Scuba Diving Blog

The Ocean Conservancy annual Coastal Cleanup will be held on Saturday, September 20th.  37 out of 50 states are participating in the coastal cleanup (even many land-locked states).  If you are interested in participating in the coastal cleanup, please visit their website at www.oceanconservancy.org

Volunteers are needed to help clean the along the beaches, scuba diving to pick up trash, and anyone willing to donate their boats to help bring trash ashore.

If you cannot participate on the 20th, but would like to donate, you can also do that on their website.  Please visit www.oceanconservancy.org and read all about the wonderful organization.

Since we’re back in the Florida lobster season (Aug 6th - March 31st), I thought it might be a good idea to remind everybody to please follow the proper restrictions for lobstering. If you have any questions about the restrictions, please visit the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commissions website. I have posted the information in the past and it can still be viewed under the categories link (uncategorized or environmental Impact) if you wish to view it.

The Spiny Lobster regulations can be viewed at www.floridaconservation.org/marine/lobster.htm

The Red Lion fish, native of the Western Pacific Ocean and the Indian Ocean, has been growing in population in the Atlantic Ocean.  The Red Lion fish is a member of the scorpion fish family and protects itself through its venomous spines.

Scientists believe the fish was released from household pets as they overgrew the tanks.  (Sound familiar to those in south Florida dealing with Iguanas, boa constrictors and other non-native animals?)   

The Red Lion fish has been growing in population from Massachusetts down to West Palm Beach and is especially prevalent in the Bahamas.  Since there is no known predator to the fish, scientists are doing research to find out how to control the population. 

Scientists have found large quantities of reef fish and crustaceans in the stomachs of these fish.  Everything from shrimp, seahorses, to a juvenile grouper is fare game to these fish.  They will eat anything that fits in their mouths.

If you would like to find out more about the efforts that are being made to control this species, visit www.reef.org/programs/exotic

Back in the 1970’s, there were about 2 million tires dumped into the Atlantic Ocean off the Coast of Dania Beach in an effort organized by fisherman to create an artificial reef. Three decades and $2,000,000 later, military divers now begin a 2-5 year project to remove these tires from the ocean floor at a rate of 1000 tires per day.

Over the years the hurricanes have broken the pile of tires up and there has been almost no coral growth.

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=11462066

I just saw a Help Me Howard story on WSVN channel 7 in Miami, FL where a lady named Theresa has stumbled across a kerosene leak in her yard. She reported it to the city and DERM (Department of Environmental Resources Management in Miami) came out to investigate. They told Theresa that it was an environmental hazard and that the tank would need to be removed. She called the companies that were provided to her and was told that the cost would be approximately $8,000.00.

Theresa was able to drain the tank to prevent more damage, but still needs to remove the tank. Because she does not have the money, she went to Help Me Howard for help.

DERM has so far not helped her with this cost and, for every day that she is not in compliance, DERM can begin to bill her, increasing the cost exponentially. They can even put a lean on her house if she is unable to pay it. Theresa will be forced to use her retirement account to pay to have this tank removed.

I have written to channel 7 to ask if they have an address that people can send them money to be forwarded to Theresa to help. As soon as I get a response I will post it for everyone who wants to help.

Hopefully all the neighbors in Theresa’s area who have tanks buried in their yards will have them drained before they have this problem. In the meantime, my heart goes out to Theresa and the environment being impacted. If you would like to help, please send whatever you are able to spare to channel 7. They will then send the money to Theresa (and probably do a follow-up story.)

More information to come when I hear back from WSVN’s Patrick Fraser…

To Update:

I have heard back from Theresa who has provided me with an update. She is not soliciting donations, but is very appreciative of the gesture. Right now she is waiting on DEMA to provide the Notice of Violation. Until she receives that, the company that is going to be doing the work (and at a lower price) is unable to start the job. Hopefully the folks at DEMA, who are the people in charge of these environmental impacts, will get their act together and provide this notice of violation before there is any more damage…

Seeing lobsters while scuba diving is of course a highlight of most dives. That is why it is crucial that the rules and regulations during Lobster Season is followed.

With that said, I am posting this years rules and regulations to provide divers with the guidelines they must follow, not to encourage more people to go lobstering.

*** To participate in Lobster season, you MUST have the proper lobstering license***

Mini or Sport Season extends two days in July – this year the 25^th & 26^th.

The bag limit in Monroe County and Biscayne Park is 6 per person per day. The limit for the rest of Florida is 12 per person, per day.

Night diving is prohibited during mini season in Monroe County.

Possession Limits during mini season

On the water – equal to the daily bag limit.

Off the water – on the 25^th – daily limit, the 26^th – double the daily limit.

Regular Season begins August 6^th, and ends March 31^st.

The bag limit during regular season is 6 per person, per day.

All lobsters must be larger than 3” carapace measured in the water. You MUST have in your possession and USE a measuring device at all times. Any lobster 3” or smaller, must be safely released before leaving the water. Removing the tail from a lobster in the water is strictly prohibited. For more information on measuring a spiny lobster, please visit the following website…

http://myfwc.com/marine/Fishing_Measurement.htm#lobster

*** No Spears, Hooks, Piercings, explosives

*** No egg-bearing (berried) lobsters.

Lobstering is prohibited in the following Florida locations:

Everglades National Park – mini & regular season

Dry Tortuga’s National Park – mini & regular season

No-take areas in Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary – mini & regular season – for more information in the Keys, visit the following website – http://floridakeys.noaa.gov

John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park during Mini Season

All of this information can be viewed at: http://myfwc.com/marine/lobster.htm