families Memorial Marker reads, “A tribute to Gold Star Families who’s loved one paid the ultimate price defending the United States of America.” Marjorie Hendon, President of the Florida Federation of Garden Clubs, will dedicate the marker, and Clerk of Circuit Court and Comptroller Joseph Abruzzo will be the keynote speaker. Active and retired veterans have the opportunity to be recognized at the ceremony by registering at the
Wellington tent on the morning of the event. Contact Michelle Garvey, Assistant Community Services Director at 561-791-4082 for further information. For information about the American Legion Post 390, contact wellingtonlegion390@gmail.com. The Wellington Garden Club Gold Star Families Marker dedication will take place at 8:30 on May 31 at the Village of Wellington Veterans Memorial located at the corner of Forest Hill Boulevard and South Shore Boulevard.
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Palms West Monthly • June 2021 • Page 5
COVID cases continue to fall as vaccine is rolled out COVID CASES PLUMMET / FROM PAGE 1
Many states have largely dropped orders to wear masks and stay distanced from other people. Meanwhile, even places such as California, the first state to issue a statewide shutdown as the virus emerged in March 2020, prepared to remove restrictions on social distancing and business capacity next month. State health director Dr. Mark Ghaly said Friday the decision was based on dramatically lower virus cases and increased vaccinations. But in Vermont, the state with the highest percentage of
people who have received one shot, Gov. Phil Scott has tied the lifting of restrictions to the vaccination rate. He offered to lift all remaining restrictions before a July 4 deadline if 80% of those eligible get vaccinated. Landrigan figured it will take a nationwide vaccination rate of at least 85% to snuff out the virus. But for now, the steep drop in cases gave him hope that pandemic-level infection rates will soon be a thing of the past. ``It is getting to the point to where by the Fourth of July we might be able to declare this thing over,`` he said.
The Village of Wellington, in partnership with Feeding South Florida and the Florida Division of Emergency Management, offered free Johnson & Johnson single-dose vaccines at the Village Park gym on May 4th, 2021.
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Page 6 • Palms West Monthly • June 2021
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ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
Palm Beach Dramaworks Grand Re-Opening in these renovations are significant upgrades for the HVAC systems, which will allow for improved purification of air that flows through the facility. There are also going to be a number of upgrades to all restrooms, including handsfree safety measures. At this time, Dramaworks is still requiring masks to be worn at all times. Evening performances are held Wednesday and Thursday at 7:30 p.m., Friday and Saturday at 8 p.m. and select Sundays at 7 p.m. Matinee performances are also available Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday at 2 p.m. Post-performance discussions follow Wednesday matinee and Sunday evening performances. For more information on these upcoming productions, visit the Palm Beach Dramaworks website or call 561.832.7469, Monday – Friday 10 am to 2 pm.
Photo by Palm Beach Dramaworks Palm Beach Dramaworks, located at 201 Clematis St, West Palm Beach, FL 33401 By BRITTANY ANDERSON and ASHLEY PATRICK Palms West Monthly Palm Beach Dramaworks (PBD) is reopening its doors for the 2021-2022 season in October with a full slate of plays. According to the Producing Artistic Director William Hayes, “As we re-open following the pandemic, there has been an increased excitement among old and new audiences to return to the theater. After announcing our re-opening, the phones in our box office has been ringing off the hook.” The re-opening of the theater has brought excitement to both the dedicated patrons of the Dramaworks theater, as well as those who are searching for new ways to connect with the community. The season begins on October 15 at the Don and Ann Brown Theatre with John Cariani’s Almost, Maine (2006), made up of nine vignettes about falling in and out of love and the desire to connect. Next is the world premiere of Michael McKeever’s The People Downstairs opening December 10, commissioned by PBD and developed by The Dramaworkshop. It explores the challenges faced by those who hid and cared for Anne Frank and seven others during the Holocaust. The world premiere of
Bruce Graham’s The Duration begins February 4, 2022. This play received an online reading in March as part of The Dramaworkshop’s “Drama(in the)Works” series and is now a full mainstage production after being so well liked. It features a young woman who tries to solve the mystery of her mother’s disappearance. The fourth production, Lynn Nottage’s Intimate Apparel (2003), opens on April 1. Set at the turn of the 20th century, it tells the story of a 35-year-old African-American seamstress who begins corresponding with a man she’s never met in hopes of finding love. Closing out the season beginning May 27 is The Belle of Amherst, William Luce’s onewoman play based on the life of Emily Dickinson. Originally presented online in April as a co-production with Actors’ Playhouse, Producing Artistic Director Hayes also chose this play for an encore presentation. Margery Lowe is set to return in the role of Emily Dickinson. “The feedback on this production was so extraordinary that we wanted it to have a new life in front of an audience,” Hayes said. “That was the only thing missing from our online version.” Palm Beach Dramaworks has taken extra precautions keep everyone safe as the doors re-open. Hayes wants to assure
the community that all patrons will enjoy the same quality productions they have grown accustomed to and that health concern will be a top priority
for the PBD. Currently the theater is undergoing a $1 mil renovation project to assist in providing a safer environment. Included
William Hayes, Producing Artistic Director for Palm Beach Dramaworks
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Palms West Monthly • June 2021 • Page 7
LOCAL HAPPENINGS
Armory Art with Van Gogh By SHARON PENN Palm West Monthly Armory Art Center is offering luxury coach rides to the immersive art exhibit Beyond Van Gogh at Ice Palace Studios in Miami. Crafted by world-renowned audiovisual designers, Beyond Van Gogh uses cutting-edge technology to dive deep into Van Gogh’s dreams, thoughts and words through floor-to-ceiling projections set to a symphonic score. The colorful projections swirl, dance and take the shape of flowers, cafes and landscapes as viewers experience some of his most iconic masterpieces come to life. Armory’s luxury coaches feature socially-distanced
seating and restrooms on board. Coaches will leave the art center at 9:30 a.m. and arrive at Ice Palace Studios shortly before noon. Exhibition viewing time will last around one hour. A lunch period will follow with your choosing of on-site dining at Gogh Cafe or at any of the nearby restaurants. The coaches will depart the exhibit at 2:30 p.m. and arrive back at the art center at approximately 4:30 p.m. Armory’s luxury coaches are available on select Wednesdays throughout July. Tickets for the coaches are $99 per person and require reservations. To purchase tickets and reserve your spot, call (561) 832-1776. For more information, visit the Armory Art Center website.
Photo by AP Photo/Marta Lavandier
Tiffany Levi, leads a yoga class surrounded by the exhibit “Beyond Van Gogh,” Thursday, May 6, 2021, in Miami.
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Page 8 • Palms West Monthly • June 2021
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LOCAL &HAPPENINGS FACES PLACES The Fifth Annual Crossing for Cystic Fibrosis charity event Paddlers will once again cross the Gulf Stream from Bimini to Lake Worth Beach in the Crossing For Cystic Fibrosis charity event on June 27, 2021. The 80-mile challenge is organized by the Piper’s Angels Foundation and will be the fifth annual event of its kind. This year COVID precautions will be in place to ensure a safe experience for participants. Scott Johnson, the first double lung transplant recipient in the race, will participate as a relay team paddler. Travis Suit, Founder and Executive Director of Crossing For Cystic Fibrosis, will join his team Double or Nothing, a reference to Scott’s double lung transplant surgery.
The journey will be highlighted in a short film documentary that is scheduled to be released this year. The Piper’s Angels Foundation was founded by Travis Suit in honor of his daughter Piper, who was diagnosed with cystic fibrosis at the age of four. The Crossing for Cystic Fibrosis is a long-distance endurance challenge that welcomes exuberant paddlers who depart from Bimini in the Bahamas and arrive in Lake Worth Beach in Palm Beach County at the end of the race. The Piper’s Angels Foundation’s annual Crossing for Cystic Fibrosis challenge is respected as a vehicle of change by spreading awareness, raising funds and inspiring an improved quality of life for the cystic fibrosis community and their families. This is the organization’s fifth annual event.
The Snow Queen comes to Dolly Hand Cultural Art Center The Missoula Children’s Theatre is returning! Auditions for local youth are now in the works for an original adaptation of Hans Christian Andersen’s classic fairytale The Snow Queen, scheduled for June 25, 2021. The Missoula Children’s Theatre is part of the Dolly Hand Culture Art Center located on the Belle Glade campus of Palm Beach State College. The Snow Queen was adapted by Michael McGill, whose music and lyrics bring the “land of colored ice” alive to tell the classic struggle between good and evil – where good triumphs, of course. This heartwarming tale is conveyed by high-spirited hobgoblins who take you on
an exciting adventure with a little girl called Gerda as she travels far and wide to rescue her best friend Kai from the evil Ice Queen. Travel to an enchanted landscape of talking reindeer, wicked mirrors, snow chickens, exotic yetis and blinding blizzards that appear out of nowhere. Cheer Gerda on as she perseveres and overcomes barriers to save her friend from the Ice Queen’s glacial grasp. Auditions for The Snow Queen, for students in grades 1-12 will take place June 21 at 10 a.m. at the Dolly Hand Cultural Arts Center. The Snow Queen will be performed Friday, June 25, 2021, at 7:00 p.m. at the Dolly Hand Cultural Arts Center,1977 SW College Drive, Belle Glade. Tickets are $10 for adults and $6 for children under 12. Parents are invited to bring along a camera for photo ops following the performance. For tickets and further information, call the box office at 561-993-1160 or visit www.dollyhand.org.
Hedwig and the Angry Inch comes to Lake Worth Playhouse The award-winning, OffBroadway smash hit Hedwig and the Angry Inch is coming to Lake Worth Playhouse this summer. This outrageous musical stars Hedwig Schmidt, a fourth-wall breaking German rock ‘n’ roller formerly known as “Hansel.” Her botched sex-change operation has left her with just an “angry inch” and quite the story to tell. As a result of her growing frustrations with being an “internationally ignored song stylist,” Hedwig takes the audience on a journey from her childhood in East Berlin to America with electrifying musical numbers. She struggles to find acceptance in others in her quest for love and a new identity. Along for the ride is her band the Angry Inch, with music that is reminiscent of the 1970s
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glam rock scene. This darkly hilarious and moving show is a play, rock gig and stand-up comedy routine in one. It’s been performed on stages across the world for over 20 years and has won many prestigious awards, including an Obie in 1998 and four Tonys in 2014 for its Broadway reprisal. The musical’s success even inspired the creation of the 2001 hit film of the same name. This cult classic musical explores queer identity and raises questions on gender and sexuality, throwing rock ‘n’ roll with plenty of glamor into the mix. The show runs for 15 performances from June 4 until June 20. For more information or to buy tickets, visit the Lake Worth Playhouse website.
Hometown Hero Appreciation Day at the South Florida Science Center The South Florida Science Center and Aquarium is hosting a Hometown Hero Appreciation Day on Saturday, June 19, 2021. The event will be open to the public from 10 a.m. until 3 p.m. with general admission. Those who attend will enjoy special activities including military vehicle demonstrations, K-9 training demonstrations with their furry friends, mini-golf games, fascinating live science shows, and an opportunity for you to meet your local armed forces! If you get hungry, there will be lunch, snacks, and refreshments available for purchase at the Snack Shack, as well as a tasty food truck. The event will open an hour earlier, at 9 a.m., for our hometown heroes to enjoy the activities, provided they show a valid military ID. Heroes and four of their loved ones can attend the festivities for free. Our heroes and their families will be treated to an exclusive barbecue to thank them for their service. If you’d like to join the event, advanced registration for all attendees is required. Visit SFScienceCenter. org/heroes to register. Don’t forget to wear a mask and practice social distancing. So, come on down and bring your friends and family to salute our heroes!
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Palms West Monthly • June 2021 • Page 9
Health Matters
If you are a health professional who would like to submit an article to Health Matters, please send an e-mail to newsdesk@PalmsWestMonthly.com for details.
Algal blooms: is algae dangerous or harmless? By H.E. RUBIN, PHD Palms West Monthly I’m sure you’ve seen it in a nearby lake or bay. There are times that the aquatic system looks like pea soup because it’s so green. Perhaps other times it is unnaturally reddish in color. This is the result of an algal bloom. Algal blooms occur when there is a rapid increase in the population of algae. These blooms can occur in both fresh and marine waters. Algae, like plants, contain photosynthetic pigments, which give the water their characteristic colors. Algal blooms are common occurrences in Florida where there is plenty of heat and precipitation. This creates ideal conditions for algal growth. Besides making a body of water look green and icky, algal blooms can cause problems both directly and indirectly. One direct result of an algal bloom is that the water body becomes unappealing. As a result, people tend to stay away, although most algal species are not harmful. Of the thousands of different species of algae,
Photo by Ghetty Images
Algal bloom is growing in Lake Okeechobee only a few dozen are harmful to either life or to an ecosystem. These species may result in Harmful Algal Blooms (HABs). In fact, many of these are not really algae, they are blue-green algae,
which are most closely related to bacteria. In humans, toxic algae can result in respiratory distress, respiratory paralysis, gastrointestinal distress, irritation, or dysfunction,
Swimmer’s Itch, dermatitis, central nervous system effects and even death. In an ecosystem, toxic algal blooms can cause the death of fish, shellfish, seabirds and invertebrate and vertebrate marine animals. On the West Coast of Florida there was a toxic marine algal bloom called Red Tide due to the alga, Karenia brevis. Normally, algae do not grow out of control. Nature has a system of checks and balances that control the population of a species within a given ecosystem. Two of the most important checks are competition and rate-limiting nutrients. Whenever there are two or more organisms in an environment, there will be competition between them for
Thus, during an algal bloom, decomposition of dead algae can occur so rapidly that oxygen is removed from the aquatic system more rapidly than it is introduced. The result is oxygen depletion in the water system. This can kill fish and destabilize the ecosystem. A major cause of algal bloom is the overfertilization of crops and lawns. The fertilizer, which contains nitrates and phosphates, often leaches into nearby streams. This causes the algae to grow out of control. Typically, there are low concentrations of nitrates and phosphates in nature. This helps control organism populations. Fertilization done by humans throws everything off balance. Algal blooms can also occur
Photo by Ghetty Images/ Lagunatic Photo
Red tide causes fish to wash up dead on Delnor-Wiggins Pass State Park beach in Naples, Florida space, oxygen, and nutrients. This is true regardless if they are the same or different species. The greater an organism’s population, the greater is the level of competition. Also, all organisms produce metabolic wastes. These wastes are poisonous to the organisms that produce them. Thus, when there are high numbers of a particular species, they produce a large amount of waste. That exacerbates the intraspecies competition. When there is an algal bloom, the reproductive rate of algae is out-of-control. When a population is in high numbers, they tend to die very rapidly due to an increase in competition. When an alga dies, it is decomposed by bacteria by a process that requires oxygen.
when an overflow of sewage enters a body of water. The only way that an algal bloom can be controlled is to cut off the source of nitrates and phosphates being added to the water system. However, even after the spillover is ended, it takes time until the level of nitrates and phosphates declines. Until then, the algal bloom will continue to occur. It is important to avoid overfertilizing our lawns and to take the necessary precautions to prevent sewage or other organic wastes from entering any aquatic system. These steps will help prevent algal blooms. If you wish to delve further into this topic, go to the U.S. National Office for Harmful Algal Blooms for additional information. Visit https://hab.whoi.edu.
Page 10 • Palms West Monthly • June 2021
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THE VILLAGE NATURE CALLSIDIOT by Jim Mullen
Florida takes step toward the catching of goliath grouper
Photo by Associate Press (Conor Goulding/Mote Marine Laboratory)
Released by the Mote Marine Laboratory, a Goliath Grouper swims at Mote Aquarium in Sarasota, Fla. Florida may lift its three-decade ban on catching and killing goliath groupers. By TERRY SPENCER Associated Press FORT LAUDERDALE- A divided board of Florida game regulators took a tentative step Wednesday that might eventually allow fishermen to catch and kill goliath groupers, a fish that was almost driven to extinction 30 years ago by overfishing and pollution. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission told its staff to craft a regulation it has proposed that would allow 100 goliaths to be caught and kept annually during a four-year period. Supported by fishing groups, the proposed limited harvest calls for a lottery to issue $300-per-week licenses that allow each recipient to catch and kill one goliath, with proceeds funding research of the species.
But board members said that did not mean the regulation would ultimately be approved even over the next few years, saying the science may not support its quick adoption. There were questions about whether the fish, which typically weigh 400 pounds (180 kilograms) but can exceed 800 pounds (360 kilograms), has seen its population sufficiently recover. The commissioners did, however, seem to oppose a permanent ban, saying a harvest should be allowed eventually. Goliath grouper is not allowed to be caught in any other state or federal waters. Commissioner Rober t Spottswood believes the population is getting near a point where a limited harvest can be allowed. He said many of the arguments against a
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harvest are based on emotion. While the species’ population is unknown, the commission’s staff believes it has grown enough to allow the limited catch. ``We can’t just be stuck because there is a philosophy out there that says this big lovable creature can never be taken again,’’ Spottswood said during the Tallahassee meeting. But Commissioner Gary Nicklaus said the reports that the goliaths’ population is nearing recovery is based upon where it was when it was close to extinction, not when it was abundant in the 1950s. He said the biggest economic benefit the goliath provides to the state is drawing scuba divers who want to swim with it and photograph it. ``I think we should protect it until its population comes back to whatever baseline we want that to be,’’ said Nicklaus, the son of retired pro golfer Jack Nicklaus.
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Palms West Monthly • June 2021 • Page 11
NATURE CALLS The goliath once ranged over a wide swath of ocean territory, from the Carolinas to the Caribbean and the Atlantic Ocean off Brazil. But its numbers dropped sharply starting in the 1960s. By 1990, when Florida banned its catch, it was almost gone because of overfishing. Today, the goliath is found mainly off South Florida. Adults live in reefs and shipwrecks, digging holes that provide hiding spaces for other fish. Public comment to the board was about equally divided Wednesday. A prime example was scuba divers _ some called it a nuisance and told commissioners they want to hunt it on spearfishing trips, while others saw the fish as photogenic and said it should be protected. The goliath is popular with both spearfishers and photographers as it does not flee when divers approach. Dick Kempton, a member of the St. Pete Underwater Club, spoke in support of the harvest plan, saying the fish is becoming too plentiful in the waters around Tampa Bay and that is impacting other species. ``There are goliath grouper everywhere,’’ Kempton said, especially at shipwrecks and other underwater structures. ``They eat everything that comes by ... There is plenty of stock out there. A limited harvest is not going to affect
that at all.`` But Tom Ingram, president of the Diving Equipment & Marketing Association, said the goliath draws divers to the state who simply want to see and photograph them. He said it will take at least another 10 years for the goliath to recover. ``Goliath grouper are still considered vulnerable by the International Union of Conservation of Nature,`` Ingram said. He asked the commission to implement a permanent ban on the catching of goliaths, saying they are as important to the economy at manatees, which are protected. The proposal as currently envisioned would limit the size of goliaths that could be killed to a range of 4 to 6.5 feet (1.2 to 2 meters) and 70 to 200 pounds (32 to 90 kilograms) _ that’s a young adult of 7 to 10 years. Older fish are high in the neurotoxin methylmercury, which is especially dangerous to children and pregnant women. Outside that range they would be released, just like all goliaths caught now are supposed to be, though poaching is a problem. Goliaths have a lifespan of 35 years or more. Fishing would also remain banned during their spawning season of July to September and at their spawning spots.
Page 12 • Palms West Monthly • June 2021
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