Guy Harvey Magazine — Spring 2011

The Art of Ocean Conservation VOLUME 1, ISSUE 4 SPRING 2011 $6.95

Aqua Paparazzi Photo Portfolio of Scott Kerrigan

Is Seafood

Safe to Eat? Scientists test the Gulf Coast’s seafood.

Read about what they find.

PLASTIKI VOYAGE Sailing the Pacific on Plastic Bottles

PLASTIC PARADISE One man’s trash is another man’s treasure

www.guyharveymagazine.com

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Guy at work in his George Town Studio in Grand Cayman.

Guy’s Limited Edition Art Only $300 Guy Harvey personally selected the art in this portfolio for Guy Harvey Magazine’s exclusive offer.

He also extended an extra-special price for magazine readers — only $300! Finally, he decided to keep the reproduction quantity VERY limited to only 10 copies of each of these seven, never-before-released paintings. Guy not only picked them and priced them but when you purchase one, he will also personalize it with his distinctive signature. Guy’s final word on the subject was to “act fast!”

Only 4 left

Hoo’s Next II 14” x 26” - $300 Only 4 left

Reef Patrol 11” x 14” - $300

Only 4 left

Marlin & Dolphin 11” x 29” - $300

Only 4 left

Only 3 left

Three Bonefish

Golden Prize

16.5” x 20” - $300

16” x 21” - $300

Only 1 left Only 3 left

Underwater Yellowfin Tuna Bunk 16” x 21.5” - $300

Little Green Herons 12” x 24” - $300

Bring Guy’s Art Into Your Home The above art is being released for the FIRST TIME EVER to the public. A maximum of only 10 reproductions will be made AND each one will be personally signed by Guy Harvey himself. This is an exclusive offer from Guy Harvey Magazine. It’s a first-come, first-serve offering, so don’t hesitate. Be one of only 10 people on the entire planet to own the above signed Guy Harvey art!

To order, call 888-275-2856 or email kat@guyharveymagazine.com. www.guyharveymagazine.com

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cONTENTS

spring 2011

THE AQUA PAPARAZZI

48

\\ PLASTIcS: ONE WOrd/ONE WOrLd

26 SEA OF PLASTIc

40 gyrES

The amount of plastic getting into the marine food chain

Ocean currents swirl to form giant eddies that hold garbage

is alarming. Writer Terry Ward explores ways to fix the

– mostly plastics – in their spinning vortex. Studies are

problem and find alternatives to our excessive use of plastics.

ongoing to determine the effects of these garbage patches

by TeRRY wARD

and what to do about them.

by DANNY THORNTON

32 PLASTIKI VOyAgE: ONE MESSAgE, 12,000 BOTTLES

In the spirit of a modern-day Kontiki Expedition, bank heir David de Rothschild built a ship made with 12,000 plastic bottles and sailed from California to Australia to raise awareness about the damage plastics are doing to our planet.

by DARYL CARSON

16

ThE grEAT gAThErINg OF MANTAS

One man’s trash is another man’s treasure. Contributor Daryl Carson caught up with British ex-pat Richart Sowa in Isla Mujeras, Mexico, where Sowa has turned plastic trash into his own private floating island castle.

by DARYL CARSON

62 IS SEAFOOd SAFE TO EAT?

Contributing Editor Doug Perrine visits Hanifaru Bay in the

The oil spill turned the seafood industry upside down. But

Maldives, where hundreds of manta rays gather like no other

we just want to know if Gulf seafood is safe or not. The

place on the planet. The phenomenon has attracted hordes

answer is not so black and white but GHM staff found some

of tourists. The conundrum is finding a balance between

encouraging signs.

tourism and nature.

by fReD D. GARTH

by DOUG PeRRINe 4

44 PLASTIc PArAdISE

www.guyharveymagazine.com

THE GREAT GATHERING OF MANTAS

16

Departments

8

TACkLEBOX Letters to Guy Harvey

72

guy HArvEy LiFEsTyLE Many Faces of Juli Goldstein

Reader comments via letters, e-mails, texts,

As they say, she’s more than just a pretty face.

Facebook posts, Twitter, and notes written on

Beauty queen, Juli Goldstein is a veterinarian in

wrinkled gum wrappers.

the Florida Keys, specializing in marine mammals such as dolphins.We asked her how she

10

guy TALk In Layman’s Language Guy discussed his recent expedition to dive with thousands of Nassau grouper and two

balances looking good and doing good.

74

MEET THE CHEF Florida’s Chef As the executive chef for the state of Florida,

documentaries his team is working on.

Chef Justin Timieri has cooked seafood for

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guy’s univErsE News & Updates from Guy’s World

the likes of George and Barbara Bush and many other celebrities.

From Sports Illustrated models wearing GH jewelry to a newly-built GH headquarters in South Florida, all the latest news from inside and outside the

76

guy HArvEy rEsEArCH insTiTuTE Stalking Tigers GHRI is tracking tiger sharks from Bermuda

atmosphere.

to the Bahamas and discovering new species

48

pHOTO pOrTFOLiO The Aqua Paparazzi

of marlin.

Scott Kerrigan’s website is fittingly called Aqua

LAsT CAsT “Hooked” on Apalachicola

Paparazzi because he spends his time chasing aquatic stars around the planet.

80

Editor Fred Garth traveled to Apalachicola to find out if the oil spill had made slurping

68

TOurnAMEnTs & sHOWs Miami Muscle The Miami Boat Show is a display of testosterone pumping internal combustion engines. But there’s a growing stem of greenery beginning to take root at the show.

down oysters an extreme sport.

COnTriBuTOr’s prOFiLE

CReDItS tO:

SCOtt KeRRIGAn Few people on the planet have captured as many stunning images of billfish as Scott Kerrigan. His work has appeared in hundreds of ads and dozens of magazines and he continues to run one of the planet’s most respected marine photo stock agencies.

He grew up on, in, and around the waters in South Florida. This perpetual motion into the sea prompted his love for anything fish related. As he matured he worked in local tackle shops, built custom rods, and repaired tackle. In 1983 he took a major step in his oceanic career and began fishing professionally. The journey led him into the Caribbean as a participant in dozens of billfish tournaments and as crew for private charters.

After almost 10 years on the pro fishing circuit, his part-time photography hobby became his full-time profession. In 2002, he formed Aqua Paparazzi, a marine stock

Scott Kerrigan

photo agency. While Scott’s work is heavily sought after commercially and editorially, his agency also maintains an ever growing collection of rare, unique, and commercial big game fishing images.

In addition to this issue of GHM (pages 48-59), Scott’s images have graced the pages of numerous publications such as Field & Stream, Men’s Fitness, National Geographic, Florida Sportsman, Boating, and Garden & Gun. In between trips, Scott writes for his sport fishing photo blog www.ScottKerrigan.com.

teRRy wARD

Terry Ward

When she was only 10 years old Terry Ward visited Europe with her parents and began taking notes, a journal that began her career as a travel writer. After she left her job in 2000 as a copywriter for an advertising agency, Terry decided to take a year to explore Australia, Asia, and the Middle East and pursue her dream of being a freelance travel writer. More than a decade later, her work has appeared in newspapers and magazines around the planet, from the Los Angeles Times to, ironically, Endless Vacation Magazine. Not that freelance writing is an endless carnival ride, but it tends to make some folks jealous when your office is the entire planet and generally really awesome, far-away places.

Terry is a current contributing editor to World Hum, a literary webzine. Before that, she wrote a monthly travel column for the South Florida Sun-Sentinel called,Young and Restless. In 2008, Terry made her broadcast debut for The Travel Channel, speaking as a travel expert for “21 Mind Blowing Escapes” and “21 Sexiest Beaches.” She also writes a blog for VISIT FLORIDA. In this issue of GHM, Terry explores the issue of plastics in our waterways and what we can do to curtail this mounting problem.

PUblISHeR Lost Key Publishing editor-In-Chief Fred D. Garth Marketing Director John Guidroz Circulation Director Kat Dean Director of Sales and Marketing Ashley Bringman Outside Sales Representative Dan Wilson layout and Design Emagination Unlimited | Jenny Lee Internet Gurus Zeekee Interactive Copy editor Kerrie Allen Contributing editors Tanya Burnett Daryl Carson Kat Dean Dr. Guy Harvey Doug Perrine Danny Thornton Contributors Luca Babini Rickie Friend Juli Goldstein Matthew Grey Nicole Haugdahl Tilen Jakopin Scott Kerrigan Jody Lemmon Steve Murray Christina Newberry Andrew Rae Patrick Riviere Dr. Mahmood Shivji Terry Ward Bill Watts John Weller editorial Advisory board Dr. Guy Harvey Chad Henderson Bill Shedd Dr. Mahmood Shivji Steve Stock David Wilkinson Guy Harvey Magazine is published four times per year: winter, spring, summer, and fall, by Lost Key Publishing, P.O. Box 34075, Pensacola, Florida 32507. No part of this magazine can be

we ReCyCle: We’re proud that Guy Harvey Magazine is printed on recycled paper. However, using recycled paper is just the first step. Finding an environmentally-friendly printer is even more important. That’s why this magazine is printed at Publishers Press

from Lost Key Publishing. Occasionally, we may make all or part of our subscriber list available

in Shepherdsville, Kentucky. Publishers Press recycles more than 50 million pounds of paper and paper products each year, which

to carefully screened companies that offer

saves 10 million gallons of oil, 35,000 trees, and 14 million gallons of water. Publishers Press also recycles more than 300,000 pounds

products and/or services that may interest you.

of aluminum printing plates annually and no hazardous wastes are ever sent to a landfill, but are recycled and reused. The company is

To subscribe to Guy Harvey Magazine call our

currently working toward certification by the Sustainable Green Printing (SGP) Partnership.

6

reproduced without express written permission

www.guyharveymagazine.com

toll-free subscription number, 888-275-2856.

Introducing Guy Harvey

®

Welcome to color.

For more information or for a retail location near you, please call 1-888-Maui Jim (1-888-628-4546) or visit us at mauijim.com

TACKLEBOX

R E A D E R F E E D B AC K - E - m A i l S , S N A i l m A i l , T W i T T E R , FAC E B O O K , A N D C O C O N U T T E l E G R A P H

Get in Touch We welcome comments and recommendations from

Keep Up the Good Work

“Hooked on Fishing”

Congratulations to Guy Harvey and the team on

Great read! More!!

the magazine! It masterfully combines awareness of

GyPSyQUeenCAb, via GHM website

our esteemed readers anytime.

conservation issues in a very practical manner with

Thanks and we hope to hear

fantastic underwater imagery. It is not often that a

from you soon!

Fan us on Facebook

Follow us on Twitter

publication can speak to multiple audiences – divers,

Bruno’s Way

fishermen, and ocean lovers in general – but I think you

Excellent article on a terrific chef! Talk about working your

guys nailed it. Best of luck!”

way up the ladder to reach where your heart desires to be

JASOn HelleR,

and gaining a wealth of experience along the way. More

Publisher, DivePhotoGuide.com

ambition & perseverance!

@GuyHarveyMag

@

Send us an e-mail editor@ guyharveymagazine.com

Write us a letter P.O. Box 34075 Pensacola, Florida 32507

people need to adopt Bruno’s work ethic...energy, charm,

lIQUID, via GHM website

Great Photos, Articles I just received Issue 3 of Guy Harvey Magazine and was blown away by the spectacular images and intriguing

Guy’s Art

articles. I haven’t found a magazine in a long time

Beautiful as always. Keep up the good work Guy.

with such great writing and a subject matter that is so

bRUCewGORMAn, via GHM website

important these days. Keep up the good work.

CHARleS DUnCAn, via e-mail

Around the World Thank you Guy Harvey Magazine for taking me all over

Red Motorcycle Chef

the world! I have enjoyed the in-depth knowledge of every

Chef Bruno on his red motorcycle is our favorite chef

article and the spectacular photos that keep me coming

in Cayman..and the whole staff is amazing...always so

back. Every issue has offered a variety of topics. The

friendly...great service...We are back in Ohio and we miss

organization of the magazine makes it easy on the eyes

you all...can hardly wait to return.

and pure pleasure to read; it’s hard to put down. Patiently

lInDA GIll, via GHM website

waiting for my next trip (issue)!

K. belSeR, Pensacola, Fl

8

www.guyharveymagazine.com

THE BIG

GAME

IS ON.

The Big Game Club, a Guy Harvey Outpost Resort & Marina. Two legends. One legendary experience. Since 1947, the destination for discriminating mariners, water sport enthusiasts and adventure travelers. Now fully renovated and improved throughout, join Guy Harvey and his friends in a new chapter in the history of this famous club that would make Hemingway proud.

Located in the heart of Alice Town, steps from Bimini’s powder white beach and mesmerizing blue green waters.

• • • • • • •

51 rooms, dockside cottages and one bedroom suites 75 slip full service marina capable of accommodating center consoles to mega yachts The Bimini Big Game Bar and Grill, offering great food and fun overlooking the marina The Outfitter Shop, a retail experience featuring sportswear, supplies and gifts Dive Bimini, with extraordinary diving from our 60’ glass bottom dive boat Bonefish Bimini, offering top of class backcountry fishing opportunities Sportfishing charters with Bahamas legend, Captain Billy Black aboard his 53’ Rybovich “El Viejo”

Come be a part of history, and make some of your own while you’re here!

25º 43.34 N | 79º 17.45 W 800-867-4764 | 242-347-3391 BigGameClubBimini.com

guy TALk

IN LAYMAN’S LANGUAGE During my last TV series released a few years ago, I

Cayman on a documentary about the annual spawning

focused on different billfish species around the world,

aggregation (SPAG) of the only reasonably healthy

and enjoyed a fair amount of success fishing, tagging, and

population of Nassau groupers in the Western Caribbean.

diving with these magnificent animals. Generally, my

The research work is a collaborative effort between the

guest anglers on the shows were scientists who were

Reef Environmental Educational Foundation (visit

currently involved with research work on these species,

www.REEF.org) and the CI Department of Environment,

and they knew far more about the animal than I did.

which has been going on for eight years. The SPAGs

The series was a huge hit, mostly because we were able

have been closed to fishing access for eight years due to

to convey the research, fishing, science, and art into a

historical over-extraction. The numbers of groupers have

language that was acceptable by the viewing public.

grown slowly but overall it is a very positive story not

It was also a great deal of work, involving a huge amount of travel, and long weeks away from home and the drawing board or easel.

only for reef fish management in the Cayman Islands but also for the wider Caribbean.

Why is it so important to tell this story?

GUy HARvey is an internationally-acclaimed

Throughout the warm waters of the Western

artist, fisherman, scientist, and

series is not in the same (fishing) genre that has become

Atlantic and Caribbean, one species of fish stands

world traveler, who devotes

so repetitive on Saturday morning TV, where “That’s a

out as the icon of the coral reef environment—the

much of his time and money

nice one Jim!” is the phrase most repeated. Sure, fishing

Nassau grouper. It is the iconic species of the

toward ocean conservation.

is involved in this new series, but as a means to interact

region just as the sailfish is to Florida or the salmon

with the animal for research purposes. In addition, the

is to the Pacific Northwest. All reef fish are subject

longer, one-hour format will give me enough time to

to immense fishing pressure and habitat loss to the

really address the natural history, life cycle and research

point where some are regarded as endangered. It is

efforts, and resource issues affecting the focus species.

time for a change, time for more research followed

Recently I have embarked on another series, but this

A couple of weeks ago I was working in Little 10

www.guyharveymagazine.com

by more conservation.

In becoming “entrenched” with the researchers and their efforts to learn more about the species, along with government organizations, I am able to relate the historical over-extraction, the opinions of different user groups, and the resulting conservation and protective measures in a package that is informative, educational, and entertaining to the reader who may not have access to scientific publications.

Another documentary project in the works is about tiger sharks. By now, most of the fans who read our blogs and Facebook updates know that GHOF/GHRI has spent two years working on the migrations of tiger sharks (see page 76). The results we have gotten from these efforts are astounding and are changing our outlook on these over-exploited sharks. In February 2011, Dr. Mahmood Shivji and I went to Nassau at

Thousands of grouper prepare for spawning in Little Cayman. Photo by

the invitation of the Bahamas National Trust and the PEW Environmental

George Schellenger

group to make a presentation to several government ministers about the value of a living shark to the Bahamas economy. Twenty years ago, long line

importance of the Bahamas in the shark life cycle and reasons for regional

fishing was banned in the Bahamas which is why there are still big fish and

conservation efforts for all species of shark that visit the Bahamas.

lots of sharks there compared to anywhere else in the greater Caribbean.

It has taken a couple of years to put this documentary together and

While sharks are relatively abundant, it is time now to upgrade their

it won’t be done for another few months, but it will be worth it. The

protection in the face of annihilation of shark resources everywhere else

GHRI and GHOF are collaborating with several other research entities

to satisfy the Asian demand for sharks and their by-products.

in this effort, and my role is to build the story, generate sympathy for the

Dr. Shivji presented our findings on the migrations of tiger sharks back and forth across the wide Atlantic from Bermuda to the Bahamas, and it was a crucial piece of research that showed these officials the

species, and then present the documentary in layman’s language.

It is our collective responsibility to conserve the marine environment and maintain the biodiversity of the planet. www.guyharveymagazine.com

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By Danny ThornTon

Ship Goes Down in Grand Cayman It was just another January day in paradise for Guy and his family.

Sunny skies, a slight breeze, gin-clear waters, and an ex-submarine rescue vessel about to be sunk. After eight years of planning, the USS Kittiwake was making her final trip – to the sandy bottom in 64 feet of water off of Grand Cayman’s West Bay. Of course, Guy wouldn’t miss an event that cool, so he and his kids were there with scuba gear and cameras ready to document the sinking.

The 251-foot Kittiwake was launched in 1945 and served in naval operations before being decommissioned in 1994. It was transferred to the U.S. Maritime Administration in March of 2000 then brought to the Cayman Islands in 2009 from Norfolk, Virginia, where numerous old military vessels spend the rest of their lives rusting away in the St. James River. The Kittiwake found a new beginning in Grand Cayman for the sole purpose of making an artificial reef for divers and snorkelers.

Fishing on the Kittiwake is not allowed. If the no-fishing rule sounds unfair, you have to understand that Cayman is a scuba diving mecca with dozens of diving operations and some of the clearest water in the world. The entire economy is based around diving and, oh yeah, offshore banking. Fishing for blue water species such as wahoo and marlin is fairly common, but reef fishing is highly regulated.

Sinking the Kittiwake was not just a matter of pulling the plugs and letting the sea rush in. The old ship was cleaned and remediated in Norfolk which included removing all hazardous materials like PCB’s, asbestos, mercury, cabling, wires, oils, lubricants, and any other items that might cause harm to the environment. Additionally, all loose materials that might break off were removed. The Kittiwake is possibly the cleanest wreck ever to be sunk as an artificial reef.

The diving community had been eagerly anticipating the sinking and more than 10,000 online viewers from around the world watched a live video stream as the ship went down. Project manager, Nancy Easterbrook (see Cayman Conservation article in Issue One of Guy Harvey Magazine), who was a major guiding force on the project was

Jessica and Alex Harvey (yes, Guy’s kids) approve of Grand Cayman’s new wreck.

there with Guy to witness the event.

Photo by Guy Harvey

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www.guyharveymagazine.com

“I jumped in the water as soon as she was under,” Nancy said, “and sure enough, she was sitting upright exactly where she was supposed to be.”

The Kittiwake lies in a marine park and is protected under law in Cayman, with no touching or taking of anything.

Snorkelers and divers are not allowed to wear gloves in an effort to keep them from touching the wreck or sensitive marine growth. The only exception is the invasive lionfish, which is being controlled by divers in Cayman who are allowed to take the fish with a specially designed net.

Jessica Harvey cruises the

stern of the Kittiwake.

DistinctivEly UniqUE Ever thought about going into business with your fishing buddy?

Depends on which one, right? Well, that’s

daughter in Jamaica. Every tray is hand-

exactly what long-time friends Peter

sanded and meticulously crafted and, of

Stephenson and Richard Matalon did. Their

course, displays Guy’s art.

company, Unique Furnishings, offers some,

The story goes like this: Matalon had

shall we say, “unique” Guy Harvey products

known the craftsman from years earlier

such as placemats, exquisite hand-carved

in Jamaica; then a few years ago they

serving trays, and aluminum furniture.

happened to run into each other while

Both men hail from Guy’s home

traveling. Matalon found out that the man

country of Jamaica. Their business began

had “fallen on hard times” so he decided to

with a line of window films displaying Guy’s

give him work.

art that can be mounted to sliding glass

“It gives me a great sense of pride

doors, cabin windows of your fishing boat,

to know that I have helped someone,”

or any other glass surface for that matter.

Matalon said, referencing the old proverb,

They expanded from that product

“not by giving him a fish, but rather

into some way cool casual furniture that

allowing him to fish.” If you want to see

is cast from solid aluminum. But, probably

all of the “unique furnishings,” check the

the most intriguing pieces in their line are

website: www.buyufi.com.

the serving trays and placemats which are handmade by a local craftsman and his

Jamaican craftsman makes colorful placemats. www.guyharveymagazine.com

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Bealls Raises Awareness and Money If any good has come from the oil spill, it is that it has refocused attention on the vulnerable Gulf of Mexico ecosystem. It also has prompted folks to donate to worthy causes such as the Guy Harvey Ocean Foundation. And the fine people at Bealls department stores pitched in to raise $202,141 for

Sports illustrated loves Guy’s Jewelry

the GHOF through their “Save Our Gulf” campaign. Bealls’ original goal was $150,000.

“As many experts predicted months ago, and as Bealls firmly believes, last year’s oil spill is an ongoing issue that needs serious research and

Last year’s cover of Sports lllustrated’s coveted swimsuit issue featured model

resolve in the immediate short-term,” said Mary Beth Fox, vice president

Brooklyn Decker wearing a Guy Harvey necklace. She must have told the

of marketing for Bealls. “Our partnership with the GHOF will help fund

other models how much she liked it because this year’s issue has more of

efforts to research the long-term effects of the oil on the Gulf’s sea life.”

the signature jewelry on models Damaris Lewis, Genevieve Morton, Izabel

Bealls raised the generous donation through several methods. At

Goulart, and Kenza Fourati.

the launch of the campaign, a two-day savings pass sale allowed Bealls’

For the second year in a row, the gold, diamond, and sterling silver jewelry

customers to donate $3.00 to the GHOF and receive a 15% discount

is sprinkled throughout the hot-to-the-touch pages. While the swimsuit issue

savings pass. Bealls also developed Save Our Gulf-branded campaign

is the most provocative photo spread for a sports magazine, the appeal of

merchandise, including T-shirts, hats, bags, towels, and other items, as well

Guy Harvey Jewelry is not just the attractive design, but also the philanthropic

as campaign-branded T-shirts featuring Guy Harvey’s trademark designs.

ties to marine conservation. A percentage of all profits generated from the

Proceeds from the sale of Save Our Gulf-branded merchandise were

sale of Guy Harvey Jewelry helps to fund the non-profit Guy Harvey Ocean

included in the total donation to the GHOF.

Foundation. And SI likes that concept.

Diane Smith, senior editor at SI, said how “wonderful it is to have an effect on such a worthy cause.”

With approximately 7,000 different Guy Harvey Jewelry pieces to choose “Being chosen for the second year in a row is not only exciting, but it means we’ve gained respect as a brand,” states MJ, director of operations at Nautora. “We are family owned and operated and have been in business almost 30 years. Three years ago we saw a tremendous opportunity with nautical jewelry and launched our sister company Nautora. When Nautora became the exclusive jewelry designer for Guy Harvey Inc., it gave us a tremendous platform to promote marine conservation, something we are very passionate about. The swimsuit issue gives us a worldwide opportunity to spread the word about marine conservation. Philanthropy is, and always will be, our core element and main focus.”

Learn more about Guy Harvey Jewelry at www.guyharveyjewelry.com. www.guyharveymagazine.com

with our customers and our employees, all of whom contributed greatly to the success of this campaign,” said Fox. “We are thrilled with the response

from, it was easy finding the perfect match for the swimsuits.

14

“Bealls is a Florida store, and the Save Our Gulf campaign resonated

and outcome of the campaign throughout last year, and honored to maintain our continued partnership with Guy Harvey and his foundation.”

The new Guy Harvey headquarters is not just office space but also houses a full scale model of a retail shop. Photo by Tanya Burnett

Guy Harvey Upgrades Crib Back in the old days, the Guy Harvey team consisted of a young, long-

a rather cramped space near Ft. Lauderdale. No Dodge van though.

haired Guy and his dog and a 1972 Dodge van with shag carpet on the

That all changed last year when the new Guy Harvey International

ceiling and a screen press in the back. They did the fishing tournament

Headquarters was built in Davie, Florida, not far from the old digs.

circuit selling T-shirts from the back of van and…wait a minute…that

The new place has a showroom as an entryway, a real-life Guy Harvey

wasn’t Guy, it was my cousin Dwayne and his dog Bubba (sorry, but most

store, if you will. The walls are adorned with GH art, the carpet is GH,

of the ‘70s are a blur).

and even the toilet paper…just kidding. With the growing popularity

The truth is, Guy was a college professor when he did his first art

of Guy Harvey’s apparel, the new GH Outpost Resort at the Bimini Big

show in Jamaica and the rest, they say, is history. The brand has grown

Game Club, and the myriad products adorned with Guy’s art, the new

steadily since that first art show in the early 1980s. But things really

offices are a living catalog of the man, the brand, and the extensive line of

were a lot simpler back then and for years the Guy Harvey offices were

GH products. www.guyharveymagazine.com

15

Manta researcher Guy Stevens takes photos of unique individual markings (belly spots) used to identify manta rays that are feeding on plankton in Hanifaru Bay, Baa Atoll, Maldives in the Indian Ocean.

16

www.guyharveymagazine.com

TEXT & PhoToS

By DoUG PErrInE

of Mantas

On the deck of a small wooden boat, rocking peacefully

stop completely.” Following the guide’s instructions, the

at anchor along the margin of a tiny, coral-fringed lagoon,

eight guests reached the shark’s position, and for the next

an alert guide rose to his feet. His eyes focused on a dark

three hours were treated to the unparalleled spectacle of

shadow moving slowly along the far side of the lagoon.

the largest fish in the ocean feeding contentedly on some

Quietly, he gathered together his passengers and whispered,

of the smallest creatures in the ocean.

“A whale shark has entered the lagoon. Watch that dark

The events just described occurred in a parallel

patch. If it stops moving, it has found a patch of plankton.

universe within an alternate reality framework somewhere

Then it will go vertical and rise slowly up and down sucking

in the time-space continuum. In the universe where my

in plankton. When that happens, you can slip gently into the

body was physically located at the time, here’s what really

water and swim slowly toward it. As soon as you can see

happened: the guide began to screech at the top of his

the shark, slow your swimming to an absolute minimum.

lungs, “Whale shark! Whale shark! Get in the water!

When you reach a distance of four meters from the shark,

Swim! Swim!” When his boat had emptied its load of www.guyharveymagazine.com

17

Manta ray swims over a patch reef among yellow sweepers and other schooling fish, Hanifaru Bay entrance, Hanifaru Lagoon, Baa Atoll, Maldives.

near-panicked passengers, he moved to the stern and called out to the

world to this remote corner of a small island nation. It is, rather, the bat-

other boats, which then took up the shrill alarm. In a matter of moments,

like relatives of this shark which account for the 300% increase in visitation

31 swimmers from five boats were thrashing across the surface in a frenzy

to Hanifaru from 2009 to 2010. Manta rays, like whale sharks, feed by

toward the animal which was still swimming into the lagoon. Beneath the

filtering tiny planktonic organisms from the water column. Unlike the sting

surface, 10 scuba divers were also converging toward the same point as

rays from which they probably evolved, they neither lie on the bottom,

fast as they could propel themselves, belching clouds of exhaust bubbles

nor possess venomous barbs to defend themselves. Their large size and

into the water column as they furiously finned toward the dark shape. The

harmless nature have elevated them to a position high on the “must-see”

slow-moving, but not dim-witted, fish quickly inferred that Armageddon

list of most divers and snorkelers.

was approaching, did a rapid about-face, and exited the lagoon. One of the

Manta rays are not generally considered to be social animals, although

divers managed to return to the boat with his prize—a digital image of the

they do aggregate in areas where a food source is concentrated, when a

faint outline of a large spotted fish, just identifiable through the haze of the

female goes into estrous, and at reef “cleaning stations” where smaller

water separating it from the diver.

fish pick parasites off of them. In a number of locations within their pan-

Hanifaru Lagoon, in Baa Atoll, in the northern Maldives Archipelago of

tropical range, it is not unusual to see a dozen or more mantas feeding in

the Indian Ocean, has developed a reputation as a whale shark “hotspot.”

close proximity. At Hanifaru, however, aggregations sometimes number

Indeed, as many as seven exemplars of the largest fish in the ocean have

more than 200 individuals within an area the size of a football field.

been seen there at one time, slurping a dense stew of plankton that collects

Even stranger, these “solitary” animals work together here in perfectly

in the small hook-shaped bay on the south side of the lagoon when the

choreographed formation to funnel plankton up through the center of

wind and tides are just right. However, the possibility of a whale shark

their spinning, polarized schools—a behavior never seen anywhere else

sighting is not the primary attraction that draws visitors from all over the

in the world.

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This seasonal phenomenon was known only to a few fishermen until only a few years ago.

Even after a few Maldives tourism operators began to visit Hanifaru, it remained mostly unknown until it was revealed to the world in 2008 by a video posted on YouTube by Maldivian dive instructor/underwater photographer Mohamed Shafraz Naeem. The video was re-posted on Facebook and Dive Photo Guide, receiving tens of thousands of hits. Then Thomas Peschak’s photographs appeared in the July 2009 issue of National Geographic with an article by Bruce Barcott. Barcott wrote that “too many humans could drive mantas out of feeding grounds like Hanifaru Bay,” and noted that Maldivian Manta Ray Project (MMRP) founder Guy Stevens “hears the clock ticking, and he is scrambling to organize a self-policing regime among resorts and local guides before dive tourists overrun Hanifaru.” In fact Stevens had great misgivings about the possible effect of international exposure in the high-profile magazine, but felt that the publicity would also help to pressure the Maldives government to declare the site as a Marine Protected Area (MPA). The strategy was successful, and the Hanifaru MPA was proclaimed in June 2009 – in the nick of time, according to Stevens, to avert a planned development on nearby Hanifaru Island, and dredging of the manta feeding area to create a speedboat transfer station to serve an airport under construction on another nearby island.

Declaration of the area as an MPA was accompanied by a minimal set of rules, adapted from other MPAs with little regard to special circumstances at Hanifaru, but did include a limitation of five vessels and 80 people within the MPA at one time. However, there was no designation of a protocol for determining which five vessels would be allowed in, nor of any authority to prevent other vessels from entering or to manage the behavior of boat

Mantas line up by the dozens as they feast on the plentiful plankton in Hanifaru Bay.

operators and tourists within the sanctuary. www.guyharveymagazine.com

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The results exceeded Stevens’ worst nightmares. In 2010 as many as 13 boats and 187 divers and snorkelers were counted in the tiny bay at one time. Boats constantly patrol the lagoon, and as soon as feeding mantas are sighted, cell phones are activated and more boats speed toward the site. With snorkelers carpeting the surface, and scuba divers occupying every level of the water column, the mantas are left with literally no place to go, except in the opposite direction from their food source. More troubling than the numbers of humans who come to pay homage to the mantas is their behavior.

E.O. Wilson coined the term “biophilia” to denote an innate craving for contact with nature. In some nature— deprived urbanites, this seems to take the form of a desire to seize and possess the object of their desire—to extract its manna or spiritual power. Thus, you see acolytes finning frantically toward the mystic embodiment of everything that is missing in their lives with outstretched arms—as if by touching its sandpapery skin they will be able to absorb its aura and be healed. In this scenario, there is no consideration for the needs of the natural totem. It exists only to satisfy the desires of the human who worships it, ironically, while possibly destroying it.

What are the needs of the mantas which have suddenly become the focus of intense cult-like human activity? When Stevens came to the Maldives in 2003 to work as a marine biologist/guide at Four Seasons Resort in Baa Atoll, he began to collect photos showing the

to attempt

patterns of spots on the undersides of mantas sighted

to feed, even

on his dives. These spots are unique to each individual.

when subjected to

Two years later, with the support of Four Seasons, he

boats driving over the top of

founded MMRP, using the I.D. photos to compile a census

them, surrounded by humans, kicked, poked,

of mantas in the Maldives. The following year, in 2006,

flashed, and struck with cameras and other objects. This seems

a local boat captain took him to Hanifaru, where he

indicative of a desperate need to obtain nourishment during the limited

found over 150 mantas plus a number of whale sharks

period when plankton is present in the lagoon.

crammed into the tiny bay hoovering down swarms of small crustaceans.

Using the data from his manta catalogue, Stevens

These events occur only during the May-November southwest monsoon season, and only when the right winds and tides combine to create upwellings and currents that draw the plankton to the surface and

estimated that there are about 6,000 manta rays resident in

flush it down the long, narrow entrance of Hanifaru Lagoon, trapping it in

the entire Maldives archipelago. Of these, more than 1,100

the small bay at the end of the natural trap. Even at peak season, mantas

have been sighted in the small bay at Hanifaru, indicating

(and tourists) might have to wait weeks for such an event to occur. When

that this one spot holds a large significance for the manta

it does, the mantas do something extraordinary. They usually start by

population of the country. Feeding events can last from

feeding in long chains, sometimes with one or two mantas positioning

minutes to hours. While they are occurring, the mantas

themselves right on the back of the manta ahead, taking advantage of the

abandon their normal wary and skittish behavior and continue

avoidance response of the plankton, which may jump out of the path of

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Is it harassment or eco-tourism when snorkelers chase mantas for a chance at a fleeting touch while mantas feed on plankton in Hanifaru Bay?

one manta right into the mouth of the one behind. When a particularly

plankton shoals collecting in the one bay with the unusual geology to

rich patch of plankton is encountered, the chain may bend around into a

trap these shoals are so important to the local manta population that

spiral, forming a spinning column of mantas that creates its own current,

their reproductive rate could be influenced by their ability to take full

drawing water into the center of the column. Stevens termed this

advantage of it. If so, these mantas could be headed for trouble.

behavior “cyclone feeding” or “vortex feeding.” It has never been seen in any other location.

Mantas are naturally slow-growing and late-maturing with very

On my first day at Hanifaru I am merely frustrated by the hordes of scuba divers and snorkelers that pursue mantas from one end of the bay to the other and back, shamelessly diving right into incipient

low reproductive rates, with females in other areas that have been

feeding formations and disrupting them, as well as foiling my attempts

studied averaging one offspring every other year. However, in the

to photograph the mantas’ natural behavior without bipeds and

Maldives, Stevens has found that females reproduce on average only

bubbles in the frame. On my second day, I witness a shouting match

once in five years, and there has been a disturbing trend at Hanifaru

between passengers on one boat and representatives of an operation

over the last several years. Of the mature females that frequent

blamed for running its boat over the top of surfacing divers. The next

the lagoon, 50% were pregnant in 2008. In 2009 only 15% were

day there is a physical altercation between a snorkeler and a diver

pregnant, and in 2010 no pregnant females were seen there. This may

who has accidentally bumped into several mantas. This is followed by

be natural variability, and the low breeding success could be due to

another shouting match, and a follow-up argument off-site. On the

a number of causes, but one possibility is food resource limitation.

third day I am drawn into a shouting match with the operators of a

Stevens believes the breeding failure in 2010 may be related to El

boat that has been driving back and forth through groups of feeding

Niño related food shortages. It is possible that instances of dense

mantas, scuba divers, and snorkelers, endangering both humans and

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animals. Every day there are dramas involving anchors dropped near divers, anchored boats swinging into other boats or snagging their anchor lines, boats busting up groups of mantas, and divers surfacing into the path of moving boats. Some mantas show injuries consistent with boat collisions (and many have scars from fishing gear), but it’s a miracle no humans have been mutilated.

One might imagine that most of the people who would pay thousands of dollars and travel thousands of miles to visit a uniqueon-the-planet location where mantas engage in a mass-feeding phenomenon that is not known to occur anywhere else on earth would be experienced divers who had seen many mantas engaged in more ordinary behaviors and were intrigued by this unique and spectacular phenomenon. One would be mistaken. In fact, most visitors to Hanifaru Bay have never seen a manta before. Many are unable to swim, and stay afloat only with the aid of flotation vests.

Rafts of non-swimmers float across the surface of the bay, heads out of the water, and swim fins pumping ineffectually under the surface.

Some of the more accomplished swimmers dart rapidly in pursuit of the feeding mantas, even diving down to lay hands upon them, often surfacing with expressions of confusion and disgust upon discovering that the rough skin of mantas can cause abrasions and is covered with a dark slimy mucus that protects it from infections (which may result when this mucus is transferred to the hands of humans). Even divers who advertise their advanced level with specialized tech-diving gear and thousands of dollars worth of photo equipment seem oblivious to the unique feeding phenomenon that they disrupt by charging into the middle of a vortex and singling out one manta to photograph as they drive it away from its dance partners. Other photographers, however, seem to have done their homework, and are determined to surpass Peschak’s close-up of a feeding manta by actually shoving their underwater camera rigs – strobes and all – inside the mouths of feeding mantas.

Proposals to regulate the chaos were set forth before the 2010 season, and the Save Our Seas Foundation (a partner of the Guy Harvey Research Institute) pledged funds to purchase a patrol boat, all to no avail. To date, proposals to establish regulations and an enforcement system in time for the 2011 season have been mired in partisan bickering – not surprising, considering that manta tourism is estimated to be worth over $8 million annually to the Maldives economy, with half a million dollars attributable to the manta aggregation at Hanifaru. To find out how management proposals are progressing, or not, check the Atoll Ecosystem Conservation Project

Thousands of snorkelers and divers come from around the world to mingle with

website at www.biodiversity.mv. Comments may be sent to Abdulla

the numerous mantas of Hanifaru Bay. Some experts are concerned that too

Mohamed (abdulla.mohamed@environment.gov.mv) and Abdulla

much human interaction will disrupt the manta’s feeding patterns.

Shibau (abdulla.shibau@environment.gov.mv) at the AEC Project. www.guyharveymagazine.com

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s c i t Plas “One wOrd:

stics.” a l P in e r u t u tf there’s a grea

The above headline references the famous words of advice to Dustin Hoffman in the classic 1967 movie, The Graduate. It was a funny line because it was so obscure. Unfortunately, it turned out to be one of the most profound statements ever made on film. Now, almost 45 years later, the plastic future has come true in ways we never imagined.

Just go to your local convenience store and look at the endless plastic bottles of soda, milk, juice, and water. Look around your house, in your car, or in the airplane you’re crammed in.

Plastic surrounds us. The problem is, we dispose of it with reckless abandon. Eventually, it ends up in our waterways and in our fish.

The first step to solving a problem is recognizing it in the first place. There’s a growing group of people who are creating awareness and helping to pave the way for a plastic-free future. The following pages will inform you and they might scare you. But hopefully, our special section on plastics will inspire you to make a difference.

One word? No, one world.

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Stiv Wilson with plastic bottle found in South Atlantic Gyre. Photo by Jody Lemmon

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\\ PLASTICS: ONE WORD/ONE WORLD

by TERRy WARD

Finding ways to reduce our use of plastics isn’t easy, but it can be done.

The oceans, we know, mirror the sky. When it’s stormy overhead, the swells reflect that gunmetal gray. And when the skies are cerulean, a sailor’s delight, likewise, so is the ocean’s surface.

Unfortunately, the oceans also share a lot in common with our land, where we deposit millions of tons of garbage every year. Like a sprawling liquid landfill, this water world we love receives a constant tide of trash – we’ve seen it floating by on the surface while fishing and we’ve collected it from reefs while diving.

“The source (of marine trash) is literally every coastline,” says researcher and marine scientist Dr. Marah J. Hardt. “Most of what ends up in the ocean is coming from land, storm drains, and beaches – and from people being really, really careless.”

Ocean garbage materializes as many things, from lobster and crab pots that get caught on whale’s fins, to commercial nets, plastic shopping bags, and plastic toys adrift in the seas. But for all the metal and paper rubbish in the water, it is plastic that has the longest lifespan. A plastic water bottle can take more than 400 years to break down, and nylon fishing line needs more than six centuries to disappear. To understand why plastics take so long to degrade – and why they are such a menace to our oceans – you must first understand how they break down.

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Marine debris being collected by members of the Algalita Expedition.

“Plastic breaks down through weathering, sun, and salt water into these tiny pellets smaller than a BB,” Hardt says. “It’s the smallest unit plastic will

But seeing the North Pacific Gyre did not hit him “like an a-ha moment.”

“It was the fact that I couldn’t go on deck without seeing something

break down into.” In other words, plastic never completely disappears; it

floating by, some piece of manmade debris,” he said of sailing through

just becomes smaller over time. And unfortunately, says Hardt, those tiny

this part of the ocean. “I was always able to spot something within a few

particles of plastic look a lot like the fish eggs and plankton that are the

minutes of being up there. And I realized it had to be all around me.”

main source of nourishment for many marine animals, including baitfish and birds.

Since 1997, Captain Charles Moore of the Algalita Marine Research

During Moore’s trips to the area in the late 1990s, he trawled for invertebrates and found evidence of plastics in the creatures. And in 2009, he returned to the North Pacific Gyre with a research crew to trawl for

Foundation in California has made numerous trips to the North Pacific

lantern fish – baitmass fish that live at the depths of the sea and surface at

gyre, an area of intense plastics accumulation caused by converging ocean

nighttime to feed. “Of 671 fish collected in trawls, mostly lantern fish, we

currents that lies about 1,000 miles off the California coast, halfway

found that 35 percent of them had ingested plastic,” said Moore of Algalita’s

between San Francisco and Hawaii.

most recent research in the area. One fish, no bigger than a pinkie finger,

“It’s a toilet bowl effect, but it never flushes,” says Moore of his explanation of the gyre. “It’s an atmospheric, high pressure system that rotates in a clockwise system and traps debris from the Pacific Rim that’s floating around in the Pacific.”

The confluence of garbage in a gyre is not something that can be seen from space, even though it is estimated to be twice the size of Texas.

“Some people picture these things like an ice breaker going through garbage,” says Moore about places like the Great Pacific Garbage Patch.

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was full of 84 bits of plastic, he says.

“They are a baitmass,” says Moore of lantern fish. “So if we are affecting them we are affecting everything else.”

Thoughts like this can seem very gloom and doom indeed, especially to those of us who love nothing more than a fresh fillet cooked on the grill. But for people like Captain Moore and Hardt who study the health of our oceans, it is clear that there is only one way to start turning the tide in our favor.

“Source reduction is the only answer,” says Moore. And the good news

is that there are many ways to start doing your part. Take fishing gear, for example. A former commercial fisherman, Captain Moore still fishes recreationally and has this advice for fellow anglers: “I mostly fish for my own consumption, and I know how frustrating it is to snag your tackle.

You want to cut it. But you need to retrieve as much of your line and lost tackle as you possibly can,” he says. “The hooks and lines get caught on fish and birds and go on killing. That’s why it’s called ghost fishing; it’s a big problem.”

When you want to add new line to your reel, he says, don’t throw your old damaged line into the water. “It doesn’t biodegrade,” he says. His advice is to roll it up and take it home and dispose of it there.

“Source reduction is the only answer.”

When your line gets hung, take the time to free it. “Move the boat to the other side of the reef, pull from a different angle,” he says. “A lot of

This microscopic photo shows tiny bits of plastic and plankton. Can you tell which is which? The fish can’t either. (The plastic is outlined in yellow.)

In addition to more careful fishing etiquette, Hardt says that reducing your plastic footprint is critical toward helping the cause.

“Don’t take plastic bottled water on your boat. Get one of those big

times, it’s the angle of the pull that keeps you from retrieving the line.” And

coolers, and everyone can have a nice metal water bottle to refill,” says

if that fails, says Moore, pull in as much line as possible before breaking it.

Hardt. “For every liter of bottled water we use, it takes three liters of

Even for people prone to just soak up the sun on the beach, he says,

water to make the plastic that’s holding your one liter. And these used

something as simple as making sure your towels and clothing don’t get

plastic bottles are the kinds of things that blow overboard really easily. Try

swept away by an incoming wave does a lot more than save you the cost of

to shift from any sort of disposable type of gear.”

new beach gear.

“The fleece jacket is made from Dacron, and that stuff lasts forever under water,” says Moore. “It can be as damaging as lost fishing gear.”

You can take things a step farther, says Hardt, by being a voice in your community. “Talk with your city council to make sure storm drains have the correct filters in place so garbage doesn’t get washed into the ocean.”

Finding bits of plastic in fish digestive systems such as this rainbow runner is all too typical.

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Anna Cummins, a California-based marine scientist, discovered the

returned from a presentation to high school students in Alaska to educate

scope of the ocean rubbish accumulations first-hand when she and her

them on ocean garbage. The session ended with a coastal cleanup session, she

husband, Dr. Marcus Eriksen, crossed the North Pacific Gyre in 2008. In

said, that took place on the islands near Sitka. “At first it looked beautiful (the

early 2010, the pair sailed a 72-foot racing sloop on a 1,700-mile journey

beaches), but when you got down and started digging through weeds it was

across the North Atlantic from St. Thomas to Bermuda and the Azores to

filled with plastic particles,” she says of the area. “We found a pen from Japan,

research plastic accumulation in the Sargasso Sea as part of the 5 Gyres

bottles, bottle caps, fragments, fishing related debris, Styrofoam.”

Project – a collaborative effort undertaken by the Algalita Marine Research

Targeting the next generation for the awareness campaign is the key to

Foundation and Pangaea Explorations that studies the plastics accumulating

Cummins’ work, and her adventures continue. In late 2010 she and Eriksen

in the world’s major circular current systems, or subtropical ocean gyres.

navigated through the South Atlantic Gyre looking for plastic and signs of fish

“The Sargasso Sea (a region in the middle of the North Atlantic Ocean) is where you can see it look more like a garbage patch,” says Cummins. “It

ingestion while making the crossing from Rio de Janeiro to Cape Town.

Big news in 2010 was the Plastiki Expedition – the crossing from San

collects in these big mats.” Some of the things they found while trawling

Francisco to Sydney, Australia, of a 60-foot-long catamaran made from more

included bottle caps, shotgun shells, buckets, and unidentifiable fragments of

than 12,000 plastic bottles and other reclaimed materials that was as much

‘rice grain size’ plastic. “What’s remarkable to note when you’re crossing

about awareness as adventure (see page 32).

this massive area, is that no matter where you drop the net and skim on the surface, you’re going to find plastic,” says Cummins.

And while she agrees with most scientists that a practical way to clean up these masses of ocean trash does not currently exist, Cummins says that

“The Plastiki was very much about sparking the imagination and curiosity in people and enabling a platform to inspire people to dream and live their own dreams,” says the ship’s British skipper, Jo Royle.

“With the Plastiki, we didn’t take the off-the-shelf solution,” she says about

people can help by going to places that act like nets for the trash in the ocean

the ship’s construction. “And as such, we moved a lot slower over water. One

– beaches in places like Hawaii, the Azores, and Bermuda – to collect trash on

reason we were out there was to prove we can really use different materials,

the shore.

and we tested it by sailing it across the world’s largest ocean.”

Educating youth is also high on Cummins’ priorities, and she recently

Debris on Kamilo Beach on the Big Island of Hawaii.

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The Plastiki’s sails were made from post-consumer plastic. “The guy

“We’re living in an age where we’re so aware and really able to make a difference by our consumer choices.” who made them, a good friend now, thought I was some raving hippie when I told him what I was after,” says Royle. But the sailcloth he created was very high performance and “probably stayed in shape better than Dacron,” says Royle – a concept in ingenuity that’s a lesson in sustainability, too.

“It’s always been about cost,” says Royle of general economics and affordability considerations when building a boat. “But it should be more and more about the cost not economically, but the cost of nature as well.”

With the recycling of plastics and how to combat their accumulation in the ocean her obsession during her years preparing for the Plastiki, says Royle, she learned more than she ever imagined about her day to day consumption.

“The main lesson I’ve learned is how unaware we are of the synthetic world we’re living in,” she says, “And that it’s too easy to pick up one-use items.”

“As western females, we pump 200 different chemicals into the

The decomposed body of this albatross shows plastic bottle caps that were caught in its stomach and digestive system.

ocean every year because of the cosmetics we’re using,” she says. “I used to use this body scrub that it turned out had tiny pieces of plastic

Start by reducing your consumption of single-use plastics, she says, such

in it. And I thought, wow, I’ve just been using that without thinking of it.

as taking reusable bags to the grocery store when you shop. Single-use

Then you become aware of it and it’s pretty scary how many chemicals

plastic, Royle says, is the biggest offender, and is responsible for an estimated

are around us each day.”

60 percent of the plastic that ends up in the ocean. This includes plastic bags,

But she echoes the same hopeful sentiment of everyone fighting for the cause. As consumers, says Royle, we are so empowered to join the good fight for our oceans’ health.

“We’re living in an age where we’re so aware and really able to make a difference by our consumer choices,” says Royle, admitting that living completely plastic-free, which she set out to attempt for two weeks, was pretty much impossible.

“Plastic is everywhere and it’s become a part of life. It was only invented 100 years ago, and every item is still with us today. It’s going

bottles and bottle tops, and food containers – the kinds of things you buy, use, and then throw away.

Another important outlet, says Royle, is adventure – no surprise from the woman who, like her peers, sets off to sail across the world’s oceans as part of making her point.

“Adventure is a good platform because you can come back as a storyteller,” she says. “As divers and boaters and fisherman, the stories are really important.”

And telling the story of the glory of our oceans and the garbage that

to be our legacy,” she says. “But it’s not that every beach and ocean is

threatens them – and more importantly, what we are doing to fight it – is

covered in plastic. It’s not so negative that we can’t do anything about it,

the right place to start.

we have the power to change it.” www.guyharveymagazine.com

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ew Grey

Photo by Matth

Photo by Patrick Riviere

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\\ PLASTICS: ONE WORD/ONE WORLD

David de Rothschild is an adventurer in the British tradition of great adventurers.

Just 33 this year, he’s the youngest Britain and one of only 42 people to reach both the North and South Poles. He’s one of only 14 people to make it all the way across Antarctica. A rare combination of passion, ability, and means – he’s the youngest heir to the Rothschild banking fortune – his adventures have taken him from the Greenland ice cap to the rain forests of Ecuador.

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Plastiki founder David de Rothschild on board his plastic-bottled vessel.

Photo by Patrick Riviere Right: The Plastiki arrives at Sydney Harbor, Australia. Photo by Matthew Grey

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The latter was to document the environmental impact

expedition, the Adventure Ecology team decided to forego

of oil drilling, and that’s where de Rothschild is distinguishing

the use of any normal sailing craft and, instead, built their own

himself from his predecessors. His exploits have become

out of plastic trash, including thousands of reclaimed plastic

less about exploration and more about proclamation. His

bottles. The “Plastiki” is a catamaran 60-feet long and 20-feet

messages are about critical environmental issues. His

wide. Its basic structure is formed from a recycled plastic

organization, Myoo (formerly Adventure Ecology), takes on

material called srPET, the mast is a reclaimed aluminum

field missions to raise awareness of environmental topics

irrigation pipe, the sail is hand-made from recycled PET cloth

and also to help develop and then showcase solutions

and 12,500 plastic bottles are laced into the catamaran’s hull

to problems. His intended audience is “a youth-based

and provide 68% of the vessel’s buoyancy.

community of change makers” to help promote “smart

The vessel is the perfect expression of one of the group’s

thinking” for a better “Planet 2.0.” Leave it to an adventurer

core philosophies—that waste as we know it is not seen in

nurtured in the internet age to try and install an update on

nature and is therefore a design flaw. Recycling and re-using

the global consciousness about how people treat the planet.

are critical to long-term sustainability of the planet. Of

On March 20, 2010, de Rothschild set out on a trans-

course, recycling and re-use comes with its own challenges.

ocean voyage from San Francisco to Sydney to focus the

The Plastiki was four years in development and helped refine

world’s attention on the explosive growth of plastic waste

and pioneer a number of building techniques for recycled

accumulating in the oceans. To crank up the volume for their

plastic. It even used organic glue made from cashew nuts

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and sugar cane. The finished vessel completed its 8,000 mile trek without major incident, a testament to the preparations of the design team and the skill of the crew. If it sounds insane to cross the Pacific Ocean on a high-tech raft of plastic bottles, then the Plastiki was just living up to its namesake.

David de Rothschild’s inspiration for the epic voyage was two-fold. First, the issue of plastic trash and its impact on the oceans was driven home to him by a 2006 UNEP report named “Ecosystems and Biodiversity in Deep Waters and High Seas.” The idea of raising awareness by sailing across the Pacific on a questionable craft came from Thor Heyerdahl’s epic 1947 expedition, the Kon-Tiki. That adventure sought to demonstrate that Polynesian islands were settled by South American migration across the Pacific. Heyerdahl’s raft was made from nine Balsa logs, had a square sail, and traveled downwind 4,300 miles from Peru to the Tuamoto Islands, successfully proving the feasibility of such a trek by ancient peoples. The craft was so bare the crew of five had to lash themselves to the deck at night so as not to be washed overboard.

The crew of the Plastiki – which included Heyerdahl’s grandson, Olav, as an expedition diver – had a few more creature comforts than their predecessors. There was a cabin with proper bunks, modern electronics for navigation,

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and even a hydroponic garden for a few fresh veggies. What

for re-supply and rest, but also provided another chance

they didn’t have was an abundance of fish, something the

to preach the Plastiki message. On Christmas Island,

Kon-Tiki voyage had daily and used as a primary source

in Kiribati, the crew was invited to visit with 1,000 high

of food and hydration. Whether the apparent lack of marine

school students to talk about recycling. It’s just the sort

life around the Plastiki is a significant statement about the

of youth-inspiring opportunity de Rothschild was after, and

conditions of the oceans is perhaps up for discussion, but

combined with prolific media coverage of the entire voyage

one thing the Plastiki crew did have was trash. Nine hundred

– 90 interviews conducted from the vessel, more than 300

miles from land the crew noted in a single day, the presence

print articles, 200 radio and TV broadcasts, and, of course,

of a garden tray, two jerry cans, multiple buoys, and a large,

a spot on Oprah – the Plastiki has generated serious buzz.

white PVC tray floating by on the waves. Throughout the trip

At last count there were more than 1,800,000 internet

there was a regular trail of plastic bags, bottles, and Styrofoam

search terms relating to Plastiki and 52,200 related images

containers. At times, when swimming or inspecting the hull,

on Google. Perhaps it’s the first step in a new world

the crew found “mermaid’s tears,” or millions of bits of plastic

attitude. Call it “Plastic 2.0.”

degraded by sunlight and saltwater awash beneath the surface.

Four months after sailing under the Golden Gate

For more information on Plastiki, go to www.Myoo.com and also be on the lookout for a new book written by de

Bridge, the Plastiki made a safe arrival in Sydney on July 26,

Rothschild, Plastiki: An Adventure to Save Our Oceans, due to

2010. The four legs of its voyage included stops in Kiribati,

be on bookshelves on May 1.

Western Samoa, and New Caledonia. Each was chance The Plastiki voyage begins from San Francisco with the Golden Gate Bridge looming ahead.

Right:The boat and two views of its hydroponic garden attached to the mast.

Photos by Luca Babini

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\\ PLASTICS: ONE WORD/ONE WORLD

by DANNy THORNTON In the mid-1990s a Scottish band called the Gyres hit the British music scene with songs like Are You Ready and Sly. At the height of their success they opened for the likes of David Bowie and Bon Jovi. Unfortunately, their popularity went downhill, and in 1999 the group disbanded (no pun intended). Little did they know that less than a decade later their name would gain international fame – something the band itself was never able to accomplish.

If you haven’t yet heard of gyres (giant, swirling, ocean currents – not the band) it may be because their celebrity is relatively new.

Nonetheless,

interest in ocean gyres (rhymes with tires) is growing rapidly because of their unique capability for attracting massive eddies of trash. There’s even a website called 5gyres.org that explains everything you’ll need to know should the topic of gyres come up at a cocktail party or as a category on Jeopardy. Perhaps this

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new-found fame will trickle down to the original

to study the various oceanic garbage patches of

Gyres and help sell some records, or maybe even

the world. For the past several years, the Sea

lead to a reunion tour. It’s not likely, though.

Dragon, a 72-foot sloop, has been accepting paying

One thing that is for sure, however, is that

passengers who want to observe and study the

gyres do exist, and planet Earth is home to five

garbage patches. Pangaea Explorations runs the

major ones, inauspiciously named the North

trips and, not unlike an ocean current, the Sea

Atlantic, South Atlantic, North Pacific, South Pacific,

Dragon seems to always be on the move.

and Indian Ocean Gyres. And while we all know

It’s both impressive and inspiring that Captain

that the motion of the ocean is constant – with

Moore’s discovery some 15 years ago has spawned

upwellings, currents, rip tides, tidal action, the

a revolution against plastic waste in the ocean.

Gulf Stream, gyres, and more non-stop action

There are countless websites on the subject,

than a James Bond flick – the five ocean gyres,

including several on The Plastiki Voyage (see

are predictable, extremely humongous, and

article on page 32), that have gained worldwide

The Scottish Rock Band – The Gyres. Photo

home to every imaginable type of floating and

attention, as well as many YouTube videos that

courtesy of online music store, 991.com.

subsurface garbage the planet dishes out on a

have gotten hundreds of thousands of views.

daily basis. In fact, the North Pacific Gyre, which

Why? Because people are genuinely concerned

Implementation is the key, and education is vital if

is located roughly between California and China,

about the preposterous amount of plastics that

we’re going to turn the tide on plastic waste. First,

is approximately twice the size of Texas and home

are flooding into the oceans constantly. So how

we need to change our habits and get aggressive

to an estimated seven million tons of plastic debris.

then do we go about correcting the issue at hand?

with recycling. Only then can we begin to reduce

It also has collected six times more plastic than

The answer to this problem is simple – reduce our

our use of plastics through the use of substitute

plankton, and since plankton is the primary source

use of plastics. Unfortunately, millions of plastic

materials while also pushing for biodegradable

of nutrients for many marine critters, that is a lot of

containers are sold daily for water, milk, soft drinks,

plastic containers that won’t litter the planet for

plastic! Gyres collect more than just plastics. They

and a myriad of other products. Just peak inside

thousands of years.

accumulate everything from Styrofoam to wood

the glass refrigerator at your local convenience

to basically anything that floats. But, by far the

store and you’ll immediately see the challenge.

most harmful substance among the “collectables” is plastic.When plastic breaks down it releases pollutants such as PCBs and DDT that degrade the water quality. Also, plastic never totally disintegrates – it just gets smaller. And possibly the most harmful aspect of plastic is that many sea birds and waterdwelling animals often mistake plastic as food. Have you ever tried to pass a plastic bottle cap? It makes a kidney stone seem like a day at the water slide.

The discovery of these gigantic trash accumulations, dubbed “garbage patches,” is widely attributed to Captain Charles Moore, founder of the Algalita Marine Research Foundation (www.algalita.org), who sailed through the North Pacific Gyre in 1997 and was shocked at the masses of manmade debris littering the ocean’s surface. Moore published his findings in 1999 (ironically the same year the Gyres were breaking up) which inspired ventures such as the 5 Gyres Expedition, a series of ongoing research voyages 42

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Members of the 5 Gyres Expedition use recovered plastic to spell out their message.

PLASTIC

PARADISE

by DARyL CARSON

The term “nation building” can be applied to any number of activities, from boosting domestic prosperity to revitalizing a war-conquered foe.

But for one British ex-pat in Mexico, it has more to do with plywood, fish nets, and a whole bunch of plastic bottles than anything political. Well, except that the government expressed interest in claiming his project as their own territory…something about tourism potential.

The ex-pat in question is Richart Sowa, a British artist, musician, and carpenter who traded his job for a life in the balmy, sun-drenched tourist haven of Cancun. His project was a sand-covered island.

Actually, it was more of a homemade barge turned single man’s ecofortress, with a two-story structure suitable for living and enough vegetation to provide both shade and sustenance. At one point it was home to Sowa and several pets, including two chickens and a duck. It boasted solar power, several water features, and soft, sandy beaches. And it floated on plastic trash.

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\\ PLASTICS: ONE WORD/ONE WORLD

Richart Sowa’s private Spiral Island floats on 250,000 plastic bottles collected from city streets, parks, and garbage dumps. Photo by Christina Newberry

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The story goes that when Sowa arrived in Cancun he began to

In fact, the Spiral Island projects have spawned a kind of global

walk the streets, collecting old plastic bottles – everything from big,

community. As Sowa built his islands he also built a following, mostly

multi-liter soda bottles to small, single-serve water bottles. Then he

through a string of web pages,YouTube videos posted by visitors, and

had an epiphany and began to stuff the bottles into old pieces of fishing

blog sites that documented his efforts and provided a way for others

net, making highly buoyant bundles. He rafted the bundles together, set

to participate. Like the work itself, the Spiral Island web presence

them afloat, and began to build on top of them. First came a platform

has been a start-and-stop process, always changing and evolving. This

made from a bamboo frame and plywood deck. Then came the sand. It

certainly speaks to the reality of the ups and downs faced in any

was literally one bucket at a time, as Sowa paddled his little boat back

venture, but it may also reflect Sowa’s artistic nature and a kind of

and forth from the beach to his future home. The sand came from a

free-ranging rhythm to his life. (Even his name, Richart, has changed

nearby point that, left alone, would naturally build until it blocked an

over the years, morphing at different times from Richart to Richie to

adjacent canal. Sowa’s sand collecting saved regular dredging so it was

Rishi.) Whatever the case, it’s something many people find attractive.

a win-win for everyone.

Just this year a brand new social networking site has been launched

With this process it took nearly six months to establish a base

– spiralislanders.info – where “Spiral Islanders” can swap stories, share

roughly 20-feet across. Sowa’s friends began to collect bottles for him

eco-minded technology, and soak in a kind of sun-drenched, earth-

and volunteers began to show up. Soon the project began to look like a

friendly vibe.

real island, eventually incorporating a quarter-million plastic bottles and

Some would say it’s this artistic, imaginative vibe that will really

spreading to more than 60 feet across. A building was built, and a rain

determine the future of Spiral Island, at least more so than hurricanes

barrel, and a composting toilet. There was a homemade solar oven and a

or government interest. Sowa has often mused that he’d like to build

plastic tub-turned-washing machine powered by wave action. However,

his island up a little bigger and set it free on the oceans currents,

the island’s most striking feature became its greenery – everything from

making it a country all its own. Whatever the project’s fate, it has

mangrove trees to fruit trees to tomato plants.

certainly demonstrated one thing: no man is an island, even if he

This eco-paradise became known as Spiral Island and garnered

builds his own.

international attention, including, naturally, a coveted spot on TV’s Ripley’s Believe It or Not! (Check it out on the web.) Sowa’s feat was impressive, but its symbolism was absolutely iconic – one man stands against the modern world and wins! An artist who decides to live on his own terms escapes to paradise and then through sheer personal effort turns the poster-child of modern waste – the plastic bottle – into a foundation for idyllic sustainability. The fact that the mangrove roots grew down and entangled themselves among the plastic bottles, literally embracing and strengthening the whole structure became an irresistible metaphor. Sowa made a grand gesture to respect nature and she responded with a hug. (Somewhere, James Cameron weeps.)

But the natural world is a finicky place, and what is built can quickly be taken away. Spiral Island, begun in 1998, was pushed ashore and dismantled by Hurricane Emily in 2005. The island was destroyed, but all the pieces were still largely connected. Sowa, undaunted and encouraged by friends, salvaged nearly all of his plastic bottles and began construction on Spiral Island II. Today it is a fully functioning landmass and appointed with improved features including solar panels and a waterfall.

Sowa did relocate his island, but not too far away. It’s currently off the coast of Isla Mujeres where it has served as a popular tourist attraction and gathering place since 2008.

Spiral Island has its own waterfall, pool, fruit trees, and solar panels.

Photo by Christina Newberry

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Wide angle view of a running Hatteras Yacht in the green inshore waters of Pamlico Sound.

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THE AQUA PAPARAZZI Photo Portfolio of Scott Kerrigan www.guyharveymagazine.com

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Wide angle view of a Pacific sailfish’s dorsal fin just prior to release.

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Fighting chair angler Eric Anderson winds line in pursuit of a large marlin as seawater pours in the cockpit while the boat roars backwards.

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Unknown photographer gets a front row seat of a jumping Pacific sailfish.

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A proud Texan wears her state’s colors on one toe, with the vacationing countries colors on another. The beautiful water and white sand beach of Isla Mujeres can be seen in the background.

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Atlantic sailfish being billed and then released aboard the charter boat Keen M. This fish ate a slow trolled ballyhoo bait although it had been feeding on schools of live sardines, evident by a mouthful of fresh dead sardines that were being burped up prior to release.

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Gannett seabird takes a break, along with a crab, on the back of a sea turtle off the coast of Guatemala.

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Wide angle view from the tower of the Bayliss Boatworks Southpaw while trolling the water off Venezuela.

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Wooden pier for local skiffs along the white sands beaches of Isla Mujeres.

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President John F. Kennedy made these remarks at a dinner for the America’s Cup yacht crews in Newport, Virginia, put on by the Australian Ambassador on September 14, 1962.

Since then, it has been republished hundreds of times.

While President Kennedy was extremely poetic and most certainly charmed all of the men and women (especially the women) attending the dinner, he was unfortunately quite wrong. It’s true that human blood contains salt. However, the fact is, seawater is approximately three times saltier than our blood. Kennedy struck a nerve about our attraction to the sea and even though our blood and seawater aren’t exactly the same, we do have salt in our veins, just not saltwater.

Is seafood safe to eat?

by FRED GARTH We humans love eating fish. It’s something primal that goes back to the days when we fashioned spears out of sticks, and hooks from bones.

Unfortunately, modern man has figured out a lot of ways to make fish inedible. And I’m not talking about Aunt Martha’s baked mullet recipe.

Chemical factories, oil spills, and industrial discharges have threatened the scaly animal that tastes so good on my grill and has so many health benefits. We fish eaters just have one question: Is it too much to ask to be able to eat fish and not worry about it?

I attended a meeting about 10 years ago when Florida officials were setting legal limits on dioxin, a highly toxic carcinogen. I thought zero was a good limit, but highly-paid, big-industry lawyers argued otherwise. The lawyers were winning. Then a funny thing happened. At the lunch break, a group of women served the committee members plates of fried mullet with two fillets. As the hungry group was about to chow down on the fish, they were told that one mullet fillet had come from the clear waters of the Gulf of Mexico and the other fish was caught in the Fenholloway River, Florida’s most polluted river where high levels of dioxin contaminated the fish. Problem was, the nice ladies told them, they weren’t sure which fillet was which.

Each member stared at the plate of food and one-by-one they slowly pushed it away. A few minutes later, the committee tabled the dioxin vote and sent out for sandwiches at Subway. The women, who all lived on the Fenholloway River and were forced to have bottled water shipped in, won a small victory that day. They weren’t trying to save the world; they just wanted to eat fish and not get sick.

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Edible fish are part of the fabric of society.

Did the oil spill change that? Photo by Tanya Burnett www.guyharveymagazine.com

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The recent oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico

This involves the U.S. Department of Agriculture

for everyone. Certainly the tourism industry

raised the same question. Is the fish safe to eat?

and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. It’s

went from taking reservations to fielding phone

A lot of people are worried and have simply

big time. When FERN began, only eight labs

calls from people cancelling their vacations.

stopped eating Gulf seafood. Those of us who

around the U.S. were selected. The folks at

From May through June, when the tourism graph

live along the Gulf and have caught seafood all

DACS are proud, and rightfully so, to be one of

usually rises, it petered out. Restaurants, bars,

of our lives want answers. Despite the massive

the original “elite eight” labs.

hotels, and the like saw their business tumble.

output of the oil spill, there are reasons to be

I’ll admit I was a little intimidated by the

The shift at the Department of Agriculture went

PhDs in lab coats, surrounded by many millions

from cruise control to pedal to the medal. They

of dollars of testing equipment, high-tech

got to work collecting seafood samples and

in no way exonerates BP from the equation.

computers, and basically a room full of people a

bringing them in for analysis.

Did BP screw up? Of course. Did they handle

lot smarter than I am. But I pressed on.

optimistic about the health of Gulf seafood.

I must say at this point that this optimism

the situation well? Not really. However, placing

Before the oil spill occurred, DACS was

From August until December 2010, they collected more than 200 tissue samples from

blame isn’t the point of this article. I’ll leave that

cruising merrily along making sure everything

fish houses and processors around the state.

to the trial lawyers who are far better at placing

from strawberries to steak was free from harmful

Most of the samples came from the Panhandle

blame than I. Rather, my quest is to answer the

contaminants that we’d rather not include in our

because of its close proximity to the well head.

fundamental question of seafood safety.

dinner menu. They’ve been testing Florida’s food

The variety of species was broad: shrimp,

for several decades so they have it down to a,

lobster, oysters, blue crabs, stone crabs, red

to Tallahassee for a tour of Florida’s high-tech,

um, science. After the oil rig exploded in April

snapper, yellow snapper, mutton snapper, grey

food testing laboratory. It’s called the Florida

2010 and then continued to flow, seafood testing

snapper, mullet, flounder, king mackerel, Spanish

Department of Agriculture and Consumer

quickly vaulted to their number one priority.

mackerel, grouper, mahi-mahi, trigger fish, tuna,

With that said, I took my show on the road

Services (DACS) Food and Chemical Residue

“We really had to ramp up our efforts,”

sheepshead, jack crevalle, sand perch, grunt fish,

Laboratories. And they have been charged

said Dr. Marion Aller, Deputy Commissioner

bluefish, and even the lowly ladyfish. In addition to

with testing Florida’s abundant seafood before

at the Department of Agriculture. “This was a

the Panhandle, samples were retrieved from the

and after the spill. To give you an idea of their

serious threat, not only to the fishing industry,

Tampa area and all the way down to Miami and

capabilities, they are members of the Food

but especially to the overall health of our

Key West. They even covered the East Coast with

Emergency Response Network (FERN) which

citizens. We knew our workload was going to

fish from Jacksonville and Cape Canaveral, even

was formed to respond to national food

increase exponentially.”

though it’s highly unlikely any oil reached that area.

emergencies and the threat of terrorism in foods.

Along the Gulf Coast, the paradigm shifted

And what did they find?

Industrial freezers chill fish to as cold as -88 C in order to be able to blend the fish fillets into a powdery substance for the lab tests.

O

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Lab techs use USDA- and FDA-approved methods to test for contaminants in seafood.

According to Dr. Aller, the results are as clear as Crystal River.

tremendous amount of news coverage but ultimately the scientists worry

“Zip, zero, nada,” she said, knowing those were terms I could

about the PAHs.

understand. “Most of our tests registered in the less than detectable levels,”

“The dispersants are basically detergents, similar to laundry detergent.

she said, with a slightly more scientific tone. “If a significant amount of oil

They break up the oil, and make it easier for the microbes to eat the oil. We

made it into the far eastern gulf, it did not contaminate the seafood.”

have just obtained the method and will start to monitor them in our lab

In their report, they recorded 2,808 results for 13 different possible contaminants. More than 99% of the time the results are listed as “<LOD,”

but we’re mostly concerned about PAHs.” On the PAH front, DACS tested (and continues to test) for 13 types

which means “less than Level of Detection.” In layman’s terms, that means

of PAHs: naphthalene, fluorine, phenanthrene, anthracene, fluoranthene,

that these super brains working in a high-tech lab with millions of dollars of

pyrene, bena(a)anthracene, chrysene, benzo(b)fluoranthene, benzo(k)

equipment didn’t pick up any signs of contamination.

fluoranthene, benzo(a)pyrene, dibenz(a,h)anthracene, and indeno(1,2,3-

“We measure in increments as small as ppb, or parts per billion,” Dr.

cd)pyrene. The fact that they have found nothing is outstanding news.

Aller explained. “And we’re finding very little – and nothing anywhere near a

However, it’s just not something you’ll find on the front page or the six

level of concern.”

o’clock news because it doesn’t involve death, maiming, airplane crashes, or

Of the 2,808 results, there were only two findings that registered a

a double-wide meth lab going up in a ball of flames. Those are the stories

miniscule but at least quantifiable number – a flounder in Pensacola Bay and a

the media loves to shove down our throats. God forbid they sprinkle a

sand perch in Tarpon Springs. The flounder had 0.0036 ppm of fluorine and the

little good news between the depressing and the horrifying.

sand perch registered 0.028 ppm of fluoranthene. The LOC (level of concern) for both is 65.3ppm or 10,000-to-20,000 times greater than was detected.

Again, I must digress and recognize that some of our loyal followers are reading this and wondering why I’d infer that Gulf seafood is safe.

Does that mean you should fire up the grill? Maybe.

I know it’s hard to believe that an oil spill of that magnitude has not

As Dr. Aller and her team pointed out (and you’ll discover, if you

destroyed everything in its path. It’s also against human nature to forgive a

Google it), the major concern with oil spills are PAHs (polycyclic aromatic

massive corporation for their colossal screw up. However, at some point

hydrocarbons). If you go back and read up on the Exxon Valdez crash, you’ll

we have to rely on the science rather than emotion. And as I dug deeper,

see that researchers are still talking about PAHs. The dispersants got a

the news seemed to get better. www.guyharveymagazine.com

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DissipATion AnD EvApoRATion

in the chilly waters deep in the gulf. It was previously believed that these

Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons are one of the most widespread organic

critters only lived in warm water, but the truth is there’s a lot we don’t

pollutants on the planet because they’re present in everything from oil to

know about the science of microbes. Terry Hazen, head of the ecology

wood smoke to burning coal, and even that stick of smoldering incense

department at the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory in California,

you had in your college dorm room (don’t try denying it). Some PAHs can

makes bold claims about microbes. “There is no compound, man-made

be highly toxic and some are fairly benign. The oil from the Deepwater

or natural, that micro-organisms cannot degrade,” he said. Scientists

Horizon contained toxic PAHs that presented serious health risks to any

have even found microbes that will turn hexavalent chromium – the toxic

life forms they came in contact with. Fortunately, PAHs in raw oil tend to

substance exposed in the movie Erin Brockovich – into chromium III, a

dissipate, weaken, and evaporate fairly quickly so by the time tar balls were

benign form of the element.

hitting Gulf beaches their toxicity levels were greatly diminished. This was

In addition to raw oil, tar balls, and the rest, scientists also worried

accelerated greatly by the very warm Gulf water and steamy summer days

about enormous amounts of methane that billowed from the well. In

that helped in the initial process of breaking down the PAHs. That doesn’t

June, Texas A&M oceanography professor John Kessler measured methane

mean you should put tar balls in your gumbo but the warm gulf water and

levels at 100,000 times higher than normal. Methane is bad, much worse

steamy summer days did help the initial process of breaking down the PAHs.

than carbon dioxide, and scientists worry that methane trapped under the ice cap could dramatically accelerate global warming as the ice melts.

THE pRobE oF THE MicRobE

Kessler’s report caused the methane red flags to fly high. One blogger

Another major factor working in the Gulf’s favor were super bugs called

got a lot of press when he claimed methane gas would stay trapped in the

microbes that were eating the oil spill like an army of Pac-Men. It

Gulf like “a massive planetary fart.” I like the turn of phrase but so far no

sounded a lot like science fiction but, in fact, it was just science. Oil-

humongous Silent Suzie has escaped from the buns of the ocean. After the

eating microbes have been around for eons consuming oil that seeps

well was capped Kessler went back and found normal levels of methane.

naturally from the bottom of the Gulf of Mexico. An article in OnEarth.

He was shocked. He also found large numbers of ocean bacteria called

org claimed that microbes eat the equivalent of two Exxon Valdez spills

methanotrophs, another group of microbes that feast on methane. Kessler

each year in the Gulf of Mexico. And that’s in a normal, non-spill year.

speculated that the microbes, which are usually present in small numbers,

Why do they eat oil? It’s their main source of food energy. Let’s just

multiplied rapidly and disposed of the methane. It was just a theory

say it’s what spinach is to Popeye.

because he didn’t witness the act. However, the methane was gone and

During the spill, when teams of scientists swooped in to investigate, they actually discovered new strands of cold-water, oil-eating microbes Typical Gulf shrimp boats tied along the docks in Apalachicola, Florida.

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the microbes were not.

With all of these microbes multiplying faster than a band of dessert

rabbits, some experts wondered if the exploding microbe population

Studies on sharks, tuna, shellfish, shrimp, and more are on-going and there’s no

would cause their own problems. Some feared, as the oil disappeared,

doubt more and more data will be revealed.We may not know the full effects

that millions and millions of microbes would die and decay and deplete

of the oil spill for decades but early indicators for seafood are hopeful.

the oxygen levels in the Gulf leaving massive dead zones. It was another nightmare that, thus far, has not happened.

“For now it appears that Florida got lucky,” said Dr. Dean Grubbs of the Florida State University Coastal and Marine Laboratory. “Researchers at the University of North Florida analyzed fish samples we collected, looking for

bioAccuMulATion

the presence of enzymes associated with breaking down PAHs, and found no

One of the concerns armchair environmentalists like me tend to shout

detectable levels at this point. That’s not to say that we won’t see something

about is the bioaccumulative effect on the food chain. That is, a little fish

different after another year of two but for now our results are promising.”

eats lots of plankton, then a medium-sized fish eats lots of little fish, then

Dr. Grubbs makes a good point because it’s been less than a year since

a big fish eats lots of medium-sized fish, and so on. Eventually that big fish

the well was capped. During that time so many stories have been swirling

has lots and lots of plankton concentration that accumulated up the food

around that make claims from the gulf is dead to the gulf is perfectly healthy.

chain. And, if the plankton was contaminated then the biggest fish will be

We all know the real answer falls somewhere between the two extremes.

exponentially more contaminated. This happens every day with mercury,

There are still a lot of unanswered questions but there are some reasons to

lead, and other heavy metals, and it’s why shark meat is not recommended

have hope. And to the question: Are the fish safe to eat? You’ll have to make

for your dinner plate and we’re warned not to eat tuna every day. But, it’s

that judgment yourself but from my observations, most of the local folks

not a concern with PAHs as they do not have a tendency to bioaccumulate

along the gulf coast are eating seafood. And if you trust the science and the

in fish. This is partly because fish have a very high metabolic rate. For

scientists, then the prognosis is good.

those of us who love to eat fish, this is possibly the best news of all. It

It should be noted that this article focused on fish from Florida waters. All of

still doesn’t mean we should have fish for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, but

the fish tested by DACS came from Florida. This article does not address seafood

it does mean that we don’t need to worry about PAHs accumulating and

from the entire Gulf of Mexico or other state waters outside of Florida. In future

riding up the food chain.

issues, we will expand our quest to include more Gulf waters.

oil in THE sTREAM Perhaps one of the Gulf’s greatest assets is the Gulf Stream, the massive river of clear salt water that gushes non-stop north from the Caribbean. If you’ve ever sailed a ramshackle, 30-foot wooden sailboat by the name of Home Brew on a southern heading between Cuba and the Yucatan Peninsula, you will discover as I did, that the water gushes through that 100-mile gap at four-to-six knots. The Home Brew was ugly but she was also very, very slow (the price was right) and we could barely scrape out five knots under full sail in a minor hurricane. The only way to end our six-day crossing from North Florida was to crank up the iron jib and power through the channel using both wind and internal combustion. It had been a long, hot ride and we were shooting for the nearest bar with cold beer on Isla Mujeras. After a 600-mile crossing, it took an excruciating 24 hours to go the final 50 miles.

But I digress. The point is the Gulf is not a giant, stagnant mill pond. It’s replenished by the mighty gush of the Gulf Stream and it’s also gravity fed by the hundreds of rivers that branch out across North America. This flow of new water has undoubtedly assisted in clearing the way to a cleaner Gulf.

Does all of this mean that the Gulf of Mexico is a pristine body of water?

Not really. It had issues before the spill and it has problems still. In fact, there are numerous studies going on presently that will reveal more about the oil spill for many years to come. For example, scientists are studying the depths of the DeSoto Canyon in the northern gulf to see if sea life there has been affected. www.guyharveymagazine.com

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MIaMI MUsCLe

by GHM sTAFF

A walk about at the Miami boat show in February was a stroll through a world of beautiful beasts.

In addition to the bikini models strutting around, I’m referring to the raw power of the internal combustion engines on a scale to make Prius drivers cry for their mama. There was enough horsepower on the show floor of the Miami Convention Center to put a smile on every man, woman, and child in Saudi Arabia.

Center console boats with triple and quadruple 350-horsepower boats used to draw gasps, stares, and rows of camera-clad gawkers. Now people practically yawn as they pass a 1,400-horsepower boat that will run 80 miles per hour. Of course, we’re talking gallons per mile rather than miles per gallon.

Yet, there was a green leaf quietly

thinking as Nissan with the introduction

beginning to sprout in some corners of

of the new Leaf electric car might have

the show. Among the mighty Yamahas

something up their sleeve. If they did,

and Evinrudes, and the 12-cylinder

they weren’t going to tell me. In fact,

Caterpillars and GMs, were some humble

they seemed dumbfounded that I even

electric engines, solar panels, dreams of a

asked such a stupid question. An electric

future without carbon. I must mention,

outboard engine? What planet are you

of course, that the technology in the big

from, Zantoor?

outboard and inboard engines has already

So the most prominent leader in

reduced our carbon footprint significantly.

electric outboards is not Nissan, not

Four strokes and high-tech fuel injection

Yamaha, not Mercury, but little-known

has resulted in far less emissions and

(in the U.S. anyway) German company,

much better fuel economy. But so far

Torqeedo (see article in Winter 2011

the big guys have not unveiled anything

issue). Their largest outboard is equal

truly radical from a green point of view.

to an 8-10 horsepower engine that

I stopped by the Nissan booth where

will plane out a skiff, all electrically.

their gleaming black outboards were on

Torqeedo has also teamed up with

display. I figured a company as forward

PowerFilm Solar so you can charge their

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Big power: Quad 350-HP Yamahas

engine batteries on the fly. Powerfilm’s panels are about the thickness of

IPS drives. In each case, the boats – from 41 to 62 feet – reduced their

cardboard, lightweight, and extremely flexible so you can put them just about

fuel consumption by 25-35% traveling about 30 knots. That extended their

anywhere without installation. They’re tough, too, and form easily to uneven

range from 36% to 50%. Fifty percent better range at 30 knots! That is

surfaces. Just throw them on the deck or on the Bimini top and roll with it.

impressive, not to mention 30% less CO2 emissions and greatly reduced

An enterprising dude from California, Steve Murray, who runs Murrays Sports, brought Sea Eagle boats to the table and created an all-in-one

levels of noise. Radical? I vote yes.

And while it’s not necessarily a green feature, the IPS has integrated

package – boat, electric motor, and solar panel. The Sea Eagle inflatable will

joystick steering that apparently makes docking large boats a breeze, even

run at three-knots forever using only fuel from the sun. Less than $4,000

in a breeze and even if you’re all thumbs.

buys the boat, Torqeedo engine, batteries, Bimini top, solar panel, and they even throw in oars, even though you will probably never need them.

For more info or to purchase your carbon-free ride, check out Murrays Sports at www.murrays.com.

Torqeedo also showed up in the kayak section of the boat show with their Ultralight, a bite-sized electric engine specifically designed for kayaks. This little thing was mounted on a Hobie kayak but has a universal mount for any kayak. It can push a typical kayak almost six knots for about an hour, or two-and-a-half knots for six hours – that’s about 18 miles. The whole set up, battery, engine, throttle, and digital display panel, weighs less than 15 pounds. For more information, visit www.torqeedo.com.

Volvo IPS When I said earlier in this article that none of the big boys had unveiled anything truly radical, I lied. The fact is, Volvo is one of the big boys. And Volvo is making some bold claims about their new IPS outdrive system. Essentially,Volvo has created an alternative to the straight-shaft drive system that most large fishing boats and yachts use.

Instead of a straight shaft,Volvo’s IPS is an outdrive, similar to what we all know and love (I jest) as the inboard/outboard system. Yet, instead of connecting the engine and the outdrive through the transom, the IPS system mounts through the hull, or in layman’s terms, on the bottom of the boat. Apparently, the combination of streamlined outdrives, efficient propellers, and the elimination of the straight-shaft, dramatically improves efficiency. And, when I say dramatically, I mean it.

In their tests,Volvo outfitted identical boats with straight shafts and

Eco-combo package – electric motor by Torqeedo, solar panel by PowerFilm, and boat by Sea Eagle.

This baby will run at three knots indefinitely on solar power.

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Interior of the Greenline 33 is comfortable and well appointed.

First Real Solar Boat Without a doubt the most impressive green vessel at the show was the

toward the stern. This creates less friction and better fuel efficiency. Built-

Greenline 33 Hybrid. This is a true luxury cruiser built from the ground

in stabilizers help to keep the Greenline steady.

up as an electric/solar/diesel hybrid. Even the tagline, “The Future is Now”

The boat can be powered three ways – shore power, diesel power, or

is not an exaggeration. The 33-foot Greenline has won numerous awards

pure electric power from the big burning star in the sky. The batteries can

and is built by Seaway, a 28-year-old Slovenian boat builder that produces

be fully charged by the sun but also by the diesel engine when you’re at

large sail and power yachts. Seaway is no garage operation. Their Skagen

anchor or if you’re using more power than the sun can provide.

sailing yachts range up to 150 feet and their 50-foot Shipman is a beauty.

But the Greenline is their latest technological marvel.

This is a new introduction to the United States and the jury is still out

The boat has a cruising speed of 12 knots, but if you’re just using the electric engine, she cruises at six knots. At four knots, she will go for five hours on a fully charged battery bank. And at three knots, Greenline

whether or not the gasaholic American market will embrace the boat. In

will run forever, as long as there sun is shining. Sure, three knots is slow

Europe, where gasoline costs four times more, Seaway sold more than 100

but if you’re interested in getting somewhere quick, get a speedboat and

Greenline boats in 2010 and interest continues to rise. The company is betting that it’s just a matter of time before it catches on here.

The boat has a cruising speed of 12 knots, but

With a large solar panel built into the hardtop roof, the Greenline provides carbon-free power without compromising on luxury. The

if you’re just using the electric engine, she

interior is well appointed with big-screen TV, air-conditioning throughout, a full galley, a roomy head, and everything you’d expect in your personal

cruises at six knots. At four knots, she will go

cruiser – even a custom coffee maker for sunrise watchers. One difference from your typical trawler is the tapered hull design which gets thinner 70

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for five hours on a fully charged battery bank.

make friends with every gas pump operator at all the marinas. And keep an extra credit card handy. The Greenline is all about keeping your fuel costs low and it’s a pretty good feeling to know that you can at least move forward without using any fuel. It’s also cool to realize that you’ll never actually run out of fuel, as long as there’s a sun and a solar system around us.

The Greenline is the first real solar/electric/hybrid luxury cruiser that was built to provide comfort, stability, and energy efficiency. Its 1.3 kW solar roof and the hybrid drive (5kW generator/7kW electric motor integrated in one unit) provide a constant supply of electric power on board. If the future is now, I can’t wait to see what they come up when the future really is the future.

Kudos to Volvo, Seaway, Torqeedo, Sea Eagle, Powerfilm Solar, and the rest of the forward thinking companies that have recognized the need for hydrocarbon reduction in our boating lives. Hopefully some of the mainstream engine makers are listening, watching, and planning. I’m just hoping for a fully electric 115-horsepower for my 20-foot center console fishing boat. Maybe next year.

The salon leads to a roomy V-birth. www.guyharveymagazine.com

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guy harvey LIFeSTyLe

MaNY faCes of JULI GoLdsteIN

by GHM sTAFF When GHM caught up to Juli recently she was frantically packing for a trip to California to compete in the Ms. America Pageant. On her Facebook profile, she’s wearing a Guy Harvey Ocean Foundation shirt (she wears it well, by the way) because one of her passions is ocean conservation.

During the course of our conversation, we learned there’s a lot more to Juli than a pretty smile and the ability to strut in front of judges in five-inch heels. You see, Juli is actually Dr. Juli Goldstein, veterinarian, specializing in marine mammals. She’s a college professor, has run nine marathons, is a Rotarian, a lecturer, a Junior Leaguer, and, oh yeah, she competes in pageants and is the current Ms. Florida. That’s an impressive resumé for a 33-year-old. Fortunately, she donated a slice of her time to tell us more about her life, her passions, and her connection with the oceans.

What got you into the pageants scene? I entered my first pageant as a teenager since almost every little girl dreams of being a beauty queen. However, as I soon learned, there was more to the pageants than just “beauty.” I was coached in interview skills, what to wear, and most

Juli Goldstein, beauty queen, poses for a promotion photo. She does not condone

importantly how to maintain one’s poise and composure under pressure.

touching marine mammals unless it is for medical purposes.

These are life skills that I have built on and use every day. Finally, after winning several titles, I took a break and went to college.

What are some of your proudest pageant titles/

How have pageants helped you raise awareness for ocean conservation? Holding a title provides instant access to different

accomplishments? Holding the title of Ms. Florida 2009 opened many

audiences than I would normally speak to. Pageants have allowed me to

doors and allowed me to support a variety of people and organizations. During

give a face and a voice to ocean conservation on a much broader scale. It’s

that year, I ran with a relay team over 200 miles across the state of Florida to

not a common platform and, therefore, it stands out amongst the other title

raise money for the Guy Harvey Ocean Foundation. I was also honored to help

holders. In addition, I have worn my banner in races that I was raising funds

raise funds for the Wheelchairs for Warriors charity, when I pushed a wounded

and bringing awareness to. A shiny banner and crown often gives people

USMC combat veteran in his wheelchair during the 26.2 mile Tampa Marathon.

cause to take a second look, ask questions, and get involved.

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Did a love of the oceans draw you into veterinary

at HBOI. I am also an assistant research professor at Florida Atlantic

medicine or are you an animal lover in general who decided

University. Our research is focused on the overall health of marine

to focus on marine mammals? A little of both. I grew up along the

mammals inhabiting the east coast of Florida. I am on call 24/7 for marine

east coast and always had a love for the ocean. Then, when I was three

mammal stranding events and provide care and assistance to sick or injured

years old, my first dog had to be put to sleep. I remember it so clearly –

marine mammals. I also conduct pathology examinations on deceased

it was then and there, as a young, impressionable child, that I decided to

marine mammals to determine their cause of death and gain insights into

become a veterinarian, so no other animals would be put to sleep. Later, I

their life history. I also teach courses focusing on marine mammal biology

developed a fascination with dolphins and decided to specialize in aquatic

and medicine.

animal medicine. This allows me to treat everything from a delicate seahorse to a sick whale.

What are the most pressing concerns with marine

What attracted you to long distance running? I ran my first marathon over 10 years ago, during my first year of veterinary school. In the beginning it was something to cross off my bucket list. Then, after my

mammals? Anthropogenic (human-induced) stressors! Human

first 20-mile training run and first full marathon I was hooked. Distance

activities from pollution and non-sustainable fisheries are taking a heavy

running became the perfect way to disconnect, think and keep my body in

toll on the world’s oceans, as is global climate change. As apex predators,

shape. I am a goal setter, so naturally my first goal was to run and qualify

marine mammals serve as sentinels of ocean and human health, and several

for the Boston Marathon which I completed in 2009. Currently, I am

studies show a decline in the overall health of the world’s marine mammal

training for my first 50-mile race.

populations. Not only are they contaminated with dangerous chemicals

Are you using that platform to raise awareness and

such as mercury, they are becoming increasingly resistant to human/animal

money, too? Absolutely, the running community is very large and very

antibiotics and at the same time are evolving with new, emerging infectious

supportive of philanthropic efforts. Running for a cause is a great way to

diseases. We humans are destroying our oceans on all levels and will soon

combine two of my passions, running and volunteering.

pay the same price as the dolphins and whales.

Tell us a little about your work at the Harbor branch oceanographic institute. I am the staff veterinarian and medical

What’s your greatest passion: running, dolphins, pageants, medicine, or all of the above? All of the above, plus much more!

manager of the Marine Mammal Conservation and Research Program

Juli Goldstein, a veterinarian, specializes in aquatic animal medicine.

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MEET THE CHEF

FLORIDA'S CHEF

by NICOLE HAUGDAHL

In the past few issues, we’ve featured some succulent seafood recipes and the chefs who cook them from various Guy Harvey’s Island Grills around the country (and one in Grand Cayman). This issue we changed the ingredients a bit and borrowed some mouth-watering recipes from Chef Justin Timineri, who is the executive chef for the state of Florida. We all know that states have governors and attorney generals and congressmen in bad suits, but executive chefs? Who knew?

Having grown up in Florida, Justin was

“Having such an incredible diversity of foods

exposed at an early age to the many cultures and

to work with is a huge advantage when creating

cuisines from this diversified part of the country.

menus and recipes,” he notes.

His love and passion for cooking came at an early

While he focuses on local foods, he’s

age when he watched his mother, father, and

also comfortable around famous chefs and

grandmother cooking up a storm. “I was raised in

dignitaries. “I have been fortunate to be able to

a family of really good cooks. I was always getting

meet and gain inspiration from many talented

shooed out of the kitchen for causing trouble,”

chefs, including Art Smith, John Besh, Dean

said Chef Justin. This family inspiration convinced

Max, John Folse, and Jeff Corwin, just to name

him at a very early age that cooking would be his

a few,” Chef Justin said. Through his service in

lifelong career.

the kitchen at the governor’s mansion over the

Chef Justin embraces the new style of

past 10 years, Justin has cooked for generals,

Chef Justin Timineri Executive Chef/Culinary Ambassador State of Florida Department of Agriculture

American cooks, whose straight-forward

professional athletes, famous businesspeople, as

approach to cooking relies on simple ingredients

well as former President George Bush, Sr., and

educating children on the value of healthy food

combined with fresh, locally-grown produce and

his wife Barbara.

choices and proper nutrition.

locally-caught seafood. Simplified ingredients

In addition to creating gastronomic delights,

Justin’s philosophy on food is a simple

do not mean a lack of choices for Chef Justin.

Justin’s responsibilities include promoting all of

one: “Cooking should always be fun, simple,

As a guy who works for the state, he has an

Florida’s freshest commodities, creating new

and flavorful.” He always keeps nutrition in

all-access pass to fresh local produce, seafood,

recipes, attending trade events around the

mind and enjoys cooking with fresh, local, and

beef, and just about anything grown in the

world, performing cooking demonstrations, and

regionally harvested foods.

Sunshine State.

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In addition to his certification as an executive chef, Justin is also an author, award-winner, teacher, and international culinary ambassador helping the world to rediscover simple, healthy cuisine. He thinks

Some offbeat tidbits about Chef Justin:

that Americans need more confidence and practice when it comes to cooking seafood at home. He encourages people to start small with different seafood appetizers and work their way up to being able

» Chef Justin’s favorite place to go for

to cook full seafood entrées. Now you can get a peek into some of his favorite seafood recipes. They

seafood is Apalachicola – to slurp down some fresh oysters

are guaranteed to please your palate!

» The three most important qualities he believes a chef should have are temperance, skill, and passion

Grilled Mahi with Key Lime 4, 6oz. Florida mahi fillets

Florida Clam Scampi

» The strangest seafood dish he has ever eaten was live, baby octopus

è cup Florida key lime juice

4 tablespoons butter

2 Florida key limes, zested

2 tablespoons olive oil

2 tablespoons dry white wine

4 Florida garlic cloves minced

pompano because of its sweet,

3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil

2 dozen Florida hard clams, rinsed well

succulent meat

1 teaspoon fresh Florida rosemary

1 cup fresh Florida parsley, chopped

è teaspoon fresh Florida thyme

2 tablespoons lemon juice

è teaspoon black pepper, course ground

Salt to taste

Vegetable cooking spray

Pepper to taste

Fresh herbs for garnish

è cup Florida dry white wine

Key lime slices for garnish

è cup Florida sun-dried tomatoes

Place the fillets in a shallow dish. To prepare the

in Korea » His favorite type of seafood is

Shrimp Remoulade Wraps 2 pounds medium Florida shrimp, cooked and peeled

1 pint Florida grape tomatoes, halved

1 è cups light mayonnaise

8 ounces spinach fettuccine, cooked

è tablespoon catsup 4 tablespoons Dijon mustard

citrus marinade, combine the key lime juice, zest, olive oil, white wine, herbs, and black pepper in a

Melt butter with oil in medium skillet over

2 Florida shallots minced

small bowl; mix well. Pour the marinade over the

medium heat. Add garlic, cook, and stir one

è cup prepared horseradish

fish and marinate for 1 hour in refrigerator. Coat

minute. Add clams, cook, and stir five minutes.

è cup rice wine vinegar

grill with vegetable spray and preheat on medium-

Add parsley, lemon juice, salt, pepper, and wine.

è teaspoon celery salt

high heat. Grill fillets for 4 to 5 minutes on each

Continue steaming, stirring occasionally, until

1 teaspoon paprika

side until center is opaque and meat flakes easily

clams open. Stir in tomatoes and serve over

3 tablespoons seafood seasoning spices

with a fork. Garnish with herbs and key lime

fettuccine. Yields: 4 servings

2 teaspoons lemon juice

slices and serve. Yields: 4 servings

1 teaspoon hot pepper sauce è teaspoon salt 6 flour tortillas Shredded Florida lettuce Chill the cooked shrimp in a large covered bowl in refrigerator for 1 hour. Make a remoulade sauce by combining all but last two ingredients in a food processor; blend until smooth. Pour mixture over shrimp, stirring to coat. Marinate shrimp in sauce for an hour or more before serving. Spoon shrimp mixture onto center of tortilla and top with lettuce. Roll into a wrap and cut in half to serve. Yield: 6 servings www.guyharveymagazine.com

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guy HarvEy rEsEarCH insTiTuTE

STALKING TIGERS

by DAryL CArsON

Tiger sharks, including their travel habits, have been an enigma for scientists and fishery managers for years. These large-bodied sharks, with their distinctive vertical stripes and fearsome reputations as apex predators, can be found all around the globe in tropical and warm temperate waters. They are a popular target for boats involved in the shark fin trade and there is some concern they are overfished in some places and may become over-fished in others without better management. To help fisheries managers make more informed decisions about conservation practices, the GHRI and several partners have launched a series of tracking studies aimed at solving the mystery of tiger shark long-term migrations, including their preferred habitats.

There is increasing evidence that as large, apex predators, tiger sharks play a key role in their ecosystems. Researchers are looking for patterns of movement that will tell them how tiger sharks use different kinds of habitats, from shallow seagrass areas and near coral reefs to open oceanic waters. Understanding how the sharks use

Guy Harvey’s “Fair Game” painting of a tiger shark and turtle.

these environments related to issues such as feeding and reproduction will help managers promote their sustainability as well as that of the ecosystems they frequent.

“The handful of studies that have focused on tiger shark

In 2009, the GHRI, in conjunction with the Guy Harvey Ocean Foundation, the Bermuda Shark Project, the University of Rhode Island, and the University of the Virgin Islands began a series of long-

movements to date have failed to reveal definite migration patterns

term tracking studies based in Bermuda and the USVI to look at tiger

or predictable behaviors when it comes to movements,” says Dr.

shark movements in the western North Atlantic. The project is using

Mahmood Shivji of the GHRI. “Some sharks have been shown to stay

three types of high-tech tracking tags, including acoustic tags, which

localized in a particular area while others migrate long distances

register their location with pre-positioned receivers as the animal

along coastlines or even across ocean basins. But no clear movement

swims nearby and two different kinds of satellite tags that transmit

pattern has emerged to base management decisions on.”

tracking data on animal location and depth along with other details.

Tracking data obtained from satellite tags over 17 months has

Tracking data obtained from satellite

revealed some unprecedented tiger shark behavior. Most sharks

tags over 17 months has revealed some

from Bermuda starting in the fall, spending the winter months very

unprecedented tiger shark behavior.

5-8 months in warm waters, they consistently migrated north in the

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tagged in Bermuda in the summer migrated almost directly south close to shore and coral reefs in the Bahamas or Caribbean. After spring, very interestingly traveling well past Bermuda and east into

nearly the middle of the Atlantic where they spent 2-3 months out in the open ocean. Remarkably, a few tiger sharks whose tag batteries lasted the longest were found to return to the Bahamas or Caribbean for a second over-winter stint. Even more amazingly, these returning individuals have come back to island locations very close to where they were a year ago.

The discovery that tiger sharks show a consistent pattern of long-term migrations and that individual sharks seem to find their way back to nearly the same locations after months of wandering across thousands of miles in the open ocean is both surprising to researchers and critical for fishery managers. It’s also a fascinating revelation of the finely honed navigational abilities of these sharks.

“Also noteworthy,” says Shivji, “is that while it’s yet to be determined what activities—feeding, mating, etc.—might be associated with each of the habitats, these sharks are displaying a remarkable ability to use highly diverse ecosystems. They appear completely comfortable using both shallow island environments, things like coral reefs and seagrass habitats, as well as deep water, open ocean, open environments. Not many shark species show this kind of flexibility.”

Guy filming a tiger shark in the Bahamas. Photo by Bill Watts

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77

This flexibility, says Shivji, implies that as apex predators tiger sharks may be even more important than previously realized in maintaining the health of a diversity of marine ecosystems, reinforcing the need for protecting these magnificent animals.

Marlin MayheM Everything you think you know about white marlin is wrong! Well, probably.

Prized in fishing tournaments, studied by researchers, and carefully monitored by government fishery managers, the white marlin is wellknown as a much sought-after game fish. It might seem funny then that quite frequently people who think they’re looking at a white marlin are really looking at something else.

The fact is not everything identified as white marlin is really a white marlin. A joint study produced by the Guy Harvey Research Institute (GHRI) at Nova Southeastern University and NOAA Fisheries in Florida has recently determined that as many as 27 percent of the white marlin caught in the Atlantic are really an entirely different species known as the roundscale spearfish.

The “good” news is that there’s a previously unrecognized species of spearfish swimming around the Atlantic, which is fascinating from the perspective of discovering the complexity of biodiversity in our oceans. The potentially “bad” news is that this discovery throws into doubt all previous population research aimed at tracking white marlin populations and conserving a species many researchers already believed should be listed as endangered.

In 2007, the Bush administration decided not to list the white marlin as endangered based on research by the International Convention for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT) that showed white marlin

The “good” news is that there’s a previously unrecognized species of spearfish swimming around the Atlantic, which is fascinating from the perspective of discovering the complexity of biodiversity in our oceans.

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populations were beginning to improve. That information not only

the very least it means we don’t know what we thought we knew in

prevented an endangered species listing, but also led to the removal

terms of white marlin management. “It’s back to the drawing board

of the white marlin from NOAA’s Species of Concern List. This new

for the white marlin,” says Dr. Shivji. “We are now completely unsure

species discovery could have fishery managers reversing course.

of how white marlin stocks are fairing, whether good or bad. And

The two-species/single-moniker mistake came while NOAA Southeast Fisheries officials were monitoring bycatch from commercial fishing operations. Since white marlin are attracted

that’s not even considering the condition of the roundscale spearfish.

We now have a whole new species to research and safeguard.”

As population sizes are re-assessed, changes in management

to the same baits used for long line fishing of tuna and swordfish,

practices could follow, impacting not only commercial fishing

managers keep an eye on bycatch to help gauge population numbers

operations but also fishing tournaments where white marlin are

of the popular game fish. The issue surfaced in 2009 when officials

considered a top prize.

noticed not all of the white marlin looked quite right. To follow up, they sent tissue samples to Dr. Mahmood Shivji at GHRI for genetics analysis. The results were conclusive – some of the samples were from a completely different species; one was the white marlin. The other was the roundscale spearfish, first discovered in the 1960s but not previously confirmed. The two species are so similar in appearance it takes a highly trained eye to tell them apart. The primary difference is placement of the anal fin further back from the anal vent and it’s so slight that fishermen and scientists alike have

The impact of this discovery is yet to be fully understood, but at the very least it means we don’t know what we thought we knew in terms of white marlin management.

“It’s back to the drawing board for the

been missing it for years.

The impact of this discovery is yet to be fully understood, but at

white marlin,” says Dr. Shivji.

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79

lasT CasT

“HOOKED” ON APALACHICOLA Tallahassee may be Florida’s capital city and home to

fried chicken: if you don’t like it, there’s something’s bad

the proud Florida State University Seminoles but it’s

wrong with you.

no Apalachicola. After I’d spent a full day of touring

Fortunately, I have a strong connection in my

the Department of Agriculture’s laboratories (see

friend Dan Tonsmeire, who heads up the Apalachicola

page 62) and battling traffic with co-eds and reckless

Riverkeeper organization, a non-profit group that pretty

governmental types, I was ready for a coastal sunset, a

much spends every day, day-in and day-out, working for

couple dozen oysters, and some cold adult beverages.

the humble oyster. This entails creating management

Only 90 minutes south was Apalachicola, a town that

plans and making sure the water quality in the bay and

literally runs on oysters. Some 90 percent of Florida’s

surrounding watershed is top-notch. Their work could

oyster exports come from Apalach and tourists drop

fill several books so I’ll just say that they fight the good

in from all over the world to scarf down the slippery

fight every day for our tasty friend and other inhabitants

bi-valves. The entire job market has some kind of

of the surrounding estuaries.

oyster connection. Even the newspaper’s logo, the

As it so happened, Dan was in Tampa but he gave

FrED GArtH

Apalachicola Times, depicts an oysterman working in the

me a full portion of his local knowledge. Plus, he let me

For the past 25 years, Fred D.

bay with his giant tongs. It’s a little bit freaky that an

bed down in his house, which I gladly accepted. I was

Garth’s articles have appeared in

entire community and economy lives or dies on a single

traveling this past January, almost dead center in the “R”

numerous books, magazines, and

species of shellfish. It goes without saying, they take their

months. If you’re a non-oyster person, you should know

newspapers around the world.

oysters seriously. So do I.

that as a general rule oysters are best in months with

His most recent novel, A Good

I’ve always loved Apalachicola, not just because

the letter “R” in them, that is, September through April.

Day to Live, is available online

they have the best oysters in the world (in my humble

Lots of folks eat ‘em year round but I’ve always waited

and in select bookstores.

opinion), but it’s just a cool little waterfront town.

until the coldest winter months for my oyster fest.

(www. agooddaytolive. com)

When folks give directions, they start with, “turn left at

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My palate was already eager because Dan told me

the stop light.” And they mean THE stop light. There’s

the oysters were particularly salty, just like I like ‘em.

only one in town. And while most of our cities have

Then the positive reports from food testing labs in

been gobbled up with WalMart-mania, Apalachicola’s

Tallahassee really got my juices flowing. They’d tested

biggest shopping “complex” is still the Piggly Wiggly

oyster samples from all over the Apalachicola Bay

grocery store. The downtown is sprinkled with a few

area and everything passed with flying colors. No oil,

small hotels, B&Bs, art galleries, nautical stores, and

no contaminants, no problem.

enough for about a day and a half of leisurely window

Just because the lab tests showed no signs of

shopping. Oh, and by the way, it just happens to have

contamination doesn’t mean the local oyster industry

some of the best sport fishing around – from massive

was unaffected by the spill. On the contrary, when the

tarpon runs in the summer to red fish, to speckled

oil flowed unabated during May, June, and July, officials

trout, to you name it. For me, Apalach is kind of like

feared the worst – that giant slicks of oil would billow

The sleepy, one-stop-light town of Apalachicola is the oyster capital of Florida. into the bay and snuff out their very way of life. So they gave the green light

A few years earlier I’d spent a fabulous night at the wildly-popular Boss

to the oystermen to harvest everything. Within a couple of weeks, they

Oyster, a flamboyant dive with a dozen or so oyster delights like the Crumbly

brought in a record haul. This type of open season on oysters is unusual

Bacon Oyster, the Jalapeño Oyster, and Oysters a la Artie (with artichokes).

because the bay has a management plan, thanks to state agencies, local

Instead of trying to relive that night, I went next door to Caroline’s at the

regulations, and groups like the RiverKeeper.

Apalachicola River Inn.

“The plan is focused on protecting public health,” Dan told me. “But

I plopped down between a friendly snowbird couple from New York and

it also provides a means for ensuring a sustainable harvest by limiting size,

a real live oysterman who’d obviously been there (at the bar) for a while. The

seasonal harvest areas, and routine testing of water quality.”

bartender was wearing a lovely Guy Harvey T-shirt so I promptly gave her a

When it turned out that no oil ever reached Apalachicola Bay, there

copy of the magazine (I carry them everywhere, just in case) and we became

was a collective sigh of relief but an all-out celebration was postponed. The

instant soul mates. The New Yorkers were intrigued with the oysterman’s

problem was that the crop had been over-harvested. The golden egg was

story of making a living off the sea with hard work and sweat, and all that.

gone – or at least hard to find.

The more he talked the more poetic his life got and the more beer they

“The bay will come back given time to recover and a good supply of

bought him. I figured I had to step up my game. I mentioned that I’d been

fresh water,” Dan said, “but harvest is down because it takes more time and

in Tallahassee with some big-cheeses in state government. They were not

effort to find the oysters and get them on board.”

impressed. I gave them a magazine. Still no free beer.

The fresh water thing Dan mentioned is huge. It’s essential to the health

My new T-shirt friend set me up with a couple dozen oysters and as Dan

and rapid growth process, but the upstream demand for water from places

had reported, they were salty and delicious. I squeezed a little lemon, mixed

like Atlanta and Columbus, Georgia, is a major issue. It’s another battle the

up a ketchup and horseradish mix that was more white than red, and dug in.

RiverKeeper group is waging.

Life was good.

The good news about Apalachicola Bay is that oysters tend to grow

As the night wore on, the bar began to fill up, and a DJ set up shop in the

really fast there – from spat (spawned from the oyster) to harvestable size in

corner of the room. Turned out I had stumbled into Apalachicola’s hottest and,

about a year. In most places, that takes two to three years. So even though

in fact, only Friday night dance-a-thon. Dan had set me up. If eating in a fancy

the bay had been harvested heavily, the rejuvenation was coming on strong.

restaurant alone is awkward, dancing with a room full of strangers is positively

Because I’m a journalist who likes to get to the meat of the story, so to speak,

bizarre in my book, even though I’ve been known to do a mean Electric Slide.

I was there in person just to verify the oyster renewal. It’s just the way I roll.

I bid farewell to my new friends and hit the door.

I made it to the coast just in time to sit on Dan’s front porch, watch a

Dan’s final advice had been to stop by Lynn’s Seafood for a bushel of her

spectacular sunset, and borrow a cold beer from the fridge. My warmup

finest oysters. She’d even set a bag aside for me. As I headed out of town I

for the oysterfest was going just as planned. I haven’t done a formal survey

thought about the oil spill and the heartache it has caused all of us along the

but I’m pretty sure you can get oysters in every restaurant in Apalach.

Gulf Coast. The stress and hardship is still strong. But the swing through

Dan had suggested one of his favorite hangouts, a place called Owls. It’s

Tallahassee and Apalachicola brightened my spirits as well as my taste buds.

one of the nicest places in town complete with tablecloths, candles, and

And with that I called my wife and asked her if we had plenty of cooking oil.

ultra-polite servers. I glanced in the window at a bunch of nicely-dressed

“You got some oysters?” she asked.

couples sipping red wine and making goo-goo eyes at each other. I quickly

“Does a bi-value have gills?” I replied.

determined that I’d be better off bellying up to a bar somewhere than having

“Uh, I don’t know, do they?”

people in a fancy restaurant take pity on me because I couldn’t get a date.

That’s just weird. So I hit the waterfront where it’s a little wilder and funkier.

“You bet they do,” I said as I pulled into the rest stop and got my oyster knife ready. A half dozen for lunch was all I needed to get me back home.

By

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