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For David Denson Whiteside (with username 'dwhitesi', exp: 2024-08-20, at dwhite95815@hotmail.com )

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April 26, 2021

More Trash Photography. A Turkish photojournalist, Sebnem Coskun, won first prize in the Nature & Environment category in the Pictures of the Year Asia international photo contest. The photo of a diver surrounded by garbage, including medical facemasks, was taken in Turkey’s Bosporus Strait, in the Mediterranean, to raise awareness about plastic pollution in the sea.

Sharks Saved for Another Day in the Maldives. When the Maldivian Fisheries Minister started a discussion about opening the archipelago's coastline to shark fishing, the ocean conservation community was outraged. The Maldives had led the way for many island nations by setting a strong example, protecting national marine life and the health of their fisheries with a shark-fishing ban. The public outcry led to the decision that the 11-year-old shark-fishing ban will continue. Thanks to everyone who participated (including readers of this Undercurrent fortnightly email) who signed the online petition in protest. Save Sea Foundation

Hey, Fellow Divers, Did You by Chance Contract COVID? Divers Alert Network is looking for divers and free-divers who have recovered from COVID-19 -- or are recovering from a suspected COVID-19 infection -- to participate in a 5-year study on its effects on a diver’s health and fitness to dive. For more information about the study and how you might participate, go here.

Ever Seen the Unexploded Bombs at Lanai’s Cathedrals? Two potentially live bombs have been found off the coast of the island of Lanai in Hawaii, one of them within 10 feet a rock bench and coral habitat. Discovered by two recreational divers in late March, they are probably unexploded ordinance from U.S. practice bombing, which was big in Hawaii during WWII. The U.S. Army is determining what should be done about them, while divers are kept away from the two cavern-like sites called First Cathedral and Second Cathedral. The News & Observe

My Octopus Teacher Wins the Academy Award for Best Documentary: And, if you haven’t seen it by now, you’re missing a real treat, a story of a South African snorkeling naturalist and an octopus that is the best buddy film of the century, that’s a bit of an emotional roller coaster, not at all what you might imagine. It’s streaming now on Netflix.

If You Really Want to Save Coral Reefs, Pony Up. A lot of groups are working hard to save reefs and fish, but for my money, Seacology is among the best, funding projects local people need, in return for their agreement to protect reefs in many ways, including stopping overfishing and poaching. Undercurrent has supported Seacology, and it is indeed worth your individual financial support (seacology.org). And have they gotten creative! In the Dominican Republic, where baseball dominates youth culture -- in fact, the nation’s culture -- they want to raise $15K to provide underprivileged kids with bats, balls, gloves, you name it. In return, these kids have to help clean up and plant mangroves, which, as you divers know, are fish hatcheries for the reefs. Given the DR’s obsession with baseball, the mangrove program will be national news. Contribute to their crowdfunding campaign at seacology.org/sport

Great Whites in the Kelp Forests. If California divers spot a great white shark, they head to kelp beds, believing that great whites refuse to go in them. Alas, research scientists at Murdoch University in South Africa -- South Africa has plenty of kelp -- strapped cameras to eight of these top predators and discovered they frequently cruise and hunt among the kelp beds, where they are able to make spectacular 180-degree turns. So, divers, you might as well just hang and watch them. Click here to view the video.

Lots of Online Films to Watch at the Film Festival. Claiming to be the largest festival in the world for ocean-related films, San Francisco’s 18th International Ocean Film Festival is this year a virtual event available online to those who purchase a festival pass. With more than 80 top-quality films to view, you can browse through their film guide to preview the films that might interest you, and you can purchase a single screening for $12, a six-pack film bundle for $65, or the whole shooting match at $140. Once you’ve unlocked a film, you’ve got until May 2 to start it and seven days to finish it. There are 10 award-winning productions with their trailers available on the website. This year all films entered are eligible for the Global Audience Choice Award through a direct balloting system where you have the opportunity to rate each film you’ve watched. intloceanfilmfest.org

Coral Browsers Maintain a Healthy Reef. Coral-eating fish excrete symbiotic algae by the millions, which helps keep coral reefs healthy. Rice University marine biologist Adrienne Correa discovered coral predator feces are jam-packed with living symbiotic algae that corals depend on for survival. The discovery, during an expedition in French Polynesia, confirms that coral-eating fish feces is an important source of symbiotic dinoflagellate algae on coral reefs. Science Daily

Success Renovating a Reef in Bali. Since 2018, Andrew Taylor and his team have been restoring a reef in Nusa Penida, Bali. It appeared to be an ever-growing area of barren rubble, but with the help of volunteers, he has positioned especially built frames onto which several species of coral were planted. They grew above the rubble and formed a habitat for marine organisms. With help from visiting divers who financed some of the 300-plus frames with 15,000 transplanted coral fragments the previously dead reef is now covered with healthy coral. Blue Corner Conservancy

Most Wanted Scuba Divers Arrested. In December 2011, Aimee Rhodes died during a scuba diving expedition off Key Largo, FL. She had gone out with four other passengers on Get Wet, a boat operated in conjunction with Scuba Shack and its British owners, Alison Gracey and Christopher Jones. (Undercurrent January 2012). The boat capsized and sank. Gracey and Jones had been repeatedly warned that their vessel was not seaworthy. To escape legal retribution, they closed their business and fled to St Maarten in 2015, where they were first arrested before being released. Last seen in France in 2017, they have now been arrested in Madrid, Spain. Decider.com

Ivory Crackdown Puts Giant Clams in Trouble. Anyone who has dived in the South Pacific will have delighted at the sight of a giant clam on the reef, and the colorful commensal algae that lives on its mantle. Recently, 200 tons of illegally harvested giant clam shells worth nearly $25 million were seized in Palawan, the Philippines. The surging illicit trade in these endangered creatures is a direct result of the global crackdown on the ivory trade, because the shell material is used as a substitute. In March, another 80 tons were also seized. The four suspects arrested have clammed up. The Guardian

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Ben Davison, editor/publisher
BenDDavison@undercurrent.org