The Art of Ocean Conservation VOLUME 12, ISSUE 39 SPRING 2022 $6.95
M A G A Z I N E
Giant Tunas Bluefin stocks reverse decline
Reef Restoration Marine ecosystems require healthy coral
Burning Sunshine Chub Cay goes solar
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CONTENTS
SPRING 2022
72 A multi-disciplinary approach enhances marine education in the classroom. BY VALERIE GAYNOR
44 Expeditions
Go fishing, diving and snorkeling on bucket listworthy trips with Dr. Guy Harvey and Jessica Harvey. BY GHM STAFF
24 Teen
Conservationists Wild Wishes® outreach program instills concern for natural resources in youth. BY CHESTER MOORE
46 Tag, You’re Permit Tagging studies in Belize unravel mysteries surrounding a flats bruiser, the permit.
BY NICK HONACHEFSKY
ON THE COVER:
Bluefin Tuna on Striped Bass by Dr. Guy Harvey
30 Big Blues
Management efforts and international cooperation are serving to boost bluefin tuna stocks.
BY NICK HONACHEFSKY
38 TSL Expedition Blue marlins and sailfish abound at Tropic Star Lodge, with a surprise guest appearance from the elusive black marlin. BY FRED GARTH
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52 Coral Farming
Might aquaculture be a key to restoring reefs compromised by climate change’s environmental impacts? BY SAM TEICHER
56 Undersea Forests Vanishing coral reefs account for much of the world’s biodiversity. BY SID DOBRIN
64 Ecotourism
The Florida Keys are an ideal spot for visitors to observe marine wildlife and ecosystems. BY SID DOBRIN
70 Jarrod Naberhaus Friends and family remember a diver with a passion for conservation and adventure. BY AMANDA MARTIN
72 Photo Portfolio — Greg Johnston
A world traveler and renowned underwater photographer, Johnston shares a collection of images from his globetrotting expeditions.
86 Rays and the Cay An environmentally sound solar energy system powers the Chub Cay Resort. BY FRED GARTH
PHOTOS BY GREG JOHNSTON (72) AND COURTESY OF MOTE MARINE LAB (56)
18 Full STEAM
90 A Very
Deep Dive
Research and exploration reach new depths in waters near the Chub Cay Resort via a Global Sub Dive.
BY ROBERT CARMICHAEL
92 Combatting Pollution
It’s time to leave Roman-era technology behind and fully modernize wastewater treatment systems. BY KELLI OAKLEY
DEPARTMENTS
7 Contributors Get to know travel photographer Greg Johnston and conservationist Chester Moore.
8 Guy’s Editorial
Stagnation is the opposite of progress, and the Guy Harvey Ocean Foundation is ever-evolving. BY DR. GUY HARVEY
10 The Bite
Polk County teachers trained by the Guy Harvey Ocean Foundation will impart conservation lessons to 2,500 students. BY FRED GARTH
96 Last Cast
56
Sometimes you fish to feed your family, other times to feed your soul. If you’re lucky, a trip works out both ways. BY FRED GARTH
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GUY HARVEY MAGAZINE OFFICES PENSACOLA, FLORIDA Fred Garth, Editor-in-Chief
DANIA BEACH, FLORIDA Guy Harvey Ocean Foundation
GRAND CAYMAN Dr. Guy Harvey
TALLAHASSEE, FLORIDA Brian Rowland, Publishing Director
CREDITS TO Publisher
Guy Harvey Incorporated
ATTENTION
TEACHERS! Get more copies of Guy Harvey Magazine.
Editor-in-Chief Fred D. Garth Publishing Director Brian Rowland Associate Publisher McKenzie Burleigh Director of New Business Development, Western Division Dan Parker Director of New Business Development, Eastern Division Dan Parisi Vice President of Production and Technology Daniel Vitter Creative Director Jennifer Ekrut Senior Publication Designer Sarah Burger Graphic Designer Sierra Thomas Custom Publishing Manager Sara Goldfarb Executive Editor Steve Bornhoft Production Editor Paige Aigret Director of Marketing Zandra Wolfgram Guy Harvey Ocean Foundation President Patxi Pastor Executive Director Greg Jacoski Education Director Valerie Gaynor Director of Development Amanda Martin Social Media Director Alex Harvey Social Media Developers Matt Raine Editorial Steering Committee Fred Gar th, Valerie Gaynor, Guy Harvey, Jessica Harvey, Greg Jacoski, Patxi Pastor, Steve Roden Contributors Sid Dobrin, Valerie Gaynor, Nick Honachefsky, Greg Johnston, Amanda Mar tin, Chester Moore, Kelli Oakley, Sam Teicher
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us. That’s why we choose LSC Communications in Lebanon Junction, Kentucky. LSC recycles more than 50 million pounds of paper products per year, which saves 10 million gallons of oil, 14 gallons of water and 35,000 trees. LSC also recycles more than 300,000 pounds of aluminum printing plates annually, and no hazardous wastes are ever sent to a landfill — instead, they are recycled and reused. Additionally, they recycle 217 tons of plastic each year and have set aside 550 of the 700 acres they own to be used for conservation and recreation.
It’s easy... Visit GHOF.org to subscribe today. Interested in having magazines for the entire classroom? Call for special pricing...800.288.1227.
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GUY HARVEY MAGAZINE (ISSN 2162111X) is published four times per year (quarterly) by Rowland Publishing, Inc., 1932 Miccosukee Road, Tallahassee, FL 32308. Periodicals postage paid at Pensacola, Florida, and additional mailing offices. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to: Guy Harvey Magazine, 5470 NW 10th Terrace, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33309. No part of this magazine can be reproduced without express written permission from Rowland Publishing, Inc. Occasionally, we may make all or part of our subscriber list available to carefully screened companies that offer products and/or services that may interest you. To subscribe to Guy Harvey Magazine, call our toll-free subscription number, 800-288-1227.
CONTRIBUTORS
Greg Johnston by Fred Garth Greg Johnston began his journey more than 30 years ago as one of a handful of globetrotting underwater photographers. I discovered his amazing work when I was editor of Scuba Times magazine in the 1990s and we featured his photos on several of our covers. Greg and I went on to become good friends and actually traveled together on assignment for Caribbean Travel & Life magazine to the Dominican Republic and Puerto Rico. He was the shooter. I scribbled down the words. We had way too much fun back in the day and ragged out many rental cars in search of the most far-flung beaches or offthe-beaten-path destinations. In the D.R., he got rare images of indigenous crocodiles in Lake Enriquillo, a bizarre, inland salt water lake. I barely escaped being eaten. We were constantly amazed that we were getting paid to travel the world, stay in fine hotels, scuba dive in crystal clear waters and live life to the fullest.
As a Canadian-born artist, Johnston relocated to Florida when he was in his 20s, and his career blossomed. He never looked back and still travels extensively photographing landscapes, marine life and travel destinations. I’m not surprised that Johnston’s photography has won numerous awards, including Travel Photographer of the Year and the Black & White Spider Award. He’s been the travel editor of Sport Diver and Caribbean Travel & Life magazines, and his work has been featured in national and international advertising campaigns as well as graced the pages of every major travel publication. Even a bout with cancer in 2015 just barely slowed him down. We’re all blessed that he’s still pumping out jaw-dropping images and proud to feature his work in this issue of Guy Harvey Magazine.
Chester Moore
Chester Moore is an award-winning wildlife journalist, conservationist and youth advocate based out of Texas. He is the editor-in-chief of Texas Fish & Game and has contributed writing to Guy Harvey Magazine, the Bonefish & Tarpon
Trust Journal, Sports Afield, Sport Fishing, Tide, In-Fishermen, Hunter’s Horn, Turkey & Turkey Hunting and many other publications around the world. Not only a writer, Moore hosts the “Higher Calling Wildlife” podcast on the Waypoint Podcast Network as well as “Moore Outdoors” radio on Newstalk AM 560 KLVI. He was named a “Hero of Conservation” by Field & Stream magazine, won the Mossy Oak Outdoors Legacy Award for his work with children and wildlife, and recently received the Advocatus Magni Award from the National Wild Turkey Federation. Moore discovered his love for marine wildlife as a boy fishing along the Texas Gulf Coast with his father, watching Jacques Cousteau ocean specials and as a kid who was entranced by the 1975 thriller, Jaws. “Seeing Jaws had a huge impact on me. Most people wanted to get out of the water after seeing it, but it made me want to get into the ocean and learn more about the creatures that dwell there,” Moore said. As an adult, Moore looks back on how his connection to wildlife helped shape him.
He hopes to bring that experience to other children in need. After he and his wife Lisa co-founded the Kingdom Wildlife Zoo, they wanted to give back to people. Moore had been inspired as a child by the charitable good works of his grandmother and sought to emulate her. That’s when Chester and Lisa went on to establish the Wild Wishes® program, which makes wildlife encounters possible for children with a critical illness or who have lost a parent or sibling. Their latest project involves using the work of teen artists to raise awareness of tarpon issues on the Gulf Coast. Moore has seen many of his outdoors dreams come true, including encountering great white sharks in the Pacific. Still, he says that getting to see children who are experiencing challenges also benefit from wildlife may be the best thrill of all. “No matter what a young person has been through, when they get to encounter the wildlife they have dreamed of, they forget about the bad situations and realize great things can still happen,” Moore said. “Being a little part of that is truly a blessing.” GHOF.org | 7
We’ve Only Just Begun
M
ore than 2,000 years ago the Greek philosopher, Heraclitus, said, “Change is the only constant.” A little more than 200 years ago, Benjamin Franklin put his own spin on that concept saying, “When you are finished changing, you are finished.” We have always lived by this philosophy at the Guy Harvey organization. We’re constantly evolving, updating and changing directions to stay on the leading edge. More than two decades ago, we were one of the first entities to embrace “cause marketing” by putting our marine research and conservation efforts on equal footing with our for-profit goals. We focused on protecting our oceans, and financial success followed. These days, it’s hard to find a business that doesn’t have some sort of sustainability initiative. If companies don’t have a conservation cause, they are, as Ben Franklin aptly said, finished. Many of our pursuits may seem the same, such as creating and selling art, apparel and other GH-branded items. We continue to be focused on marine scientific research and using 8 | GuyHarvey.com
the data we collect to influence responsible fishing regulations. However, all of those projects have branched out in various directions. For example, Dr. Mahmood Shivji, who directs the Guy Harvey Research Institute at Nova Southeastern University, is now collaborating with the Charles Darwin Institute in research on scalloped hammerhead and silky sharks in the Galapagos. In the past year, a major change was closing our warehouse and opening up a beautiful Guy Harvey retail store on the popular shopping corridor of Las Olas Boulevard in Fort Lauderdale. We shifted gears from an industrial park to a highly visible storefront. Our grand opening was in February, and so far, business has been brisk. The store offers Guy Harvey-branded products: original art, prints, apparel — basically everything in the GH lineup all in one store. We’re already looking to expand in other locations. The other massive change we’ve taken on within the last two years is providing marine science and conservation education to K-12 students and teachers — all for free. As you might imagine, building an exciting and
relevant education platform is a monumental undertaking. Fortunately, our capable staff mobilized around this initiative, and we’ve added a number of extremely talented individuals who are subject-matter experts in the education space. Our CEO, Steven Roden, comes from an education background and knows the pathway to mass distribution and acceptance. Valerie Gaynor, who was a teacher and science supervisor for many years, has been leading the charge in curriculum development along with Cathy Christopher of Ocean First Education. They’ve also been training teachers to spread the good word. I also taught Valerie how to fish about 10 years ago, so she was a perfect candidate. More recently, we added Betty Bergnes, another former high-energy educator, as our new director of education. Betty, Valerie, Cathy and the GHOF team are training teachers to be Guy Harvey marine science disciples and take the message to districts across the country and, eventually, globally. Teachers, most of whom are overworked and underpaid, are the front-line workers for our children’s future. Their value cannot be
GUY TALK
overstated, which is why the GHOF is excited about giving them outstanding curricula to work with at no cost and training them in amazing aquatic locations. We even pay the teachers to get trained! If there ever was a group of people who appreciate extra money and free tools for their job, it’s teachers. They are a joy to work with and have been incredibly grateful. Another change for us has been ramping up the GHOF’s fundraising and outreach efforts. We were joined in late 2021 by Patxi Pastor, a longtime expert in nonprofits and a first cousin to the Energizer Bunny because he never seems to stop working hard for the cause. Patxi has assembled an amazing team — Matt Raine, Amanda Martin and Tanaka Mutiti Adams — who are focused on globally expanding our conservation and education message. The loyal following that I’ve been able to build through my art, apparel and conservation work has been extremely gratifying. Transitioning from a college professor to a full-time artist was a major and positive change for me personally. It offered me the opportunity to pursue my passion, even though I still love teaching. Over the past four decades, both my organization and my family have grown. My son
Alex and my daughter Jessica are now young adults, and I even have two grandchildren now! I’m so pleased that Alex and Jess have been able to become an integral part of the GH organization. This represents the most significant change of all. Now, Alex is helping to guide the for-profit side of the company while Jess was recently announced as the co-chairperson of the GHOF, our nonprofit arm. I’m proud of what we’ve been able to accomplish in nearly 40 years. I’m also extremely excited to know that I’m able to pass the torch to the next generation of young, dedicated marine conservationists. Yes, we are embracing change and all that it brings. I’m confident that our evolution will continue for many years and generations into the future. Fair winds and tight lines,
GUY HARVEY, PhD
is an internationally acclaimed artist, fisherman, scientist and world traveler who devotes much of his time and money toward ocean conservation.
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NEWS, NOTES & GEAR BY FRED GARTH
Teachers in Polk County with GHOF certificates.
GHOF Trains Teachers in Polk County After a successful teacher training session in Polk County, Florida, by the Guy Harvey Ocean Foundation professional development team, the schools are now utilizing the GHOF Marine Science 101 curriculum within its high school classrooms. Around 25 marine science teachers and 2,500 students are currently accessing the engaging and relevant GHOF resources through its single sign-on. The district’s secondary science curriculum specialist reports that Marine Science 101 provides a real-world context that provides relevancy and, subsequently, student engagement. Additionally, the Marine Science 101 curriculum 10 | GuyHarvey.com
appeals to diverse learners, as tasks are achieved through multiple modalities. From analysis of timely GHOF research articles to studies of Dr. Guy Harvey’s brilliant artwork, an understanding of the connectedness of living things, including humans, is manifested. Marine science teachers within the district appreciate the GHOF resources for these reasons but state that the greatest importance of the curriculum is that Marine Science 101 provides the cohesiveness and purpose for learning science: conservation of Earth’s biodiversity. Future goals within the district include aligning the elementary school resources with grade-level learning-map units.
Teachers in Polk County get certified to teach curriculum.
BLUE MARLIN IN THE BOAT!
STORY AND ILLUSTRATIONS BY DR. GUY HARVEY
Often, I have been asked what was one of the most amazing experiences I have had out on the ocean. Here is one: In the afternoon of Oct. 21, 2021, I was out fishing for marlin off Grand Cayman on Makaira, my Dusky 33, with Alex Robertson. We had trolled west out of the North Sound and headed past North West Point towards a seamount I call The Pinnacle just three miles west. It is an area where we have raised many marlin over the years on the way to 12 Mile Bank, just five miles further west. Not raising a fish here, we kept going west toward the bank. The water here reaches over 3,000 feet deep. At 3:05 p.m. a blue marlin came up on the left teaser. I saw a big color spot, and the bill out of the water was thick, so I knew this was a decent fish! I tried to pull the teaser away, but the marlin was fast and grabbed it again as I asked Alex to bring in the right teaser as well. With both teasers in the boat, the marlin should drop back and eat the short rigger lure, left or right, and we expected the bite. But nothing happened for 10 seconds. We both stood there looking back at the spread. Then, the head of the marlin appeared between the twin 300 Suzukis, mouth closed, dorsal fin up, big blue eye looking at us, and as if in slow motion it kept coming ... kept coming ... until half its body was out of the water. The marlin was fat and appeared to be stuck between the two engines as we moved along at 8 knots still on autopilot. How was this possible? The marlin appeared to be in a trance, stiff, pointing up into the sky, its face level with our heads. In the time that seemed like ages, I took in all the detail of the face, the mouth closed tight, the dorsal up, pectoral fins out and the glowing
color; iridescent green and blue on its head and back, bronze and silver face and flanks. It kept getting higher out of the water. I thought it was going to land in the cockpit; then the trouble would begin! Standing in the cockpit; I dared not turn away from the marlin to grab a camera or stop the boat. I kept my eyes on the fish. Alex was also mesmerized. The marlin got through the space between the engines and started to fall down, gravity taking hold. It fell to its left and landed on the transom and covering board, then started to flap hard. It then rolled to its left, landing on the swim platform and went back into the water on the port side as it was kicking its tail — gone! I quickly took photos of the scales, skin and small amount of blood left on the engines, steering gear, transom and covering board. The marlin had left its scars, but it seemed to be unscathed and certainly had not hit either propeller. Alex and I called friends and family, frantically, to let them know what had just happened. With no photos or video taken, we still had a story to tell of a free-swimming, 300-pound blue marlin chasing the teaser and then swimming up between the engines out of the water before collapsing on top of the transom and port covering board before leaving. I did a series of ink sketches to show what happened. How lucky we were that the marlin did not land in the cockpit. We continued fishing at 12 Mile Bank, and at 4:45 p.m., we had a double-header blue marlin — Alex catching and releasing his fish at 125 pounds. What an afternoon of excitement!
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Chris Gough and Gina Zeitlin
Cayman Islands Angling Club Members Win Big in Panama BY DR. GUY HARVEY
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World famous Tropic Star Lodge at Pinas Bay, Panama, held its Annual Billfish Conservation Tournament in November 2021. Prior to the torneo, team members from the Guy Harvey Ocean Foundation were part of a research group tagging black marlin, blue marlin, sailfish and dorado (dolphin fish or mahi) at the lodge. This is part of a long-term study to better track these ecologically important species of game fish in the Eastern Tropical Pacific. Sustainable catch-and-release sportfishing is a major player in the region’s ecotourism sector and is a driving force behind protecting these majestic fish. Ryan Logan, a Ph.D. student at Nova Southeastern University, who has been leading the billfish tagging project, brought 32 PATs (Pop-Off Archival Tags) to go on billfish and six SPOT tags for silky sharks — SPOT tags send a signal to a satellite each time a fish breaks the surface. My daughter Jessica, Steve Roden, Chris Gough and I were all assisting with catching, tagging, data recording and filming released fish. Leading the dorado tagging project was Wessley Merten of the Dolphinfish Research Project (BeyondOurShoresFoundation.org) in the Western Atlantic and Caribbean. The program is responsible for tagging more than 30,000 dolphinfish in this citizen science-based project with over 4,000 anglers registered in many countries. In Panama, 560 dorado have been tagged with conventional tags, and Wess has tagged 15 with electronic archival tags. As the research work continued, Jessica remained with the tagging team, and Palm Beach angler Gina Zeitlin joined Chris and me on team Los Bamofos to take part in the torneo. There were three private boats, and 10 TSL vessels fishing with teams from Canada, the U.S., the Cayman Islands and Panama. Day one, Sunday, Nov. 21, began with fishing director Richard White launching a Bimini start out of the bay. The boats spread out to the south and west to search for billfish. On Miss Scandia with Captain Gavilan and marinero (mate) Ricardo, Gina and I each bagged sailfish while fishing around flotsam to get points on the board. Several other boats caught sails for 100 points, and three boats hooked big Pacific blue marlin for 300 points while trolling lures. Sea Weez, a 75-foot Scarborough captained by legendary Aussie skipper Ross Finlayson, hooked a really big marlin, judging from the amount of spray it kicked up each time it jumped. They fought the marlin on 50-pound line for 80 minutes before getting the leader, calling it 800 pounds, tagging and releasing with a PAT.
In the early afternoon, the Los Bamofos team was checking out big floating logs and trees that usually hold bait fish such as green jacks and bonitos. A pair of billfish came up on the teasers, and I hooked a blue marlin, on 30-pound line, jumping all over the calm ocean. Ricardo had the leader in 20 minutes, gaining 300 points to put our team in second place at the end of the day. Team Against All Odds on Miss Island Star was in first place with 600 points for three sailfish and a blue marlin release. On the second day, the teams switched boats, putting Gina and me on Miss Tropic Star with Captain Jacob and ace marinero Hermel. Jacob ran south until he found a trash line 18 miles out loaded with big logs, a floating freezer and lots of birds and bait in blue water. Everything looked good, so we fished live bonito baits. At 8:05 a.m., a blue marlin ate the right rigger bait. Gina hooked it, and it started gray-hounding right across the spread, cutting the line off on the stinger! Not the best start for our team when we’re chasing points. The next two bites were both big Pacific sailfish of 110 pounds both caught by Gina. At 9:15 a.m., a blue marlin crashed the stinger bait, and Gina caught her first blue marlin of 300 pounds, which I tagged with a PAT. Then, Chris pulled the hook on a jumping sailfish, but not to worry, as two minutes later, a blue marlin terrorized the left rigger bait before jumping all over the stinger bait. Chris was up, and Jacob was on the radio screaming,
“Marlin on the line, angler No. 31!” This fish was a lot bigger than the one Gina had just caught, doing lolipop jumps around in a wide circle. It was a big fish and heavy, not clearing the surface. I was getting a few jump shots with my camera as the fish came closer to the boat. Hermel had the leader in 30 minutes, and we tried to get a PAT in, but we broke the marlin off. We called it 400 pounds. In the background of the photo I shot with the jumping marlin was the floating freezer. We had all the bites within a quarter mile of this spot along the trash line. Chris made a joke in Spanish to Jacob, “The marlin are here because the freezer is full of beer — a Marlin bar!” No sooner were the words said than another big marlin crashed the live bonito on the stinger. Gina was up and fought this marlin for nearly an hour. It had done a magnificent series of jumps like a Jet Ski on steroids. Videographer Keishmer Hermoso was on the TSL chase boat filming the action close by and leapt aboard our boat to film the tagging action. Hermel wired a strong fish; I got the PAT firmly in the left shoulder, and the 475-pound marlin was released. I asked Keishmer to stay on board with us, and Jessica’s boat came to give us more PATs. They had not been gone five minutes when Chris hooked up another blue marlin. This one jumped at an angle across the stern going to port but always coming at the boat, so I was getting some good jump shots. It stopped and
shook its head at the surface, foaming up the water all around for a minute, then Hermel had the leader, a five-minute fish. It went ballistic jumping close to the boat and then overtook the boat on the starboard side. No chance to tag this green fish, so Hermel cut it off. We ended up with four blue marlin and two more sailfish on day two for a total of five blue marlin and four sailfish reaching 1,900 points. Second place boat, the Beatrix, had 900 points. Captain Jacob and Hermel were the top crew. Team Los Bamofos qualified to enter the prestigious Offshore World Championship, which will be held in April 2022 in Costa Rica. This is the fourth time a Cayman Islands team has won this prestigious angling event. Maybe we will see you at the tournament next year. Viva Panama!
Chris Gough, Captain Jacob, Gina Zeitlin, Mate Hermel and Dr. Guy Harvey holding up five fingers for catching five marlin. GHOF.org | 13
SFC Partners with GHOF
Dr. Guy Harvey with SFC Founder and CEO Mark Neifeld
Sustainability and conservation have increasingly become a key part of the narrative at big game fishing tournaments. Catch and release divisions continue to grow in the billfish categories, and the angling community is more dedicated than ever to protecting the fishery that so many of us enjoy. That’s why there was a natural fit between the Sport Fishing Championship and the Guy Harvey Ocean Foundation. Known for their vital scientific research and conservation efforts with marlin, sailfish, shark and other pelagic species, the GHOF is dedicated to a global sustainable fishery. Much of their billfish tagging work in the Eastern Tropical Pacific (ETP) along the coastal regions from Baja, Central America and all the way down to the Galapagos, has been published internationally and has helped
to influence regulations to assure a healthy fishery. As everyone knows, a strong fish population is directly proportional to successful fishing tournaments! “We are so thrilled to be the beneficiary of the Sport Fishing Championship,”said world-renowned artist, conservationist, scientist and entrepreneur Dr. Guy Harvey. “With this funding, we will be able to expand our extensive STEAM curriculum for students and professional development programs for teachers. We are working every day to inspire young ocean ambassadors and provide them with exciting marine and environmental science experiences. Educating our future leaders in marine conservation and ocean sustainability has never been more critical, and the partnership between SFC and CBS Sports will go a long way in generating awareness.” GHOF.org | 15
PROMOTION
SHOPPI NG GU I DE Whether you are looking for a creative way to say thank you, a holiday gift or just want to treat yourself, visit GuyHarvey.com to shop a full range of Guy Har vey-branded apparel, artwork, souvenirs and more. Shopping is a win-win when ever y purchase you make benefits the Guy Har vey Ocean Foundation.
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YOU R PU RCHASE H ELPS SAVE OU R SEAS
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Men’s Bill Flag Performance Hoodie with Gaiter This super comfortable performance hoodie is perfect for any outdoor adventure on land or sea. It provides UPF protection, and the attached gaiter provides additional sun protection for your face. $50
PROMOTION
1. Guy Harvey Yellowfin Dog Collar Nylon dog collar is perfect for any dog out fishing, boating or just enjoying the outdoors. Plastic clip-style buckle for a secure fit with a metal buckle loop. Made in the USA. Sizes: Small, Medium, Large $17
Guy Harvey Blue Escape Dog Bed Your dog will love this beautiful pillow-top bed, and it will certainly brighten up any room. Printed with 100% biodegradable water-based ink and made from eco-friendly rPet material. Water repellent inner and outer cover. Made in the Americas. Small/Med – 34” x 26”, $99 Large/XL – 42” x 34”, $109
2. Guy Harvey USA leash Nylon dog leash measures 1” wide and 6’ in length. Perfect for an active lifestyle and guaranteed to turn heads. Made in the USA. One size. $20 3. Guy Harvey Grand Slam Belt English leather belt with solid brass buckle and cotton webbing around the waist. Great for summer. Great for any time. Made in the USA. Sizes 28-46. Order at least one size up from pant size. $26.95 4. Stiff Flexible Fillet Knife with SOFGRIP® Handle, 8” Wide This durable 8” wide fillet knife makes filleting and skinning, even tougher fish, easy. The highest quality, stain-free, high-carbon steel blades offer superior sharpness to process your catch. The SofGrip handle combines comfort with excellent slip resistance for efficient production at the fillet table. Proudly made in the USA by America’s leading manufacturer of professional knives since 1818. Edge guard is included. $42
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DIVING FULL
STEAM INTO 2022 BY VALERIE GAYNOR
Whale Shark
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EDUCATION
T
hroughout the last two years, teachers across the state of Florida have been developing some amazing new educational courses. We like to call them the Guy Harvey Collections. This ground-breaking program was initiated with the Florida Department of Education to increase cross-curricular, STEAM engagement. What that means is that the Guy Harvey Collections integrate all of the STEAM components — Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Math — so students get a well-rounded learning experience. This project was a labor of love for all of the teachers involved because it was started just days before the COVID-19 lockdown. The education world was flipped upside down, and educators were working full tilt in uncharted waters.
As the storm settled, the Guy Harvey Collections teachers focused on the task of creating a full STEAM experience for K-12 students. What is unique about these lessons is that Dr. Harvey’s art is the anchor that holds the entire process together. An additionally thrilling aspect is that the Collections focus on the topic of sharks. One thing we know for sure, sharks get people’s attention, especially if those people are swimming. In this case, the students won’t actually be in the water with live sharks, but they’ll be using Dr. Harvey’s real-life experiences scuba diving with sharks and painting them to develop an understanding of the how and the why of STEAM. The lessons combine videos and artwork to guide students to learn through the lens of Guy Harvey’s art.
PHOTO BY JEREMY BISHOP ON UNSPLASH
Art is an important component in the Guy Harvey Collections, educational courses that employ a multidisciplinary approach. Here, Dr. Harvey adds markings to a painting of a whale shark.
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Because the Collections cover all ages of students from K-12, it provides them with the opportunity to share, understand and practice activities together as a class and even as an entire school. While kindergarten kids may be using crayon coloring books of sharks, high schoolers will be studying the global movement of various shark species using satellite telemetry. It’s a unique way to create excitement within all grade levels. If you’re wondering why teaching kids about sharks is important, you need to only look at the quality of our waterways. Red tides, blue-green algae, coral diseases and other maladies continue to degrade water quality. Using one of the planet’s most intriguing creatures is a wonderful way to get students interested in preserving and protecting our vital marine ecosystems. That’s the mission of the GHOF, and the Collections are a way to reach those goals. The best news is that we have already betatested these lessons in schools around Florida and have had tremendous success. This has also 20 | GuyHarvey.com
Jessica Harvey introduces teachers to findings resulting from a Guy Harvey Institute shark tracking initiative. Given universal fascination about sharks, lessons about the apex predators readily engage students.
allowed us to update and alter the Collections based on the feedback of practicing educators. Our Collections trainers began meeting in early 2022 in Jensen Beach, Florida, to create professional learning (PL) workshops for teachers so they will be able to go back to the
EDUCATION
“The Guy Harvey Ocean Foundation Collections curriculum provides students with engaging and impactful opportunities to experience the power art has to help us learn, collaborate and communicate about the natural world. Art serves as a magnificent catalyst to encourage creativity and innovative thinking. Through the Collections’ curriculum, students see the interaction between art and science come to life as they investigate the importance of sharks in our marine ecosystem and consider the role we all play in conservation. Creating these curricula has been an incredible adventure, and we cannot wait for educators and students to embark on the conservation journey.” Turtle Soup by Dr. Guy Harvey
LESLEY KIRKLEY Pasco County, Florida Collections K-5 writer
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EDUCATION
“I watched students completely immersed in their learning. What an incredible sight to see. Students asked questions and tried various disciplines to create their final products. The pride that they showed for their learning filled the school.” ERIN BRACK, Bay County, Florida Collections K-5 writer and beta-tester
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RIDOFRANZ / ISTOCK / GETTY IMAGES PLUS
Teachers gain hands-on experience during a Professional Learning workshop held in Jensen Beach, Florida. Such sessions take advantage of the fact that the best way to learn about a subject is to immerse yourself in it. Activities include data collection and interaction with researchers.
classroom prepared to engage their students. During the PL experiences, teachers will learn by doing: fishing, boating, seine netting, working with researchers and collecting data. Since they will be located throughout Florida, educators will be able to learn about different ecosystems. The Collections were launched on the GHOF website in February 2022, and PL workshops began that same month. The plan is to work with school districts around the state and tailor the lessons based on the location. The GHOF knows education is not one-size-fits-all. Teachers are developing professional learning full days, half days and even virtual opportunities. Plans to expand this program globally are in motion because, after all, we are one world. As we look toward the future, we will be developing a GH Collections 2 in the summer of 2022 and will be looking for feedback from teachers throughout the state on the topics that are most needing to be addressed. As a teacher myself, I know the best way to learn the subject is to be totally immersed in it! That is why in 2022, GHOF is diving in full force to support and provide educators with environmental knowledge they can share. GHOF.org | 23
TEEN CONSERVATIONISTS
The Power of a Turtle Wildlife encounter inspires conservation effor ts STORY AND PHOTOS BY CHESTER MOORE
S
ea turtles have always been Reannah Hollaway’s favorite animal. For her, they are creatures with fascinating lives and great beauty. Reannah is amused even by their awkwardness on land. When I overheard a conversation at Texas Children’s Hospital about this young lady battling cystic fibrosis and wanting to meet a sea turtle, I was inspired to act. My wife Lisa and I are the founders of Wild Wishes®, a program that makes wildlife encounters possible for children with a critical illness or who are grieving the loss of a parent or sibling. Within two months, Reannah got to meet a sea turtle at Moody Gardens in Galveston, Texas, and she and her friend Lauren Scott got to release rehabilitated, injured green sea turtles, courtesy of the Amos Research Keep. “It was such an amazing experience. Setting those turtles free made me feel
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alive and motivated me to help wildlife,” Reannah said. Two weeks from beginning college at the time, she changed her planned major and is now a senior wildlife biology student at Texas Tech. The experience of seeing someone dealing with a serious health challenge and dedicating herself to wildlife resulted in a new facet of our outreach. We call it Higher Calling Wildlife. Teens who come through Wild Wishes® and have a conservation interest are mentored in using social media to spread conservation awareness. This is done primarily through expeditions where skills including photography, writing and speaking on camera are emphasized. Youth with artistic talents are encouraged to use them for wildlife’s sake. Emily Odom came to the program eight years ago after tragically losing her father. She recently responded to a crisis involving tarpon in a most expressive way — with a sketchpad and pencil.
Alicia Walker of the Amos Research Keep (left) watches as Reannah Hollaway (center) and Lauren Scott release rehabilitated green sea turtles in the Gulf of Mexico at Port Aransas, Texas. This experience through the Wild Wishes® program inspired Reannah to dedicate her life to conservation.
EDUCATION
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Higher Calling Wildlife’s first fishing expeditions were in freshwater where boys got to learn how to flyfish and use light action spinning tackle to pursue the elusive Texas native Guadalupe bass. In 2022, a tarpon and snook fishing expedition is in the works. Here, Amos Spells gives flyfishing a try in the Nueces River.
Above: As part of her ongoing mentoring through Higher Calling Wildlife, Reannah got to participate in a desert bighorn relocation, courtesy of the Texas Parks & Wildlife at Elephant Mountain Wildlife Management Area. She had the honor of placing the GPS collar on the biggest ram of the day. Right: Kadyn Beaumont got to fish Galveston Bay as part of his Wild Wishes® experience. He will soon age into the Higher Calling Wildlife program for teens and has already requested a shark fishing catch-and-release expedition.
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TEEN CONSERVATIONISTS
Seventeenyear-old Emily Odom is using her love of art of help raise awareness to tarpon conservation. She is helping kick off Higher Calling Wildlife’s tarpon art contest open for kids K-12.
“They are such majestic, mysterious fish,” said Emily, 17. “When I found out juvenile tarpon died in the freeze on the Texas Coast last year, I wanted to help. I drew a special print we are passing out at schools with information about the species.” Emily is excited about a tarpon art contest sponsored by Higher Calling Wildlife. Students are invited to submit depictions of tarpon using any medium. Winners will get special prizes and will be included on our Higher Calling Wildlife website and in social media. The deadline for entries is June 15, 2022. There are three divisions: elementary (K-5th grade), middle school (6-8) and high school (9-12). Entries will be accepted as photos or scans of the artwork and must be submitted to chester@chestermoore. com along with the student-artist’s name and grade, parent’s name and phone number. Both Reannah and Emily said being part of the Wild Wishes® family and now partaking in Higher Calling Wildlife have been life-changing experiences. “Losing my dad was a terrible thing to go through as a little kid, but getting involved with this saved me in many ways,” Emily said. “I have a lot more joy and purpose in my life than
Emily’s tarpon sketching is being rendered into a handout for schools to include information on tarpon range, habits and conservation needs.
I would have if I had never met the Moores and been exposed to wildlife and learned to help it in such a positive way.” Reannah, who is healthier than she has been in years, said she never dreamed that a sea turtle encounter would inspire something like Higher Calling Wildlife. “It gives me hope that others can find their voice for wildlife conservation as I have,” she said.
During quiet moments of reflection, she often thinks of the very turtle she released. “I wonder where it is and what has happened on its life journey,” Reannah said. “If other young people like me can have similar experiences, maybe they can focus on things like sea turtles or tarpon instead of all of the bad things out there and use their talents to help wildlife.”
For information on Wild Wishes®, Higher Calling Wildlife and the tarpon art contest, visit HigherCallingWildlife.com. GHOF.org | 27
TEACHERS’ CORNER Teachers everywhere can access marine and environmental content curated for the classroom by the Guy Harvey Ocean Foundation. These free resources are available for all education levels and bring an interactive approach to education.
Sign up for FREE and access all Guy Harvey Ocean Foundation Marine and Environmental Content Explorer Series (K-5) Guy Harvey Collections Jessica Harvey Expedition Notebooks Guy Harvey Marine Science 101
Check out our collection of brand new tech for Summer 2022!
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Take it a Step Further – Whole Class 1. In their science notebooks, have students calculate the “efficiency of energy transfer” for their food chain by using the following formula: % efficiency of energy transfer = Volume of water
in the graduated cylinder(s) (mL) Total vol. of water taken from source jug (mL)
X 100
Organism Ca
2. Once each group has completed their calculatio ns, share as a class so all students can record the data in their notebooks. s
s in Food Chain g Energy Flow 4.3.1 Modelin
Food Chain (# links/trophic levels)
rds
Efficiency of Energy Transfer
Food Chain A – 1
Food Chain B – 2 creatures on Kelp d for all other supplying foo Food Chain C – 3 ry food web, wn as primary eve kno of are e ly bas ect cers dir and s form the du s, cer pro ate du ry ebr pro ma ert ry Prima sume pri bivorous inv ers, such Food Chain D – 4 anisms that con plankton, her ondary consum Earth. The org se include zoo e food for sec feed the ocean, the el consumers in turn, becom consumers. In the higher-lev se organisms, of Food Chain E – 5 The all es. and rat ers teb sum herbivorous ver s. Tertiary con and carnivore carnivores. as planktivores led cal are 3. Discuss the and following s questions with students, clarifying concepts as needed. on those specie a. What does the water represent? . An trophic levels b. What does the water you receive from another are known as has fewer species in theSe els agra These groups food lev chain c ss represent? phi c. What does water that is spilled represent? h fewer tro moves ecosystem wit ers. As energy d. What does the water at the end in the graduated h-level consum consumed, cylinder is d represent groups of hig ? foo en e. Explain the discrepancy observed in the efficiency d web wh t of energy transfer for each food through the foo ed, much of tha chain. waste produc phic level an digested, and fact, at each tro In t. los in is energy rgy contained ene the of Assessment example, average of 90% el is lost. For In their science notebooks, or on graph paper, have the lower lev 10% of organisms in g students create a graph that represents the lankton, only id representin d eats phytop relationsh ip into energy pyram ted an ver of between the length of each food chain with the efficiency of energy and when a copepo con in is cha food transfer. representation t it consumes must be clearly labeled and include a one to two A simple marine energy pyramid is a visual Graphs the energy tha sentenceLo system. An bster Larvae summ summary. eco ls. y. n leve give bod a hic its in l trop in leve each trophic energy stored the biomass at el, lev t nex pen at the uals at each rgy losses hap s Organism fewer individ Cards – Key The same ene rgy copepods. Thi why there are anchovy eats get enough ene level explains like when an lower level to each trophic the at at Kelp s rgy Sargassum abundance Primary Producers: ual r ene Green Hair Algae Seagrass Green Algae ate of ivid s ny ind re is gre ma the e , els consistent los sum lev con ic ph Primary Consumers: Copepod Crab Larvae cies (baleen each needs to g at lower tro Lobster Larvae Jellyfish higher level; gest marine spe es that by feedin lar fish ans the all y me o sm wh is als s s Secondary Consumers: Snapper nkton or on the to survive. Thi Angelfish energy-rich. Thi Blue Tang els—on zoopla food is more lev t c tha phi tro and d of foo d at low fee Tertiary .) Consumer etc s: , Tuna rks Octopus sha Shark (apex predator) whales, whale Juvenile Snap zooplankton. per that consume science to useful tools in be can and cepts es con tiv of jec ons Ob ns. ati ng tio Learni represent ke predic ual ry ma vis ma e and pri vid ns, m fro te discussio ● Models pro in a food web, ations, genera es its position improve explan anism describ next level, c level of an org sed on to the pas ● The trophi is or. rgy dat ene x pre y 10% of the producer to ape d chain, roughl t. foo hea the as t up p los the energy is ● At each ste imately 90% of Tuna while approx
Overview
Sargassum
Green Algae
Crab Larvae
Blue Tang
Octopus
Green Hair Al gae
Copepod
Jellyfish
Juvenile Ange lfish
Shark
Follow us @GuyHarveyOcean GHOF.org
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Dancing the
Tuna
Tango
Bluefin stocks appear to be responding well to management effor ts BY NICK HONACHEFSKY
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New England’s Bluefin by Dr. Guy Harvey
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BLUEFIN TUNA
Editor’s Note:The following commentary represents one U.S. recreational angler’s perspective on the management of bluefin tuna stocks.
In the era of progressive fisheries management, no fish creates more clamor than the bluefin tuna.
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So, just what are the issues at play in intercontinental bluefin regulations? Are the current laws working?
QUELLING SUSPICIONS
Atlantic bluefin tuna is only one species, but it involves management among dozens of states and countries on both sides of the Atlantic. ICCAT is tasked with managing the species internationally, which can be a tricky endeavor, setting up a potential Pandora’s box of regulatory concerns. Think about the squabbles about fishing regulations among states, never mind countries. International management data means that both recreational and commercial bluefin fishing can be halted suddenly. In 2021, New Jersey experienced solid giant bluefin fishing. Fish of 73 inches and more were caught throughout the month of May, then the allotted quota was deemed reached and the fishery was shut down overnight. One hopes that U.S. anglers respect such closures and understand the reasons for them, but there is always a nagging question that eats at them: Are the European commercial fleets
adhering to tuna regulations out there, or are U.S. efforts to preserve the stocks in vain? Because tuna move about the entire Atlantic Ocean, preservation efforts in the U.S. can easily be negated if European commercial fleets simply harvest fish based on rules that are more lax or in the absence of effective law enforcement. The dance between European and American fisheries is an uneasy one. Suspicion about overseas counterparts is present among anglers
BLUEFIN TUNA BY DR. GUY HARVEY
The gustatory demand for bluefin tuna spiked in the 1980s and 1990s when docks throughout the Northeast were lined with professional tuna buyers who carried thermometers and, as quickly as possible, inspected, bought and shipped tuna to Japan for sushi. The late 1990s and 2000s saw a marked decline in bluefin catch and stock rates. Enter the International Commission of Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT), which tried to get a handle on perceived or real overfishing of the stocks, implementing the first total allowable catch (TAC) limit in 1998. Fast forward. Throughout the 2010s, it seemed like Atlantic bluefin tuna numbers dramatically bounced back. Recreational anglers on charter boats and private vessels enjoyed sustained, spectacular catches of fish ranging from 50 to 300 pounds. Television shows, including Wicked Tuna, popularized and romanticized commercial tuna fishing. With everybody wanting their share, management of the bluefin fishery has always been contentious. It pits recreational interests against commercial interests and the U.S. against Europe.
on both sides of the pond, but overall, the laws seem to be working to rebuild the stocks.
A POSITIVE TREND
In 1998, better monitoring of bluefin stocks was implemented using TAC data and mandatory catch reporting. As a result, it appears that ICCAT regulations are having a positive effect across international Atlantic bluefin tuna stocks, quelling thoughts of mismanagement and enforcement overseas.
Major milestones have been achieved. In 2015, bluefin tuna, which had been deemed “endangered,” were reclassified as “near threatened.” In 2017, stocks were declared “no longer overfished” in the Eastern Atlantic; in 2021, the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) lowered their status to “least concern.” It would seem like ICCAT regulatory efforts are working the way they should. In 2021, along the Eastern U.S. seaboard, tuna fishing was lights out, especially in New Jersey. It was not unusual to leave
Trolling spreader bars are a top tactic used by recreational anglers for tricking bluefin tuna.
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the dock at 4 a.m. and be back at the dock at 10 a.m. with your allotted limit of two bluefin between 27 and 47 inches and one between 47 and 73 inches. Meanwhile, you were likely to have released a dozen more. The glory days of bluefin tuna fishing in the legendary waters at Mud Hole, New Jersey, last seen in the 1980s, may be returning. In October 2021, off Long Island Sound, large bluefin of up to 73 inches were being landed, and giant tuna over 73 inches were being hooked and released only three miles from shore, sometimes within sight of the Statue of Liberty.
AN ANGLER’S PERSPECTIVE
You’d be hard-pressed to find another bluefin tuna angler as dedicated and qualified as Sami Ghandour, owner of the tuna-centric Saltywater Tackle in Sayreville, New Jersey. Ghandour chases bluefin from Prince Edward Island down to the Outer Banks of North Carolina and at all points in between.
Above: Sami Ghandour poses with a mediumclass Hatteras bluefin. The North Carolina bluefin bite peaks January through March. Right: Author hoists a 200-pound class bluefin tuna caught on a slidebait off the coast of New Jersey. New Jersey sees bluefin April through December.
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BLUEFIN TUNA
Atlantic Bluefin Tuna Migratory Patterns Western and eastern bluefin mix to feed but separate to breed Two populations of bluefin — western and eastern — crisscross the Atlantic to feed and return home to spawn. Atlantic bluefin historic range Main western spawning area Main eastern spawning area East-west management boundary Migration routes Source: Jean-Marc Fromentin and Joseph E. Powers, “Atlantic Bluefin Tuna: Population Dynamics, Ecology, Fisheries and Management,” Fish and Fisheries 6 (2005): 281-306
He is a powerful observer of tuna stocks and has some interesting insights. “Bluefin fishing along the East Coast the past five years has been phenomenal,” Ghandour said. “It probably really got going around 2009 and seems to have elevated each year since. I believe the stocks are healthy overall. Tuna regulations are pretty liberal right now on the recreational side, and a lot of anglers are harvesting their three-fish limits while releasing a bunch more, so the stocks are healthy enough to support those regulations.” However, Ghandour also notes some concerning alarming trends. “The past two or three years, whether it’s in Prince Edward Island or North Carolina, we seem to be missing the mid-class bluefin, those in the 60-inch to lower 70-
inch range,” he said. “It’s either all big or all small. There is an abundance of smaller fish to 50 inches in New Jersey and surrounding areas. The past three years in Cape Cod, all you’ll find is giant tuna 92 to 101 inches along with the smaller fish. And the Outer Banks the last three to four years have been completely amazing on giant bluefin from 75 to 93 inches and weighing 500 to 700 pounds. The thing is, you can find small fish or giants, but you don’t see any of those mid-class fish anywhere.” Could it be that the smaller tuna “slot limits” — usually somewhere between 26 and 45 inches — are limiting the number of fish that are available to grow to mid-class size? Or that the large amount of giant tuna around now are ones that grew large enough
before the slot limit was imposed? On the other hand, maybe the 60- to 70-inch class fish have schooled together offshore in the middle of the Atlantic and simply have not come into the traditional tuna grounds. Ghandour’s observations are significant; possibly some scientific data will be obtained in the near future to explain his observations.
TUNA TANGO
Demand for bluefin tuna, whether from restaurants or anglers, is not going away. But I hope that the Wild West of unregulated tuna fishing is a thing of the past. Regulatory commissions, enforcement and stock management seem to have the bluefin tuna stocks trending in the right direction. Will the trend continue? Today, things look promising. GHOF.org | 35
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™
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A sailfish goes airborne.
The Pacific is calm in Panama but not without a lot of surge.
TROPICAL STAR S IN PANAMA A Guy Harvey Fishing Expedition BY FRED GARTH | PHOTOS BY MATILDA LEIJON
T
he blue marlin was well over 300 pounds and fighting like, um, a huge blue marlin. On the other hand, my fishing buddy, Brian, was barely 200 pounds. That’s fully clothed and soaking wet. The poor dude was definitely wet; so drenched in sweat that his fishing shirt stuck like cling wrap to his skin. I was worried. We were in Panama after all. The lush, mountainous country is only 8.5 degrees north of the equator. Steamy air is served year-round. After 40 minutes, the marlin was still kicking Brian’s butt. We fed him refreshing bottles of cool water and words of encouragement. “You can do it, man!” “We believe in you.” “Please don’t die.” When I could literally see blood pulsing through the veins in his neck, I had to step in. “Okay, amigo, it’s time to pass the fishing rod to Matt. I don’t think they have a defibrillator on board.” Brian reluctantly stopped reeling, wiped his face with a fish rag, then poured an icecold Sprite down his pants. Matt hopped into the fighting chair enthusiastically. He’s a fit, 25-year-old, former college athlete. I fully expected him to reel that fish in within a few seconds, but the blue marlin was a fighter. After 30 grueling minutes, Matt had been reduced to a sweat blob, too. In a final surge of energy, he got the blue marlin to the boat and the
first mate expertly released it back into the wild to fight another day. This wildness took place 15 miles offshore of Tropic Star Lodge, a remote jungle outpost that offers, perhaps, the best billfishing in the world. Guy Harvey has been there more than 60 times. His wife thinks he has another family in Panama. He does, but it is of the billfish species. Although this was my first visit, I’ve heard Guy talk about TSL so much in the 12 years I’ve worked with him that I felt like I’d been there. As we all know, there’s nothing like the real thing. Anticipation bubbles up during the 45-minute flight from Panama City, over the Pacific Ocean, as green islands ringed in beaches and blue water pass by below. The twin-engine prop plane practically skims the water as it touches down on the concrete landing strip. A 10-minute boat ride delivers you to cold beverages and happy faces at the resort. The lodge was literally carved out of the jungle in 1961, when Ray Smith, a Texas oil tycoon, built his “home away from home.” Since those early days, it has grown into a perfectly manicured retreat with a lovely swimming pool, spa, five-star cuisine and two well-attended bars. Because the mountains on the mainland block the prevailing winds, the Pacific Ocean stays quite calm most of the time. That’s why the classic 28-to-31-foot Bertram
Moppies, which have been fully restored and upgraded with air conditioning in the cabins, are the perfect fishing machines here. The captains and the mates are like human extensions of the vessels. “Backing down” on a fish is an art they mastered long ago but still keep practicing every day. That’s a good thing, because after the exhausted Matt/Brian tag team recovered in the cabin, it was my turn in the chair. During five days of fishing, our group of 26 anglers caught and released many blue marlins and even more sailfish. For decades, the common-sense practice at TSL has been to release all billfish alive. That’s why the population is so healthy and abundant. Some fish are tagged with high-tech satellite tags that provide data for the conservation research being done by the Guy Harvey Research Institute and Guy Harvey Ocean Foundation (see sidebar). The one species that kept eluding our happy group was The Black — the prized black marlin. Blacks are more rarely caught than blues and, therefore, are somewhat coveted. They’re the ones people chatter about at the bar after a long, salty day. Did I mention that it was my turn in the fighting chair? We’d already had great success trolling with live bonito and teasers, and we had boated some tuna and dolphinfish that were destined for the dinner plate. Suddenly, we heard the familiar sound of a GHOF.org | 39
Author Fred Garth contemplates life and big fish.
line screaming off the reel. The captain shouted, “Fish on!” I jumped in the chair and prepared for another slugfest. Just then, the fish rocketed into the blue sky. “Negra!!!” the captain screamed. He was smiling. I’m not fluent in Spanish but I do know that baño means bathroom, cerveza is beer and negra means black. Holy smokes. A hoss black marlin was at the end of my line. He, I mean probably she, leapt again. Oh my God! She was a monster! My first thought was that I’d probably suffer the same fate as Brian. That’s where I was wrong. If you’ve never battled a sea beast, you should know that success depends about 80% on the captain and mate and only 20% on the angler. I’m sure some hardcore fishermen are offended by that statement, but it’s all about having a Zen master at the helm. From the flying bridge, El Capitan looks backward while keeping his hands on the throttles and backs down hard. His goal is to steer the boat in reverse, toward the fish, without swamping the vessel at the same time. Massive gushes of water pour over the transom with each oncoming wave and, hopefully, flow out quickly without dragging one of the fishermen with it. If everything works in perfect synchronicity, the angler reels in the fish faster than the boat is backing toward it. Or, in some cases, the captain has to throw the throttles forward if the sea monster starts hound dogging at the boat. 40 | GuyHarvey.com
Black marlin tend to do a lot of leaping and skipjacking across the ocean surface during the first five to 10 minutes. Then, they like to dive deep. That’s bad. Instead of reeling in a fish that’s jumping in and out of the water, it’s more like trying to drag up a school bus filled with concrete. Just ask Brian. Fortunately, for me, the captain was an aficionado in black marlin behavior. To my surprise, the captain and I got the 600-pound black to the stern of the boat in less than 10 minutes. The mate released the hulk quickly, and I looked at a dismayed Brian. “That’s the way you do it, Bubba,” I said with a hint of cockiness. Brian still hates me. And so it was for the other six boats in our group. They all caught big fish, every day. They all had juicy stories to tell at the bar and to their children and grandchildren. Interestingly, none of the other boats had landed a black. Guy Harvey is the consummate fishing junkie. He fished with five guests each day on the Pollyanna, a 45-foot Hatteras. Even when everyone else had retreated into the cabin
for cool air and a soft place to sit, Guy was standing on the transom, keeping a vigilant eye on the ocean and scanning the horizon. His daughter Jessica, who is part woman, part fish, led a different group of anglers each day. Whenever her boat stopped, she slid into the water with a camera to film schools of baitfish, dolphins or a just-released marlin with a satellite tag in place. When their boat accidentally backed over a log one morning, Jess quickly masked up and went over the side to inspect the damage and report back to the captain. She is a Harvey, after all. One would expect no less. Our eclectic band of anglers came in from all over the country, anxious to catch fish with Guy and Jessica Harvey. Phil Golden left his home in North Carolina with one goal. “I’ve caught marlin before,” he said, “but never with Guy Harvey.” On the last day of the trip, he caught his blue on the boat with Guy. “I guess I can die a happy man now,” he laughed. His lifelong buddy, Adam Hedbarney from Pennsylvania,
EXPEDITIONS
Left: Just before an early morning departure on the Pollyanna. Above: Guy Harvey CEO Steve Roden with a rock snapper.
piece of art for our group. Each day, he put in a couple of hours on his new masterpiece. At the end of the trip, one lucky person was going to take that painting home — as long as they outbid everyone at the auction on the final night. Tropic Star general manager Richard White, whose enthusiasm should be bottled and sold as rocket fuel to Elon Musk, ran the auction like a pro. He did have to remind the group, somewhat forcefully, that the money for the painting was needed for marine science research, conservation and education. The bidding quickly passed $10,000 with team Jim/Bobby competing against Houstonites, Robert and Sherry Wolf. When it surpassed $20,000, the bidding began to slow, and it appeared as if the painting was destined for the Wolf ’s home in Texas. Suddenly, out of nowhere, Allen and Debbie Martin decided to jump into the action. When the bidding finally ended at $26,000, the Martins took the prize home to Destin, Florida, where it now hangs in Allen’s office.
Rounding out our angling tribe were Richard Denhup and Kristine Shylock from Montauk, New York, a legendary fishing town; Kaj and Carla Sorenson from Pensacola, Florida, also known for great fishing and the world’s whitest beaches; Michael and Mary Jo Balko, who represented the Florida Keys; and
COURTESY OF ALLEN WHITE
is also an experienced billfisher. If Phil had gotten skunked, Adam was prepared to give up his turn so Phil could fulfill his dream. It’s always special to see true friendship on display. We also had a happy contingent join us from North Carolina, led by a generous supporter of the GHOF, Jim Hill. Jim’s company, Trajector, has funded the GHOF with the goal of promoting fishing for veterans. Going fishing helps vets to recover from PTSD and other issues. For this trip, he brought along his Uncle Jack, a good ole boy with a voice as smooth and slow as honey; Keith Hewitt, a Coastal Conservation Association board member and all-around nice dude; and Bobby Cummings, one of Jim’s childhood friends, who seemed to have a permanent grin on his face the entire trip. Actually, the entire NC crowd smiled a lot. Maybe it’s a Southern thing, or it could be they were just having too much fun. Even with limited time between fishing, eating, adult beverages and mingling, Guy set up his easel in the dining room to paint an original
Allen Martin proudly displays the Guy Harvey original painting in his office in Florida. GHOF.org | 41
EXPEDITIONS
Jessica Harvey leads the pack of fishing “finatics” down the dock.
Lewis Clemmens and Bolette Anderson from Dallas. Everyone was able to fish at least one day with Guy and one day with Jessica, not to mention spending quality time with the gracious Harveys during cocktail hours, dinner and just lounging by the pool. The GHOF team, including the aforementioned Brian Rowland and Matt Raine, was enhanced with Guy’s CEO, Steven Roden, who is trying his hardest to catch up with Guy on the Tropic Star visits. Oddsmakers are betting against him. President of the GHOF and life of the party, Patxi Pastor, who is a fisherman-in-training, kept everyone laughing and even caught a few fish along the way. We also were honored to fish with Travis Phipps, a super-energetic digital internet guru, who is helping to build a GHOF membership program. Stay tuned for more information on how to join that amazing program. In the end, and as the expression goes, fun was had by all. More importantly, the trip ensured that the billfish population in Panama is more protected than ever, and the funds raised by the expedition were devoted toward marine science research and education. Many thanks to everyone who came, especially the Martins who won the auction, the Wolfs and Sorensens, who also donated generously to the GHOF, and to Jim Hill for his devotion to the greater good. Oh, I almost forgot, as it turns out, the only black marlin caught that week was from our boat and reeled in by yours truly. I give all the credit to El Capitan and the first mate. All I really did was turn the reel. 42 | GuyHarvey.com
Lush islands off of Panama’s Pacific Coast viewed during the airplane trip to Tropic Star Lodge.
Tropic Star Lodge general manager Richard White (center) jokes with Guy Harvey (right) and Fred Garth.
A sailfish is being tracked through Ryan Logan’s self-built pointof-view tagging device.
WHY GUY HARVEY EXPEDITIONS? FISHING IS A HARVEY FAMILY TRADITION, beginning with Guy’s parents and grandparents in their homeland of Jamaica. Guy has been able to turn his love of angling, along with his art, apparel and other branded products, into a way to fund scientific studies and save our seas. For more than a decade, the GHOF has supported scientific research that generates relevant data. That data can then be used to write laws that protect fisheries from exploitation. The Guy Harvey Research Institute at Nova Southeastern University (NSU) has played a major role in fishery research with more than 140 scientific papers published. One of their aspiring scientists, who has already published a number of papers, is Ryan Logan. A doctoral candidate at NSU and researcher with the Guy Harvey Research Institute, Ryan has spent many days at Tropic Star Lodge for his research on billfish. One night before dinner, Ryan gave a presentation to our group about his research. We crowded into the room with anxious anticipation. Our anglers were about to be among the first people ever to see video footage from a marlin cam — a small camera that had been attached to blue marlin and sailfish in Panama. Ryan built and assembled the tag, which contains the tiny video camera. During a threemonth trip to Tropic Star Lodge in 2018–19, Ryan tagged 10 blue marlin and nine sailfish with the video camera tag. Each fish recorded roughly 12 hours of point-of-view footage of what they were seeing. The footage allowed Ryan to peer into the daily lives of these elusive fish.
Not only does the camera record video, but other sensors on the tag can determine how deep and how fast the fish is swimming, in addition to water temperature, oxygen concentration and the fish’s activity level — think FitBit or AppleWatch activity trackers. Then, after two to three days, the tag is designed to detach from the fish, float to the surface and send a location to the satellites. Because the tags collect a massive amount of video and other data, they cannot transmit that data through the satellite system. Therefore, Ryan must physically go out in a boat and retrieve the tag floating in the ocean, which, due to the high mobility of these fish, can be 60 miles or more from where the fish was originally tagged! Ryan is using the information gathered from these tags to determine at least two key factors. First, how long does it take these fish to physically recover from the catch-andrelease process? Marlin can repeatedly launch themselves clear out of the water during a fight. After such an exhausting event, what is the timeline to return to normal activity? Second, tracking their fine-scale behaviors that no one has ever been able to examine before, such as social interactions, hunting patterns and energy use. Ryan’s research is just one of many projects that GHOF funds support with the overarching goal of protecting and preserving our oceans. These GH Expeditions are a great tool for raising money for research through once-in-a-lifetime fishing experiences with Guy and Jessica. Special thanks to Hannis and Matilda, the onsite photographers at TSL, who shot the amazing images, and to Keishmer Hermoso, who captured video footage of the event.
The tag was made partly utilizing a 3D printer by Doctoral candidate Ryan Logan. GHOF.org | 43
Go Fishing with
DR. GUY HARVEY and JESSICA HARVEY BY GHM STAFF
TROPIC STAR LODGE, PANAMA
Known as one of the hottest fishing destinations on the planet (Guy has been there more than 60 times), the Pacific Ocean off the coast of Panama is prolific with blue and black marlin, tuna, dorado, sailfish, roosterfish and many more sportfish. It’s also home of several GHOF research projects aimed at protecting this amazing fishery. In September 2021, Guy and daughter Jessica, hosted 25 anglers at Tropic Star Lodge (TSL) for fishing, camaraderie and marine research. 44 | GuyHarvey.com
As expected, the fishing was off the charts, and dozens of billfish were raised and released. Some were tagged with satellite tags for tracking (see GHRITracking.org). The fishtracking concept has proven to be effective in protecting these majestic species because scientists can determine where they roam and then write regulations to restrict those areas from commercial fishing. It’s a battle keeping commercial fleets from catching sportfish, but without the data collected by GHOF, the fight would be much harder.
The September trip was so successful that the GHOF quickly planned another TSL trip for 2022 — open for 25 more anglers. The expedition is scheduled for September 25–29. Space is limited, so if you’re interested, contact GHOF as soon as possible (see contact info at the end of this article). The price is $9,800 per angler for five days of fishing, dining and hanging out with Guy and Jessica. The money raised from these expeditions helps fund the vital scientific research conducted by the GHOF.
PACIFIC FINS RESORT, GUATEMALA (Sailfish Capital of the World)
In 2002, the Guatemalan government implemented some of the world’s strictest fishing regulations. That’s a good thing for us fishermen. Marlin and sailfish used to be sold as food in local markets and exported to other countries. These days, any commerce of billfish is highly illegal in Guatemala and can result in massive fines and even jail time. In other words, it’s 100% catch and release for offshore anglers.
OZZY DELGADO
W
e know that Guy Harvey loves to paint. He’s also passionate about scuba diving. Fishing, though, could be his greatest love of all — except for his family, of course. Harvey is in the fishing Hall of Fame. His daughter Jessica, also a marine biologist, holds numerous fishing world records. Fishing is obviously in the family DNA. So, it’s no surprise that in 2021, the Guy Harvey Ocean Foundation (GHOF) organized several epic fishing expeditions to some of the most productive fishing areas in the world. The good news is, there are more trips planned for 2022, and you’re invited to come along for the ride.
EXPEDITIONS
ISLA MUJERES, MEXICO (Whale Shark Extravaganza)
Each summer, hundreds of whale sharks come to Isla Mujeres to feed and breed. It’s a bit like clockwork because they return in massive numbers and lumber along peacefully off shore feeding on plankton. July and August are the peak months for the migration and set the stage for the GHOF to study these gentle giants of the sea. Over the past decade, the GHOF has tagged some of these behemoths (see GHRITracking.org) and discovered that they travel thousands of miles before returning to Isla Mujeres. Using this knowledge of their behavior, the GHOF is lobbying for greater protections for whale sharks around the world.
MARTIN VOELLER / ISTOCK / GETTY IMAGES PLUS
What prompted the government to take such dramatic conservation action? Well, the leadership of the sportfishing resorts in the country, such as Pacific Fins Resort and Casa Vieja Lodge, took action. They explained the economics of fishing tourism to the government officials in these terms: Each one of the live billfish can inject hundreds of thousands of dollars into the economy via fishing tourism, whereas a dead blue marlin may only fetch a few hundred bucks at the fish market. It’s hard to refute that kind of logic. This is why fishing offshore in Guatemala is sort of like being in a giant aquarium surrounded by sailfish. They are swimming around everywhere along with billfish, dorado, tuna and their cousins. It’s not unusual to raise 40 sailfish in one day of fishing. If that makes your hands sweat and your heart race, you can come join Guy Harvey at the Pacific Fins Resort, April 19–23, 2023, with 18 other anglers. The GHOF group will take over the entire five-star resort for four days of amazing fishing and fun. Cost for this expedition is $5,300 and is all inclusive — fishing, food, adult beverages and time spent with Guy and Jessica. As with all of the GHOF expeditions, the money raised helps fund the vital scientific research conducted by the GHOF.
COURTESY OF TROPIC STAR LODGE
Roosterfish
Whale Shark
Don’t be mistaken, however, this is NOT a fishing trip but rather a life-changing snorkeling adventure. There’s nothing quite like swimming next to a 40-foot-long fish that seems to be unconcerned with the tiny human trying to keep up. For the record, whale sharks are sharks but do not have flesh-ripping teeth like their white shark cousins. Whale sharks are filter feeders like humpback whales.
The dates for this trip are July 31– August 2, and the cost is $3,250 per person, which includes everything — lodging, meals, drinks and three days cavorting with whale sharks. Guy and Jessica will be there along with a GHOF film crew on location, filming for a future documentary. This expedition is limited to 20 people. Remember, the money raised from these expeditions funds the vital scientific research conducted by the GHOF.
For more details on these expeditions, contact Brian Rowland at browland@guyharvey.com. GHOF.org | 45
PERMIT TAGGING
DEMYSTIFYING THE
King of the Flats Tagging studies yield valuable information about permit BY NICK HONACHEFSKY | PHOTOS BY DR. AARON ADAMS
P
ermit are the undisputed kings of the flats. With their broad profiles, these fish are brawlers not easily tamed with a fly rod. Their scarcity adds to their mystique. The sprawling sand flats of Belize are world famous for permit fishing. They draw anglers from around the globe looking to tangle with the yellow-tinged, silver bruisers. Those same flats and the permit who live there also allow for new research initiatives focused on the species. Scientific studies are important tools in managing the species, especially in relatively remote areas such as Belize. The Bonefish and Tarpon Trust (BTT) has conducted a permit tagging program in Belize since 2010. “We’re looking to find patterns of permit movement and habitat use and apply that to Belize’s fisheries management strategy,” said Dr. Aaron Adams of the BTT. “The goal is to gather info from tag returns to inform management to make proper decisions on permit regulations as well as managing the degradation of coastal habitats in order to protect affected habitats.”
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Muscular permit are built for speed and are equipped with powerful jaws that enable Rafael Parra,crustaceans. themdetolacrush theInexecutive the angling community, director fornotorious Ch’ooj as tacklethey are Ajauil AC, fighters. tags a busting whale shark named Rio Lady.You can follow her track via GHRITacking.org.
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PERMIT TAGGING
Tagged permit
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individuals or in small schools mainly, but some guests have reported schools with over 50 fish at different times. Our clients are focused on tarpon most of the time, but there are plenty of permit around to tag. If we focused on them as much as they do in southern Belize, we could really put up some big numbers of tagged fish.” Adams said that hundreds of permit have been tagged in Belize thus far, but he is looking to increase that number into the thousands. “One challenge is that permit, in general, are more sparse and generally harder to catch than bonefish, which makes it a bit more challenging,” he said. “Where we have 7,000 to 10,000 tagged bones to date, our goal is to tag between 4,000 and 6,000 permit in Belize and southern Mexico and hopefully recapture 300 to 400 in three years.” Though recreational fishing is a main way to get tags into fish, the BTT has also used seine nets in Belize to capture fish for tagging. Adams said that preliminary data have produced a couple of observations. “Permit in Belize have distinct home ranges and utilize a network of flats and stay in the same area for the most part,” he said. “The furthest recapture we have was one fish that was tagged in San Pedro, Belize, and recaptured in Xcalak, Mexico.” Permit have been observed, too, to spawn on reefs offshore and reef points frequented by sharks. DR. AARON ADAMS
The BTT relies on various fishing lodges and individual flats guides in Belize to carry out the tagging program. The Belize River Lodge (BRL) along the Belize Olde River in central Belize has worked and supported the Bonefish and Tarpon Trust since 2010 and is actively involved with the permit tagging program. “Permit in the central Belize area range in average from 5 to 30 pounds, though smaller and bigger fish are encountered,” the BRL reports. “We fish permit in the shallow tropical waters of 1 to 3 feet in depth such as mudflats, hard coral and sand flats. Permit are found as
The coastal habitat off Belize is ideal for flats-cruising permit. By attracting anglers from throughout the world, the fish play an important role in the Central American nation’s tourist economy.
SHARK TRACKS
“In the Florida Keys, since the permit spawn offshore on the wrecks and reefs, we’ve found that up to 35% of hooked permit on those reefs get eaten by sharks on the way up,” Adams said. Data such as that might lead fisheries managers to close or limit fishing for permit during the spawning period if ever warranted by population declines. At the BRL, too, returned tags are revealing much about permit. “There can be quite large fish on the flats, including a 20-pounder returned in 2019, though there are many smaller fish out there to tag,” Adams said. “One group got into a school of feeding baby permit and managed to land 10 in the 4- to 8-pound range that day. While not normal, permit will school
and feed together. Many smaller permit have been landed by our guides. However, our guides seemed to remember to tag only the bigger fish.” While permit tagging is related to fish conservation, Belize has good reason from an economic perspective to protect permit stocks. “The approximate total economic impact of the flats fishing in Belize amounts to $56 million,” said BTT marketing director Nick Roberts. “Most recently, BTT has partnered with co-managers (Hol Chan Marine Reserve, Sarteneja Alliance for Conservation and Development and
Turneffe Atoll Sustainability Association), fisheries (Caye Caulker Marine Reserve), local tour guide associations and other nongovernment organizations in an effort to create more educational knowledge on fish, habitats and their socio-economic importance and generate awareness to a general and widespread audience.” Growing optimism surrounds BTT’s permit tagging program in Belize. As efforts are ramped up to tag more permit in coming years, returns should begin to generate a clearer picture of fish stocks and lead to better management in the future.
To learn more about the Bonefish and Tarpon Trust’s tagging efforts in Belize, or to become involved in the permit tagging program, visit BTT.org. GHOF.org | 49
®
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Partnering to enhance the environment We are committed to being a leader in environmental protection and stewardship. Collaborating with our partners on conservation opportunities unique to Florida and its diverse ecosystems.
#FPLCares
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Restoration Service Grower is providing a vital role in addressing coral crisis
BY SAM TEICHER | PHOTOS BY HARRY LEE / CORAL VITA
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N
estled alongside canals on the east end of Freeport, Grand Bahama, is something you don’t see every day — a land-based coral farm. This coral production facility, which also serves as an education center and tourism attraction, is part of a global effort by amazing coral restoration practitioners and scientists to ensure that coral reefs survive and thrive amid the threats they face. I launched Coral Vita with my friend and classmate, Gator Halpern, to help preserve coral reefs for future generations. We use breakthrough methods developed by scientists and advisors, including Dr. Ruth Gates and Dr. David Vaughan, formerly of the Hawaii Institute of
CORAL VITA
Diver inspects staghorn coral farm.
Marine Biology and Mote Marine Laboratory, respectively. Using their pioneering techniques, we can grow resilient coral up to 50 times faster than it grows in the environment. This means that growth that would require decades and centuries in the natural world can occur in months and years. Through a commercial, landbased farming model, we sell “restoration as a service” (RaaS) to reef-dependent customers while using our farms as experiential tourism attractions. By taking this approach, we strive to grow millions and hopefully billions of corals while unlocking funding to support critically needed ecosystem-scale restoration. Our company’s first coral farm, located just 30 minutes by air from South Florida, is a first step toward our goal of establishing farms throughout the world. Since the 1970s, half of the world’s coral reefs have disappeared. By 2050, more than 90% are projected to die due to a combination of factors including pollution, overfishing, and ocean warming and acidification. This loss is clearly an ecological tragedy. This single ecosystem covers less than 1% of the seafloor but sustains 25% of marine species. Coral reefs, with their dazzling array of colors and shapes, provide shelter and breeding grounds for countless incredible and vital sea creatures. If you dive, snorkel or fish, you know what I’m talking about. If you don’t, corals are still critical for your life and well-being. All this biodiversity isn’t the only thing at risk though. Global GHOF.org | 53
CORAL VITA
Juvenile Coral Pod
reef degradation is also a socio-economic catastrophe that jeopardizes human prosperity and security. Found in over 100 countries and territories, coral reefs sustain the livelihoods of up to 1 billion people and account for $2.7 trillion annually in goods and services. Divers and snorkelers have little interest in spending their time and money visiting destinations that are devoid of vibrant natural sea structures. Commercial, artisanal and recreational fisheries alike face collapse without this habitat.
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Lifesaving drugs are derived from compounds found in oceanic organisms. And a healthy reef reduces wave energy on average by 97%, serving as the best natural infrastructure possible for coastal protection from storm surges and erosion. Yet all of this is on the line as a result of our leaders failing to safeguard ecosystems that provide for us all. That’s why Coral Vita exists. The job of coral restoration itself shouldn’t exist, yet here we are. I’ve been a scuba diver since I was 13 years old; this issue matters to me on a deeply personal level. I have seen reefs here in Grand Bahama die since I moved here in 2018, and I gained an appreciation for the value of reefs as buffers after living through Hurricane Dorian, the strongest recorded storm to ever hit the Bahamas. Winds exceeding 220 mph and a 23-foot storm surge pummeled 80% of the island, including our coral farm, for more than 40 grueling hours. Our farm was totaled, but we remained determined to push forward because when it comes to preserving coral reefs, failure is not an option. After engaging in humanitarian work in our local Bahamian communities for months, we rebuilt the farm and now have upgraded it to a state-of-the-art facility. We
recently signed our first RaaS contracts with customers including the Bahamian government and Grand Bahama Port Authority. The coral farm’s doors are open to tourists and local students alike despite the pandemic. Partnerships are being forged with everyone from technologists to other coral farmers, and we are exploring future farm locations from Costa Rica to Miami to Dubai and beyond. While helping to kickstart a restoration economy, we believe the scalability and impact of conservation efforts can reach unprecedented and desperately needed levels. In 2021, we were awarded the inaugural Revive Our Oceans Earthshot Prize,
established by Prince William of the United Kingdom as “the most prestigious global environment prize in history, designed to incentivize change and help repair our planet … by helping to scale incredible cutting-edge solutions.” Winning this prize is a huge honor for Coral Vita. It comes as a testament to the decades of work put in by the coral science and restoration communities to highlight the urgent need to stop killing coral reefs and implement viable solutions. It’s a team effort to protect coral reefs that includes all who will read this article. We hope you’ll join us in planting coral in Grand Bahama one day soon. GHOF.org | 55
CORAL REEF
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COURTESY OF MOTE MARINE LABORATORIES
Coral restoration is key to preserving biodiversity BY SID DOBRIN
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CORAL REEF
I first marveled at the beauty of Florida Keys coral reefs nearly 40 years ago as a boy on a family trip. Even then, I was awed by the fantastic variety of life forms that inhabited that ecosystem. Since then, I have snorkeled and made dives on the Keys countless times, and sadly, I’ve watched those magnificent reefs decline in vibrancy and vitality. In a much more formal fashion, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and other organizations and agencies have documented the devastation of Florida Keys reefs. According to NOAA, over the last four decades, “Nearly 90% of the live corals that once dominated the reefs have been lost.”
Several causes are at play, many of them resulting from human activity — ship groundings, improperly deployed anchors, overfishing, pollution and ocean acidification, to name a few. Even naturally occurring factors such as storms or disease may be exacerbated by humankind’s impact on climate change and ocean warming. Once healthy reefs are turning a ghostly white due to coral bleaching, which results when corals dislodge the living algae in their tissues in response to changes in water temperatures, light absorption or access to nutrients. A recent and more insidious threat to the reefs is posed by stony coral tissue loss disease (SCTLD). Combatting this disease is essential to protecting and restoring slow-growing species including brain, maze, boulder, star and pillar corals, all of which are foundational to the iconic 350-mile reef tract that includes the Keys. The reefs of the Florida Keys comprise the third largest reef system in the world behind Australia’s Great Barrier Reef and
JUAN MARCOS BORSATTO / ISTOCK / GETTY IMAGES PLUS
The blanching of this brain coral indicates that is has been affected by stony coral tissue loss disease, which overtakes slowgrowing corals.
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COURTESY OF MOTE MARINE LABORATORIES
Divers combine to plant corals at a damaged reef. Recovery requires that at least 25% of the reef be covered with healthy coral.
the Yucatan’s Barrier Reef. The island chain depends heavily on the reefs in terms of both ecological and economic health. Tourism and recreation account for billions of dollars in revenue to the State of Florida, and a significant amount of that comes from money travelers spend during visits to the Keys. People are unlikely to want to snorkel on bleached-white or diseased corals. They have in mind robust reefs that are rich with life and provide dynamic opportunities to see thousands of species of animals and, of course, the stunningly beautiful corals themselves. Tourism dollars are not the only reason to protect and restore these ecosystems that support more species than any other marine habitat. Florida Keys reefs are made up of more than 45 species of stony corals and 35 species of soft corals — seven of which are currently listed as threatened under the Endangered Species Act. The reefs host more than 6,000 species of tropical and subtropical fish, as well as sponges, lobster, crab, shrimp and sea urchins. Healthy reefs are also important to marine mammals, including seven species of dolphin, 13 species of whales, and West Indian manatees, all of which spend time in the waters of the Florida Keys. More than 285 species of shorebirds and seabirds also depend on these habitats. The Gulf side of the Keys provides a habitat for the largest populations of sea turtles in the Gulf of Mexico. Likewise, the Keys are home to the endangered American saltwater crocodile, and though they are not found on the reefs, they and countless other marine animals are dependent upon contributions made by reefs to the overall health of the larger ecosystem. Seven reefs fall within the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary: Carysfort Reef, east of Key Largo; Horseshoe Reef, also east of Key Largo; Cheeca Rocks, southeast of Upper Matecumbe Key; Sombrero Reef, south of Boot Key; Newfound Harbor Key, south of Big Pine Key; Looe Key, also south of Big Pine Key; and Eastern Dry Rocks, southeast of Key West. With both the economy and the environment in mind, myriad organizations have stepped up efforts to protect and restore GHOF.org | 59
CORAL REEF
the Florida Keys reefs. NOAA is employing a phased-restoration approach that begins with the removal of invasive species and nuisance species that use the resources that coral larvae need to establish themselves and grow. After removing those species, NOAA scientists plant fast-growing corals. According to NOAA, for a damaged reef to recover and support a healthy ecosystem, 25% of it needs to be covered with new, healthy coral. NOAA scientists generally start by planting elkhorn corals, which grow quickly and are resistant to some of the diseases that kill corals. After the elkhorn coral grows to cover about 15% of a damaged reef, NOAA scientists then add other faster-growing corals such as star, brain, pillar and staghorn corals before finally adding slower-growing stony corals like finger and blade to increase the reefs’ biodiversity and reach the 25% threshold. Throughout the phases, NOAA monitors the reefs, removing debris, predators that eat corals and other species that inhibit coral growth. NOAA is not alone in working to restore this reef tract. Offices within NOAA have established partnerships with organizations including the Florida Aquarium, the Florida 60 | GuyHarvey.com
Department of Environmental Protection, the National Marine Sanctuary Foundation, the Nature Conservancy, Reef Renewal, the University of Florida, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, the Fish & Wildlife Foundation of Florida, the Coral Restoration Foundation and Mote Marine Laboratory & Aquarium. Mote Marine Laboratory’s Coral Reef Restoration Program, IC2R3, is based at Mote’s Elizabeth Moore International Center for Coral Reef Research and Restoration on Summerland Key, Florida. Scientists working at this research center breed and grow many types of corals that are used in restoration projects. The IC2R3 uses land-based coral nurseries and underwater nurseries where Mote scientists grow corals on “trees” made of PVC pipe. Since 2008, the scientists at Mote Marine Lab have planted more than 100,000 corals of varying types. According to Dr. Erinn Muller, a senior scientist and associate vice president for research, Mote Marine scientists have planted corals “on about 30 to 35 reefs in the lower Keys over the last decade.” Muller points out, “We also have a partnership with Biscayne National Park and
COURTESY OF MOTE MARINE LABORATORIES
COURTESY OF MOTE MARINE LABORATORIES
NOAA scientists working to restore coral reefs usually begin by planting elkhorn coral, which grows quickly and is disease resistant.
Trees made from PVC pipe are used in the offshore propagation of corals that will be planted in building back reefs.
COURTESY OF MOTE MARINE LABORATORIES
have outplanted on two or three reefs there, as well as off of Islamorada in partnership with I.care, a community-based restoration organization.” (icareaboutcoral.org) Right now, in their land-based nurseries, scientists at Mote are growing about 34,400 coral pieces representing 17 species and 1,120 unique genetic types of coral. In the underwater nurseries, they are growing about 21,400 massive and branching corals. In the summer of 2020, Mote Marine scientists reported that some of the massive corals they had restored, including mountainous star corals, had begun spawning, producing new generations of coral on their own. Similarly, some of Mote’s restored branching corals, like staghorn corals, had matured enough to start reproducing as well. One of the fascinating and exciting aspects of Mote’s coral restoration program is that of all the corals they grow in their nurseries, about 80% of them are genetic strains that Mote scientists have developed to resist diseases, such as stony coral tissue loss disease, that are currently damaging the reefs. According to Dr. Muller, all of the genetic breeding of corals with new genetic traits to resist disease makes use of local corals in a crossbreeding program. This is fantastic news for restoration programs and the future of Florida Keys reefs. In addition to Mote Marine Laboratories, NOAA partners with the Coral Restoration Foundation (CRF), the largest reef restoration
The Mote Marine Laboratory in Summerland Key, Florida, is home to the Elizabeth Moore Center for Coral Reef Research and Restoration. GHOF.org | 61
CORAL REEF
COURTESY OF MOTE MARINE LABORATORIES
COURTESY OF MOTE MARINE LABORATORIES
In their land-based nurseries, scientists at Mote Marine Laboratory are growing about 34,400 coral pieces representing 17 species and 1,120 unique genetic types of coral. In the underwater nurseries, they are growing about 21,400 massive and branching corals. In the summer of 2020, Mote Marine scientists reported that some of the massive corals they had restored, including mountainous star corals, had begun spawning, producing new generations of coral on their own.
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COURTESY OF SEAWORLD
COURTESY OF SEAWORLD COURTESY OF MOTE MARINE LABORATORIES
organization in the world. Located in Key Largo, CRF has been working toward reef restoration in the Florida Keys since 2007. Like Mote Marine Lab, the CRF has developed methods for growing coral and then planting colonies of young staghorn and elkhorn corals at damaged reefs. Corals reproduce both sexually and asexually; the CRF focuses its efforts on the asexual reproduction of coral called “fragmentation.” Sometimes, a coral branch, such as elkhorn, might break off and fall to the seafloor. The CRF has developed a way to use the broken pieces to grow new corals that can be replanted on damaged reefs. The scientists break the pieces into small, finger-sized pieces and hang them on “coral trees,” frames made from PVC, much like the process the Mote Marine Laboratory scientists use. Each coral tree can hold between 60 and 100 coral fragments. The coral trees are anchored to the seafloor in the waters off the Florida Keys and sway with the movement of the water around them to keep them from breaking. The CRF has seven offshore coral tree nurseries in the Keys, the largest of which covers 1½ acres of the seafloor. It usually takes about six to nine months for the fragments to grow on the coral trees to a size where they can be outplanted to the damaged Keys reefs. CRF scientists use a special kind of glue to attach the newly grown corals to the damaged reefs. Over the last 10 years, the CRF has used this process to plant more than 120,000 corals at Florida Keys reefs. Unlike the Mote Marine Laboratory and CRF restoration programs, which grow new corals, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission’s Florida Coral Rescue program collects healthy corals from reefs ahead of the spread of SCTLD. Working with FWC, as well as Disney, SeaWorld and the Association of Zoos & Aquariums, they then protect these corals in tanks at the Florida
Free of disease and housed in an environment with optimal salinity and other conditions, a healthy brain coral thrives.
Coral Rescue Center in Orlando, the largest facility of its kind in the U.S. The rescued corals have started to breed in protected habitats, thus preserving the original genetic strands of corals for later return to healthy reefs. Andy Walker, CEO of the Fish and Wildlife Foundation of Florida, explained that they originally rescued 50 samples from 20 species of coral in order to preserve and protect as much coral biodiversity as possible. Once collected and protected, Walker said, the next step will be propagating new corals to eventually be returned to healthier reefs. FFWF is working with SeaWorld to develop that next phase in the program. “It might be cliche to say so,” Walker said, “but coral reefs are the tropical rainforest of the ocean. They occupy 2% to 3% of the ocean but harbor 25% of the biodiversity. So many species use them in their life cycles, and the amount of marine life in the world will fall greatly in numbers and overall biodiversity if the reefs collapse.”
Restoration projects like those overseen by NOAA, Mote Marine Laboratories, the Coral Restoration Foundation, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, and the Fish and Wildlife Foundation of Florida are crucial to the future of the Florida Keys reefs. You can learn more about this important work at: mote.org/research/program/coral-reef-restoration • coralrestoration.org myfwc.com/research/habitat/coral • wildlifeflorida.org GHOF.org | 63
DESTINATIONS
E COTO U R I S M A N D T H E
FLORIDA KEYS
T
he famed Florida Keys remain one of Florida’s primary tourist destinations. Tourists flock to this coral cay archipelago for the tropical weather and world-class fishing, lobstering and diving, not to mention the island lifestyle and the legendary restaurants and bars. Increasingly, too, especially in the last decade, tourists make the Florida Keys their destination because of the opportunities to visit natural places and to learn about those natural environments. Marine environments dominate the Florida Keys, and tourists from all over the world come to the islands to snorkel and dive in the subtropical waters. The seven celebrated
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Florida Keys reefs provide tourists with the freedom to visit and learn about these threatened environments that are home to more than 75 species of coral, more than 6,000 species of tropical and subtropical fish, as well as sponges, lobster, crab, shrimp and sea urchins. (See page 56 in this issue for more about work to protect and restore these remarkable reefs.) In addition to the Florida Keys reefs, tourists now visit the Keys for the unique opportunities to kayak or paddleboard through the natural tidal creeks that flow among the mangroves throughout the islands. These creeks and mangroves are home to more than 285 species of shorebirds and seabirds and are a fantastic destination for amateur and
RICHARD MCCRACKEN / ISTOCK / GETTY IMAGES PLUS
BY SID DOBRIN
FLORIDA KEYS
A kayaker explores a mangrove environment at John Pennekamp State Park in Key Largo. Mangos play an important role as erosion-preventing shoreline stabilizers.
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devout birders. From the upper Keys across the island chain to Key West and out to the Dry Tortugas, the Keys’ natural environments are wonderful locations to visit. In the upper Keys, there are many ecotourism possibilities. Local environments are influenced by the mixing of freshwater from the Everglades and the saltwater of Florida Bay, providing ideal habitats for West Indian manatees, who frequent the area in the winter when waters to the north cool. Florida Bay and the Gulf side of Key Largo are also home to five species of sea turtles: loggerhead, green turtles, leatherbacks, Kemp’s ridley and hawksbill, all of which are listed as either threatened or endangered. Key Largo is also home to Crocodile Lake National Wildlife Refuge, part of the United States National Wildlife Refuge System. Opened in 1980, the Crocodile Lake National Wildlife Refuge was developed to provide and protect breeding and nesting habitats for the endangered American crocodile. The U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service maintains a nature center at the location for visitors. Likewise, ecotourists and birders will appreciate visiting the Florida Keys Wild Bird Center, a five-acre site that is home to native and migratory birds. Further down the archipelago, ecotourists can experience a marine wilderness — one of the most unique in the world on Islamorada.
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DESTINATIONS
Green sea turtle
Yellowtail snappers and sergeant majors U.S. Highway 1 extends 2,370 miles from Fort Kent, Maine, to its southerly terminus at Key West, Florida.
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FLORIDA KEYS
Home to expansive grass flats and tidal flats, the waters surrounding Islamorada provide visitors the chance to see sea turtles, dolphins, crocodiles, manatees, fish and birds, including roseate spoonbills. On the Atlantic Ocean side of Islamorada, tourists can take a private boat over to Indian Key and visit the Indian Key State Historic Site, one of the many Florida Keys inhabited by Native Americans thousands of years ago. Midway down the Florida Keys island chain, visitors can experience the grandeur of Marathon Key. The waters off Marathon are bespeckled with shoals and
shallow-water coral humps, many of which are accessible by kayak. These near-shore coral patches are home to sea turtles and an abundant array of tropical fish. Speaking of fish, in May and June each year, the Seven Mile Bridge (which was first built between 1909 and 1912 to connect Knight’s Key in Marathon — part of the middle Keys — with Little Duck Key, the first Key of the Lower Keys) becomes a temporary home to thousands of migrating tarpon. Anglers from around the world visit the area to try to catch a “silver king.” In the interior of Marathon, the 64-acre Crane Point Hammock provides visitors
A lighthouse marks the location of a reef off Marathon in the Florida Keys.
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Coral reefs at Key West, above, and at Fort Jefferson, right, support myriad forms of marine life, making them a mecca for snorkelers. The reefs account for much of the world’s biodiversity.
the opportunity to hike through a Florida Keys hammock that is populated by tropical hardwood trees. Once you cross over Seven Mile Bridge and enter the Lower Keys, the island chain bends to the west. Over the years, tides and storms have deposited sand and seeds in this area, creating thousands of small, uninhabited mangrove islands and shallow-water grass flats. This area provides some of the most spectacular backcountry habitats in the Florida Keys and is famous for backcountry fishing for species like bonefish, permit, tarpon and snook. The region also provides tourists with nearendless shallow waters for kayaking and wading. Back on the land, Big Pine Key’s National Key Deer Refuge is home to the famous — and endangered — key deer, a subspecies of white-tailed deer that have adapted to the limited habitat of Big Pine Key and have evolved to be the smallest North American deer species. 68 | GuyHarvey.com
World-famous Key West punctuates the end of the Florida Keys archipelago like an exclamation point for ecotourism. Famous for its remarkable sunsets, Key West is surrounded by shallow waters teeming with life. Snorkelers and divers flock to Key West for the chance to swim in emerald waters over grass flats and coral reef patches. Approximately 70 miles west of Key West, tourists can visit, either by plane or boat, Fort Jefferson, a Civil War-era fort located in the Dry Tortugas National Park, the westernmost islands in the Florida Keys chain. The waters around Fort Jefferson are home to abundant sea life and healthy coral reefs. The area is home to breeding grounds for many tropical bird species as well. Dry Tortugas National Park is part of the Everglades & Dry Tortugas Biosphere Reserve, which was established by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) in 1976. From Key Largo to Key West and out to the Dry Tortugas, the Florida Keys remain one of the most exciting and vital destinations for ecotourists.
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DESTINATIONS
Fort Jefferson
FLORIDA KEYS
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REMEMBERING
JARROD J NABERHAUS A dive shop poster led to his devotion to conservation BY AMANDA MARTIN
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arrod Naberhaus was drawn to the ocean at a very young age. His mother, Angela, recounts that he could swim before he could walk and started freediving and entering fishing tournaments when he was 10 years old. On his family’s first trip to the Florida Keys, a young Naberhaus saw a poster of the Christ of the Abyss in a dive shop. He asked an instructor about the poster and learned that the underwater sculpture was located in John Pennekamp State Park, just around the corner from where they were staying. Inspired by the poster, he enthusiastically told his father that his goal was to get certified as a diver. Jarrod shared his dream with his grandmother, Sara Heckman. At Christmas she gifted Jarrod and his father, Mark
Naberhaus, a scuba certification course. It just so happened that one of their open-water checkout dives was at the Christ of the Abyss. At the impressionable age of 12, Naberhaus could barely contain his excitement as he tried to describe to his grandmother the amazing sights he had seen. She was fighting terminal colon cancer, and Jarrod decided that the best way to share the reef with her and other cancer patients in treatment was to photograph the underwater world. He worked mowing lawns and saved the money for his first underwater camera. Shortly after his dive at Pennekamp, Naberhaus met Emmy-award-winning cinematographer Frazier Nivens, who is now the Guy Harvey Ocean Foundation’s director of production. Nivens was working on a piece for National Geographic at the time. Naberhaus, with his extremely outgoing personality, asked if he could shadow Nivens and learn more about underwater photography. This mentorship lasted several years, and Naberhaus learned valuable lessons about editing and enhancing his images. In support of Naberhaus’ passion, his family purchased a boat, computer and professional camera equipment, thereby launching his dive career. His photos gathered a lot of local attention, and his story was picked up by several newspapers. He was interviewed by Kelly Ring, a reporter for Fox television, and was featured on What’s Right with Tampa Bay. He was invited to participate in multiple art shows, and his work began selling. He founded a nonprofit and donated the money from the sale of his pictures to the American Cancer Society, donating more than $5,000 in honor of his grandmother. Naberhaus graduated high school with honors and three days later started classes at Florida Atlantic University. After his freshman year, Naberhaus completed his certification as an open-water scuba instructor. He then added his emergency first responder and first responder instructor certifications and was hired by Sea Dwellers
JARROD NABERHAUS
Dive Center in Key Largo. He finished his education in the Instructor Development Course program and received his master scuba diver teacher certification. He then added 14 more independent certifications, which gave him one of the largest portfolios in the Florida Keys. He was able to work full time as an open-water instructor, emergency responder and reef guide by his 19th birthday. An adventurer, Naberhaus climbed glaciers in Alaska, zip lined the rainforest of Jamaica, rode ATVs up the side of volcanoes in Costa Rica, surfed the North Shore of Maui, bungee jumped, whitewater rafted and canyoneered waterfalls. His passion for adventure was matched by his desire for giving back. He volunteered as a reef conservationist and taught for the Wounded Warrior program. He was a firm believer that veterans learning to work with prosthetics could gain self-confidence and dexterity by scuba diving and learning to take control of their bodies in zero gravity. Along the way, Jarrod picked up awards for his photography and young entrepreneurship. He dedicated himself totally to the ocean and inspired people to push their own
boundaries. His passion for the reefs was infectious, and Naberhaus was humble, appreciative, loved by all and always gave his students whatever time they needed. In September 2019, when Naberhaus was just 24, he was a victim of a fatal motorcycle crash when a driver failed to yield the right of way. The diving community lost one of its most passionate ocean advocates and someone who was shaping up to be a future leader in marine conservation. After the incident, his family began pursuing legislative changes in Florida. They immediately began to promote the Vulnerable User Act, designed to make roads safer in Florida. Most recently, the family held a memorial ride for Naberhaus along with an awareness rally in Polk County. The turnout was overwhelming, and it turned his family’s grief into a desire to continue Jarrod’s work and ensure that our reefs continue to receive the protection they need for future generations. Naberhaus’ legacy lives on in his students, his co-workers, his friends and his family. His celebration of life was held in the auditorium of his elementary school. For four hours, people spoke about their
relationships with Naberhaus and noted his service as an emergency responder and as a coach for people struggling with depression. “It is hard to go anywhere without being stopped and reminded by our community that Jarrod’s light remains,” said his mother Angela Naberhaus. “He had a way of filling a room with his presence — humble man with a huge heart. We loved our son unconditionally, validated him constantly, supported his dreams and, in return, Jarrod took us on the ride of a lifetime. Make sure you love them hard and tell them often because, in the end, your legacy is intertwined with your children’s legacy. Make that important!”
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AD
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A rainy day in the small English harbor village of Clovelly. Small fishing boats lie dormant in the coastal county of Devon in England’s southwest shore.
Previous Page: My favorite backyard, New Smyrna Beach, FL; the shark bite capital of the world, and home to some of the best east coast surfing. Above: Aboard the 62-foot Moorings Trimaran, sailing in the British Virgin Islands. Anchored at Sandy Spit islet, halfway between Tortola and Jost Van Dyke islands.
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PHOTO PORTFOLIO
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PHOTO PORTFOLIO
Pink Flamingos gather at the Biosphere at Rio Lagartos on the north shore of Mexico’s Yucatan peninsula, not far from the colonial city of Merida and a day trip from Cancun.
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PHOTO PORTFOLIO
This huge iguana, basking in the sunset on the island of Curacao, certainly had a “GQ” look. Sun reflecting off the colorful Dutch buildings of Willemstad gives the warm orange lighting in the background.
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The pointed peak of Petit Piton as viewed from Gros Piton, St. Lucia’s famous Caribbean monoliths.
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PHOTO PORTFOLIO
Right: Tracking Jaguars in the Cockscomb Wildlife Sanctuary and Jaguar Preserve in the central mountains of Belize. Left: A silhouetted diver swims over the wall in Roatan, Bay Islands, Honduras.
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PHOTO PORTFOLIO
Silhouette of an Atlantic spotted dolphin, one of a large pod of dolphins found off the north shore of Bimini, Bahamas.
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Snorkeler explores the shallow water of Bimini, Bahamas.
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Left: Moray eels gather, sometimes in thousands, and cover the rocky outcroppings of the underwater cliffs on the desolate island of Malpelo, in the Pacific Ocean off Colombia. Top Right: Banded coral shrimp on a sea anemone in the shallow coral reefs of Bonaire, Dutch Caribbean. Bottom Right: Fly fisherman at sunset, casting for bonefish on Andros Island in the Bahamas.
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PHOTO PORTFOLIO
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DESTINATIONS
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CHUB CAY
BURNING SUNSHINE BY FRED GARTH
CHRIS RABIL
If nothing else, history is sprinkled with irony. How’s this? A Texas businessman makes his fortune in the oil and gas industry, then goes on to build one of the most advanced solar energy systems on the planet. Regardless of your views on global warming, or even if you think aliens live among us, one thing is certain — solar power has become good business. This is especially true in remote tropical outposts where big fish roam and electricity is produced by burning expensive diesel fuel. “We were going through 1,000 gallons of diesel fuel every day to power our resort,” said David Renaud, general manager of Chub Cay Resort in the Bahamas. “At $5 to $6 dollars per gallon, that’s a massive expense.” Chub Cay is your typical postcardperfect, blue-water, beach paradise. The five-mile-long island anchors the south end of the Berry Island chain and sits about 20 miles north of Andros. Chub is famous in the fishing world for being
adjacent to the Tongue of the Ocean and on the doorstep of The Pocket, a deep water geological formation that is home to an incredibly diverse lineup of sea critters including marlin, dorado, tuna, sailfish, sharks … you name it. The resort is a longtime favorite hangout of the rich and famous, yet it has gone through numerous owners and iterations since the 1970s. In 2014, George Bishop — that aforementioned businessman — bought the entire island. In some ways, he inherited a beautiful nightmare. “The resort had been languishing in receivership, so it was basically in a state of disrepair,” Renaud said. “We were facing myriad problems, and, on top of everything, we couldn’t even get vegetables to grow in our garden. That was kind of depressing.” In addition to getting the resort shipshape, part of Renaud’s mission was to investigate alternative forms of energy GHOF.org | 87
such as wind and solar power. Not only was diesel a crippling expense, but just keeping the massive generators running was a royal pain. There was the engine oil and filters that had to be changed regularly then disposed of safely, plus the constant threat of mechanical failures, as well as getting parts shipped to a remote location. Just the process of offloading all of that diesel fuel from the boat to the dock to the generator took loads of manpower and time. Pile on the carbon monoxide fumes spewing into the atmosphere 24/7, and it all seems a bit archaic. Renaud and his team spent an entire year researching alternative fuel options. After many hours and stacks of spreadsheets, he eventually landed on a plan to build a solar farm that could provide power to the entire island. The cost for the microgrid: $12 million. That sounds like a lot of money until you consider the fuel and labor savings,
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which Renaud predicted would recover that investment in four to five years. Resort owners smile on sound money management like that. In 2021, the project was built on 8 acres of unused land with 7,600 bifacial panels that can absorb sunlight on both sides; even light reflecting off of the ground gets sucked into the system. The crown jewel is a bank of lithium ion batteries that, in itself, cost $2 million and provides 10 megawatt-hours of storage. The 13.8-kilobyte system pumps out enough energy for the 104 local residents (in a 64-home staff village) as well as 180 hotel rooms, 70 private homes and the 110-boatslip marina. “We had a number of different companies bidding on the project,” Renaud said. “Ultimately, we went with a Bahamian company because we wanted to employ a local business and local people. To build the project, the workforce was 90% to 95% Bahamians.
Now, the solar facility is providing hightech jobs for a lot of local people who can use those skills in the future.” These days, it’s fairly common for resorts in far-flung corners of the world to employ solar and/or wind. In this case, Renaud and the system designers changed the game around somewhat. Instead of just sending the solar energy into the batteries to run everything, their microgrid powers up the island’s grid. “It makes more sense to send power to the grid during the day when the sun is churning out energy,” Renaud said. “When we have excess energy, that is, when we are producing more power than is being used at that moment, that electricity feeds into the batteries.” When the sun goes down and the panels shut down, the island runs off the battery system. If the battery gets low, the diesel generators kick in as a backup. The generators may sit dormant for several days or they may run a few hours per day depending on a variety of factors such as cloud cover or overall electricity usage. The bottom line is that diesel fuel consumption has dropped by 90%, which translates into more than $1.5 million dollars per year in fuel savings — and dramatically less carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. “The beautiful part is that the system is totally automated,” Renaud said. “The software manages the grid for us, so it’s totally hands-off. The technology is borderline Star Wars. Plus, there’s tremendous interest from the Bahamian government, which is studying the microgrid to copy on other islands.” The initiative won the North and South American Solar Project of the Year Award partly because of the innovative way they configured the solar panelgrid-battery relationship. In addition to being able to power the whole island,
PHOTOS BY DAVID RENOW - CHUB CAY RESORT AND MARINA
DESTINATIONS
CHUB CAY
the setup also has the potential to triple the life of the batteries from a typical five years to as many as 15 years. With the major expense of the battery bank, that’s a game changer. “If we can get that extended life out of the battery, it brings our cost to as low as 5 to 7 cents per kilowatt-hour.” (It costs about 40 cents per kilowatthour to produce electricity using dieselpowered generators.) “The reduced cost of electricity allows us to sell that power to our customers for a fair price.” Wait, what? Did he say “sell”? Yes, he did. The Chub Cay Resort is no longer just a beach playground and marina. Now, it’s also a utility company — a green utility that is. Instead of the homeowners and the yachts in the marina running on diesel-generated electricity, they’re running on sunlight. It should be noted that the local workers who live in the staff village pay no rent or water fees and, of course, electricity is free. “The fuel savings is amazing but it’s really just a small part of the story,” Renaud said. “We’ve transformed from fossil fuels to solar, which is even more impressive when you consider that Mr. Bishop has been an oil man for
most of his career. Both he and the resort have changed with the times. The greatest part is that the resort wins, our customers win, the oceans win and the planet wins.” The resort is blazing a path for others in the Bahamas to follow. Since most of the electricity in the island nation is still produced by expensive diesel, it’s not uncommon for local people to pay as much as $1,000 per month for power for a modest 1,200-square-foot home. Many times, their power bill is higher than their rent, and families do their best to save electricity by only using their air conditioning for a couple of hours in the morning and a couple at night. Now, on Chub Cay at least, the winds of change are blowing. “What we’ve done is not only good for the environment,” Renaud said, “but great for our checkbook and the local islanders. We like to say that we burn sunshine on Chub.” In case you were wondering, they’ve even gotten the garden growing. “We were trying everything to get the vegetables to grow, and our engineer kept telling us that the water was just wet,” Renaud said. “I told him I knew that
water was wet but what “The greatest did he mean?” part is that It turns out that the reverse osmosis water the resort makers that desalinate wins, our seawater into drinking water were also stripping customers out all of the minerals, so win, the there were no nutrients to help the plants to grow. oceans wins As the engineer said, it was just wet. They decided and the to mix in some grey water planet wins.” from the resort and the next thing you know, the David Renaud, garden took off. General Manager, “We’re growing waterChub Cay Resor t melons that look like they came from Jurassic Park,” Renaud said with a chuckle. “Now our garden supplies 20% of the vegetables for the resort.” With more than 700 islands in the Bahamas and thousands more scattered around the planet’s sun-drenched tropical belt, moving away from the era of fossil fuels is the only sensible solution. Chub Cay has proven that it’s not the wave of the future. It’s happening right now. GHOF.org | 89
DESTINATIONS
G LOBAL SU BDIVE Ocean exploration, documentation and conservation
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BY ROBERT CARMICHAEL
ust south of Chub Cay and running adjacent to the eastern shore of Andros, is a place called the Tongue of the Ocean (TOTO), where the water is more than two miles deep. The elongated trench runs northwest and southwest for about 150 miles and averages 20 miles wide, with depths ranging from kneedeep sandbars down to around 12,600 feet. The extreme depth, clear water and abundant sea life have attracted avid fishermen for decades. Now, a group of adventurers are deep diving into the TOTO’s depths. Global SubDive is an exploration and marine research team with some unique assets. Leading the charge is a pair of 1,000-foot-rated Triton submersibles that carry two people. There’s also a DP1 multipurpose subsea vessel, some remotely operated vehicles (ROVs) and a host of support assets geared for ocean exploration, documentation and conservation. The team is led by inventor, entrepreneur and ocean explorer, Robert M. Carmichael, who has launched numerous innovative businesses including Halcyon Dive Systems, Brownie’s Marine Group, BLU3 and Live Blue. 90 | GuyHarvey.com
Global SubDive’s two-man subs exploring the deep water trenches of the Bahamas.
RICK GUNVALDSEN
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COURTESY OF GLOBAL SUBDIVE
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CHUB CAY
Carmichael’s group is based at Chub Cay Resort & Marina, a perfect platform to explore the TOTO and the South Berry Islands marine reserve. In addition to its marine research initiative, Global SubDive offers rides hundreds of feet down to visitors who are staying at the resort or want to come and peek into the briny depths. As the submarine descends along sheer underwater cliffs, people can study geological formations that reveal when ice ages occurred and sea levels fluctuated. It’s a pricey dive — around $1,800 per person — but one of the only places in the world where non-scientists have the opportunity to cruise at depths usually reserved for deepwater sea species. When not exploring TOTO, the team has also conducted missions in the Pacific and Indian Oceans and the Mediterranean Sea for numerous organizations including the U.S. Department of the Navy (NAVSEA), the Discovery Channel and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). Most recently, Global SubDive partnered with Live Blue to launch a training center for people who want to pursue ocean-related careers as well as an oceanic research institute at Chub Cay to support its ocean research and conservation initiatives. For more information, go to GlobalSubDive.com. GHOF.org | 91
MODERNIZING
Wastewater Treatment Are the days of septic tanks and cesspools numbered? BY KELLI OAKLEY
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ave you ever thought about where wastewater goes when you flush your toilet? We might hope that it flows into a large self-contained basin and is never released into the environment. But the truth is, wastewater eventually makes it back into our soil and waterways. The good news is that you can make a difference and thereby help our marine life. Here is a sort of gross fun fact: The average adult flushes about 320 pounds (145 kilograms) of waste down the toilet each year. Many people believe that their home is connected to a municipal sewer system, and a sewage treatment plant removes pollutants before effluent is released into the environment. While some modern sewage facilities offer state-of-theart filtration and treatment for cleaning wastewater, often, these plants are old and do not receive the maintenance they need. They also frequently experience combined storm and wastewater sewer overflows (CSOs) due to heavy rainfall or the inundation and infiltration (I&I) of storm and groundwater into sewer pipes that exceed treatment plant capacity. Elevated bacteria counts often are a result of these overflows when a mix of raw and treated wastewater enters waterways. Fecal coliform and enterococci threaten public health, mandating closures of beaches and recreational waterways, thus impacting the environment, the economy and our enjoyment of public waters. 92 | GuyHarvey.com
Even though sewage plants have myriad challenges, there are literally millions of Americans who are not connected to any sort of municipal treatment facilities at all. Waste instead flows into a cesspool or septic tank on their property, and they are nothing more than underground vaults that hold the untreated wastewater for a short time before releasing it directly into the ground. We are now seeing a whole host of problems stemming from our reliance on this Roman-era technology from harmful toxic algae blooms that decimate fish and shellfish populations and close beaches for swimming, to
the contamination of our underground drinking water. The impacts of septic tanks are apparent in coastal areas throughout the country, especially in places like the Florida Keys and Florida’s freshwater springs where homes and businesses are close to the water. The Keys consists of coral rock that is barely covered with topsoil with a limited capacity to absorb and contain wastewater. Protecting Florida’s freshwater springs has become a priority because wastewater that contains phosphorus, nitrogen and other nutrients and pollutants continues to pollute the groundwater moving through the karst rock formations.
WASTEWATER TREATMENT
Failures to adequately treat wastewater result in nutrient pollution that kills fish and forces beach closures. The problem occurs throughout the country.
These issues are not confined to Florida. Suffolk County, New York, is home to the Hamptons and other ritzy enclaves frequented as summer retreats by affluent New York City residents. There, toxic algae blooms are now a regular occurrence and have played a large role in destroying what were formerly the most productive hard clam and bay scallop fisheries in the country. This is largely due to the fact that Suffolk County holds the unfortunate honor of being the “cesspool capital of America,” as approximately 75% of the property in the county relies upon cesspools and septic tanks while only 25% is connected to sewers — the inverse of what is typically seen nationwide. The situations seen in Long Island and the Florida Keys are occurring in coastal areas throughout the world. Since many areas are not conducive to the installation
of a municipal sewer system, impacted areas are turning to Advanced Treatment Units (ATUs) to help solve this critical problem. ATUs essentially serve as mini-wastewater treatment plants for individual homeowners or businesses that replace traditional septic tanks or cesspools, so what is ultimately released into your backyard is clean water. Wastewater technology is advancing in response to the dire need for water to be treated and pollutants removed so that it may be reused. Sadly, we have both a water shortage problem and a water pollution problem. Keep in mind, regular septic systems only remove solids, oil and grease and then the system counts on the ground soil to perform the treatment. This would be great, but the organic and bacterial matter build up over time and then overwhelm the soil’s capacity to perform that role. One of the leaders in the fight against this water quality crisis is FujiClean — a Japanese company with a global footprint
Advanced Treatment Units like these located in coastal Maine, replace septic tanks by serving as miniature wastewater treatment plants.
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WASTEWATER TREATMENT
Manufacturers including FujiClean have developed Advanced Treatment Units with a combination of bacteria, ensuring that wastewater discharged to the environment contains substantially reduced levels of nitrogen.
that has installed more than 3 million ATUs worldwide. These advanced systems use good and bad bacteria working as a team to improve the level of wastewater treatment. FujiClean CEO Watanabe Kaichi said it best, “Because the water will eventually go into the rivers, we insist on maintaining the highest treatment standards.” FujiClean’s nutrient removal system is more effective at lowering BOD (biochemical oxygen demand) and is capable of removing more than 77% of nitrogen from wastewater, more than 50% better than the industry average. Their latest model also features an electrolytic treatment for removing phosphorus, a key element in algae blooms. The nitrogen cycle is one of Earth’s most important biological processes, second to only photosynthesis. In simple terms, ATUs use 94 | GuyHarvey.com
a simple, well-engineered process whereby air is injected into tanks, thereby turning the anaerobic environment aerobic. This allows aerobic bacteria to treat wastewater resulting in a cleaner effluent than that from a normal septic tank system. These biological processes transform both dissolved and solid constituents into gases, cell mass, and nondegradable material. The process also involves the nitrification of ammonia in the wastewater and the reduction of pathogenic organisms. Fortunately, some of the hardest-hit areas are now fighting back. In Long Island, Suffolk County has passed legislation prohibiting the use of septic tanks or cesspools for all new construction projects and requiring the use of ATUs in their place. The county has also joined forces with several townships to offer homeowners and businesses upwards
of $20,000 in government funding to voluntarily upgrade their existing septic tanks or cesspools to an ATU. Suffolk County has also implemented a rigorous sampling program to ensure that the ATUs in the program are functioning properly. Thus far, the majority of ATUs are reducing nitrogen levels by more than 70%. FujiClean systems lead the way with average treatment levels approaching the EPA’s potable drinking water standard for nitrogen. Meanwhile, back in Brevard County, Florida, the Save Our Indian River Lagoon program has brought about a half-cent sales tax, garnering $489 million for grants that will enable homeowners to replace their old septic tanks with ones that are approved for nitrogen removal. Each homeowner now receives up to $18,000 to cover the costs of design and installation of their nitrogenreducing septic system. FujiClean USA has representation worldwide, and they are looking to make a difference in their own communities. Advanced Wastewater Solutions has established the Save the Bays programs to sponsor, promote and fund water quality improvement projects.
The Peconic Baykeeper’s Community Oyster Restoration Program in New York grows hundreds of thousands of oysters, each of which can filter up to 50 gallons of water per day, for distribution into local bays and estuaries. The program includes an educational component whereby students and other community members are invited to assist in the maintenance of the oyster garden and help with the distribution of mature oysters. HydroDynamic Solutions is making a difference in Kentucky and Tennessee by making sure that wastewater lagoons and failing septic systems are replaced by ATUs. If these efforts are duplicated from coast to coast, human, marine and all life will greatly benefit. Clean water released from ATUs can, in turn, be used for any number of purposes, such as supplying drinking water, irrigating crops and sustaining aquatic life. ATUs break down solids, reduce bacteria and transform nutrients — all in a very energy-efficient way — returning clean water to our soils and waterways. Your next flush could truly be making a positive difference if processed with the newest technology.
Credits: HydroDynamic Solutions, FujiClean USA, Advanced Wastewater Solutions, Maine Septic Solution, Morris Smith Engineering and Dr. Tracy Fanara, ocean scientist and environmental engineer. GHOF.org | 95
Last Cast
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Fred Garth with a speckled trout at his honey hole.
BY FRED GARTH
hen I go on a fishing trip, it makes my wife happy. She’s not trying to get rid of me: really. It’s just that she’s expecting me to bring back dinner. And cook it. If I come home empty-handed, I can expect a look of disappointment. This is followed by a dinner of white bread and plain lettuce. A fishing buddy of mine from New Orleans, we’ll just call him Brent, visited recently to help me hunt and gather. We’ve had a strong history of catching fish — from monster bull reds in South Louisiana, to red snapper offshore, to trout inshore, pompano in the surf and anything else that bites. We’ve even strapped fly rods to dirt bikes and hit the remote streams of Colorado. My wife has smiled upon the many tasty treats we’ve caught. 96 | GuyHarvey.com
This time, Brent and I were not on a typical fishing excursion. He’s somewhat on the rebound. The dude is a miracle — some would say freak — of human survival. He’s fought off cancer multiple times, once in a tender place I won’t mention. His current battle is with diabetes. After years of enjoying adult beverages, and I mean really enjoying them, he quit cold turkey. He lost 60 pounds. His regimen of medicines and shots is so extensive they require a separate suitcase when he travels. I’ll put it like this, if he was a cat, he’d be on life eight or nine. He also has a weird obsession with telling fart jokes, but that’s another story altogether. Needless to say, Brent has been stressed out lately. He needed some fishing therapy badly,
and I gladly obliged. He dropped in during a perfect February weekend. Sunny days, temps in the mid 60s, light wind, big tidal shifts and a full moon; all in all, great catching conditions. The first day we targeted trout. I took him to one of my honey holes where the specks hang out during cold weather. Despite what
LAST CAST
most people believe, Northwest Florida actually has a winter. The temperature dips into the high 20s several times from December to March, and we occasionally get a smattering of snow. Wax up the downhill skis — not! During cold months, water in the bay cools down to uncomfortable levels for trout, so they migrate into the spring-fed bayous where the temps hover near 70 degrees year-round. We fished a usually productive deep water creek. We worked hard, that is if fishing can be considered work. Everything was amazing — the weather, the conversation, the camaraderie, Brent’s fart jokes — everything, except the catching part. That was slow to non-existent. We dug deep into the tackle box and threw top-water lures, mid-water lures and jigs. I even slung a Clouser Minnow on the fly rod. In the end, we landed one small speckled trout. Not one to give up easily, Brent suggested we procure some live shrimp — you know, to improve on the catching. I gave up fishing with live bait many years ago, not because of any ethical or moral reasons, it’s just a pain to have to go get live bait and then try to keep the shrimp or minnows alive. Nonetheless, the situation was dire, so we picked up four dozen spunky shrimp and put them in the live well. On the second day, we visited another honey hole where using live shrimp almost guarantees an active day of catching, almost. Again, we fished hard. Again, we used everything in the tackle box as well as the live bait. And again, we got skunked. The tide was moving, the full moon was rising and by all accounts, we should have caught our limit. Of course, that’s fishing. Mother Nature is a fickle lady who can bless or curse you. The trick is to embrace the moment and enjoy the experience of being in the great outdoors with people you love. That way, the catching part becomes a bonus not a requirement. At least, that’s the way I like to look at it. Brent and I were still casting as the sun touched the horizon and served up an incredible pink sky with the skinny pine trees reflecting on the glassy water. Nightfall was descending when I noticed the birds swarming and squawking in and out of the treetops. That’s usually a good sign. Then, a couple of mosquitos came out of nowhere hoping to suck our blood. It’s rare for skeeters to come around during winter, so I chalked that up to another positive event. Plus, they were so sluggish I was able to squish them easily. Then, I noticed a few fish rolling on the surface.
This particular fishing spot, which, of course, will go unmentioned in this article, can suddenly turn on around sunset. Everything was lining up, and we had not given up. Brent had a live shrimp dangling. I was throwing a jig when, wham, I got slammed by a 16-inch trout — bingo. Thirty seconds later, another trout ate Brent’s shrimp — bingo bango. For the next 15 minutes, as darkness crept in, we caught fish on almost every cast. It’s one of those sunrise and sunset phenomena where the fish go on a feeding frenzy. We’d been skunked for three hours. Then, in less than 30 minutes, we caught our limit. As usual, we released most of the fish to fight another day but saved a few choice fish for the grill. Decades of living in New Orleans has shaped Brent into a stellar chef, so he prepared some delicious grilled trout that put a big smile on my wife’s face. As they say, happy wife, happy life. I was lucky enough to spend two days on the boat with a good friend, catch a few trout and share the bounty with my family. It’s this kind of therapy that can smooth out the bumps in this crazy world. That’s why I was happy to get a text from Brent a few days later. He said the trip was cathartic and something he’d needed for a long time. He was content but still had one final question … When were we going fishing again?
FRED GARTH
For the past 25 years, Fred D. Garth’s articles have appeared in numerous books, magazines and newspapers around the world.
GHOF.org | 97
Pick a cause. Any Cause. What do you love most about the Florida outdoors? The incredible variety of wild species? The expansive waterways and unique landscapes? The endless recreational opportunities? Whatever it is, the Fish & Wildlife Foundation of Florida is committed to helping you support it. Through our many partnerships with conservation and education programs statewide, we’ve raised and donated more than $45 million since 1994. The best part is, your donation goes to the cause of your choice. So pick a project. Choose a charity. Find a fund. And show some love to what you love most about Florida’s wildlife.
FIND YOUR CAUSE FOR THE WILD. WILDLIFEFLORIDA.ORG 98 | GuyHarvey.com
CONSERVING NATURE AND OUR OUTDOOR HERITAGE
TURN THE TIDES
T h e a r t o f b i g gam e f is h ing Guy Harvey has dedicated his life to creating beautiful art and apparel to protect the sport and the oceans he loves. From using recycled materials in his apparel to ensuring a portion of his proceeds help protect the ocean through the Guy Harvey Ocean Foundation (GHOF), wearing Guy Harvey means you’re part of the movement to protect our sport and our oceans. Shop now and turn the tides at GuyHarvey.com
Photo Credit:
Hannes Ribbner
Twenty-five anglers each trip will have the opportunity to join Guy and Jessica Harvey on a 5 day/4 night VIP experience at the world-famous Tropic Star Lodge in Piñas Bay, Panama.
Total Cost: $9,800 ■
Five day/four night all-inclusive stay at Tropic Star Lodge.
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Personalized 30-minute video of your adventure.
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Up to five people each day will fish with Guy Harvey.
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Breakfast/lunch and happy hour snacks.
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Lodging at Tropic Star, double occupancy.
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During the week, Guy will paint an original piece to be auctioned off on the last night.
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Two private “arrival” and “departure” cocktail parties at Tropic Star’s mountaintop Palace.
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Round trip air charter from Panama City to Piñas Bay.
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Ground transportation from airport to hotel and domestic/international airport.
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VIP greeting by Tropic Star representative as you depart your flight and personal support while going through customs. While waiting for transfer, admission to airport VIP lounge pending COVID restrictions.
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Scientist from Guy Harvey Ocean Foundation will also join the trip and be available to fish with anglers.
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Additional fishing days will be standard trips on a Tropic Star boat with captain and a mate.
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Personalized signed print of Guy Harvey art.
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Welcome bag with Guy Harvey Tropic Star clothing and souvenir items.
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Subscription to Guy Harvey Magazine.
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Private dinners each night with Guy, Jessica Harvey and a scientist from Guy Harvey Enterprises.
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Two drinks per day and wine at dinner.
For available expedition dates, contact browland@GuyHarvey.com
