Llantrisant
Sub-Aqua Club
www.llantrisantdivers.com
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Marine
Conservation & Underwater Photography
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Marine Conservation Officer - Ceri Jones |
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As
we move into the summer months we see the
sea temperatures warming up and the marine
wildlife starting to increase in numbers.
The weather has been quite good up until
now and as a result the underwater visibility
has been very good.
Now that we have two functioning boats we
can start thinking about venturing further
out to find dive sites. However, there is
still a bit of work required on the boats
and the Pajero needs constant attention.
Our equipment officers Billy and Mike have
been particularly busy this season and any
help would be greatly appreciated.

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Haven
Divers Presentation.
On
Saturday 10th September, Haven Diving Services
hosted an evening especially for recreational
divers. The event which was held at the Lord Nelson
Hotel in Milford Haven was attended by sixty people
representing dive clubs from all around Wales.
Tom Luddington, Activities Liaison Officer
for the Countryside Council for Wales opened the
evening and gave some interesting statistics,
there has been an 18% increase in visitor numbers
coming specifically for bird watching, 18% more
walkers and 6% more people engaging in water sports.
Diver numbers however have remained static. Tom
went on to say that the National Park was voted
second best coastal region by National Geographic.
Following
on from Tom, Sue Burton from the Marine Conservation
Society showed a selection of slides illustrating
life below the waves. The images taken mostly
by local divers showed fish life, sponges and
crustaceans. Sue went on to talk about the valuable
work carried out by MCS which has contributed
to improvements in water quality and fish stocks.
She urged people not to become complacent and
praised the work carried out by groups such as
Narcs who encourage people to get involved in
beach and underwater clean ups as a way of improving
conditions around the Welsh Coastline.
Disappointingly, there no-one from fisheries
protection available to attend. Tom Luddington
made a valiant attempt to provide answers to the
confusions that often arise around take limits
but it would have been helpful if there had been
a fisheries officer present as divers had
many questions about commercial lobster fishing
that needed answers.
Phil.
Newman, Marine Nature Officer working around
the reserve, explained the work carried out by
himself and a team of dedicated wardens which
included monitoring activity both on the water
and around the islands. He told how the delicate
balance of the eco-system could be affected by
human intervention and encouraged divers to be
mindful of certain beaches during the seal breeding
season and reminded people about the no anchoring
rule which helped protect the reef.
Phil made divers aware of the guides available
free of charge including a waterproof version
that should be carried on every dive boat.
After a short break which included a superb
buffet, Dave Kennard, from Haven Dive Services
and a panel including Charles Mathieson, Head
of Recreation and Tourism invited questions from
the floor.
There
were queries and observations about the damage
to the sea bed caused by scallop dredging and
questions about the number of lobster pots being
used particularly around Skomer.These
were answered by Sue Burton and Phil Newman. Charles
Mathieson.
In answer to issues around diver access
they acknowledged that divers often have to share
facilities with other beach users and this was
not always ideal.
During discussions about a Diver Code of
Conduct it was agreed that current guidelines
were out of date, Dave Wakelam, Chairman of the
Welsh Association of sub-Aqua Clubs, invited divers
to send suggested inclusions for a new guide to
the Association via the e-mail link.
The
last presentation of the evening was an interesting
set of images of wrecks in and around the Haven.
Mark Gosling and a team from Cardiff BSAC had
used a side scanner to find wreck sites, some
of which were well known to divers, others though
werent including a recent wreck discovered
off Crow Rock. Marks presentation included
some excellent video footage.
The meeting ended at 9-30pm and people
were invited to help themselves to an array of
useful literature from the Marine Conservation
Society and the Countryside Council for Wales.
Tom Luddingtons request for a show of hands
in favour of a similar event next year brought
a positive response and Haven Divers were congratulated
for a very informative presentation.

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NOTICE
TO MARINERS
Ramsey
Sound, Pembrokeshire
Core
Sample and Deposit of Scientific Instruments
Notice is hereby given that on or about 23rd August
2011 for a period of approximately 5 days, the
vessel "Island Trader II" (10m aluminium
landing craft) and a support vessel will be involved
in removing a seabed core sample and installing
scientific instruments in the northern part of
Ramsey Sound, Pembrokeshire within the vicinity
of grid coordinates 51 Degrees 52'.66N, 05 Degrees
19'.56W
The
works will consist of diver activity and lowering
equipment to the seabed. Work will be carried
out in daylight hours only and no marker buoys
will be present.
Mariners
are advised to navigate with caution within 200m
of this vessel during the works.
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Tidal
Energy Limited
Vision House
Oak Tree Court
Cardiff Gate Business Park
Cardiff, CF23 8RS
Tel
No. 02920 730900
Web
Site:
www.tidalenergyltd.com
15th
August 2011
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Coral
Reefs:
Coral
reefs are underwater structures made from calcium
carbonate secreted by corals.
Corals are colonies of tiny living animals found
in marine waters containing few nutrients. Most
coral reefs are built from stony corals, and are
formed by polyps that live together in groups.
The polyps secrete a hard carbonate exoskeleton
which provides support and protection for the
body of each polyp. Reefs grow best in warm, shallow,
clear, sunny and agitated waters.
Often
called rainforests of the sea, coral
reefs form some of the most diverse ecosystems
on earth. They occupy less than 1% of the world
ocean surface, about half the area of France,
yet they provide a home for 25% of all marine
species, including fishes, molluscs, echinoderms
and sponges.
Paradoxically, coral reefs flourish even though
they are surrounded by ocean waters that provide
few nutrients. They are most commonly found at
shallow depths in tropical waters, particularly
in the Pacific Ocean, but deep water and cold
water corals exist on a much smaller scale.
Coral reefs deliver ecosystem services to tourism,
fisheries and shoreline protection. The annual
global economic value of coral reefs has been
estimated at $30 billion. However, coral reefs
are fragile ecosystems, partly because they are
very sensitive to water temperature. They are
under threat from climate change, ocean acidification,
blast fishing, cyanide fishing for aquarium fish,
overuse of reef resources, and harmful land-use
practices. High nutrient levels such as those
found in runoff from agricultural areas can harm
reefs by encouraging excess algae growth.
Live
coral should be thought of as small live animals
embedded in calcium carbonate. It is a mistake
to think of coral as plants or rocks. Coral consists
of accumulations of individual animals called
polyps, arranged in diverse shapes. Polyps are
usually tiny, but they can range in size from
a pinhead to about a foot across. Reefs grow as
polyps along with other organisms deposit calcium
carbonate, (the basis of coral), as a skeletal
structure beneath and around themselves, pushing
the coral's "head" or polyps upwards
and outwards.
Waves, grazing fish (such as parrotfish), sea
urchins, sponges, and other forces and organisms
act as bioeroders, breaking down coral skeletons
into fragments that settle into spaces in the
reef structure or form sandy bottoms in associated
reef lagoons.
Many
other organisms living in the reef community contribute
skeletal calcium carbonate in the same manner.
Coralline algae are important contributors to
reef structure in those parts of the reef subjected
to the greatest forces by waves (such as the reef
front facing the open ocean). These algae deposit
limestone in sheets over the reef surface, thereby
strengthening it.
Reef-building or hermatypic corals are only found
in the photic zone (above 50 m depth), the depth
to which sufficient sunlight penetrates the water
for photosynthesis to occur. Coral polyps do not
photosynthesize, but have a symbiotic relationship
with single-celled organisms called zooxanthellae;
these cells within the tissues of the coral polyps
carry out photosynthesis and produce excess organic
nutrients that are then used by the coral polyps.
Because
of this relationship, coral reefs grow much faster
in clear water, which admits more sunlight. Indeed,
the relationship is responsible for coral reefs
in the sense that without their symbionts, coral
growth would be too slow for the corals to form
impressive reef structures. Corals get up to 90%
of their nutrients from their zooxanthellae symbionts.
Types of Coral Reefs
Most reef scientists generally recognize three
basic types of coral reefs:
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1.
Fringing Reefs
2. Barrier
Reefs
3. Atolls
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The
differences between these three main reef types
are pronounced in terms of large-scale structure.
Nonetheless, there is often a good deal of similarity
between them within a given biogeographic region
in terms of species composition and ecological
interactions.
1. Fringing Reefs
The
first major coral reef type is the fringing reef,
which is a reef system growing fairly close to
or directly from shore with an entirely shallow
(less than about 10m) lagoon, or no lagoon at
all.
These are by far the most common reef type in
the Red Sea and Greater Caribbean region. Fringing
reefs also surround many islands of French Polynesia
(South Pacific) and the Indian Ocean.
Many islands within atolls have fringing reefs
often referred to as the "house reef".
Patch Reefs are outcrops of coral usually offshore
but often found within the lagoon of a Barrier
Reef or Atoll.
Because they are situated relatively close to
island or mainland shores, fringing reefs are
generally the most susceptible to coastal development,
agriculture, pollution, and other human activities
that result in sedimentation and freshwater runoff.
2. Barrier Reefs
Barrier
reefs (center photo; above) are reef systems that
parallel the shore and are separated from it by
a wide lagoon that contain at least some deep
portions. Examples of large barrier reefs can
be found in both the Indo-Pacific and Greater
Caribbean, with the Great Barrier Reef of Australia
being the prime example.
The very largest barrier reefs develop on the
edges of continental shelves (e.g., Great Barrier
Reef; Belize Barrier Reef). These massive reef
complexes are sometimes referred to as "shelf
barrier reefs" in order to differentiate
them from the much smaller barrier reefs surrounding
some islands found in the South Pacific (e.g,
Bora-Bora).
The back reef zones and lagoons of shelf barrier
reefs are often very extensive, in some cases
lying over 100 miles from the mainland in some
areas. In contrast, the barrier reef surrounding
the narrow lagoon of Bora Bora (photo, above right)
actually transitions into a fringing reef in a
few places.
3. Atolls
Atolls
are roughly circular (or occasionally horseshoe-shaped)
oceanic reef complexes surrounding a large, deep
central lagoon.
Atolls are most common in the Indo-Pacific region
where over 300 atolls are found, but rare in the
Greater Caribbean which houses only about 10-15.
The four best developed Caribbean atolls are found
off southern Mexico and the coast of Belize.
Atolls can exceed 100 miles in diameter and contain
lagoons several thousand square miles in extent.
The best developed parts of reefs surrounding
atolls are on the windward side, where wave energy
is greatest.
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For
those keen to know more about our wonderful diversity
of marine life, see the Marine Conservation Society
publications and visit their website at www.mcsuk.org/
Ceri Jones
Marine Conservation Officer.
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| Pembrokeshire
Coastal National Park Authority Consultation Document |
Probably,
the most important section for us as divers is the
section below found on pages 62 & 63 of the
document, in particular the paragraph highlighted
in blue:
Please Note: The deadline for any comments, suggestions,
etc. is January 31st 2011 |
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5.4.4
Marinas, harbours and slipways
The
Welsh Assembly Government's Watersports strategy,
"Catching the Wave" recorded 11 harbours,
marinas and yacht stations in Pembrokeshire. In
addition, planning permission has been granted for
2 major new marina developments at Fishguard and
Pembroke Dock, providing 540 and 260 berths respectively
when complete.
The
operation of the marina in Fishguard in particular
will need careful management because to the immediate
West the overfall areas off Strumble Head are important
for cetaceans and rafting seabirds, the cliffed
beaches of much of the North coast are critical
sites for seal pupping and much of the coast as
far as Cemaes Head is greatly valued for its remote
and wild qualities.
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Milford
Haven Water Ranger. The
Milford Haven Port Authority and the PCNPA
have worked together for many years to create
a water ranger post, specifically to support
the Milford Haven harbourmaster on recreation
issues. This can involve patrols, monitoring,
enforcement, education and assistance to
all recreational users.
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These
major sites are supplemented by around 20 smaller
harbours and mooring areas around the coastline
outside the Haven, mostly locally regulated and
charged at low annual rates.
There are around 50 slipways and launching points
in the county, these are mainly unmanaged and
give free, unregulated access to the estuary and
sea.
Actions for section 5.4.4
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Many
of these slipways especially around the Dale peninsula
are at the end of long, single track roads or in
tight locations which are not suitable for launching
increasingly large vessels. We will seek to encourage
use of more appropriate sites for large craft
e.g. dive boats and fishing boats, where there is
better infrastructure and parking.
We
recognise the social and economic benefits that
these sites bring to the local economy. However
the sheer number and range of launch sites means
that it is hard to introduce management to ensure
that users and operators follow environmental codes
of practice and are suitably insured and skilled
to operate their craft.
From
the point of view of sustainability, tranquillity
and impact on other users and wildlife, we would
wish to promote sailing, rowing and other non-motorised
recreation in particular from these sites.
We will look for sustainability improvements in
marinas and harbours and work though partnerships
such as the Milford Haven Waterway Recreation Group
to encourage good practice in dealing with such
issues as sewage discharges, removal of scraped
antifouling, control of bilge water discharges and
provision of recycling facilities.
Important
web links:
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ACTION
1
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We
will work with partners to develop better
launch facilities for dive craft at
more accessible locations (e.g. Gelliswick,
Goodwick). |
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ACTION
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Ensure
that, as part of the development agreement
of any new marinas, the operators agree
a code of good practice with their clients
and that this is effectively applied. |
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ACTION
3
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Encourage
local adoption and where necessary,
charging for slipway management, as
a way of managing access points and
meeting maintenance costs. |
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ACTION
4
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Recognise
that the ability to manage PWCs on slipways
and on the water is limited because
of low numbers and many launch points.
Seek to discourage use in the National
Park, through publicity and information. |
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PWC
= Personal Water Craft
(would include club boats)
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Notes:
- We
would not be opposed to a reduction of launch
sites providing there is adequate provision
for divers to access the dive sites around the
Haven, the islands and St. Brides Bay.
- We
have our own Code of Conduct which we adhere
to when using launch sites within the National
Park
- We
would be happy to comply with any additions
to a code of conduct to promote sustainability
and reduce the impact on the local environment
and wildlife.
- Our
boats are ALWAYS operated by suitably trained
personel
- Our
boats are ALWAYS insured against 3rd party liability
- We
would be happy to become partners to help in
the development and sustainability of launch
sites and becoming involved in any decision
making process.
- The
use of Gelliswick and Goodwick in "Action
1" as examples
of launch sites for dive boats, presumably,
does not exclude the possibility of other launch
sites being used.
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| Orcas
spotted off Pembrokeshire |
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Birdwatchers
on a day trip off the west Wales coast spotted
two killer whales instead.
The 40-strong group were training their telescopes
and binoculars out to sea at Fishguard when they
spotted a 6ft fin cutting through the water.
There have been reports of the mammals off the
coast before but they are still a rare sighting.
Cliff Benson, who was among the party from the
mid Pembrokeshire section of the Wildlife Trust
South and West Wales, said it "blew your
socks off."
Killer whales can grow up to 28 feet long and
eat seals, dolphins and other whales.
Mr Benson said: "We did not expect to see
anything at first because some jet skis shot by
and scared most of the birds away.
"But
then somebody saw a big fin and there were about
40 of us all with telescopes and binoculars so
that got us looking for things. Suddenly there
were several big fins out there.
"The first ones were definitely Risso's dolphins,
which are bigger than the usual flipper-type dolphins.
"Then somebody saw an even bigger fin about
six foot tall and the white eye patches and white
flanks of what everybody recognises from the Free
Willy films - an orca or killer whale.
"There were two of them, possibly a male
and female.
"They were about a mile off the coast. You
would not have seen them without telescopes or
binoculars, but they are there. It blows your
socks off."
As well as killer whales, several species of shark
have been recorded in the coastal waters, including
the enormous basking shark, according to the Pembrokeshire
National Park Authority.
It said pilot whales and sun fish had also made
appearances but sightings were relatively rare.
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| Protect
Chagos |
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Now,
before its too late, there is an opportunity to
save one of the greatest marine environments left
on earth.
The Chagos Archipelago represents a magnificent
conservation opportunity that could be of lasting
benefit to humanity.
There can be few places on this planet that represent
better value for leveraging spectacular returns.
What is needed is vision and a leadership initiative
by Britain to create the Chagos as an iconic,
pristine area held in trust for the future of
the world community.
The Chagos Archipelago also known as the British
Indian Ocean Territory is an area of 210,000 square
miles and is located about 300 miles south of
the Maldives.
STOP PRESS: (see adjacent
article)
LONDON 01:04:2010 Secretary of State David
Miliband today designated the Chagos, Archipelago
as a no-take marine reserve.
This declaration will make it the largest marine
protected area in the world, an area twice the
size of the U.K.
The combination of tropical islands, unspoiled
coral reefs and adjacent oceanic abyss makes this
area comparable in global importance to the Great
Barrier Reef or Galapagos Islands.

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| Bite
Back Campaign |
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Sharks
are widely regarded as a predatory 'eating machines'
that don't discriminate between fish or humans.
This irrational fear has earned them a reputation
as being dangerous and worthy of contempt.
As a result, sharks have taken on trophy-like
qualities for the people that hunt and eat them.
This lust for money and a taste for the exotic
has landed sharks in deep trouble.
Right
now, sharks are among the most valuable and vulnerable
animals in the sea.
Massive consumer demand for shark fins and other
shark related products have created an industry
motivated by high return.
Shark fins have become one of the world's most
precious commodities reaching figures of up to
$256 per pound. It was recently reported that
the dorsal fin of a whale shark alone fetched
$15,000 at market.
It
is barely surprising then that more than 125 countries
around the world now trade in shark products contributing
to an uncontrollable surge in the number of shark
taken from the oceans. In a little over 50 years
the slaughter of sharks has risen 400 per cent
to approximately 800,000 metric tons per year.
By 2017 it is anticipated that 20 species of shark
could become extinct due to hunting, indiscriminate
fishing techniques and, ultimately, man's greed.
Currently
more than 100 million sharks are taken from the
seas each year - a rate at which they simply cannot
survive.
They cannot survive this onslaught because, unlike
many other fish, most large sharks don't reach
sexual maturity until seven years old or even
later, and then only give birth to a few pups
each year.
Right now, they are simply being caught and killed
faster than they can reproduce.
Bite-Back
and its supporters together can encourage consumers
to make informed choices, change their habits
and actively motivate and inspire establishments
that sell shark products to stop.
When we stop buying shark meat and fins, they'll
stop fishing for it.
See the Bite
Back Campaign for more information on
how you can help reduce the trade in shark meat
and other threatened species.
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| Marine
Coastal Access Bill |
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In
late 2009 Parliament will enact the Marine and
Coastal Access Bill. This new law will establish
a new network of marine conservation zones to
protect species and habitats of national importance.
The Welsh Assembly Government has the aim for
the Welsh marine environment, as set out in the
Environment Strategy for Wales, to ensure clean
seas that will enable healthy and functioning
ecosystems that are biologically diverse and resilient.
In order to achieve this aim, however, it is vital
to understand what is biologically significant
in Wales marine environment, in order than
conservation zones are correctly sited to achieve
the conservation aims intended.
Throughout 2009, volunteer SCUBA divers have surveyed
the biology of the Pembrokeshire coast, through
the Marine Conservation Societys Seasearch
programme, in a weekly programme of intensive
marine surveys.
In
this open public lecture, Ms. Vicky Swales (Seasearch
Instructor) will present the results of the 2009
marine surveys and discuss the significance of
the biogeography and importance of marine species
for Wales. The likely impact of the Marine and
Coastal Access Bill on Wales, and the introduction
of Marine Protected Areas will also be discussed.
Anyone
with an interest in marine biology, marine biogeography
and SCUBA diving is more than welcome to attend.
Date:
Wednesday 14th October
Venue: Room GT9012,
Glyntaf Campus,
University of Glamorgan
Time: 19:30
Contact: Simon Jones, sdjones2@glam.ac.uk
or 01443 654 490
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Portuguese
Man-O-War in Pembrokeshire |
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BATHERS
are being warned about the possible presence of
Portuguese man owar jellyfish on Pembrokeshires
beaches.
During
the last week, four of the creatures which
carry a poisonous sting in their trailing tentacles
have been found washed up on Amroth beach
in the south of the county with another six found
on the waters edge.
Lifeguards
spotted two more just along the coast on the South
Beach in the popular resort of Tenby with another
three being spotted in Mill Bay near St Annes
Head at the mouth of the Milford Haven waterway.
The notices, which are being erected by the county
council at more than 30 of Pembrokeshires
Blue Flag and Green Flag beaches, warn of the
possible presence of Portuguese man owar
jellyfish.
Swimmers
are also advised to stay in lifeguarded areas
where possible.
Anyone
seeing a jellyfish is advised to inform the lifeguard
or contact a beach warden on 07770 574242 or 07721
861005.
Council
spokesman, Len Mullins, said: The Portuguese
man owar is a rare visitor to these shores
and the chances of swimmers actually encountering
one in the water while bathing are extremely slim.
However
they do possess a sting said to be ten times stronger
than an ordinary jellyfish and swimmers should
be aware of their possible presence.
Treatment
for the sting which leaves whip-like, red
welts on the skin involves washing with
salt water and then applying ice to dull the pain.
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| The
Portuguese Man-O-War |
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Anyone
unfamiliar with the biology of the venomous Portuguese
man-of-war would likely mistake it for a jellyfish.
Not only is it not a jellyfish, it's not even
an "it," but a "they." The
Portuguese man-of-war is a siphonophore, an animal
made up of a colony of organisms working together.
The
man-of-war comprises four separate polyps. It
gets its name from the uppermost polyp, a gas-filled
bladder, or pneumatophore, which sits above the
water and somewhat resembles an old warship at
full sail. Man-of-wars are also known as bluebottles
for the purple-blue color of their pneumatophores.
The
tentacles are the man-of-war's second organism.
These long, thin tendrils can extend 165 feet
(50 meters) in length below the surface, although
30 feet (10 meters) is more the average. They
are covered in venom-filled nematocysts used to
paralyze and kill fish and other small creatures.
For humans, a man-of-war sting is excruciatingly
painful, but rarely deadly. But bewareeven
dead man-of-wars washed up on shore can deliver
a sting.
Muscles
in the tentacles draw prey up to a polyp containing
the gastrozooids or digestive organisms. A fourth
polyp contains the reproductive organisms.
Man-of-wars
are found, sometimes in groups of 1,000 or more,
floating in warm waters throughout the world's
oceans. They have no independent means of propulsion
and either drift on the currents or catch the
wind with their pneumatophores. To avoid threats
on the surface, they can deflate their air bags
and briefly submerge.
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| The
Great Stingray Migration |
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Gulf
of Mexico

Like
autumn leaves floating in a sunlit pond, this
vast expanse of magnificent stingrays animates
the bright blue seas of the Gulf of Mexico.
Taken
off the coast of Mexico's Holbox Island by amateur
photographer Sandra Critelli, this breathtaking
picture captures the migration of thousands of
rays as they follow the clockwise current from
Mexico's Yucatan peninsula to western Florida.
Measuring
up to 6ft 6in across, poisonous golden cow-nose
rays migrate in groups - or 'fevers' - of up to
10,000 as they glide their way silently towards
their summer feeding grounds.

They
migrate twice yearly: north in late spring (as
pictured here) and south in late autumn.
There
are around 70 species of stingray in the world's
oceans, but these cow-nose rays (Rhinoptera bonasus)
have distinctive, highdomed heads, giving them
a curiously bovine appearance.
But
despite their placid looks, they are still armed
with a poisonous stinger, which can be deadly
to humans (even though sharks, their main predators,
are more likely to provoke them).
The
stinger, a razor-sharp spine that grows from the
creature's whip-like tail, can reach almost 15
inches in length and carries a heady dose of venom.
It
was a similar stinger that killed the hugely popular
Australian naturalist Steve Irwin in 2006.

But
even equipped with this powerful punch, cow-nose
stingrays are shy and non-threatening in large
'fevers'. Even when isolated, they will attack
only when cornered or threatened.
Unlike other stingrays, they rarely rest on the
seabed (where unsuspecting humans can step on
them) and prefer to be on the move.
They
migrate long distances, and can be found as far
south as the Caribbean and as far north as New
England.
They
use their extended pectoral fins to swim, and
often turn upside down, curling their fin tips
above the surface of the water - leaving terrified
swimmers convinced that they have seen a shark.
Their flexible fins also come in handy when rustling
up food. By flapping them rapidly over the seabed,
they stir up sand and reveal crabs, shellfish
and oysters, which they then feed on using their
powerful, grinding teeth.
Their
particular fondness for shellfish has made them
public enemy number one with oyster fishermen.
But
despite this, their numbers are exploding, thanks
in part to rising sea temperatures. They mate
every winter, and females produce a litter of
five to ten young.
Stingrays (which are related to skates and sharks)
have never been widely fished for food, mainly
because of their rubbery flesh.
But
barbecued stingray and dried fins are common in
Singapore and Malaysia, while pickled stingray
remains a traditional favourite in Iceland.
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| A
letter from Vicky Swales |
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(former
club marine conservation officer)
Dear
All
Hope you all have had a good summer of diving!
We have had several good Seasearch dives
in the last few weeks with some good visibility
and interesting seabed habitats but sadly
no Mantis Shrimps!. Those of you that would
still like to join us on a Seasearch dive
for the remainder of 2006 have a choice
of three dates left.
Wednesday 30th August, Sunday 10th September
and Sunday 17th September. If your interested
in joining us then please fill in the attachment
and return ASAP as places are filling up
quickly.
We also have a Seasearch Observer course
on Saturday 16th September, 9am - 4.30pm
at Hampshire Wildlife Trust in Botley. Again
please fill in the attachment if interested.
I would also like to ask if anyone is interested
in attending a Seasearch Surveyor course?
I know that several of you have enquired
earlier on in the year about the Surveyor
course and we are hoping to run one in October
subject to demand. I have provisionally
booked the weekend of the 7th/8th. You need
to already be a Seasearch observer and have
a up-do-date log book with all paperwork
signed off. This two day course does requires
a a dive on the second day for completion.
Please can you reply by Monday 11th September
to confirm if you are interested in attending
so I can finalise arrangements.
I do hope that you can join us on a Seasearch
dive soon.
Cheers, Vicky
Seasearch
Dives
Volunteers are to meet at Hayling Island
Ferry Pontoon on the Eastney side at 10am
for the 30th August, and 9am for both dives
in September.
Cost of dives is £15 subject to weather
conditions. Dive site, IOW. Further details
will be send once your booking form is received.
Please particularly make note of the following
points: Copies of the following must be
shown to the Dive Marshal before boarding
the vessel:
- Diving
qualification (and training agency).
- Date
of and expiry of doctors medical examination
or UK sport diver medical self-certification.
- Who
provides your diver third party insurance?
(e.g BSAC, SAA, DAN, PADI) if you are
not already insured, please ensure you
arrange cover prior to the course.
- Date
of most recent sea dive (log book) Due
to Health and Safety requirements, divers
who do not show all paperwork on the day
will not be allowed to dive, so it is
important to make sure that all information
is presented to the Dive Marshal.
Divers
are advised that a 'Seasearch dive' should
not be their first sea dive or deepest dive
of the season. It is recommended that a
UK 'warm-up' dive has already taken place.

If
you have any questions then please do not
hesitate to contact me, for further information
about Seasearch details can be found on
http://www.seasearch.org.uk
Seasearch
Observer Course
This is a one-day course aimed at giving
divers new to the project and new to marine
recording a basic grounding. At the end
of the course you should be able to complete
the Seasearch Observation Form and take
part in Seasearch Dives either on your own,
with your club or on dives organised by
Seasearch Partners.
During the course you'll learn about Seasearch
- its aims, history and achievements, a
basic introduction to the variety of marine
life in UK waters, recognising and classifying
marine habitats, position fixing, and how
to fill in the Observation Form. The day
concludes with a 'video dive' and an opportunity
to fill in a form without even getting wet!
The course includes a splash proof course
pack and everything you'll need to go ahead
and get started.
The tutors are all divers themselves and
drawn from our partner organisations and
keen Seasearchers. A real dive isn't a part
of the course but sometimes one is arranged
locally for you to practice your techniques
with a tutor on hand. During the course
you'll get a Seasearch Qualification booklet.
Once you have completed 5 for real (two
on dives with a Tutor present) you can get
signed up as a Seasearch Observer.
Seasearch
Surveyor Course
The Surveyor Course is aimed at experienced
Seasearch Observers and others with a good
background knowledge of marine life and
marine recording. The aim is to enable you
to complete the Seasearch Survey Form which
is used on most of the expeditionary Seasearch
dives and which gives much more detailed
information for future conservation purposes.
The course lasts two days and includes a
dive on the second day. The Course content
is an expansion of the Observer Course and
covers a much wider range of marine life
and habitat classification. Again we use
video on the first day and you fill in practice
forms both from the video and from the dive
itself. The course is assessed and successful
participants can become Seasearch Surveyors
after completing a further five forms.
Vicky Swales
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| Mantas
in Sharm |
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April
is a month to celebrate in Sharm as the summer
season finally arrives.
Each year from April to September divers are sometimes
lucky enough to have the company of manta rays
on the local dive sites.
So far this April there have been numerous manta
ray sightings up and down the coastline. No longer
is 'Ras Mohammed' or 'Tiran' the most popular
choice, the 'local' dive sites are the place to
be!
Manta rays, easily distinguished by their large
mandibles, are the biggest winged creatures that
inhabit the oceans. The largest known specimen
measured more than 7.6 metres across with a weight
of about 2,300 kilos. But here in Sharm a smaller,
yet still impressive 3-4 metres is more common.
Mantas feed mainly on plankton filtered from the
water passing through their gills as they swim.
Incidentally their top speed is only 7 miles per
hour and for those of you that have had the chance
to dive with them before, you'll know it seems
like they are going much faster.
Scuba diving with a manta ray is an amazing experience,
often ended with a cheer of delight from the divers
upon reaching the surface.
They are quite curious animals and they are often
known to approach scuba divers, either enjoying
the interaction and playing with our bubbles or
simply wanting to see what is happening.
These magnificent creatures are also frequently
seen feeding near or at the surface so those snorkelling
also might be lucky enough to catch a glimpse.
When diving with manta rays it is very important
to remember that they are wild animals and should
be observed only. The less action a scuba diver
takes to scare a manta ray, such as chasing it
to get a better look or to get that perfect picture,
the more likely it is that the manta ray will
hang around giving an unforgettable experience.
Happy manta ray spotting this summer in Sharm!
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| UK
creates worlds largest marine reserve |
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Britain
has created a 210,000 sq mile marine nature reserve
around the Indian Oceans Chagos Archipelago,
making it the largest area yet designated for
the protection of marine species.
The group of some 50 islands, a British protectorate,
lies 1000 miles south of India. It features 220
coral species, including the worlds largest
coral atoll.
Twice
the size of Britain, the new reserve is fully
protected, with all commercial fishing and extraction
banned.
Rich
in fish species, the Chagos Islands are an important
breeding ground for important populations of oceanic
sharks, dolphins and green and hawkbill sea turtles.
Protection
from fishing will give these and other creatures,
some of which are on the International Union for
Conservation of Natures Red List of endangered
species, a chance to regroup.
In
addition, because the Chagos Island reefs recovered
well from El Nino-instigated coral destruction
in the late 90s, they represent a key base by
which to judge the recovery of other affected
coral areas.
The decision by Britain to protect the Ghagos
Islands came after a four-month public consultation
on the islands management. More than 275,000
people and organisations from around the world
participated.
Its establishment will double the global coverage
of the world's oceans under protection which desperately
need better protection.
In 2010, the International Year of Biodiversity,
the UK has secured a conservation legacy which
is unrivalled in scale and significance, demonstrating
to the world that it is a leader in conserving
the worlds marine resources for the benefit
of future generations.
Partners have included the Chagos Conservation
Trust, The Pew Environment Group, the Marine Conservation
Society, the Royal Botanical Gardens in Kew, The
Royal Society, The Royal Society for the Protection
of Birds (RSPB), The Zoological Society of London
(ZSL), The Linnean Society of London and Prof
C Sheppard.
After the Chagos Archipelago, the worlds
second-largest marine reserve, established by
President George W Bush in 2006, lies around the
Northwestern Hawaiian Islands.
At 140,000 square miles, it is a shade larger
than Australia's Great Barrier Reef Marine Park.
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| Welsh
Minister named "Shark Champion" |
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London: The Shark Trust awards; Huw Irranca Davies,
UK Minister for Marine and Natural Environment,
the status of Shark Champion.
The
Minister received a Shark Champion award today
in recognition of the UKs prohibition on
the removal of shark fins at sea, and the associated
requirement that UK vessels around the world must
land sharks with their fins naturally attached.
The
Shark Trust Director of Conservation, Ali Hood,
said: "This award to Mr Irranca Davies and
his counterpart in Scotland Mr Lochhead, is the
first of its kind to policy makers and reflects
the decisive action in addressing the issue of
shark finning. It also recognises the UK's ongoing
efforts in urging all EU Member States to follow
their lead.
The
Shark Trust has advocated for a change in the
EU Shark Finning Legislation since its adoption
in 2003. Hood went on to say: "An end to
special fishing permits and a requirement to land
sharks with their fins naturally attached greatly
improves the opportunity for effective shark management.
It also marks significant progress towards implementation
of aspects of the EU Community Plan of Action
for Sharks."
On
receiving his award Mr Irranca Davies said: Sharks
are some of the most vulnerable species on Earth
and action must be taken to protect them. I am
proud that my decision has allowed the UK to lead
the way in Europe by ending the permits which
allow fins to be removed at sea.
Now all UK registered vessels will have to land
sharks with their fins attached wherever in the
world they are fishing. Not only will this end
the wasteful practice of removing fins and discarding
the bodies at sea, but well also be able
to get better scientific evidence to help conservation.
I
am grateful to the Shark Trust for their support
as I continue to push in Europe to end the issuing
of these permits for all European countries.
Shark
finning remains the single greatest threat to
shark populations. The decision to prohibit the
removal of shark fins at sea influences not only
UK vessels within EU waters but also overseas.
With an active fleet of UK pelagic longline vessels
in the Indian Ocean and around the coast of Africa
catching significant numbers of pelagic sharks
legislation of this nature is vital to enable
effective shark fisheries management.
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| Container
Ship Hits Jackson Reef |
|
A
large cargo vessel has gone hard aground on Woodhouse
Reef, in the northern Red Sea.
The 260m-long, Hong Kong-flagged CSCL Hamburg
hit the reef, between the Sinai coast and Tiran
Island, on the morning of New Years Eve,
while en route to Singapore.
Diving
operators and others are relieved that, so far,
there appear to have been no leakages from the
hull.
Damage
is reportedly limited to the bow area, but could
be severe as the ship ran on to the reef at a
speed of about 20 knots. There were no injuries
to crew or loss of cargo.
The
extent of damage to corals has yet to be assessed,
and the diving community waits to learn what impact
the grounding will have on diving in the area,
in terms both of any salvage operation and of
damage done to the reef.
John
Kean, a Sharm El Sheikh-based PADI and TDI diving
instructor and author of the book SS Thistlegorm,
saw events unfold from a dive boat some way off,
before moving in for a closer look.
The
ship passed the first reef, Jackson, at 10am and
instead of continuing past Gordon Reef, the last
of the four reefs in the Tiran Straits, it went
between the middle two reefs, Woodhouse and Thomas,
he told Divernet.
The
gap here is less than 80m. The ship, with a beam
of 32.3m, struck Woodhouse Reef just 50m from
its end but went hard on to the top by a distance
of around 25m.
Kean
later learned that, according to early reports,
the ship deviated when its third officer, temporarily
in charge of the bridge, turned to port to avoid
a small craft.
It
was thought that the officer either over-steered
the vessel or underestimated its ability to turn
back on to a safe course.
The
Straits of Tiran are popular with scuba divers
coming out of Sharm El Sheikh, for the scenic
drift diving that can be had in the vicinities
of Woodhouse, Jackson, Gordon and Thomas Reefs.
Fortunately
no fuel or oil leakages appeared to have occurred,
and that pumps were at work to deal with water
ingress which was limited to the bow area, due
to the ships watertight compartments.
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| Diving
for Crabs & Lobsters |
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New
pages have been added to this web site with reference
to the byelaws governing the landing of fish and
shellfish by divers.
During a recent committee meeting the subject
was discussed at length and it was decided that
it would be helpful if the regulations were published
on the site for the benefit of the membership.
The regulations are enforced and penalties for
breaching the regulations can be severe and include
large fines and/or confiscation of boats.
The new links are as follows:
South Wales Fisheries
Committee Byelaws
South Wales Fisheries
Guidance Leaflet
EU
Minimum Fish Sizes (PDF)
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| Prime
Minister commits to Marine Bill |
|
Prime
Minister Gordon Brown has confirmed that the Government
is preparing the long-awaited "Marine Bill"
for introduction early in the fourth Session of
Parliament - possibly within a matter of weeks.
This
follows ongoing campaigning by wildlife organisations
MCS, RSPB, WWF and the Wildlife Trusts, including:
a full page advertisement calling for the Bill
in national newspapers; an "Early Day Motion"
put forward in parliament; and support for the
Marine Bill and Marine Reserves by BBC presenters
Kate Humble and Simon King.
It
also coincided 25 years to the day with the Marine
Conservation Society's inaugural registration
as a UK charity.
The
Marine Bill is vital to enable the designation
of Marine Conservation Zones to protect nationally
important wildlife such as pink sea fans, eel
grass beds, seahorse, maerl and basking sharks.
At present less than 0.001% of our seas are highly
protected from damaging activities.
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| Maldives
adopts blanket shark-fishing ban |
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A
10-year-old moratorium banning shark fishing in
parts of the Maldives has been extended to cover
the whole island group.
Since its adoption in 1998, the moratorium covered
seven atolls - but now it extends to 12 nautical
miles off any Maldives land mass.
The Maldivian Government has taken the step in
the face of evidence that shark populations in
the area have come under threat from fishing practices,
with takes exceeding sharks' abilities to reproduce.
Abdullah Nasir, the Fisheries Ministry's Permanent
Secretary, said: "The fisheries law clearly
tells us that we can protect any marine species
if we feel that it's threatened or endangered
for any reason."
The Maldives is a draw for diving tourists, attracted
by its reputation for healthy populations of sharks,
in particular hammerheads.
Acknowledging that the islands' shark groups are
"very important for tourism", Nasir
added that his ministry was "working towards"
enshrining the moratorium permanently in law,
with the aim of banning shark-fishing and the
export of shark products within the next year.
Conservationists have welcomed the move - but
caution that effects should be monitored. Maldivian
reef ecologist Marie Saleem, while welcoming the
Government's announcement, said that reef shark
populations will require careful assessment to
determine the effect of the moratorium and any
subsequent statutory ban.
Some
observatioins by Rob (Biffo) Bryning of
Maldives Scuba Tours:
We have truly had a great winter season with
superb encounters with all the big stuff.
Its particularly encouraging to see
the numbers of grey reef sharks back on the
increase. We were worried that they had been
all fished out but, for whatever reason, we
are now seeing regular large shoals of these
wonderful animals. |
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| Crayfish
Study |
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| Some
marine related news: |
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The
following snippets are from the Wildlife Trust
marine news section. Some information
about seasearch courses and dives in Wales are
at the end.
- Latest
issue of MPA News, including Skomer, MPAs for
migratory species and more.
click here
- Does
Scotland really need a Marine Act?
click here
-
Scottish consultation on wave and tidal energy.
click here
- Climate
change at the coast CoastNet conference.
click
here
- Bass
Minimum Landing Size petition. The recreational
sea angling lobby has proposed that the Minimum
Landing Size (MLS) for the taking of bass should
be increased to 45cm which is the size at which
each fish will have spawned at least once. The
commercial industry is generally against this
move. Defra had recognized the importance of
increasing the MLS and last year announced an
interim increase to 40cm starting 6th April
2007 with a view to a larger increase in 2010.
A last minute meeting with the commercial sector
has put a hold on any increase. There is a petition
at the No. 10 Downing Street website to increase
the MLS to 45cm.
click
here
- Plans
for Olympic Marina on Dorset coast.
click
here
- Fishing
off Sussex costs a trawler skipper £10,300.
The owner and skipper of the Brixham beam trawler
Angus Rose, was fined a £6,500 with a
further £3,800 costs, by Brighton magistrates
on March 29th after pleading guilty to 17 log
book offences and fishing inside the protected
six mile limit off Hastings.
In an interview submitted to the court, Mr.
George admitted to Marine Fisheries inspectors
that he never filled his log book until the
end of a fishing trip. The rules state that
he is required to do so by midnight every night.
Prosecuting for the Marine Fisheries Agency
and the Sussex Sea Fisheries Committee, David
Buck, said a large vessel like the Angus Rose
fishing inside the six mile limit had a damaging
impact on the marine environment and in-shore
fish stocks.
Magistrates said it was clear that the Angus
Rose had consistently fished within the six
mile limit and there was no excuse for it because
sophisticated equipment on board showed Mr.
George exactly where he was.
Mr. George claimed the log book offences were
minor clerical errors and his encroachment
inside the six mile limit was because he was
short-handed and tired. Magistrates said
that after previous warnings, a small fine and
a conditional discharge in the past it was time
to impose a significant financial penalty.
Paul Johnson, senior MFA fisheries officer based
at Shoreham said: This case shows the
Marine Fisheries Agency and the Sussex Sea Fisheries
Committee working in partnership to enforce
the rules which are designed preserve the inshore
marine environment and fish stocks.
- Latest
issue of emarine. click
here
including PhD on Citizenship and the Marine
Environment.
- Education:
marine mammals and noise. Canadian lesson plan
on the impacts of noise on harbour porpoises.
click
here
- Shark
fishing upsets ecosystem and damages shellfisheries.
click
here
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Copyright © 2002 - .... Llantrisant
Sub-Aqua Club. All rights reserved.
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