Sharks

It's the Discovery Channel's shark week; arguably one of the best weeks on TV! To coincide with this, I thought I would do a shark post. I had wished to do this a few weeks ago when some of us here in Barbados had our very own shark week but thought I would let things simmer down and do more of a factual post so Sharks 101 coming right up!

Sharks, believed to be older than dinosaurs are fish that rely on gills to breathe while underwater. Most sharks must swim continuously in order to maintain a steady flow of water over their gills, allowing them to breathe. However, some species such as the nurse shark can actively pump water over their gills while resting on the sea floor. 

Sharks inhabit all of the World's oceans from coastal, inshore waters to the open oceans with some species being found in freshwater lakes and rivers. There are approximately 500 shark species known with many of them having rough tooth-like skin that feels like sandpaper when touched. Some shark species are oviparous, meaning that they lay eggs while others are viviparous and give birth to live young and have a placenta. The young are born fully formed and as soon as they pop out, they must fend for themselves.  When a shark loses a tooth,  another moves forward from the rows of backup teeth. A shark may use over 20,000 teeth during its life with teeth in some species being replaced every 8-15 days as a result of heavy use as an efficient weapon. As predators, sharks also have acute senses and make good use of smell which aid them in finding prey. They have a large oil filled liver which helps them maintain buoyancy but is also extracted for uses such as Vitamin A for humans.

These cartilaginous fishes play a valuable role in maintaining balance in an ecosystem. They are apex predators sitting (or rather swimming) at the top of the food chain. When sharks are removed, their interaction with other species is disrupted and some populations are no longer kept in check. 

Due to being a long-lived species that takes many years to mature and having only a few young at a time, sharks are vulnerable to overfishing for their meat, liver oil, fins and skin. Due to this slow rate reproduction and growth, these species cannot sustain heavy fishing pressure.  However, humans are not the only enemies of sharks. Killer whales, parasites and other sharks are also responsible for eating sharks. 

Populations are declining globally, many of this attributed to the shark fin trade where an estimated 100 million sharks are killed per year. Many fins are cut off and the sharks are thrown back into the water and die as a result of drowning, bleeding or being eaten by others.

Image via phys.org

There is still a lot of talk  that sharks are the deadliest predator but this is false! Yes, it is true that people have more regular encounters with the things mentioned in this video but it is still interesting. Take a look:Things deadlier than sharks.

So now that we have covered some of the basics on sharks, let's talk about Barbados. There are many shark species in and around our waters including the nurse shark, reef species such as the smoothskin (silky shark), black tips, tiger sharks, hammerhead sharks with sightings of bull sharks occurring as well. With that being said, the chances of the average Bajan having an amazing shark encounter are slim. The local population is not known and thus it is hard to even give an estimate of the number of sharks in our waters. This would be further complicated by some species being migratory. However, there does seem to be an increase in the population, perhaps as a result of increased turtle populations (however no bite marks have been found on the turtles monitored) or due to increased species feeding under and off of the seaweed. 

So next time you see a shark or hear of one being caught, let me know so that we can start to get an idea of numbers together and proceed from there.

Happy Shark Week!

Respect for marine life

RESPECTING MARINE LIFE

Disclaimer: There are many definitions of the word, 'respect' but since this is not a blog on specifics of grammar of the English language, it is the word that I will continue to revisit throughout this post; suppose you could say it's the theme.

The sea, ocean and the diverse life that it contains has so many uses; intrinsic and extrinsic values; supports so many and still has great potential for the future and should be protected, cared for and respected.

This practice of "respect" can begin in your home, even if it is located at some distance from the sea since many things that you do at home can trickle (literally) into and affect the sea. For example, some of that dishwashing liquid that you just used to clean that dish may end up in the sea later on in the day or week after it leaves your pipes and enters the drainage system or what about those pesticides that leach into the soil and into our water source and eventually flow out to sea? Hopefully by now you are thinking, "hmmmm" and I have sparked a piece of awareness in you. Let's move a little closer to our subject. What if you are on the beach and leave a plastic bag? This can enter the sea and turtles may mistake it as jellyfish and choke on it, leading to their death.  Now let's enter our subject- walk into the sea with me. The sunscreen that you have on is most probably leaving your skin and entering the water- look for a oily film around you. This may contribute to smothering some species of corals.  I am not saying do not use sunscreen but why not spend some time getting to know your products; read labels or try making your own (digressing a bit here!)

You are now snorkelling and see a beautiful starfish 8 feet below you. I am almost positive that many of you will first think, "ohhh so pretty, let me go closer or pick it up and take a picture". Well you can get closer but refrain from picking it up! With an increase in star fish in some areas in Barbados and having seen a few pictures on social media of people posing with these has sparked the inspiration (rant?) for this post.

Starfish, despite their name are not fish but echinoderms. Furthermore, they are keystone species which means that they play a critical role in maintaining balance in the ecosystem and if removed can affect this delicate and unique balance often resulting in loss of other species that rely on its' role. There have been massive die-offs of a few species of sea stars globally in recent times with reasons being attributed to a wasting syndrome and others to changes in temperature, among others. 

You may think nothing is wrong with holding that starfish for 30 seconds but think how many people hold that same starfish everyday causing stress to the animals when being lifted out of the water. These animals spend their lives submerged in water and diffuse oxygen from the water through the small tube feet on the underside of each of their legs. Moreover, star fish have eye spots that serve as receptors at the end of their arms/legs so when you pick them up, it's like poking their eyes (image being poked in your eyes a few times a day). Hopefully next time you see a star fish, instead of picking it up, take a picture of it underwater where it belongs and remember not to poke it in its eye. 

I simply chose starfish for the core of this post but much of this information could relate and apply to many other marine and terrestrial species. Now that you have read this essay, imagine that you are swimming along and catch a glimpse of a sea turtle in the distance. You kick as hard as you can to try to catch it and hold on for a ride- it is also advised that you do not do this! This may be one of our biggest attractions and we need the money from tourism but simply seeing these creatures in their "natural" habitat can be amazing. Remember, you are in their home so enter and leave without changing anything. Also, many of these species use defense mechanisms and if you make them feel threatened, you very well could end up becoming injured or harmed so also look out for yourself!

Turtle on the West Coast of Barbados

I simply chose these topics to discuss because these are things that more people come into contact with often and felt that it was a relatively easy thing to start making a change. There has been quite some discussion on social media this past week on the shark fishery of the island which is an issue that may be the subject of another post in the future. However, while your brains are ticking and becoming more aware of our surroundings and impacts that we can have on the marine environment both from home and at the beach or in the sea and how we may change these, why not also think about this and other fisheries and the interactions between people (cultural & livelihoods), money (economic) and the environment itself (ecological impacts)? 

Happy sea-ing and respecting!

Sea The Change Crew*

Marine mammals in captivity

Jump right in! A "dolphinarium" petition directed to the Coastal Zone Management Unit (CZMU) created by the Future Centre Trust (FCT) was all over my facebook recently and has sparked the idea for this post. It also made me think quite a bit more than regular on this issue and how I feel about it.  If you care to read on, you will see where I currently stand. 

In my opinion, the petition has garnered fantastic support and gives hope for public pressure creating change. We definitely need to see more of this in Barbados where the people can make a change and this petition has proved that many people are passionate about issues such as this and is a great step in the right direction. However, from my knowledge the petition should be directed to the Town and Country Planning Department (TCPD) and the Minister for Planning (the prime minister) as these agencies are in charge of approval for planning. CZMU  serves a very important advisory role but has already given their expertise advice to the relevant agencies and thus this issue is out of their hands as they do not approve planning. 

With that being said, let's swiftly move along and get to the point, something I haven't mastered as yet. The main issue of my post is not the petition but rather the main theme of marine mammals and more specifically dolphins in captivity as this species is more relevant to the proposed "dolphinarium". Digressing a bit here to give a greater picture on this issue- there is very little public information on the dolphinarium, simply it being announced at an event and later an article in a newspaper so will stick to this limited information given to the public.

Bottlenose dolphin calf in the Bahamas. Image via moi

However, the dolphins would probably be of the bottlenose species type (Tursiops truncatus) so here are some quick facts on them to get you further oriented: 

• These dolphins are well known as the intelligent, charismatic and friendly species often due to their "smiling" appearance as a result of mouth structure and their playful behaviour
• They travel in social groups and communicate with each other by a complex system of squeaks and whistles (echolocation).
• They can weigh up to over 1000 lbs with an average adult length ranging from approx 8-12 feet with males often being larger
• They have a lifespan of 20-40 years with gestation period being 12 months
• An adult can consume from 15-30 lbs per day (fish, squid, crustaceans)
• They can travel great distances often at fast speeds of up to 18 miles per hour!
• Dolphins must consciously swim to the surface to breathe through their blowhole
• This also means that they can never fully sleep and that half of their brain must remain active 

Under the sea. Image by me.

So why do I not like the idea of dolphins in captivity?

The point is that I am against dolphins in captivity and in this location for many reasons, with the main and underlying one being more of an animal rights/ethics issue:

• These species would be in a very unnatural habitat 
• Would have been accustomed to swimming great distances, playing and foraging and would have been removed from tightly knit pods (if not captive bred)
• The capture and transportation can be traumatic
• They require shade and greater depths than shallow pools or sea
• There is lack of capacity for vet care and appropriate housing 
• They can cause damage to humans through bites, ramming, disease
• What about damage to their area during a hurricane?
• This area is also very close to a prime hawksbill turtle nesting area
• Near to a sewage outfall
• People may argue that it is educational but would this really be education if the mammals are in an unnatural habitat performing odd behaviours?
• Bad for tourism: most places are moving away from this and we would move towards it?

Getting a little more technical now: Furthermore, Barbados has ratified the SPAW Protocol. This is the Protocol Concerning Specially Protected Areas and Wildlife to the Convention for the Protection and Development of the Marine Environment of the Wider Caribbean Region.  Annex II lists animal species that are designated for total protection and recovery. Since we have ratified this protocol, we must abide to this (just another reason why this should not happen). 

If you are not yet convinced why marine mammals should not be in captivity, watch Blackfish.

This is an extremely powerful documentary and a great way to end this post with a boom!

Until next time which will hopefully be in the near future,

Nikola*

Lionfish Derby

 Spear vs Spine: Barbadian Lionfish Derby

Just around the corner on Saturday May 24th is a lionfish derby right here in Barbados!

Who? Coastal Zone Management Unit in collaboration with many sponsors and friends

What?  Lionfish derby and cookoff

Why? To: increase awareness on these invasive and predatory creatures including how to handle and cook them; increase efforts on culling to lessen their numbers and thus impacts on coral reefs and associated species, fisheries and tourism

Where? Island wide diving except no spearing in Folkestone Marine Park followed by weigh in and cook off at Harbour Lights, Bay Street

When? May 24th, 2014 Sunrise to Sundown with weigh in starting at 12pm followed by a 1pm cookoff

What is a lionfish?

Lionfish are members of the scorpionfish family native to the Indo-Pacific but now found in many other waters including the Caribbean. They are voracious predators that reproduce year-round and have venomous spines which if not handled properly can inflict harm (apply hot water if this does happen!)

The Pterois volitans species of lionfish

What is a derby and why are we having one?

A derby is a large scale culling event where divers and fishers will compete to catch as many of these predatory fish as possible.
We are usually taught that something of this sort would be frowned upon in conservation but due to the invasive nature, reproductive ability and absence of natural predators of the lionfish, a drastic measure such as ongoing derbies are needed to increase efforts to reduce these fish. 

Details of the derby: 

Teams will go out from sunrise to 12 pm where fish will be weighed in, followed by a 1pm cookoff by divers and some of the island's top chefs; Marco Festini-Comer of Daphne’s Restaurant, Danny Oshea of Mojos restaurant, Renrick Williams of Bajan Boyz Entertainment, Henderson Butcher of Divi Southwinds and Oliver Hinds of the Waves Hotel. There will also be an educational booth with safety demonstrations on handling of the fish as well as a first aid station if needed. 

Prizes to be won include a sling spear from Hazell's Water World, vouchers for a cruise on the Jolly Roger ship, an afternoon dive from Dive High Tide Watersports, a $500 value prize from Eat Street & Co., lionfish prints and more!

If interested in being part of a team, there will be a captain's meeting on Thursday 15th May, 2014 at 7pm at the Fisheries Division where at least one member from each team must be present. 

Check out the Lionfish Barbados Facebook page, contact me for more information on the event, to sign up and receive liability forms and waivers and keep an eye out for information in the newspapers, on radio stations and tv like this article: http://www.barbadostoday.bb/2014/05/07/lionfish-derby-cook-off/

Hope to see you on Saturday 24th May at the lionfish derby where you can sample some of this delicious fish and have a great day!

Nikola*

Happy hump (back) day*

With a confirmed sighting of a whale earlier this week off the Animal Flower Cave, St.Lucy, Barbados I am in over the top whale mode. Humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae) get their name from the prominent hump in front of the dorsal fin, their long pectoral fins and the shape of their backs as they arch before a dive. They are also known for their magical songs which may just sound like a moan, groan or cry to you.

  

The humpback whales typically migrate through the waters off of the East Coast of Barbados annually, from November to April. However, in the past few years these amazing creatures have graced us with their presence for a bit longer and those lucky enough to either catch a glimpse of them or have a decent interaction described it as something magical. I know that no matter how many times I see them, I get just as excited as the first time (suppose that's my passion burning through). 

Our whale friends that visit come from the Western North Atlantic stock of humpbacks. They breed and calf in the warmer waters of the Caribbean and then head North up to one of the distinct feeding aggregations in Gulf of Maine, eastern Canada, West Greenland or the eastern North Atlantic. They are not known to generally feed (but there have been reports) in our less productive waters which are lower in nutrients but instead rely on their blubber reserves to carry them through the long journey back to the North.  

How do you spot them?

A "spout" is usually a first indication of a whale and is caused by the exhalation of the breath after a dive, which on average can last from 30-45 minutes. The spout of a humpback whale is a tall vertical column. 

Image via Washington Post

What am I doing? 

Trying to record any sightings and get photos of their tails (flukes) to add to a global catalog. On the underside of their flukes is a pigmentation pattern of white and black which the whales are born with and which will remain the same throughout their life. This is one of the ways used to identify individual humpback whales. The markings on these flukes are so distinct that names have been given to many whales based on these.

Quiz time: Can you spot the difference between their markings? 

The fluke of Salt, one of the most well known humpback whales from the Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary showing its distinct marks. 

Etch-a-sketch, one of the grand-daughters of Salt. Images via NOAA.

So if you happen to be lucky enough to see these fascinating creatures in the sea, here are some tips to safely and enjoyably watch them: 

• You will be excited and want that perfect insta shot but do not get carried away
• If you are ~ 1/2 mile to 1 mile away, reduce speed and post a dedicated look out to assist the vessel operator in monitoring the location of the marine mammal
• Never attempt a head-on approach
• If approaching from 100-300ft of whales, only one vessel should be in this range
• Do not approach within 100ft of whales
• Idle engine & watch from a distance

Image via NOAA

Humpback whales are known for their breaching (jumping behaviour). You are curious about them but they are also curious about you; especially the calves. Imagine a 35ft mother whale touching your boat? All you wish to do is imagine this, not experience it so respect these beauties and if you do get the chance to see any marine mammals from land or sea, please report them in our fb group and look out for an official sighting form coming your way!

Happy hump (back) day!

Nikola*

The invasive lionfish

Lionfish: Giant African snails of the sea? (Or Worse?!)

Some fun facts about these beautiful creatures:
Lionfish belong to the Scorpion fish family and are ambush predators (they sit and wait which also means that they will not generally swim away from you and are relatively easy to shoot).

There are two reported species of lionfish; of which one, the red lionfish (Pterois volitans in case you were itching to know the scientific name) was first reported in November 2011 in Barbadian waters. We were pretty much doomed as we had invasions coming to our waters from both the North and the South so it was only a matter of time as there was no stopping the lionfish movements in the currents. 

So why are we so worried about these beauties? (Lionfish 101):

• They become sexually mature in less than a year
• They reproduce every 4 days throughout the year and a female can spawn over 2 million eggs/year (that's a lot of babies!)
• They have little to no natural predators in the sea (but have been found in the stomachs of snapper and grouper). We, humans are their main predator; usually a bad thing when humans are another species main predator but in this case, they are taking over (a little more information on their ecology will help you to understand why this is bad).
• These species have been known to consume up to 70 species of fish, many of which are recreationally and commercially important. Without these fish, the already poor state of our reefs will suffer further which has implications for fisheries and tourism and thus you! On the flip side, these species can create greater tourism as divers love to see their beauty both in their natural habitat and in the aquarium trade (always two sides to a story).
• They possess venomous spines which can cause stings and reactions in humans so take care when handling and cooking (Yes, we encourage you to eat them; many fishers and locals say they taste "sweet fuh days" so time to get them on our menus and serve as a delicacy like other places in the world). 

So now that you have taken a short course on lionfish, take a breath and find out what you can do to help. 

Check out Lionfish-Barbados on fb* and look out for the island's first lionfish derby coming up in the middle of this year, followed by a weigh-in, talks to increase education and awareness on handling and cooking, how to make your own catching unit followed by a cook-off and tasting!

Some people do not agree with this large-scale culling event but in the case of the invasive lionfish, often this is the most successful solution before it is too late (would love a challenge if you feel differently). Many of the island's dive shops, fishers and locals have already been playing their part by killing the fish and either leaving them on the reefs or cutting off the spines and cooking them up on return to land. We urge you to do the same! 

So a quick recap: high numbers of lionfish = less fish for fishermen= less local fish for you= lower food security= higher import bills = even unhealthier reefs= lower tourism= bad (hopefully you get the gist!)

So if you see a lionfish out swimming or diving, enjoy their beauty, take a photo and if you have the correct materials, the best course of action is to kill the fish and leave it on the reef. However, wouldn't it be great to have lionfish on many of the restaurant menus?

Stay tuned for more coming your way and email us at marine-conservation@bethechangebarbados.org or check us out on Fb*,

Nikola*