Finally was able to put together the video of my last shark dive with friend and U/W photographer Raul Boesel Jr. Enjoy!
Showing posts with label lemon sharks. Show all posts
Showing posts with label lemon sharks. Show all posts
Saturday, August 31, 2013
Thursday, February 18, 2010
Florida Lemon Sharks are Protected
Lemon Sharks - Photo by Wolf Leander
<http://myfwc.com/NEWSROOM/Index.htm>
For immediate release: February 18, 2010
Contact: Lee Schlesinger, 850-487-0554
FWC acts to protect lemon sharks
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) approved a rule Thursday to prohibit all recreational and commercial harvest of lemon sharks from Florida waters. The FWC took this action to protect lemon sharks, because they have a high potential to be overharvested.
Lemon sharks are often found near shore in shallow water, especially in Southeast Florida, where they aggregate in large numbers each year. This makes them easy to locate and raises the potential for large numbers of lemon sharks to be removed from the population with minimal effort by fishermen.
Lemon sharks also are susceptible to overharvest because of their life history characteristics. They are slow-growing, reaching sexual maturity at 12-15 years of age, and have a low reproductive potential, producing 6 to 18 pups per litter every second or third year. Juvenile lemon sharks experience a mortality of 40-60 percent.
Recently, some preliminary data from an ongoing tagging study found that at least 7.5 percent of tagged adult lemon sharks from a Southeast Florida aggregation succumbed to fishing mortality in one season. At that rate, the entire lemon shark aggregation could be harvested in a few years.
In addition, recent regulatory actions for other shark species might put more fishing pressure on lemon sharks in Florida waters, where 90 percent of known lemon shark aggregations occur. The harvest of lemon sharks will still be allowed in offshore federal waters adjacent to state waters.
Healthy lemon shark populations are especially important to Florida’s dive charter industry which provides ecotourism trips to see lemon shark aggregations in the winter months.
The FWC’s lemon shark rule takes effect on March 23. More information about recent shark-management actions <http://www.myfwc.com/RULESANDREGS/Saltwater_Regulations_Sharks.htm> is available online at MyFWC.com/Rules, click on “Fishing – Saltwater.”
For immediate release: February 18, 2010
Contact: Lee Schlesinger, 850-487-0554
FWC acts to protect lemon sharks
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) approved a rule Thursday to prohibit all recreational and commercial harvest of lemon sharks from Florida waters. The FWC took this action to protect lemon sharks, because they have a high potential to be overharvested.
Lemon sharks are often found near shore in shallow water, especially in Southeast Florida, where they aggregate in large numbers each year. This makes them easy to locate and raises the potential for large numbers of lemon sharks to be removed from the population with minimal effort by fishermen.
Lemon sharks also are susceptible to overharvest because of their life history characteristics. They are slow-growing, reaching sexual maturity at 12-15 years of age, and have a low reproductive potential, producing 6 to 18 pups per litter every second or third year. Juvenile lemon sharks experience a mortality of 40-60 percent.
Recently, some preliminary data from an ongoing tagging study found that at least 7.5 percent of tagged adult lemon sharks from a Southeast Florida aggregation succumbed to fishing mortality in one season. At that rate, the entire lemon shark aggregation could be harvested in a few years.
In addition, recent regulatory actions for other shark species might put more fishing pressure on lemon sharks in Florida waters, where 90 percent of known lemon shark aggregations occur. The harvest of lemon sharks will still be allowed in offshore federal waters adjacent to state waters.
Healthy lemon shark populations are especially important to Florida’s dive charter industry which provides ecotourism trips to see lemon shark aggregations in the winter months.
The FWC’s lemon shark rule takes effect on March 23. More information about recent shark-management actions <http://www.myfwc.com/RULESANDREGS/Saltwater_Regulations_Sharks.htm> is available online at MyFWC.com/Rules, click on “Fishing – Saltwater.”
Friday, December 04, 2009
Lemon Sharks Could be Safe in Florida
Lemon sharks may have more to smile about. Photo by Wolfgang Leander
By David Fleshler:
"They are the lords of the reefs, powerful 10-foot sharks that prowl shallow coastal waters, snatching stingrays, crabs and mullet.
But while lemon sharks can hold their own in the undersea jungle, they face a tougher time against the predators equipped with powerboats, baited hooks and satellite tracking devices.
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission this month is considering a ban on the catch of lemon sharks, hoping to protect a species that plays an important role in maintaining the health of coral reefs.
The proposal for the ban came from a group of scientists and environmentalists clustered around University of Miami professor Samuel Gruber, the world's foremost lemon shark expert. They fear that restrictions on catching other shark species over the past couple of years are leading fishermen to turn their attention to lemon sharks. Since 2004, the Florida lemon shark catch has risen more than 400 percent..."
Read complete article here.
Monday, November 30, 2009
Finally...
As I list past posts I will also include brief articles on some of the new people that I met on the trip...
"Nov. 17, 2009
All of last week was completely shot – current and visibility made for a dry week – the dive operator said that has never happened before. I must admit that the people took it really well considering that some came from Europe.
So today was the first day with a new group of people – four stayed from the week before – and yes, the visibility and conditions were finally good. We had plenty of lemon sharks and two tiger sharks of which one was a juvenile. It is always a treat to see these magnificent animals, and according to the captain conditions from here on should only improve, which is a good thing.
Last week I gained about 5lbs – ate a lot and moved very little, have made up for it today, freedove for 5 hours and going to watch what I eat for the rest of this week."
Lemon Shark - Photo by Felix Leander
"Nov. 17, 2009
All of last week was completely shot – current and visibility made for a dry week – the dive operator said that has never happened before. I must admit that the people took it really well considering that some came from Europe.
So today was the first day with a new group of people – four stayed from the week before – and yes, the visibility and conditions were finally good. We had plenty of lemon sharks and two tiger sharks of which one was a juvenile. It is always a treat to see these magnificent animals, and according to the captain conditions from here on should only improve, which is a good thing.
Last week I gained about 5lbs – ate a lot and moved very little, have made up for it today, freedove for 5 hours and going to watch what I eat for the rest of this week."
Tuesday, October 20, 2009
Lemon Sharks Public Workshop Recap
Lemon Shark - Photo by: Wolfgang Leander
In August, a proposal was submitted to the commission to prohibit the take of lemon sharks, finally in September, the commission directed staff to investigate the proposal and return to the commission in December with a recommendation.
Some interesting data as to why the Lemon Shark fishing ban should be in place (as per the FWC):
- Additional pressure on lemon sharks due to recent changes in shark management
- NOAA Fisheries Service study found lemon sharks to be the most vulnerable of all 33 large coastal species
- Sexual maturity at 12-15 years of age and at lengths of around 90 inches or greater, 6 to 18 pups per litter...
- Tagging study found at least 7.5% mortality of adult population in one season.
Below are some of my observations and notes of what various people had to say - among them dive operators, commercial fishermen, scientists, divers, non-profits, and shark lovers:
- Lots of questions and doubts on the numbers of sharks killed by anglers (recreational) between 2000-2007 – average per year
- How fast people lose focus – look at trend
- Coral reefs are dying as is – taking out more apex predators will increase process. Use history of commercial fishing and collapsed industries as examples
- It is in fishermen’s best interest to protect species that they are harvesting
- Commercial fishermen being punished for recreational harvest
- FWC has long history of waiting / failing to protect endangered species
- 4/6 lemon sharks a day (breeding size) – now he does not see that many in a season
- Ban at least during spawning months
- Wolves removed from the mountains – mountains die (good comparison)
- Wolves reintroduced to Yellowstone and vegetation came back
- We need our predators…
- Various non-profits represented and support the ban
- Information overload – too many numbers and studies to remember – all boils down to sharks being in trouble
- People started to become very repetitive…too much reading...speak
- Data is flaw…but you need to focus on the trend
- The shark is a resource…I think it is a living animal
- Doc speaks directly to commercial fishermen who earlier mentioned that there is no reliable data
- There is data – and it has been collected over 30-40 years – empirical data
- And that he is the one individual that loves lemons – only likes them now since one bit him ;)
- Lemon is the most vulnerable for many reasons – not just ease to catch. They follow a long lifecycle similar to whales and even humans in the sense of development. Not sexually mature until there are at least 12 years old
- Lemon sharks go up to 15 miles into fresh water rivers
- Protect the breeders – there should be an upper limit
In just sitting there and listening to the various people speak I could not help and think - we are deciding on the fate of a species based on $$$. Many people speaking for or against the banning of harvesting lemon sharks have an economic agenda be it to take divers to see the sharks or those that catch and sell the meat. The shark is a resource and nothing more - I sure hope not?
And while I completely support the ban of harvesting the Lemon Shark and any other species for that matter, I do hope that whatever plan is set in motion, contemplates the commercial fisherman as well.
Tuesday, October 13, 2009
Florida Lemon Sharks Need Your Help
Photo by: Wolf Leander
Click on image to enlarge
I have been receiving various emails, Facebook messages, etc. regarding the Florida Lemon Shark petition...please see below:
"For those of you who are not aware, the situation with lemon sharks is very critical and time sensitive. Please sign this petition -- it takes two seconds! These animals are in real danger of getting wiped out very quickly. Fishing regulations have changed and lemon sharks will now be targeted. And they can't handle the fishing pressure.
http://www.thepetitionsite.com/4/urgent-help-needed-to-protect-lemon-sharks
And if you're in Florida, please, please come to one of the FWC Public Lemon Shark Workshops. There will be a lot of interesting shark people and divers there, so besides doing something really good, it will be fun!
Oct. 19th - Fort Myers, FL - 6pm - 8pm - Joseph P. D'Alessandro Office Complex, 2295 Victoria Ave.
Oct. 20th - Dania Beach, FL - 6pm -8pm - IGFA Fishing Hall of Fame and Museum, 300 Gulf Stream Way."
I will go to the Oct. 20th meeting, hope to see some of you there.
Tuesday, June 30, 2009
An Update from Samuel Gruber and Lemon Sharks in Florida
Lemon Shark - Photo by: Wolf Leander
As per Samuel Gruber:
Dear All: Herewith is a summary version of the recent meeting in Fort Lauderdale where we presented testimony to the FWC. As Bill said, we have to keep up efforts as we move strongly in the conservation arena. Out goal will be to get the lemon shark on the prohibited list or at the very least extend its closed season. We will need to convince both the Florida Wildlife Commission and the National Marine Fisheries Commission and this will take data, effort and time as well as funding to get the job done. There are funding agencies in interested in helping us attain this goal.
Changes to Current Shark Fishing Rules on the Horizon--Our effort to get Florida’s
Lemon Shark, Negaprion brevirostris protected by the FWC
Walt Sterns and Samuel H. Gruber
Lemon Shark, Negaprion brevirostris protected by the FWC
Walt Sterns and Samuel H. Gruber
Last week we attended one of five Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) public workshops held this month to receive comments on a plan to bring he Florida’s shark regulations into agreement with the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission's (ASMFC) Interstate Fishery Management Plan for Atlantic Coastal Sharks.
Attending last night’s meeting, held at International Game Fish Association headquarters in Ft. Lauderdale was Gary and Brenda Adkison for the Shark Foundation, Steve Stock for the Guy Harvey Ocean Foundation, Drs. Samuel Gruber and Bryan Franks for the Bimini Biological Field Station, Bill Parks for the Christine Baltzer Parks Environmental Foundation and members of Reef Rescue, a few dive operation representatives, some university graduate students and Walt Sterns, senior author of this report.
The series of meetings was to record public comment on various options for amending its shark management rules (68B-44, F.A.C.), with the possibility to modify them to comply with or go beyond the ASMFC shark management plan.
According to the introduction by FWC’s staff, the ASMFC’s management plan sharks includes a minimum size limit of 54” (4.5 feet)/137.2 cm, measured tip of nose to fork of the tail; a bag limit for lemon, bull, sandbar, dusky, hammerhead, tiger, etc., and other caveats designed to "achieve conformity" with the regulations agreed upon by the ASMFC.
Public comments were generally in agreement that instituting a blanket, minimum size limit (54”) without taking into account that species’ natural history, would be counterproductive and not protect or benefit the conservation and management of sharks.
Several informed comments were presented, based on the life history strategy of the large coastal species suggesting that it is more important to protect the young breeders than the juveniles. Thus the commercial and recreational take should reflect a minimum size that excludes sharks in their first years of maturity. Such a regulation will protect both the juveniles and first breeders. In the lemon shark, this is about 74” or 190 cm fork length. Other problems for large coastal shark include development or destruction of coastal nursery habitats required for juvenile development.
More specifically In the case of the lemon shark, several of the public spoke in favor of moving this species to prohibited status. The lemon shark’s life history pattern was discussed and it was pointed out that this shark has been reported by NMFS as THE most vulnerable of the large coastal species. Lemon sharks take from 12-15 years to reach sexual maturity equivalent to a length of approximately 92” (7.8”)/235 cm which is a lot bigger than the present suggested minimum length of the ASFMC.
From juvenile to adult, lemon sharks most of their lives in a coastal habitat from very shallow to 200 feet of water. This nearness to shore makes them highly vulnerable to both commercial and recreation fishers. But more recently it has been shown that adult lemon sharks from far and wide gather on large aggregations off Palm Beach and Martin counties. This greatly increases their exposure to targeted fishing. It would not be unreasonable to predict that if targeted the entire breeding population could be wiped out in a number of days or weeks. Based on the data we have been compiling over the past three years on the South Florida’s lemon shark aggregations, the “highly vulnerable” status could be taken as an understatement.
From a commercial standpoint, the lemon shark catch has historically been miniscule representing only 0.7 of the entire Atlantic coast long line fishery. Lemons rank # 7 in commercial landings at 62,000 lbs. vs. 1.5 Million pounds of sandbar shark taken annually. Further the value of the fins is relatively lows, being grade B on the world market. Thus the total value of the lemon shark take is very small and would not seriously impact the economy of the fishery if they were excluded.
Historically the lemon shark was not particularly targeted or under heavy fishing pressure. But recently that picture has changed as fishers are trying for larger individual sharks.
Our goal over the next several months will be to bring together all relevant information on the lemon shark to make the case that this species is highly vulnerable, has a relatively low abundance and could be extirpated from Florida waters unless protected. This applies to both federal and state regulation. We believe that elevating lemon sharks to a prohibited species for both commercial and recreational fishers is a goal that can be achieve with the help of the public at large.
More information: To see the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission's (ASMFC) Interstate Fishery Management Plan for Atlantic Coastal Sharks in its entirety - http://www.asmfc.org/speciesDocument...stalSharks.pdf
Monday, November 24, 2008
Lemonade
Benjamin was kind enough to send his video of Tiger Beach - many sharks up close...might get to catch a few quick glimpses of some freedivers...
Nov. 10th, 2008
“Lemonade”
Everyone survived the crossing and Bahamian customs did not “confiscate” anyone. From Grand Bahama Bay it was about another 2-3 hour motor to Tiger Wreck. The group was getting pretty anxious to get into the water. Once we got there, the buoy line/anchor line had to be fixed which took about another hour.
Quick brief – and everyone was in, lemons sharks were already packing at the surface waiting for some bait to be thrown their way. The lemons reminded me a lot of the black tip sharks in Aliwal Shoal, except that these swim a little slower and are more engaging. Wolf and David managed to get a few hugs here and there. Fun loving animals that seem to enjoy our company as much as we enjoy theirs. Towards the end of the day we were graced by two small tigers, unfortunately they were shy and did not stay close to the commotion.
On the bright side, my video camera did not flood and I was able to get some decent shots. Jupp on the other had was not so lucky – his camera flooded the moment he jumped in – apparently his housing requires an o-ring in the front AND the back – no warning notice or o-ring placed in the front by the manufacturer – hopefully he will be able to order a new camera for his trip next week.
We stayed in the water until daylight permitted and then were spoiled by Gail – she prepared ribs, mashed potatoes, and some apple pie. For the rest of the night I watched David prepared his Gates housing which took about two hours to rig (Thanks to Fiona’s distractions). David is also diving on a re-breather, can stay down for about four hours and does not blow any bubbles.
Wondering what tomorrow will bring…
Nov. 10th, 2008
“Lemonade”
Everyone survived the crossing and Bahamian customs did not “confiscate” anyone. From Grand Bahama Bay it was about another 2-3 hour motor to Tiger Wreck. The group was getting pretty anxious to get into the water. Once we got there, the buoy line/anchor line had to be fixed which took about another hour.
Quick brief – and everyone was in, lemons sharks were already packing at the surface waiting for some bait to be thrown their way. The lemons reminded me a lot of the black tip sharks in Aliwal Shoal, except that these swim a little slower and are more engaging. Wolf and David managed to get a few hugs here and there. Fun loving animals that seem to enjoy our company as much as we enjoy theirs. Towards the end of the day we were graced by two small tigers, unfortunately they were shy and did not stay close to the commotion.
On the bright side, my video camera did not flood and I was able to get some decent shots. Jupp on the other had was not so lucky – his camera flooded the moment he jumped in – apparently his housing requires an o-ring in the front AND the back – no warning notice or o-ring placed in the front by the manufacturer – hopefully he will be able to order a new camera for his trip next week.
We stayed in the water until daylight permitted and then were spoiled by Gail – she prepared ribs, mashed potatoes, and some apple pie. For the rest of the night I watched David prepared his Gates housing which took about two hours to rig (Thanks to Fiona’s distractions). David is also diving on a re-breather, can stay down for about four hours and does not blow any bubbles.
Wondering what tomorrow will bring…
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