Seabed 2030’s Post

FRESHWATER CRAYFISH. Freshwater crayfish are an important part of ecosystems in south-west rivers and lakes of Western Australia. They are often omnivorous detritivores that consume large amounts of dead and decaying organic material on the bottom, but also feed on aquatic plants and actively predate on aquatic animals - therefore play an important role as keystone species. Crayfish are also one of Australia’s great delicacies. More than 100 species of crayfish are native to Australia, and at least seven species are commonly caught for food around Perth. We have been exploring freshwater lakes on scuba lately (very different to diving in the ocean) and came cross with these large Smooth Marron (Cherax cainii) at a depth of ~5 m. This lake is ~9 m deep and there was no visible life after the thermocline (the transition layer between warmer water on top and cooler deep water below) at ~6 m. You can also see South-west glass shrimp (Palaemon australis) and my dive buddy’s leaking gear 😊 #freshwater #exploration #scuba #crayfish #crustaceans

Giant Moray Eel (Gymnothorax javanicus) is one of the important carnivorous species in the #coral_reef community and is considered one of the reef check #fish indicators that collected during the #marine survey. The photo attached is of small Giftun Island, #Hurghada, Red Sea, #Egypt. #fish #corals #reef #coralreef #reefcheck #marine #survey #redsea #egypt

In the latest Legacy in Action, Tom Ndekezi explores a mobile aquarium transforming marine education in the prairies. The Aquatic Biosphere Project's travels bring aquatic life to classrooms, aiming to create a deeper understanding and connection between people and the underwater world. Read the latest issue: https://lnkd.in/g7t4zkQf #ECF #YEG #LegacyinAction #Underthesea

Diving into the Water: Amphibious Plants as a Model for Investigating Plant Adaptations to Aquatic Environments (OA) https://botany.fyi/36k3j0 Koga et al summarise and compare the regulatory mechanisms and evolutionary origins of amphibious plants based on molecular biology studies actively conducted in recent years using novel model amphibious plant species. #Botany #PlantScience

Invasive Species Spotlight - Sea Vomit Sea vomit (Didemnum vexillum) is an invasive ascidian species that was recently observed for the first time in the Bay of Fundy by the #HuntsmanMarine and Fisheries and Oceans Canada dive team (images A-E)! Sea vomit spreads by fragmentation and can also reproduce via larvae (image F). Warming waters in the Bay of Fundy mean that this species is more likely to survive and spread. Unfortunately, this species can cover extensive areas of seabed smothering native marine life. It creates a barrier that prevents predators from accessing food on and in the seabed. It can also foul man made structures, such as aquaculture cages and lobster traps. You might spot this species when scuba diving, fishing, or on the bottom of your boat. Please report any records to us by email (huntsman@huntsmanmarine.ca) or through our iNaturalist project (https://lnkd.in/egKaN2HA). Take a photo so we can confirm your identification and if possible also take a sample and freeze it. #InvSpWk

2 Bedrooms & 2 Bathrooms on Destin Harbor $499,000. Fly into VPS or Destin Airport. Water Taxi to dinner. Geography and Underwater Topography: Destin's proximity to the 100-fathom curve—where the continental shelf’s depths plunge deeper than anywhere else in the Gulf of Mexico—makes it an unparalleled destination for deep-sea fishing. This unique geographical advantage means that deep-water species are closer to shore in Destin than in many other places, shortening the trip to fishing grounds. Diverse Fish Species: The waters off Destin are teeming with a diverse range of fish, including Red Snapper, Grouper, Amberjack, Mackerel, Mahi-Mahi, Marlin, and Sailfish. This diversity provides for a broad range of fishing experiences and challenges. Largest Charter Fishing Fleet: Destin boasts Florida’s largest charter fishing fleet, with over 100 experienced captains ready to guide novice and experienced anglers. Whether you’re looking for a private charter or a shared experience, plenty of options exist.

Happy World Manta Day! Today we celebrate these gentle "GIANTS" of the ocean. The Oceanic Manta (Mobula birostris) can grow up to 7 m across and weigh up to 3000 kg. Mantas are easily recognized by large, triangular pectoral fins on either side of the body, and paired horn-shaped cephalic lobes, at the front. Though their size may be intimidating, manta rays are docile creatures and pose almost no threat to humans; they do NOT possess tail spines or barbs. Possessing one of the largest brain-to-body ratios of any fish, mantas are very intelligent and curious, and may often approach divers. Declining numbers due to unsustainable fisheries targeting their gill plates have resulted in the Oceanic Manta being listed as Endangered on the IUCN Red List. Locally there is no fishery targeting mantas however there are instances where mantas have gotten entangled in fishing nets and anchor ropes. These creatures are often wider than our artisanal fishing vessels and if not released quickly can drag the boats along…a very scary experience for both fisher and manta. Our “Improving the knowledge of skates and rays in Trinidad and Tobago” project is supported by the Wanderlust Foundation, The Ocean Foundation, Schmidt Marine Technology Partners, and crowdfunding through Experiment.com. #manta #mobula #trinidad #tobago #trinidadandtobago #ocean #marine #batoids #elasmobranch #flatsharks #rays # Chondrichthyes #mantaday #endangeredspecies #megafauna #coastal #oceanic #marinelife #threatenedandendangeredspecies #atlanticocean #fisheries #bycatch Video Credit: Dr. Anjani Ganase

Black-browed albatross These fantastic birds, once fledged, can go years on the wing before returning to land to breed when they're about ten years of age. To me, they symbolise freedom and wanderlust. But the reality is they are under threat from longline fishing. This is a popular method of fishing used in the Southern Ocean to obtain high quantities of bluefin tuna, ling, snapper, hoki and Patagonian toothfish. The way that longlining works is that fishermen set out a single line up to 130 km long behind their boat. They then attach to the line thousands of baited hooks. Once the longlines are sunk, they do not affect the birds, but while floating behind the boats, albatrosses and petrels try and take the bait but may end up swallowing the hook and then drowning. According to Bird Life International, more than 300,000 seabirds are killed every year this way, including 100,000 albatrosses.

I am currently in Mexico diving but have yet to see a shark - not even a reef shark - which is very unusual. Maybe the answer is international trade in shark fins which continues to kill sharks at alarming rates. Although several shark species are “protected” by the reporting requirements of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species the reporting mechanism is flawed as discussed in the article below. For more info on the extent of shark fin trade and the failure of CITES read my recent paper with Dr Rolf Weder here:https://lnkd.in/gqcA2mrD