Sunday, August 10, 2008

42 Countries in 4 months-A blog to watch

We get tipped off to some amazing blogs and websites. Today was no exception. Discover and join the team from Moving Sushi-Marine Resources Expedition as they kick off their 42 country 4 month land based ocean odyssey with a visit to South Africa's sharks:

The world’s oceans are in deep trouble
. From the northernmost reaches of the Arctic Circle to the Southern Oceans surrounding Antarctica the seas are been stripped at an unprecedented rate. Since the 1900’s, many species may have declined by nearly 90%, and unfortunately it does not stop there. Every aspect of the ocean is being mined for its resources; coral reefs are being destroyed by dynamite and cyanide for both food and the aquarium fish trade, which is suggested to top a billion dollars a year. Seamounts have been targeted due to the aggregation of high market value pelagic species associated with them, like the tuna. Kelp forests, sandy shores, estuaries and the deep ocean are all relentlessly exploited by a range of fishing strategies and advanced technologies with subsequent devastating effects.

Isla Guadalupe, Mexico-Meet the Locals

For those of you who will be joining us this year at Isla Guadalupe we thought we would introduce you to some of the "locals" that you'll be meeting this season.

This 13 foot fellow is called "Chompers". For reasons that are obvious, he's also one of the luckiest white sharks on site.

Two years ago Chompers had a violent run in with Shreddder and came close to loosing his eye in the fight. Early season divers often see male on male violence and posturing. We're still trying to figure out why this is.

Not all animals at this pristine and unique site are the same and many have "distinct personalities" that become evident once you spend enough time with them. It's a strange way to look at Great Whites, purported to be the "ultimate killing machines". One week with this little gal will change the way you look at them, trust us!

Thanks to Christie Fisher for the shot.