swim at your own risk

I found a really interested interactive map that shows all the recorded shark attacks that have taken place all over the world. Similar to google earth, this map allows you to zoom in to certain areas in the world.
I hope this doesn't scare you out of swimming in the oceans!
http://swimatyourownrisk.com/shark-attack-map/

Huge waves and amazing surf!

I found some really interesting and fun videos on youtube related to waves and surfing!
Here are the links, Enjoy!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8yX_uVQ9OKA&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q-MPHrfHpc0&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uLUxLE8TqdY&feature=related

New Marine Life in Florida Keys

I found this article on NOAA's website and it was very encouraging to see that there is hope for our oceans!

Thanks to conservation efforts by federal, state, and local organizations, there is a resurgence of reef fish and corals in the Dry Tortugas National Park, located about 70 miles west of Key West, Fla.
In 2001, NOAA’s Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary implemented the Tortugas Ecological Reserve, consisting of 151 square nautical miles of protected marine habitat. To monitor the progress of this protected area, which had suffered from overfishing and other environmental changes, the Cooperative Institute for Marine and Atmospheric Studies funded a marine census to examine how the ecosystem was responding after seven years as a protected area.

“We are very encouraged to see that stocks have slowly begun to recuperate since implementing ‘no-take’ marine protected areas in the region,” said Jerry Ault, chief scientist on the project and a professor of marine biology and fisheries at the University of Miami’s Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science. “We are currently crunching the data collected to see what adjustments may need to be made to help guide future management decisions to address the issues of biodiversity protection, restoration of ecological integrity, and fishery management.”

As a result of this census, divers from six federal agencies and universities (NOAA, U-Miami Rosensteil School, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, National Park Service, Reef Education and Environmental Foundation, and the University of North Carolina at Wilmington) collected data showing increases in the numbers of snapper, grouper, and corals in the outermost Florida Keys — positive signs of recovery.
Toppled coral.

http://www.noaa.gov/features/monitoring_1008/marinelife.html

Adopt-A-Beach

The state of California seems to be a huge activist in making a difference in cleaning and restoring the oceans and beaches. An interesting program which they have going on now in California is called "Adopt A Beach". Like adopting a highway, California now has a program where a group can adopt a beach! In adopting a beach the group must commit to cleaning it at least three times per year and are encourage to re-adopt it the following year.
I think this is such a great idea!
For more information visit: http://www.coastal.ca.gov/publiced/aab/aab1.html

Help Make a Difference in our Oceans!

I came across some really interesting organizations that are trying to make a difference in helping the oceans and I thought I would share them with you.

Save the Waves is a website that has a bunch of really interesting reports, campaigns and petitions that you can sign. One of the petitions closer to home is the "Seals Nova Scotia" petition, that is trying to stop the shellfish processing plant in Seaforth, Nova Scotia.

To sign the petition visit : http://www.savethewaves.org/petition_seals.asp

The Ocean Conservancy are aimed at restoring substainable american fisheries, protect wildlife from human impacts, conserve special ocean places, reform the government for better ocean stewardship.

To sign up with the Ocean Conservancy to help make a difference visit: http://www.oceanconservancy.org/site/PageServer?pagename=newsletter

The picture above is of a female california sea lion, which normally has strong maternal instinct, biting her pup shortly after giving birth at the Marine Care Center in San Pedro. Sea lions suffering from neurotoxic poisoning usually show no interest in their young, and even attack them when they try to suckle.

This is an image I found off of the Altered Oceans website. An image like this is absolutely heartbreaking to see but makes us realize that we need to start taking action to help out the ocean and their creatures.

(Photography by Rick Loomis)

Altered Oceans

Altered Oceans is a five part series on the crisis in the seas- Kenneth R. Weiss
This documentary is amazing and eye opening!!
This documentary focuses on:

• the changing chemistry of the oceans
• the toxic algae and bateria that are poisoning marine mamales and other sea life
• the red tides that are multiplying and worsening
• the winds are carrying their toxins ashore
• seabron plastic debris posing lethal hazard to wildlife
• seawater in turning acidic, threatening fish, coral and other marine life!

The videos have amazing statistics and information that I was completely unaware of, definately take the time to watch it! Hope you enjoy it!
http://www.latimes.com/news/local/oceans/la-oceans-series,0,7842752.special