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*