In today’s article, we shall examine the oceans surrounding Saint Jean De Luz, France. Saint Jean De Luz is a small fishing town in the center of the Bay of Biscay, along the Western Coastline of France. Its name is derived from Saint Jean, & the fact that the city was flooded often over its centuries of existence. Saint Jean De Luz means “Saint Jean’s Swamp”, as the town occasionally is flooded to the point of being partially underwater. It is near the border between France & Spain, in the Basque Region. The city itself is approximately 7 square miles, with a population density of roughly 2,000 people per square mile. The city is well known for its fisheries, wildlife, beaches, casino, spas, & luxurious resorts. Both international & domestic tourists flock to the area seeking relaxation, & a tranquil atmosphere. Many festivals & events are held in the town, as it is an accessible location to both the French, & the Spanish. The coastline around the city is the site of many fisheries, & marine animals. Whales, sharks, & squid are only a few of the animals that frequent the coastline of the town. Although Saint-Jean-De-Luz is nestled along the Northern Atlantic Ocean which is notoriously cold, their beaches are renowned for their beauty & charm. The water is very pure, & is free of pollution. Kayaking, Canoeing, Swimming, & similar oceanic activities are fairly popular around the town. In this article, we will discuss the salinity, tides, temperatures, marine geography, & depth of the oceans surrounding Saint -Jean-De-Luz, the most prominent oceanic ecosystems of Saint-Jean-De-Luz, & the documented marine flora & fauna of Saint-Jean-De-Luz. With that being said, let us delve into the oceans surrounding the bewitching & charming town of Saint-Jean-De-Luz. The Salinity, Tides, Temperatures, Marine Geography, & Depth of the Oceans Surrounding Saint-Jean-De-Luz Unfortunately, the salinity around Saint-Jean-De-Luz is unmeasured. The salinity in the Bay of Biscay is approximately 30 to 35.6 parts per thousand at any given time. As Saint Jean De Luz is located along the Bay of Biscay, the salinity of the water must fall between those 2 figures. Salinity is measured in 1000-gram increments of water, & for every 1000 grams of water, a certain amount is salt. This measurement is called parts per thousand, or practical salinity units. The tidal charts for the areas around the town can be found on a plethora of websites, a few of which are: https://www.tide-forecast.com, https://www.tidetime.org, https://www.surf-forecast.com, https://www.tideschart.com, & https://tidesnear.me. The high tide usually does not reach over 4.25 meters tall, & the low tide doesn’t typically reach under 0.13 meters. The oceanic temperature charts may be found on similar websites, including: https://www.seatemperature.org, https://seatemperature.net, https://www.surf-forecast.com, & https://www.tideschart.com. The average yearly oceanic temperature differs each year, it is usually close to 61.758333333333° Fahrenheit (16.53240740740722° Celsius). Using this yearly temperature, it is recommended that swimmers wear wetsuits with a thickness of 5 millimeters. There are no strong rip currents around the city, & the regular currents are not particularly strong. The beaches are perfectly safe for swimming, & the water is unaffected by pollution. Some of the most popular beaches around Saint-Jean-De-Luz are Mayarco Beach, Grande Plage, Pergola Beach, Erromardie Beach, & Plage de Lafitenia. Surfing, kayaking, fishing, swimming, & canoeing are only a few of the oceanic activities that are popular around the city, as the city is incredibly popular. The oceanic floor around the city is largely composed of sand, rock, & clay. The deepest oceanic point within 5 nautical miles (5.7539 miles or 9.26 kilometers) of the city is approximately 230.3 feet (70.19544 meters) deep. The Most Prominent Ocean Ecosystems of Saint-Jean-De-Luz Ecosystem No. 1: Intertidal Zones Intertidal zones are located along the coastlines, & are exposed to air at low tide. These zones are where the ocean meets the shoreline, & contrary to popular perception, are absolutely teeming with oceanic life. From crabs to bivalves, this ecosystem has a unique variety of marine life, as well as a unique variety of features. These zones generally have species from the phyla Echinodermata, Arthropoda, & Mollusca in them. Additionally, these zones may have tide pools. Ecosystem No. 2: Seagrass Meadows Seagrass meadows are large patches of seagrass that oxygenate the water & provide shelter for marine organisms. These meadows are incredibly important to the oceanic ecosystem, as they provide a food source, an oxygen source, shelter, & spawning grounds simultaneously. These seagrass meadows may be composed of 1 species, or be composed of multiple species depending on their depth. Typically, these meadows can be found from 0.25 to 190 feet (0.0762 meters to 57.912 feet) deep. The Documented Marine Flora of Saint-Jean-De-Luz Unfortunately, there is very little information available about the marine flora of Saint-Jean-De-Luz in the public domain, & we cannot find information on specific marine plant species in the local area. The Documented Marine Fauna of Saint-Jean-De-Luz Saint Jean De Luz has a variety of different marine fauna, ranging from curious sharks, to peculiar squid, to massive whales. Unfortunately, there have been no marine animal surveys for the coastline, meaning we do not have comprehensive information about what marine life roam the area. Approximately 250 tons of fish are harvested from the coastline of Saint-Jean-De-Luz every year, with the most popular fish being tuna, anchovies, & sardines. A vibrant photograph of a seaside community along Saint-Jean-de-Luz, France. Credit to https://generationvoyage.fr. Directories / Credits Citation No. 1: “Wetsuit thickness & temperature guide”, Written by Mark Evans, & Published on April 24th, 2023, at 3:05 PM. Published By Scuba Divers Magazine. Retrieval Date: May 22nd, 2024. https://www.scubadivermag.com/wetsuit-thickness-and-temperature-guide/#Scuba_diving_wetsuits Citation No. 2: “The Basque Country Beaches in Saint-Jean-De-Luz”, Written by Unknown, & Published at an Unknown Date. Published by Negocom Atlantique. Retrieval Date: May 22nd, 2024. https://www.guide-du-paysbasque.com/en/tourism/discover/beaches/saint-jean-de-luz-75.html Citation No. 3: “Saint-Jean-de-Luz: The Royal City”, Written by Unknown, & Published at an Unknown Date. Published by the Tourist Office of the Basque Country. Retrieval Date: May 22nd, 2024. https://www.en-pays-basque.fr/en/territory-and-destination/basque-coast/st-jean-de-luz/ Strategic Partnerships Reel Guppy Outdoors SharkedSkooler Marine Enthusiasts Podcast Cash Daniels Tides of Tomorrow The Open Book, Topanga Olivenbaum Musc Pitfire Artisan Pizza Our Loyal Patrons P. R. Ochoa

A striking black & white portrait of Dr. Isabel Perez Farfante. This article is part of our Marine Hall of Distinction collection. In this special collection, we discuss the marine biologists who have contributed most to marine biology & oceanography. We do this to commemorate these marine biologists & show gratitude for everything they have contributed to our oceans. Today's marine scientist is Dr. Isabel Pérez Farfante. Dr. Isabel Perez Farfante was a cuban marine zoologist who specializes in shrimp systematics. She is well known for her work with the Smithsonian as a systematic zoologist. In today’s article, we will delve into her formative years & education, her personal life & career, as well as her achievements, awards, & accomplishments. With that being said, let’s plunge into the extraordinarly life of Dr. Isabel Peréz Farfante! Her Formative Years & Education Isabel Cristina Perèz Farfante was born on July 24th, 1916, in Havana, Cuba. She was born to Gervasio & Isabel Peréz (Farfante), both immigrants from Spain. As a young teenager, she was sent to live with relatives in Asturias, Spain, located on the Northern Coastline. The goal of this move was to give her access to premium high school education. Upon finishing her primary education, she began her studies at Universidad Central de Madrid. Unfortunately, the timing couldn’t have been worse, as the country was torn apart by the Spanish Civil War. Isabel & her family were staunch Republicans, a group which was later crushed by the new government. As such, she had to leave Spain, & continued her education at La Universidad de Habana, graduating with a Bachelor’s of Science in 1938. She took a position at El Instituto de la Vibora, which roughly translates to The Snake Institute, in Havana. Soon after, she became an assistant professor of Biology at the Universidad de Habana. In 1941, at the age of 25, she met & married the esteemed geographer & economist, Gerardo Canet Alvarez. The pair both applied for Guggenheim Fellowships, with Isabel being awarded the fellowship from 1942 to 1943 in Organismal Biology & Ecology. Gerardo was awarded the fellowship soon after in 1945 in Geography & Environmental Studies. Her Guggenheim Fellowship, combined with a fellowship at the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute, as well as an Alexander Agassiz Fellowship in Oceanography & Ecology enabled her to enter the Radcliffe College of Harvard University for a Master’s Degree in Biology. She graduated in 1944, & subsequently pursued a doctorate, which she completed in 1948. A photograph of Dr. Isabel Perez Farfante alongside her husband Gerardo Canet, & Cuban malacologist Carlos de la Torre Huerta. This photograph is believed to have been taken in the 1940’s. Credit to the Journal of Crustacean Biology. Her Personal Life & Career During the course of her doctoral studies, Dr. Perez Farfante visited the U.S. National Museum. During this visit, she bumped into famed herpetologist & naturalist Thomas Barbour, the director of the Harvard Museum of Comparative Zoology. Barbour had a long history with Harvard University with it being his Alma Mater, & had also previously done extensive research in Cuba. Barbour respected Dr. Perez Farfante greatly, & heard of difficulties she was having with equipment, & facilities for her doctoral project. Upon learning of this, he appointed her as the Associate Curator at the Museum of Comparative Zoology in 1946. Barbour would later go on to speak highly of her in his book “A Naturalist in Cuba”. While at the Museum of Comparative Zoology, she worked alongside Henry Bryant Bigelow, the first director of the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute. Upon finishing her doctorate she returned to La Universidad de Habana as a full professor, & continued until there until 1960. From 1952 to 1958, she retained the position of biologist in which we focused on shrimp. From 1959 to 1960, she became the Director of El Centro de Investigaciones Pesqueras (The Fisheries Research Center) in Havana. As with many Cubans, Dr. Perez Farfante & her husband Gerardo initially welcomed the change in regime from Fulgencio Batista to Fidel Castro, hoping for change. However, this soon changed. The new government appointed a co-director of the institute who did not have any training or background in marine biology, with minimal knowledge of the subject. This new co-director interfered with her work greatly. Ernesto, often referred to as Che, Guevara personally asked her husband, Gerardo, to accompany him on a series of trips to establish economic ties with other countries. Gerardo refused as he didn’t want to spend much time away from their 2 young sons, Gerardo Jr. & Eduardo, or his beloved wife. As a result, both of them were placed on a secret “blacklist”, by the Cuban Government. This was revealed to them by a friend they had in the regime. With this ominous realization, the couple realized they could no longer stay & Cuba, & had to leave as soon as possible. They sent their sons a month ahead of them, & soon after went to the airport without reservations, purchased a ticket, & fled to the U.S. with a single suitcase. Her previous work with Harvard University allowed her to be appointed as the Associate of Invertebrate Zoology in 1961, a position she held until 1969. During her tenure as Associate, she conducted a study on commercial shrimp populations for the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service. In 1966, she joined the National Marine Fisheries Service as a Systematic Zoologist at the National Marine Fisheries Service Systematic Laboratory at the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, D.C. From 1986 to 1990 she continued her association with the National Marine Fisheries Service as Carcinologist Emeritus. In 1987, she became a Research Associate with the National Museum of Natural History. She remained a Research Associate until her retirement in 1997 during which she moved to Key Biscayne, Florida. Key Biscayne is a small town in South Florida known for its tropical beauty. For years afterwards, she worked with the Rosenstiel School of Marine & Atmospheric Sciences on Key Biscayne on their various collections. She worked on a currently unpublished manuscript in collaboration with Maria Bello, & Brian Kensley on peneoid & sergestoid shrimp from a Bahamian deep oceanic trench called the “Tongue of the Ocean”. Unfortunately, on August 20th, 2009, Isabel Cristina Peréz Farfante passed away in her home on Key Biscayne surrounded by her husband Gerardo, her two sons Gerardo Jr. & Eduardo, & her beloved caretaker & housekeeper, Augustina Lugo. The contributions that Dr. Peréz Farfante made to the field will not be forgotten, & her legacy continues on to this day. A photograph of Dr. Isabel Perez Farfante, her husband Gerardo Canet, & a Cuban fishing crew waiting before they sort through the contents of a fish trawl. This photograph is believed to have been taken in the late 1950’s. Credit to the Journal of Crustacean Biology. Her Awards, Accomplishments, & Achievements 1. She was awarded the Guggenheim Fellowship in 1942 for Organismal Biology & Ecology. 2. She was awarded a fellowship with the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute, & the Alexander Agassiz Fellowship in Oceanography & Ecology. 3. She was the first Cuban woman to earn a doctoral degree from an Ivy League Institution. 4. From 1962 to 1964 she was an Independent Scholar of Radcliffe College. 5. During the course of her research, she discovered massive shrimp populations in the Batabanó Gulf which allowed an economically important shrimp fishery to develop in the region. Directories / Credits Citation 1: “Wonderful Women Wednesday: Dr. Isabel C. Pérez Farfante”, Written by Emily Nierkrasz, & Published on September 1st, 2021. Published by the Smithsonian Institution. https://siarchives.si.edu/blog/wonderful-women-wednesday-dr-isabel-c-pérez-farfante Citation 2: “Isabel Cristina Perez Farfante”, Written by Unknown & Published at an Unknown Date. Published by Prabook. https://prabook.com/web/mobile/#!profile/1694762 Citation 3: “Isabel Pérez Farfante”, Written by Unknown & Published at an Unknown Date. Published by the Guggenheim Fellowship. https://www.gf.org/fellows/isabel-perez-farfante/ Citation 4: “Isabel Pérez Farfante de Canet”, Written by Unknown, & Published at an Unknown Date. Published by the Journal of Crustacean Biology. https://userweb.ucs.louisiana.edu/~rtb6933/shrimp/Obituary_Isabel_Perez_Farfante.pdf Strategic Partnerships Reel Guppy Outdoors SharkedSkooler Marine Enthusiasts Podcast Cash Daniels Tides of Tomorrow The Open Book, Topanga Olivenbaum Music Pitfire Artisan Pizza Our Loyal Patrons P. R. Ochoa

A gorgeous photograph of La Jolla, California. Credit to Bommarito Art. California’s Pacific coast is one of the most biodiverse and abundant ecosystems worldwide teaming with almost 2000 species of microorganisms, plants, fish, marine mammals, turtles, invertebrates and sea birds supported by a Mediterranean climate. Its famous off-shore, underwater and coastal rock formations date back to the Crustaceous period and help subsidize this special bionetwork making the state’s ocean waters and sea life sacred and unique. Unfortunately, California’s precious coastal ecosystem also faces massive threats in the vein of climate change/global warming, the devastation of kelp forests, ocean acidification, algal blooms and habitat destruction; sounding the alarm for the time-sensitive need for human intervention, conservation management and awareness. The Pacific Tide series highlights monthly oceanic events occurring on the California coast and/or portrait important species who call the Pacific coastline waters home emphasizing the importance of conserving this critical ecosystem. In this month’s installment of The Pacific Tide, we explore a rare encounter with a deepwater prickly shark in La Jolla Cove, California by Scripps Institution of Oceanography students while also reconnoitering on the history of cove before dissecting the behavior of prickly sharks and voicing any concerns being raised by this encounter. The La Jolla Coast from Dinosaurs to Seals and Social Media Sandstone arches, smoothly eroded bluffs, clinging cliffs, copious sea life, glittering sunsets and the famous seven-sea cave system of the La Jolla Caves: this is the postcard beauty of La Jolla Cove which welcomes tourists and biologists alike just a short 20-minute drive from San Diego proper in Southern California. La Jolla Cove honorably appears on yearly lists for ‘Best Scenic Beaches’; but there is more to this sparkling coastline sea than just a picture-perfect backdrop: it is also one of California’s most important oceanic-centralized ecosystems home to a massive seal rookery, scores of fish species, sharks, whale sightings and vital microbes. The seabed sports two submarine canyons making it the ideal environment for rare sea dwellers while the coastal rock formations have been buffeted with ocean waves and tides since dinosaurs roamed the land that is now California. These credentials have allowed La Jolla Cove to receive marine protection reserve status while also, with some outcry, being classified as a shared-use public beach. Edging La Jolla Cove are the seven caves of the illustrious La Jolla Caves boasting striking geological orifices and rock faces that have garnered fame as some of the most eminent coastal caves in the United States. Situated between La Jolla Cove and La Jolla Shores beaches; these caves – White Lady, Little Sister, Shopping Cart, Sea Surprize, Arch, Sunny Jim and Clam’s – satisfy tourists with their kayaking and snorkeling offerings but more importantly provide real estate and feeding grounds for La Jolla Cove’s sea life. Its history is drenched with scandal from suicides to prohibition-era whiskey smuggling, restaurant lobster-fishing to illegal immigrants entering the United States and even rumors of one of the caves (Sunny Jim) receiving its moniker from “Wizard of Oz” author L. Frank Baum. While the modern technological age that thrives on social media encourages tourists to misuse La Jolla Cove for their own personal photo shoots causing the city of San Diego and the state of California to rule the gavel on protections for the area and its sea life (particularly the pinnipeds); it is also here that these seals and sea lions thrive and give birth to future generations, sharks search for their next meal, kelp forests sway in the waters and rare plankton undergo chemical conversions. La Jolla Cove is also the home base for research, sea dives and exploration for scientists and students from the world-renowned Scripps Institution of Oceanography (SIO) part of the University of California, San Diego campus founded in 1903. A Prickly Encounter In February 2026 as the sun descended the Southern California horizon and the moon began reflecting its soft orb on the Pacific; the waves of La Jolla Cove gently caressed the sands and the seven caves after its last tide. Although the sounds softened akin to a meditative sleep sound system; the underwater world of the Pacific Ocean bustled with activity as the predominately diurnal vertical migration (also called diel vertical migration) cycle when sea inhabitants rise to the upper layers of water at night to gorge on their next meals before returning to the lower depths as the sun rises; began its nightly choreography. Knowing that much of the ocean’s sea life was joining this dance; Scripps grad students Cali Lingle and Liam Dougherty along with friends Izzi Ortiz and Brandy M. donned scuba gear in the near darkness to explore this nocturnal world. Lingle, Dougherty and crew dipped below the surface surrounded by the ocean’s curtaining of all light except for the sepia-toned illumination of their flashlights in the La Jolla Cove not far from the shore. As the sounds of the oxygen tanks synchronized in the water; the experience was initially uneventful and merely staged the standard after-hours oceanic visual show potentially starring horn sharks, nudibranchs, sand dollars and maybe an octopus. It was then that the sea decided to honor Lingle and Doughtery with a once-in-a-lifetime experience. Lingle turned to see an approximately seven-foot-long shark softly circling her peripheral while simultaneously heightening Dougherty’s anxieties resulting from his phobia of sharks; but not enough to stop him from filming the interaction. Lingle’s underwater mental gymnastics assumed the shark to be a sevengill which populate La Jolla Cove in large numbers; but she noticed two rear dorsal fins and knew something truly unique was taking place. A photograph of a Prickly Shark (Echinorhinus cookei), swimming about near the sea-bottom. Credit to the EV Nautilus. Although then unknown to her; Lingle was eye-to-eye with a rare prickly shark: a species who usually occupy depths of 300 – 2000 feet rather than the shallower submarine canyon of the La Jolla Cove. The prickly shark, which was likely attracted to the cove’s warmer waters and nighttime meal selection of fish practicing diel migration; glanced at Lingle and Dougherty before it swam onwards pacifying the filming of another “Jaws” sequel. SIO researchers confirmed the very next day that the shark on the video was indeed a prickly shark (Echinorhinus cookei): a non-aggressive, deepwater shark; while simultaneously labeling the encounter as rare and cataloguing the students’ video for on-going research. Lingle has since returned to the La Jolla waters for night dives and has not seen an E. Cookei since and confirms that this particular shark was exhibiting diel migration and “may have just wandered further than we expected”. Is an Echinorhinus cookei Encounter a Cause for Concern? E. Cookei is a deepwater, Pacific Ocean shark virtually unseen to human eyes outside of a submarine and recognized for its matte, dark grey skin covered with thorn-like denticles and two rear dorsal fins as one of two species in the scientific Echinorhindae family (the other being the bramble shark). Prickly sharks live solitary lives in colder waters (41.9–51.8 °F) and partake in nightly diel migration exiting the ocean floor layers to warmer, shallower waters either to mate or seek food being particularly fond of submarine canyons like that of the geological ocean floor of the La Jolla Cove. Having the capability to grow up to 13 feet; these sharks prefer to swim at a slow speed and capture their prey using a suction method instead of more antagonistic means. Encountering a prickly shark is so rare that scientists declare them as ‘Data Deficient’ unable to conclusively discern if they are a threatened species. Not being a peril to human life and being absent of high-grade meat for consumption means that prickly sharks are generally left to their own devices. Lingle and Dougherty’s rendezvous with the La Jolla prickly shark is largely rare in the shallow depths but not necessarily a cause for a red-alarm - yet. Prickly sharks moving to the inshore waters of shallow, submarine canyons seeking an easy meal of fish, octopus, squid and other prey is not an anomaly. However, biologists agree that the rapid increase of ocean water temperatures due to climate change and global warming is heightening this behavior and throwing the prickly shark’s compass askew. As temperatures rise, prey moves to waters shore-adjacent which causes the prickly sharks and other deep-dwelling sharks to follow. There is also an apprehension towards the decline of prey availability due to overfishing in stark contrast to historic counts which forces prickly sharks to journey to atypical locales for a meal instead of staying in their compacted habitat. Climate change is also wreaking havoc on ocean currents by melting ice and reducing heat transfer which effects the lifestyles of E. cookei such as their migratory timing exposing them to human capture vulnerabilities. Although lesser in the case of prickly sharks; human behavior is also attracting these sharks to shallow waters closer to the shores. Leftover bait from fish farming or recreational fishing is the key factor resulting in human/shark encounters that end up on the daily news tickers. Sharks also prefer shallow, warm water to breed and birth their young. Lingle and Dougherty’s experience is landmark and rare but not an immediate cry for help for prickly sharks as a species; but is signaling the desperation for mitigation of global warming en masse. It is absolutely vital to lessen carbon footprints and emissions in order to aid in the slowdown of global warming and curtail habitat loss for our apex predators. Often, actions that go without thought effect our oceans such as the use of fertilizer and pesticides in soils which flush into the oceans sparking toxic algae blooms. Household cleaning products containing phosphates are also speeding up the destruction of sharks’ ideal ecosystems. Simple behavioral modifications such as limiting fertilizer and cumulative natural product usage; goes a long way in saving oceans. Even the fashion red carpet raises eyebrows when incorporating shells and coral from tidepools for jewelry and clothing; plucking these critical oceanic cycle pieces. Lingle goes one step further with advice when it feels insurmountable to stamp out global warming on a personalized level and maintains that, “Educating yourself about the ocean and sharing that knowledge is powerful”. Lingle also asserts that with the current political affairs in the United States (and even internationally) stripping wildlife and science protections makes being “thoughtful about the leaders you support vital because politics plays a major role in how the country treats wildlife and resources”. Lingle adds, “We cannot give up on the goal of sustainable coexistence with the ocean. It sustains life on Earth, provides oxygen, stores carbon, feeds the world’s populations, and offers immense beauty”. Without solid action in minimizing of the inevitable, sharks like La Jolla’s prickly sharks will have no choice but to make the La Jolla Cove and other shallow waters their new homes. Directories / Credits 1: “La Jolla Sea Caves: History and How to See Them”, Written by Katie Dillon. Published on November 4, 2024 by La Jolla Mom https://lajollamom.com/la-jolla-sea-caves/ 2: “Rarely Seen Deepwater Shark Encountered During Night Dive Off San Diego”, Written by Pete Thomas. Published on February 11, 2026 by For the Win at USA Today https://ftw.usatoday.com/story/sports/outdoors/2026/02/11/rarely-seen-prickly-shark-encountered-night-dive-san-diego-la-jolla-cove/88631032007/ 3: “Divers Come Face-to-Face with Rarely Seen, Deepwater Shark Off La Jolla Coast”, Written by Steffie Roche. Published on February 11, 2026 by CBS8 News https://www.cbs8.com/article/news/local/rarely-seen-deep-water-shark-spotted-off-la-jolla-coast/509-8f6ad603-e1b4-4cb9-bed0-40bd42447d85 4: “Rare Shark Spotted by Group of College Students During Nighttime Dive Off California Coast”, Written by Kieran Sullivan. Published on unknown date by Fox Weather https://www.foxweather.com/earth-space/rare-shark-spotted-during-night-dive-la-jolla-cove 5: “La Jolla Diver Stunned as Rare Prickly Sharks Cruises into Cove”, Written by Ben J. Costas. Published on February 10, 2026 by Hoodline San Diego https://hoodline.com/2026/02/la-jolla-diver-stunned-as-rare-prickly-shark-cruises-into-cove/ 6: “Diver ‘Terrified’ After Coming Face-to- Face with Rare Creature Off Popular Coast: ‘It was just checking us out’”, Written by Erin Feiger. Published on March 18, 2026 by Yahoo News https://www.yahoo.com/news/articles/diver-terrified-coming-face-face-050000818.html 7: “Group of Student Divers Encounter Rare Prickly Shark at La Jolla Cove”. YouTube Video Format Published March 2026 by CBS8 San Diego https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=guH5xc09L4c 8: “Deep Dive: Rare Shark Spotted for First Time in Panama’s Eastern Pacific”, Written by Leilia Nilipour. Published on March 19, 2024 by Smithsonian Tropical Research Instituted https://stri.si.edu/story/deep-dive 9: “Echinorhinus cookei Pietschmann, 1928 Prickly Shark” Classification, Written by Unknown. Published on Unknown by Fishbase https://www.fishbase.se/summary/Echinorhinus-cookei 10: “Why Are Sharks Coming Closer to Shore?”, Written by Britannica Editors. Published on Unknown by Britannica https://www.britannica.com/story/the-1916-shark-attacks-that-gave-sharks-a-bad-rap 11: “A Short History of SIO”, Written by Deborah Day. Published on Unknown by Scripps https://library.ucsd.edu/scilib/hist/day_short_history.pdf 12: “Ocean Warming Alters the Distributional Range, Migratory Timing, and Spatial Protections of an Apex Predator, the Tiger Shark”, Written by Neil Hammerschlag, Laura H. McDonnell, Mitchell J. Rider, Garrett M. Street, Elliott L. Hazen, Lisa J. Natanson, Camilla T. McCandless, Melanie R. Boudreau, Austin J. Gallagher, Malin L. Pinsky, Ben Kirtman. Published on January 13, 2002 by Global Change Biology https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/gcb.16045 13: “How Can I Help Sharks?, Written by Lois Flounders. Published on Unknown Date by World of Sharks. https://saveourseas.com/worldofsharks/how-can-i-help-sharks 14: Interview with Cali Lingle conducted by Orsolya Dunai, May 2026.

A striking photograph of the Blue Shark (Prionace glauca). Credit to underwater photographer Joost van Uffelen. This month’s article series will discuss Saint-Jean-de-Luz, France. Saint Jean De Luz is a small fishing town in the center of the Bay of Biscay, along the Western Coastline of France. Its name is derived from Saint Jean, & the fact that the city was flooded often over its centuries of existence. Saint Jean De Luz means “Saint Jean’s Swamp”, as the town occasionally is flooded to the point of being partially underwater. It is near the border between France & Spain, in the Basque Region. The city itself is approximately 7 square miles, with a population density of roughly 2,000 people per square mile. The city is well known for its fisheries, wildlife, beaches, casino, spas, & luxurious resorts. Both international & domestic tourists flock to the area seeking relaxation, & a tranquil atmosphere. Many festivals & events are held in the town, as it is an accessible location to both the French, & the Spanish. The coastline around the city is the site of many fisheries, & marine animals. One of the marine animals that thrives in these waters, is the Blue Shark (Prionace glauca). The Blue Shark is a species of requiem shark that inhabits both temperate & tropical waters worldwide. Individuals are found as far north as Norway, & as far south as central Chile. They are named for their blue skin. They are known to feed on squid & small fish. Generally, they live in shallow waters, but they are able to survive in waters as deep as 1,575 feet. The meat of the Blue Shark is heavily sought after in the Mediterranean, though it is high in mercury, lead, & various harmful heavy metals. Additionally, their skin is occasionally used for leather, & their fins are sought after for use in shark fin soup. Aside from this, their relationship with humans is generally positive. In this article, we shall discuss the discovery & life of the blue shark, the mating strategies of the blue shark, the distribution of the blue shark, & the scientific details of the blue shark. With that being said, let us delve into the blue shark. The Discovery & Life of the Blue Shark The blue shark was described in 1758 by Carl Linnaeus, a Swedish taxonomist, naturalist, biologist, & zoologist. Individuals can get up to 13 feet long, but they often only reach 10 feet in length. They are able to reach a hefty 401 pounds, however, they often weigh far less. Rarely, female specimens have been recorded weighing up to 862 pounds. There is slight sexual dimorphism between females & males, with females being larger. Although the lifespan of the blue shark is not clear, it is hypothesized to be between 17 & 23 years. Blue sharks are fantastic communicators, & are intelligent animals. They are generally very friendly animals, & are considered to be mild-mannered sharks. While Individuals are typically not aggressive towards humans, there have been cases of them attacking divers unprovoked. Between 1850 & 2026, there have been 13 recorded bite cases, 4 of which were fatal. Aside from these rare cases, they typically do not interact with humans in the wild. Blue sharks are one of the most social species of requiem sharks, often congregating in small groups to go hunting. Individual sharks do not have individual territories, & tend to migrate often. They are not territorial animals, & are usually not aggressive towards each other. Sharks swim by continuous undulations of their body, meaning that they repeatedly move themselves side-to-side, which propels them forward. If faced with a threat, they are able to swim up to 43 miles (69.2018 kilometers) per hour to avoid being caught. They are incredibly agile animals, & can move through the water column with quick ease. Sharks are able to remain buoyant by storing extra oil in their livers, which is lighter than the water around them. Individuals are able to sleep by turning off only half of their brains. They must keep the majority of their brain active, such that if a threat approaches, they can react to it quickly & save themselves. Unlike certain other requiem sharks, they do not have a ram ventilation system, meaning that they do not need to have water constantly flowing over their gills to remain alive. They are able to stop swimming while still absorbing the oxygen from the water. The blue shark is a carnivore, & its diet consists of squid, small fish, octopi, lobster, shrimp, crab, & occasionally seals. They are not cannibalistic at any time in their lives. Their metabolism is very efficient, meaning that they are able to turn stored carbohydrates into energy easily. Their methods for locating prey are also incredibly efficient, with 3 major methods for locating prey. Individuals are able to find prey through smell, sight, & electromagnetic fields. Due to their large size, very few animals even have the ability to prey upon them. Their primary predators are other large shark species, & orcas. The blue shark has a long, slender, streamlined body, with a sharp conical nose. They are known for their large eyes, light blue skin, & narrow pectoral fin. As of 2026, they are categorized as Least Threatened by the IUCN Red List. Their population was found to be decreasing globally, with this last assessment being on November 6th, 2018. The Mating Procedures, Practices, Strategies, Techniques, Tactics, & Habits of the Blue Shark Blue sharks breed via internal fertilization, & have 2 distinct sexes. They are not naturally hermaphroditic. Their breeding system is polyamorous, meaning that each breeding season, both male & female sharks will have different breeding partners. Male individuals seem to reach sexual maturity at 4 to 6 years of age, while females mature slightly later at 5 to 7 years of age. It is not clear how often breeding occurs, the most births that we are aware of occur from December to April. For the children to be born on time, breeding would likely occur from January to August. Their gestational period is between 9 & 12 months depending on conditions. It is not clear how copulation is initiated, however is known that they breed via internal fertilization. After copulation, the male will swim off, having no more part in the children’s or mother’s life. Females are viviparous, meaning that they give live birth & the children gestate in their uterus, instead of in an egg. Once the female is ready to give birth, she will swim to shallower waters, & have her sharp pups. This species is renowned for the large number of babies they have in each litter, which ranges from 25 to 100 pups. After birthing her children, the female will go to deeper water, leaving the children to fend for themselves. The Distribution of the Blue Shark Blue sharks are found in most temperate & tropical waters worldwide. As of 2026, they are found as far north as Northern Norway, & as far south as Central Chile. They are found in at least 3 of the 5 oceans. Although they prefer shallower coastal waters, they are found at depths of up to 3,280 feet. They are migratory animals, & frequently migrate long distances. The Scientific Details Of The Blue Shark Blue sharks have approximately 14 teeth on their upper jaw, & 13 to 15 teeth on their lower jaw. Their teeth are sharp, pointy, & triangular, making them efficient for ripping fish apart. Sharks do not have traditional bones, & they instead have cartilaginous skeletons. As a species, they have existed for at least 5.3 million years. As of 2026, we could not find any records of fossilized blue sharks. Similar to humans, Great Blue sharks have various kinds of parasites. Their primary internal parasites are nematodes, which infect their intestines, & their primary external parasites are copepods, which infect their skin & their gills. Their phylum is Chordata, meaning that they developed these 5 characteristics all species under the phylum of chordata develop 5 similar characteristics either in adulthood or as juveniles. The characteristics that they develop include, a notochord, dorsal hollow nerve cord, endostyle or thyroid, pharyngeal Slits, & a post-anal tail. Their class is Chondrichthyes. This is a class of fish that is primarily composed of cartilage. This class can be compared to the class Osteichthyes, which is a class of fish that are primarily composed of bone. A few universal characteristics for any fish in the class Chondrichthyes is that they all are jawed vertebrates, they have paired fins, paired nares, scales, & a heart with chambers in a series. Their order is that of Carcharhiniformes. This order has approximately 270 species categorized under it, & is characterized by two dorsal fins, anal fins, & five gill slits. Their family is that of Carcharhinidae, which are commonly known as requiem sharks. The majority of these sharks are found in tropical areas. This family of sharks has existed since at least the Valanginian age. Their genus is that of Prionace. Their genus is monotypic, meaning there is only 1 species belong to it. Their binomial name is Prionace glauca. A shallow-water photograph of a Blue Shark with a diver. Credit to Blue Shark Snorkel. Directories / Credits Citation No. 1: “Blue Shark”, Written by the Editors of Encyclopedia Britannica, & Published on May 27th, 1999. Published by Britannica. Retrieval Date: May 19th, 2024. https://www.britannica.com/animal/blue-shark Citation No. 2: “Blue Shark: Prionace Glauca”, Written by Unknown, & Published at an Unknown Date. Published by the Atlantic Shark Institute. Retrieval Date: May 19th, 2024. https://www.atlanticsharkinstitute.org/blueshark Citation No. 3: “Blue Shark: Prionace Glauca”, Written by The Accessors For The International Union For The Conservation Of Nature, & Last Updated November 6th, 2018. Published by the International Union For The Conservation Of Nature. Retrieval Date: May 19th, 2024. https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/39381/2915850 Citation No. 4: “Blue Shark: Prionace Glauca”, Written by Unknown, & Published at an Unknown Date. Published by Oceana. Retrieval Date: May 19th, 2024. https://oceana.org/marine-life/blue-shark/ Citation No. 5: “Spiral valve parasites of blue & common thresher sharks as indicators of shark feeding behaviour and ecology”, Written by Antonella Preti, Ken MacKenzie, Kate A. Spivey, Leslie R. Noble, Catherine S. Jones, Ralph G. Appy, & Graham J. Pierce, & Published on April 26th, 2020. Published by the Journal of Fish Biology. Retrieval Date: May 19th, 2024. https://digital.csic.es/bitstream/10261/218606/1/Spiral_valve_OA_2020.pdf Citation No. 6: “Blue Shark Facts: Size, Habitat, Reproduction“, Written by Anne Marie Helmenstine, & Published on January 22nd, 2020. Published by ThoughtCo. https://www.thoughtco.com/blue-shark-facts-4174680 Strategic Partnerships Reel Guppy Outdoors SharkedSkooler Marine Enthusiasts Podcast Cash Daniels Tides of Tomorrow The Open Book, Topanga Olivenbaum Music Pitfire Artisan Pizza Our Loyal Patrons P. R. Ochoa

A distinguished portrait of Quentin Rodgers, representing Surf Rider-Chicago. Here he is featured with his Softop Surf Board from Mick Fanning SoftBoards. Credit to Quentin Rodgers. Recently, our head writer was fortunate enough to sit down for an interview with Ocean Conservationist & Vice Chair of Surf-Rider Chicago Quentin Rodgers. Quentin Rodgers is an Ocean Conservationist & Vice Chair of Surf-Rider Chicago known for his work with the Surf Rider Foundation. In today’s interview, we sit down with Quentin to discuss his illustrious career, his work in science communication, his work in marine science, & his passion for the sea in a comprehensive 18-question interview. Before delving into today’s interview, please note everything said has been edited for clarity, & that the opinions of our interviewee do not necessarily reflect the opinions & values of our organization. With that being said, let us delve into the contents of the interview! The Contents of the Interview Questions About His Passion: 1. What sparked your passion for the ocean & marine science? I would definitely say it’s a mix of always being someone who loved science & also loved nature. I guess the thing that specifically got me into it was my first trip to Australia. I had gone to Western Australia around Margaret River, which is on the Western Coast. It’s kind of a surf town. It’s known for a professional surfing competition that takes place every single year called the Margaret River Pro. That was the reason why I was there, to go see the competition for myself for the first time. It’s maybe a few hours from Perth. That was kind of my first true introduction to the ocean. Ever since then I’ve been a lot more focused on protecting the beaches, protecting the waters, you name it! 2. What sparked your passion for surfing? It was initially my passion for skateboarding that got me into surfing. Ironically enough, the thing that sparked my passion for surfing was a video game that I played as a kid. It was called Kelly Slater’s Pro Surfer. It came out in the early 2000s. I had the demo on a skateboarding game, & after playing that, I was really in awe of surfing. I was looking up YouTube videos, or whatever I could, trying to get as much surfing in as I possibly could as well. 3. Was there any particular person, place, moment, or piece of media that assisted in sparking your passion? When it comes to people, obviously Kelly Slater, who’s known as the greatest of all time. He’s kind of the Tony Hawk of surfing with 11 world titles. He competed up until I want to say 2023, started competing in 1989. He was inspiring, as were other surfers such as Andy Irons, & Stephanie Gilmore, who is currently competing to this day. As for types of media, I would probably say Rocket Power, the cartoon, got me into it as well. 4. What is your favourite terrestrial, or marine animal? I would probably have to give 2 answers for this one. My favourite marine animal would be orcas. I love orcas. My favourite terrestrial animal would be the Tasmanian Devil. Something interesting about Tasmanian Devils that a lot of people don’t really know, which we just found out in 2022, is that they are capable of biofluorescence. We found this out in 2022 at a zoo in Toledo, Ohio. They are capable of biofluorescence around their face, around their ears, mouth, & nose. It’s pretty interesting. I know that wombats, & I believe that platypuses are also biofluorescent. A photograph of a Tasmanian Devil exhibiting biofluorescence. Biofluorescence occurs when an organism absorbs UV light, & reemits it. It is important to note that this is distinct from bioluminescence, as in biofluorescence, an organism does not produce its own light, it simply reemits light. Credit to the Toledo Zoo. https://www.toledozoo.org/ Questions About His Work: 5. How would you describe the Surf Rider Foundation to someone who isn’t familiar? The Surf Rider Foundation is an environmental protection nonprofit. I would sum it up in two phrases. The first phrase is environmental protection of our coastlines, beaches, & waters, & the second is recreational advocacy, which means making sure that as many people have access to our beaches as well as waters to enjoy them. 6. How did you join Surf Rider-Chicago, & what is your current position with them? I joined Surf Rider-Chicago in 2021. I was looking for environmental protection groups that were near me that I could join & get involved in, since I love nature, & I wanted to do my part. I initially joined them through their website. I started looking for chapters, because they have a database of all their chapters. There are about 80 chapters for Surf Rider, & you can access them all on their website. There are quite a few on the West Coast, as well as the East Coast, & obviously up here in the Great Lakes, which was the closest one to me. I live in Indiana, & we don’t have a chapter, but I’m a part of the Chicago Chapter. As of February of this year (2026), I am the Vice Chair of the Chicago Chapter. A photograph of the official Surf-Rider Foundation Logo. Credit to the Surf Rider Foundation. 7. What are your responsibilities in your capacity as Vice Chair? I support the chair, I take over for the chair when they might not be available. I lead the chapter in my various base mission projects. I’m currently in the process of spearheading one right now that we will be talking about later. 8. How would you describe your Great Lakes Friendly Restaurant program? It’s pretty much an offshoot of a larger program called the Ocean Friendly Restaurants program that Surf Rider has. Think of it as a community-building program where we support restaurants, lift them as examples of success to influence plastic reduction legislation, & provide them with tons of benefits. Everything from marketing gear, to stickers & brochures, to even listing them on our national website. We also provide them with access to vendor discounts. A good example that I like to point to is a restaurant in Chicago called JT’s Genuine Sandwich Shop, they’ve saved about 25,000$ per year after switching to reusable dining-ware. They’re one of the case studies we did research on. I think what people miss about sustainability is the long-term expectation. In the short term, it seems pretty expensive, but in the long term, it does pay its way. It does pay back. You know, it just takes dedication. It takes dedication to go through with it. 9. How would you describe your Blue Water Task Force program? The Blue Water Task Force is actually going to be the program that I’m spearheading for the Chicago chapter. It’s basically a network of volunteer laboratories by different chapters of Surf Rider. We’re testing for different bacteria levels throughout the year. We’re covering the parts of the year that the state typically doesn’t or won’t test. For example, around here, the state will test for E. Coli during the height of summer when people are out on the beach. After a certain period of time or a certain month, let’s say September, they stop testing & they won’t test again until May or June. What the Blue Water Task Force is doing is that we’re covering all the other months. That way we can provide consistent monthly results to the public, as people go into the water throughout the year, even after the state or municipalities stop testing. People are still going into the water. People are going into the water in October, November, December, or the beginning of the year as well. The state isn’t doing testing during those parts of the year. We’re filling that gap, & uploading the results to our website, so that people can check. We update them based on the most recent tests. I’m spearheading a Blue Water Task Force Program for the Chicago Chapter, we’ll be testing three sites starting out. I believe two in Chicago, & one in Indiana where I live. We’re going to be testing during the off months, when the state isn’t testing. We are currently in talks with a couple of universities to partner with us for testing, since starting a laboratory is fairly expensive. I don’t know one of the sites off-hand, but I know we are testing one site called Montrose Beach. It’s one of the most popular beaches in the entire city. Then, in Indiana, we’re testing a site called Whihala Beach. Whihala is this stretch of beach that’s in Indiana. It has a lot of traffic that goes into it throughout the year. It’s a well-known surf spot in the region as well. Another important reason why we’re also testing is that it’s near a lot of refineries & industrial companies such as BP & U.S. Steel. With people going into the water throughout the year, I feel like we felt it was an important place to focus on as well. We’re currently spearheading that project; hopefully, we can get it started by September of this year (2026). People can find out results, once we get them uploaded, on Surf Rider’s website for the Blue Water Task Force Program. They operate a website solely for this project, where all chapters upload their data for all the sites that they tested for things like E. Coli, especially for bigger beaches. For example, Whihala is a fairly long beach, so you have to test more than one site within the site if that makes sense. For all of the Blue Water Task Force sites that we test, you can see how often we test each site, as well as the results of that testing. We signify results through colour-coding. Green means that it is fairly safe. Yellow means that it’s moderate, kind of heed our warning before proceeding. Red is obviously the most dangerous level, meaning you probably shouldn’t be going into the water. It’s fully accessible to the public. 10. How would you describe your Beach Cleanup program, & how often do you conduct beach cleanups? Our beach cleanup program is spearheaded by one of our executive committee members named Steve Arnam. He’s been spearheading it for who knows how long, absolute legend. Our beach cleanup programs consist of going to two beaches & removing debris. We go 4 times a year. We’re trying to access more beaches, because we have noticed other beaches that definitely need a cleanup. We have two at Montrose beach in Chicago, & then we have two at my home beach, Whihala Beach. We actually just had one last Saturday! We had quite a bit of turnout. Even one of the city council members had joined in. A photograph of the beautiful Whihala Beach along Lake Michigan. Credit to https://www.southshorecva.com/. For the most part, we recovered about 900 pounds of trash from the beach alone. We also unfortunately discovered 3 deceased birds, one of which was clearly a result of plastic pollution. It had a piece of plastic, like a circular piece of plastic around its beak, to the point where it couldn’t eat anything. It was unfortunate, but things like that are why we do what we do. Things like that are why we do what we do, to ensure that stuff like that happens as rarely as possible. In total, we found two pigeons, & one toothed bird. One of them was fresh I think, we don’t know what caused it to pass away. 11. Type 6 Plastic, PS (Polystyrene) commonly known as styrofoam, is one of the most destructive types of plastic due to its tendency to fragment. Surf Rider-Chicago is currently working to ban the sale of foam food service containers in the state of Illinois. Do you mind guiding us through your “Ban The Foam, Save The Shore” program? Our Ban The Foam, Save Shore Program is to ban the sale & distribution of foam food service containers in Illinois. A few years ago there was a proposed bill by Illinois lawmakers called Senate Bill 1531, which was looking to ban polystyrene foam food containers. Right now, it’s kind of in limbo. We’re doing our part. We’re working with other organizations as well, such as the Alliance for the Great Lakes, as well as the Illinois Environmental Council to try to get this legislation passed, as well as other related legislation passed as well: 12. How would you describe your Sustain the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative? The Great Lakes Restoration Initiative is not a program that we are spearheading, though we are involved in it. It’s more of an EPA federal government program. A lot of funds that we, tribal governments, states, & municipalities receive will come from this initiative. It’s the largest Great Lakes investment in over 20 years. This program has funded over 8,000 projects, with over $4 billion. The funds are distributed to the EPA, & subsequently distributed accordingly. We target some of the biggest threats to the Great Lakes ecosystem such as toxic substances, like hexavalent chromium, invasive species, & non-point source pollution impacts. When we had our Hill Day event, which is an event where Surf Rider & Congressional offices will interact with each other to talk about various policies, the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative was one of our talking points, because it’s extremely important. The Great Lakes Restoration Initiative has done wonders in many states here in the Great Lakes Region, & it has tons of bipartisan support. We’re going to continue to do our best to get more funding for it, that way it can be supported for years to come, because we see how good things get when we work together & run this initiative. 13. What does your schedule look like week-to-week or day-to-day? As Vice Chair, I’m dedicating at most 6 hours, sometimes a bit more per week to focus on the various projects that we are working on. Whether that be stuff related to the Blue Water Task Force Program that I’m trying to get set up for our chapter here in Chicago, or even other campaigns that we’re working on. It’s fairly busy. On a daily basis, not so much, but on a weekly basis, it accumulates. With the project that I’m spearheading, it’s a lot to do, but at the same time, we kind of get a bit of a break every now & then, which is nice. 14. If someone were interested in volunteering with Surf Rider-Chicago, how would they approach you all? You can approach us on our website. Google “Surf Rider-Chicago”, & we will show up. Immediately on our website, you have the volunteer tab. Also, you can approach us on Instagram, which is chicago_surfrider. You can follow us there, we post our events whenever we have them. You can even copy the events from our website directly onto your phone’s calendar. 15. What has been your biggest triumph or proudest moment across your career? My proudest movement with Surf Rider, I would definitely say it’s tied between two things. One thing I would say is that my proudest moment was when I was voted as Vice Chair in February of this year (2026). It’s something I was really hoping for, for so long. To help out, do my part, & join an amazing team is wonderful. The other was a triumph sometime in June of last year. Surf Rider & a couple of other organizations won a lawsuit against the EPA, related to their not doing what they’re supposed to do. This case lasted about two to three years, & it concluded last year in June of 2025. It was related to the EPA not revising its standards when it came to accounting for new technologies when it came to capturing or reducing pollution. They didn’t revise their standards when it came to these innovations to reduce the amount of pollution that we were receiving. I believe they had 56 standards they were supposed to revise, or that they could revise, but when reviewing each standard, most had not been revised at all. Some of them had not been revised since the 1970’s. There were tons of different guidelines & standards that they had for capturing pollution for different corporations. In the decision made by the courts, it was decided that while the EPA had a certain level of discretion before deciding what standards to revise, they don’t have unlimited total discretion to ignore everything, especially when Surf Rider as well as several other organizations were reaching out to them about what was going on, & telling them that they need to revise some of their standards. 16. I’m sure that you have faced just as many challenges & setbacks as you have leaps forward, what has been the biggest hurdle or challenge that you have faced across your career, & how did you overcome it? I would cite the biggest obstacle that I’ve had as being able to make time to do as much as I do with Surf Rider. With my life being as busy as it was, & as it is, it was really difficult to find time to go to various events, beach cleanups, & take part in various campaigns as much as I wanted to. I couldn’t because I was stuck at work or something. I overcame that by prioritizing, & I felt that I was better off leaving my current job. My last day was sometime mid-April. Now I’m able to commit more to Surf Rider. Still working of course, but with a more manageable schedule where I can balance both things, which I’m really happy about. I knew the time was coming, I just needed to decide when that time would be, you know? I wanted to make sure I went out on my own terms. 17. What is your advice to new ocean conservationists, aspiring ocean professionals, & passionate young people looking to make a positive impact on the sea? Be patient, but stay motivated. A lot of the time whatever you’re doing is not going to be accomplished immediately, especially when we’re talking about things related to environmental policy or getting a program started. It’s not going to be a one-&-done fix. It’s going to take some time. While that can be annoying sometimes, & a bit frustrating, you can stick it out. Just stay motivated because what you’re doing will make a difference. What you’re doing will help tons & tons of different people, & the environment. You’ll be doing what you love. Even though it’s going to be tedious, & sometimes stressful, you’re doing it because you love it. 18. Do you have any final words about marine science, the Surf Rider Foundation, the beauty of the sea, or ocean conservation? My final words towards the Surf Rider Foundation are that I appreciate all the work that they’ve done over the past 40+ years. I’m glad to be able to be a part of such an amazing organization that has done so much good. Not just for each community, but for coastlines all across the country. I’m grateful that I can have a part of that by doing what I do as Vice Chair. It genuinely makes my day knowing that I have a good team with me, supporting me, working with me, & having people I can learn & grow from. It means a lot knowing that I have a good support system behind me as well. That encourages me to do this. When it comes to Marine Science, it is debatably the most interesting realm of science with so many different facets, & so many different things to learn. The many unknowns about the ocean that we don’t understand make it more interesting to care about, & protect! Directories / Credits https://chicago.surfrider.org Strategic Partnerships Reel Guppy Outdoors SharkedSkooler Marine Enthusiasts Podcast Cash Daniels Tides of Tomorrow The Open Book, Topanga Olivenbaum Music Pitfire Artisan Pizza Our Loyal Patrons P. R. Ochoa

A vibrant photograph of Gerard Loisel with 2 of his students attending one of his marine biology camps. Credit to Gerard Loisel. Recently, we were quite fortunate to sit down with marine biologist & science communicator, Gerard Loisel. Gerard Loisel is a marine biologist & science communicator from Key Biscayne, Florida. He is well known for his marine biology camps for youth, his work in science communication, & his work in marine science. In today’s interview, we sit down with Gerard to discuss his illustrious career, his work in science communication, his work in marine science, & his passion for the sea in a comprehensive 10-question interview. Before delving into today’s interview, please note everything said has been edited for clarity, & that the opinions of our interviewee do not necessarily reflect the opinions & values of our organization. With that being said, let us delve into the contents of the interview! Questions About His Passion: 1. What sparked your passion for the ocean & marine science? When I was a kid, I knew that I wanted to study animals. I wasn’t sure what kind. I would go to zoos, & I was interested in mammals at first. Then I got interested in reptiles around high school age. There’s a place called Miami Serpentarium in South Florida. I went there to see if they would hire me. I wasn’t 18 yet, so the director said come back when you are of age. Then I became interested in fish. I think it started because I had a marine aquarium. A lot of people do freshwater aquariums first, then switch to marine. I didn’t do that. I thought marine fish were interesting, so I joined the Florida Marine Aquarium Society to find out how to keep them alive. It went from there. 2. Generally speaking, what is your favourite marine or terrestrial animal? I would have to go with one of the two fish that’s on my marine biology camp's logo, which is a spotted drum (Eques punctatus). It’s the fish that I studied in college. They are often misidentified as juvenile jack-knifefish. I thought they were interesting-looking. They change pretty drastically as they become adults. When they’re juveniles, they’re hard to identify. I remember when I first went to the Smithsonian, I went to their fish museum. When you get an expert who comes, they can look at the jar & identify the fish without removing it. That’s what they did with me in Washington when I walked in. They’d bring out the juvenile jack-knifefish & spotted drum so I could tell them which one is which. That fish is on my logo. 3. Who Designed The Logo For Your Marine Biology Camps? I did! I have a sense for that kind of thing, I have a knack for it I suppose. For a while I was a disc jockey, you know on weekends I would DJ. I created my own radio commercial, & I remember I went into the studio with a very famous Disc Jockey who did The Voice. He asked me “What marketing company did your commercial?”, & I go “I did!” If you’re passionate about something, nobody is going to be better at promoting it than you are. You’re probably going to put more time into it. I designed the logo, & I drew the spotted drum. I also put together my own radio commercials when I had my Disc Jockey Business. It was a weird kind of thing. I’m at the University of Miami studying marine biology, & I was an undergraduate. I was in a fraternity, & we had some great parties. It seemed like the oldies parties were the best, with 50s & 60s music. I kind of fell in love with music, & decided to form a company that only did that. This was only after I’d hosted a charity event on campus to help fight multiple sclerosis, it was a 45-hour dance marathon. I had radio personalities coming in, & I had a radio personality tell me at 3:00 in the morning, “I gotta leave, I gotta be on the air at six”, & I go “No, you can’t leave, I got a dance floor full of people!”, I didn’t know what to do. He tells me that he has to be on the air, & the other disc jockey is nowhere to be found. He offers to show me how to do it, & shows me the mixer, turntables, & headphones. He gave me a very quick lesson on how to become a disc jockey, and, as they say, the rest is history. It was interesting, I was doing a charity event & as a result of something that happened in the middle of the night, a whole new career evolved. What I really enjoyed about that was that I’m doing marine biology Monday through Friday, & on the weekends, I’m playing my favourite songs for people & getting paid to do it. It was pretty cool. If you’re passionate about something, you can always do more than one thing. I’m in a life of earning a living doing more than one thing. I’m a soccer coach, I was a disc jockey, & I did camps. I do multiple things, all of which I enjoy doing. There’s a saying, if you love what you do for a living, you’ll never work a day in your life. I didn’t come up with that, but it’s very true. The logo for Gerard Loisel’s Marine Biology Camp, featuring a Spotted Drum & Seahorse. Credit to Gerard Loisel. Questions About His Career: 4. Where did you attend university for your undergraduate studies, & was there any particular reason for that choice? I’ve met a lot of football players, & other athletes. One football player who was the president (of the Hurricane Club), right before me, said that many athletes when asked why they pick the University of Miami, a lot of football players say “Well, my dream is to someday play in the NFL, so I figure if I go to the University of Miami & play Football, I have a higher chance of going into the NFL.”, because we’re known as the pipeline to the pros. I tell people my situation was similar even though I didn’t play football. I played soccer, but there’s no men’s soccer team at the University of Miami. I wanted to go to university to become a marine biologist, so I ended up going there. It’s kind of interesting, because this was a long time ago, back in the 70s. Students were discouraged from specializing too early. They said “If you’re going to go into marine science, wait until you go into graduate school.” I think there was only one college in the country back in the 70s that offered a bachelor’s degree in marine biology. The way most people did it was that you majored in biology, minored in chemistry, & studied marine science in graduate school. I decided to go ahead & take some (marine science) courses anyway. I graduated in three years, I could have graduated in two & a half years, except my senior year, I took a graduate course in marine science. Looking back now, it’s an interesting path that I took. I got my bachelor’s degree when I was 19, & as a 19-year-old with a bachelor’s degree, I was offered a job to teach high school marine biology at a small private school in Miami by a lady who was like a second mother to me. I heard from a colleague who was tutoring over there, when warned me that she was concerned that I was only 19. He told me to look as old as I could when I went to meet her. How do you look older? I wore a tie, & a dress shirt, & when I walked in the secretary looked at me & said “Well, you really do look 19.”, but we somehow clicked right away. She started taking me around campus & telling everyone I was going to be their marine biology teacher. I got the job! I got a job at 19 teaching high school marine biology. I ended up using that money to help pay for graduate school. When I finished graduate school, I figured I was going to move on because my goal was never to be a teacher. So, I told the principal that now that I was finished with grad school, I’m going to move on. She told me she wanted me to stay. I said “Well, don’t get me wrong, I like teaching, but my dream work is not to be a teacher”, because my dream was to work in a laboratory. She said “If you stay, I’ll build you a laboratory.” Some people think that when I say this I mean she converted a classroom into a laboratory, no. She built one from the ground up. The school was on the water, had a dock on (Choctawhatchee) bay with boats, & she built me a lab. I think everything happens in life for a reason. I’ve had some people say very kind things over the years to me over the years about my ability to communicate. A parent of one of the kids in my camp said to me “How did you end up becoming a teacher?”. When I said that wasn’t the plan, I told her the story I just told you. She said to me there was a divine intervention going on, because apparently that was my real calling. I’m blessed with being able to communicate & explain things to people in a way they can understand. I think that’s what I was destined to do. Years ago, I thought “How does a 19-year-old know enough about marine biology to teach it at any level?”, & the answer is that I deviated from the norm of not taking marine science classes until I got to graduate school. It didn’t even occur to me that the decision I made to take classes as an undergraduate would pay off, because that is why I knew enough marine biology to teach high school marine biology at 19. That all worked out. When the lady who owned that school passed away, I ended up becoming a college professor for 26 years teaching undergraduate marine biology & oceanography, but it all started there as a 19-year-old marine biology teacher. The school had a reunion this past fall, & they were kind enough to invite me to attend. I was amazed at how many stories they remembered. I have a reputation, even now, as being a storyteller. I try to use stories to help people create an image. I have a lot of stories related to marine science, & I use those stories to help people develop a better understanding of whatever the topic is. I remember when my marine biology college class had required field trips, & we went down to the Keys. We went on a glass-bottom boat to go out to see a coral reef. Some of the students weren’t good swimmers, so we chose the glass-bottom boat approach. As we’re about to head out, some of the students who’d already boarded the boat had spoken to the guide. The guide does more than talk about marine life. The guide talks about local restaurants & tourist attractions in the Keys. When I got on the boat she asked if I was the professor, & I go, yeah. She says that the students were telling her how I’m a great storyteller. She asked if I wanted to give the talk, & I said no, you give the talk. She was worried that she didn’t know enough, & I said you’ll be fine. I’m building up her confidence. She says the students told her I’m a great storyteller, & she says that she needs a mangrove story. What? This was a long time ago, when people used a Rolodex. Does she think I have a Rolodex with my stories? I told her, I don’t think I have a mangrove story for you. She did a great job, & when she was done, she came up to me & asked me for my opinion. I told her that she was great, & that she identified a lot of fish correctly, which a lot of times they don’t. 5. What is your specialty within marine science? Well, my specialty is ichthyology. That’s what I study. I keep telling people, especially the media, that there are lots of marine biologists. There’s coral people, there’s shrimp people, there’s whale people, & there’s fish people, I’m a fish guy. As a matter of fact, I did a camp in the Florida Keys. A kid comes up to me, & asks “What if we catch a fish & you don’t know what it is?”, & I said that’s probably not going to happen because I’m a fish guy. I’m that kind of marine biologist, but I listened carefully. In my camp, we do a sea turtle program. I had a gentleman named Bill Ahern who was the sea turtle permit holder for Miami-Dade County for years, & he did my Thursday Sea Turtle program. I always listened to what he said. He’s a turtle expert. I learned a lot from him about sea turtles. I have former students that become experts in different areas. I have a former student who’s a whale expert, whom I’m always ready to rely on if I’m asked a question or if I’m sent a video by the media. If it’s not a fish, then I’m going to give you my opinion & then I’m going to go elsewhere. I remember when the first interview I did for NBC 6 involved a Killer Whale. They needed me for the noon news. I was going to the Florida Keys to look at some field trips for my camps. I pulled into a Hampton Inn, & interviewed in the lobby of the hotel. As I’m pulling in, I call my wife & tell her that they’re going to interview me about this killer whale. She goes “But, you’re not a whale expert?”, & I explain that I told them that, & that they wanted to interview me anyway. I think they liked what I said when I was talking about the interaction between the trainers & the whales. Still, though, I keep reminding them I’m a fish guy. 6. How did you enter the field of marine science, & what was the first research project that you ever worked on? Being a fish, I studied reef drums. One of the first jobs I got other than teaching was a study with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. They were doing a study on the impact of beach restoration in reefs close to shore, & they wanted a fish survey. In other words, they wanted to know what fish are there before & after the dredging operation. I got hired because I’m a fish expert, but even better for them I’m a coral reef fish expert. That was a great job. I got paid to go scuba diving & write down what fish I saw. We had a system where you could determine not only what was there, but how abundant they were. The other person who was hired was an open ocean fish expert. He’s a good guy, & he & I were friends. When we got on the boat, we had to have dive buddies. We’d get on the boat, & he’d say “What was that fish?”, because he could narrow it down to one of two things. Because I’m a coral reef fish expert, I could identify them, that’s what I was there for. That was pretty cool. We published a paper on that. Then there was a National Marine Fisheries Service Study on recreational fishing. I was originally hired to interview fishermen, make sure they identify their catch properly, & weigh as well as measure their catch. It was interesting. They quickly promoted me to a regional coordinator. Then, they promoted me to state coordinator, which means they sent me to Jacksonville to train me. They started having me train people, & part of the challenge is that you have to hire people. I would get a lot of marine biologists applying because it’s a cool job. They’re getting paid to go to marinas, & fishing piers to talk to fishermen & look at their catch. Some of the people who applied were people with PhD’s in crabs, they didn’t know a grunt from a snapper, but they wanted the job. I had to make sure that I hired people who knew their fish. I developed a test for them. Years ago, the Miami Sea Aquarium, back when it was open, had this area called the Lost Islands where there were a bunch of fish. I’d walk them through there, point to a fish, & ask them what it was. Some people liked that, some people didn’t. I developed another test for them with flash cards, where I would hold up a fish & have them identify it. If you’re going to do a fishing survey in South Florida, you need to know these 10 fish for sure. If you miss one or two of them, I can help you with that. Part of the reason they hired me to do that is that they were concerned that people were reporting fish not from that area, so they had me look into that. People were misidentifying the fish. Again, I think that my real calling was to be an educator. A photograph of a spotted drum swimming back & forth in front of its shelter in Turks & Caicos. Credit to Charles Angelo. 7. How did you transition to online science communication? I was teaching marine biology to kids at a small school, & I was hit halfway through the course. When COVID hit, everything went into lockdown. So now all of a sudden, I’m not coaching anymore, & I’m not teaching anymore. The principal of the school called me & asked me how I was, I said I was okay. She says “Listen, we can continue to hire you if you can finish the course on Zoom”, & I said what most people my age said in the spring of 2020 “What’s a Zoom?” Within a year, I thought Zoom was the greatest thing since sliced bread. I’m a storyteller, & I have a way of expressing myself. Zoom allows me to do that. Thanks to Zoom, I was now able to teach marine biology to kids all across the country. I taught kids in Washington D.C., Louisiana, & Philadelphia, thanks to Zoom. I don’t do it so much anymore because we’re all pretty much to in-person stuff. 8. How did you come to host “Marine Aquarium World”, for PBS? How many episodes did it run for, & how long was each episode? What was the subject of the series? What did you learn about television? I learned so much about television that I remember. When they put the little tape on the floor, I knew that was my mark. I had to hit my mark without looking down at the floor. I remember I was interviewing somebody about their fish in their tank. They told the person “When Gerard talks to you, just look at Gerard. Don’t look at the tank. Talk about the fish, but look at him, whatever fish you mention we’ll go back & get later on B-Roll.” I had no idea what that meant! It was 13 episodes, each 30 minutes long. It took a year to shoot. We did remotes, they had me go down to the Florida Keys & collect fish. This was PBS, so we’re all volunteering. The cameraman was a volunteer. I guess they paid for the boat & the boat people. I never met this cameraman before, he would later become famous. I think he may have even won an Oscar for The Life of Pi. We’re on the boat, we’re about to go into the water. I said to him that I don’t know what we’re going to see, fish are hard to catch. I don’t know if I’ll catch anything. He says that I should just do what I do, & he’ll be there. It was one of those weird things where there were fish everywhere. All of a sudden, I catch the first fish & I turn, & there’s a camera right there. I didn’t realize he was going to become an award-winning cameraman. So we go back to the studio, because we also shot studio parts. We interspersed the clips from the studio with the clips we shot in the keys. They’re telling me to make sure I say his name over & over again to thank him for his time. His name is ingrained in my brain. Years later, I’m teaching marine biology at a small school, & there are these two boys who are twins. They tell me their last name, & it’s the same last name. It was his kids. He did some amazing stuff. Questions About His Marine Biology Camp & Advice For Aspiring Marine Scientists: 9. I’m sure that you have faced just as many challenges & setbacks as you have leaps forward, what has been the biggest hurdle or challenge that you have faced across your career, & how did you overcome it? You know, I compare it to the movie Forrest Gump, where things happen sometimes along the way. You think this is an obstacle, & all of a sudden something happens that forces you to go into a different direction. I call those Forrest Gump moments, where all of a sudden you come to a crossroads, & you think you’re going to make a decision, but the circumstances decide for you. The best example is the one I gave earlier. I wasn’t going to be a teacher, but the owner of the school wanted me to stay. My favourite movie of all time is The Great Escape, which is a true story about POWS escaping during World War II, & it’s not so much a war movie. It’s a movie about overcoming adversity & figuring things out. They dug three tunnels, figuring you know if the Germans found one of the tunnels, they’d still be in business. So they built three, & that’s exactly why it happened. They did find one tunnel, but they were still able to go through with the escape. I always tell people to try to have multiple revenue streams in life. Have multiple tunnels, so if one of them shuts down, or all of a sudden you have a situation develop, you can fall back on other tunnels. When that principal called me in 2020, & she asked me how I was doing, I asked if she’d ever seen the movie The Great Escape. I explained how I still had one tunnel going on. She goes, well, if you can finish teaching your class on Zoom, you’ll have two tunnels. That was true. I learned about Zoom. Here was a tough situation, difficult for everybody, but I got to turn Zoom into a positive. 10. Do you have any advice for early-career ocean professionals, aspiring marine biologists, & young people with a passion? When I was an undergraduate, I had professors telling me not to study marine biology, because there were so few jobs available in the field. I didn’t listen to them. I didn’t pay attention. I said that this is what I wanted to do. What I always tell people is if you’re really passionate about something, don’t be discouraged by how many other people are going to apply for that job. When that job comes up, just make sure you’re the most qualified person for that job. Who cares how many other applicants there are? If it’s something you’re passionate about, you need to stick with it. I finally got picked for Jury Duty last year, & I had never been picked before. It turns out the judge didn’t know me, the attorneys didn’t know me, but they asked me what I do. During one of the breaks, one of the jurors said to me “So, you’re a marine biologist?”, & I said yeah. She said “Listen, I’m wondering if you can help me, because I’m studying botany. I’m getting my PhD in botany. I’m concerned as to whether I’ll be able to find a job with a degree in botany.” & I’m thinking, boy have I got a speech for you. So I gave her the speech about not worrying. Just be willing to do things that most traditional botanists might not do. Be willing to look into related areas, but if you’re passionate, stick with it. Don’t not do it because you’re concerned that you’re concerned that you’re going to be competing with other people for jobs. Just make sure you’re the best qualified person when you apply, & let the rest take care of itself. She said to me “Wow! Can you come & talk to my class?”, & I said sure. I knew that there were too many of us for the jury. On the last day, I asked if some of us were alternates. They said that yes, two of us were, & that we wouldn’t know until we’re about to go in for deliberation. Sure enough, they dismiss the botany student. Good thing she talked to me yesterday, because I got to encourage her. If you do something you love for a living, you’ll never work a day in your life. I’ve been very lucky that I’ve been able to do so many things that I love. I got to tell you something, when I get out there in the water with those kids, I’m 18 years old again. It’s like the fountain of youth, you know? I enjoy doing it, & I think that people shouldn’t be discouraged. Get your degrees, be the best-qualified person you can. A brilliant photograph of Gerard Loisel hosting a marine biology camp in Florida, USA. Credit to Gerard Loisel. Directories / Credits https://marinebiologycamp.net Strategic Partnerships Reel Guppy Outdoors SharkedSkooler Marine Enthusiasts Podcast Cash Daniels Tides of Tomorrow The Open Book, Topanga Olivenbaum Music Pitfire Artisan Pizza Our Loyal Patrons P. R. Ochoa

A verdant photograph of Phang Nga Bay, Thailand. Credit to tourcounsel.com. In today’s article, we are going to be delving into the documented history of Phang Nga Bay. Phang Nga Bay is a bay on the southern coast of Thailand, between the mainland & Phuket Island. It is well known for its small islands dotted around the bay, limestone formations, underwater caves, & mangrove forests. Many divers flock to the area each year to photograph marine animals, swim in the bay, & take in the surreal beauty around them. There are many areas for swimming, kayaking, snorkelling, & picnicking on the islands in the bay & on the mainland coastline bordering the bay. It is common for tourists to travel between Phuket, & the Phang Nga, as the drive is approximately 1 hour & 54 minutes under optimal circumstances. Many tourists travelling along the coast of Thailand will stop in the area for a day trip to enjoy its beauty. The entire bay is protected as a marine protected area within Ao Phang Nga National Park. In addition to its beautiful landscape, the island is extremely biodiverse. The bay is filled with many beautiful ecosystems, ranging from mangrove forests to coral reefs. One of the popular creatures of the area, is known as the Giant Oceanic Manta Ray. We published an article about this species on the 10th of this month, & it can be found by typing “Manta Ray” into the search function of our website. Unfortunately, very little is recorded about the history of the bay. Instead of focusing primarily on the anthropogenic history of the bay, we will be focusing on the geologic history of the bay. The underwater limestone caves formed approximately 10,000 years ago. Although they brought many tourists & much biodiversity to the island, it was not officially protected as a Marine Protected Area until 1981, when it was incorporated into Ao Phang Nga National Park. In this article, we will delve into the geologic history & anthropogenic history of Phang Nga Bay, the Indigenous Aboriginals of Phang Nga Bay, The Most Destructive Man-Caused & Natural Disasters of Phang Nga Bay, & The Economy Of Phang Nga Bay. With that being said, let us delve into the mysterious & intriguing history of Phang Nga Bay. The Documented History Of Phang Nga Bay Approximately 10,000 Years Ago Approximately 10,000 years ago, the sunken limestone caves of Phang Nga Bay were formed as the sea levels rose from glaciers melting. Historical Events From The 1300s to the 1800s As trade became more popular between the East & the West, Phang Nga Bay became a strategic location for tradesmen to meet & exchange goods. There is evidence to suggest that both China & India would use this area to trade with each other, & the Aboriginals. Historical Events From The 1900’s Although Phang Nga Bay was one of the centers of biodiversity for Thailand, it was not recognized as a Marine Protected Area until April 29th, 1981, when it was established as Ao Phang Nga National Park. The Indigenous Aboriginals Of Phang Nga Bay The Orang Asli Indigenous Aboriginals Of Phang Nga Bay Orang Asli is a term for approximately 18 different ethnic groups scattered throughout Thailand & Malaysia. The primary languages for these groups are Temoq, Semai, Sabum, Kensiu, Batek, Kentaq Bong, Jehai, Medrique, Tonga, Temaun, Jakun, & Temiar. The majority of these languages belong to the Aslian Language Family, which is the southernmost language family of the Austroasiatic languages. These groups live all around Thailand, & have inhabited the area for centuries. Many groups practice Agroforestry, & will cultivate fields of rice. Modernly, these groups will hunt wild animals & fish for many different marine species. Before the arrival of Europeans, they were largely isolated from the rest of Asia. In the 1950s, many ethnic Chinese communists fled to the areas where the Orang Alsi lived, & as tensions grew, both began harbouring resentment towards one another. Soon after in the 1960’s, a department of Aborigines was created, in order to provide financial assistance to the Orang Asli, & convert them to Islam. An integration policy was established, in which they were discouraged from having hunter-gatherer lifestyles, & were encouraged to refrain from nomadism. Instead, they were encouraged to cultivate more agriculture. Modernly, there are many ongoing issues between the Orang Asli, & the Thai Government over land rights. Unfortunately, these communities do not have the best medical resources, & malnutrition as well as disease control are poor in the community. Iodine deficiency disorders are fairly common, & maternal health issues are popular. Approximately 70 percent of the remaining aboriginals practice Animism, 10 percent practice Christianity, & between 15 & 20 percent practice Islam. In Animism, all inanimate objects have a spirit, & most forces of nature are controlled by spirits. Each spirit has agency as well as freewill, & is completely independent. A lush photograph of Phang Nga Bay, Thailand. Credit to tourcounsel.com. The Most Destructive Man-Caused & Natural Disasters Of Phang Nga Bay Disaster No. 1: The 2004 Indian Ocean Earthquake & Tsunami In December of 2004, a 9.1 magnitude earthquake struck off the coast of Sumatra, Indonesia. It originated from 30 kilometers deep in the ocean. The earthquake sent a 167-foot-high tsunami towards Thailand, Sri Lanka, & Indonesia. It swept many villages away, & killed hundreds of thousands of people. Many were displaced & left without electricity. It led to approximately 230,000 deaths across South East Asia, & 15 billion U.S.D in damages. Indonesia was the country that was hardest affected, & the earthquake caused 167,000 deaths in the country, as well as 8 billion U.S.D in damages. It took many years for all countries involved to recover from the Earthquake, as well as the Tsunami. This is one of the deadliest natural disasters in modern history. The Economy Of Phang Nga Bay The province of Phang Nga’s economy is powered by Tourism, & Agriculture. The economy is relatively stable. The province has a population of approximately 257,493 people. At the current exchange rate, there is a GDP per capita of 3,314 U.S.D. A sea-rock standing in Phang Nga Bay, Thailand. Credit to tourcounsel.com. Directories / Credits Citation No. 1: “Phang Nga Bay Tourism History”, Written by Unknown, & Published on an Unknown Date. Published by Travel Setu. Retrieval Date: May 7th, 2024. https://travelsetu.com/guide/phang-nga-bay-tourism/phang-nga-bay-tourism-history Citation No. 2: “Indigenous Peoples in Malaysia”, Written by Unknown, & Published at an Unknown Date. Published by the International Group for Indigenous Affairs. Retrieval Date: May 7th, 2024. https://www.iwgia.org/en/malaysia.html Citation No. 3: “Orang Asli in Malaysia”, Written by Unknown, & Published at an Unknown Date. Published by the Minority Rights Group. Retrieval Date: May 7th, 2024. https://minorityrights.org/communities/orang-asli/ Citation No. 4: “Squatters in their Own Land - The Orang Asli of Malaysia”, Written by Unknown, & Published at an Unknown Date. Retrieval Date: May 7th, 2024. https://geographical.co.uk/culture/squatters-in-their-own-land-the-orang-asli-of-malaysia Citation No. 5: “Diseases among Orang Asli community in Malaysia: a systematic overview”, Written by Muhammad Hilmi Mahmud, Ummi Mirza Baharudin, & Zahela Md Isa, & Published on November 16th, 2022. Published by BMC Public Health. Retrieval Date: May 7th, 2026. https://bmcpublichealth.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12889-022-14449-2 Citation No. 6: “The 2004 Tsunami Wiped Towns With ‘Mind-Boggling’ Destruction”, Written By Dave Roos, & Published By October 2nd, 2018. Published by A&E Television Networks. Retrieval Date: May 7th, 2026. https://www.history.com/news/deadliest-tsunami-2004-indian-ocean Citation No. 7: “2004 Indian Ocean earthquake & tsunami: Facts & FAQS”, Written by Sevil Omer, & Published on September 25, 2023. Published by Word Vision. Retrieval Date: May 7th, 2026. https://www.worldvision.org/disaster-relief-news-stories/2004-indian-ocean-earthquake-tsunami-facts Citation No. 8: “Jetstream Max: 2004 Indian Ocean Tsunami”, Written by Unknown, & Published at an Unknown Date. Published by the National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration. Retrieval Date: May 7th, 2026. https://www.noaa.gov/jetstream/2004tsu_max Strategic Partnerships Reel Guppy Outdoors SharkedSkooler Marine Enthusiasts Podcast Cash Daniels Tides of Tomorrow The Open Book, Topanga Olivenbaum Music Pitfire Artisan Pizza Our Loyal Patrons P. R. Ochoa

A distinguished portrait of Robert K. Trench during his time as a Professor with the University of California, Santa Barbara. This article is part of our Marine Hall of Distinction collection. In this special collection, we discuss the marine biologists who have contributed most to marine biology & oceanography. We do this to commemorate these marine biologists & show gratitude for everything they have contributed to our oceans. Today's marine scientist is Dr. Robert Kent Trench. Dr. Robert Kent Trench was the leading expert on coral reefs and their symbiotic relationship with Zooxanthellae algae, discovering chemical compound conversions and algal universes. Trench was one of the first black men to become a trailblazing Marine Biologist, and his work serves as the foundation for much of today’s marine biological studies. In today’s article, we will delve into his formative years & education, his personal life & career, as well as his achievements, awards, & accomplishments. With that being said, let’s plunge into the extraordinary life of Dr. Robert Kent Trench and coral reefs! His Education & Formative Years Belize City, the largest city in the former British Honduras now Belize; was a bustling seaport colonial city in 1940 famous for its sparkling clear waters of the Caribbean gulf and its diverse sea life – especially coral reefs - making it a paradise for both residents and scientists. It was here that the future trailblazing Marine Biologist and coral reef expert Robert Kent Trench was born on a warm, late summer day August 3, 1940. While Trench was still a school boy, his parents departed Belize for a new life in America leaving Trench under the tutelage of his grandmother who lived seaside parallel to the Belize Barrier Reef: the largest coral reef in the Northern Hemisphere at a massive 190-miles long. Trench would spend hours on end making the sea his sole companion investigating the glorious reefs and sparking the fire of his future career, then unknown to him. As the calendar years flipped, Trench left childhood behind and attended the Jesuit High School in Belize City known for its science academic program. Here, Trench was able to formally study the ocean, sea life and discourse on coral reefs to anyone and everyone who would listen. With his mind enticed to learn more about the sea ecosystem and having excelled in high school; Trench entered the newly formed University of West Indies (Jamaica campus) receiving his undergraduate degree. While at UWI, Trench’s passion and knowledge garnered attention from experts in the field and he was asked to join the elite coral reef research team of Tom and Nora Goreau, the pioneers of coral reef study. Alongside Tom and Nora, Trench explored the symbiotic relationships critical to coral reef skeletal formation and overall growth. Trench felt there must be a symbiosis between algae and coral and made this his central study focus from herein. Robert K. Trench diving at Pear Tree Bottom. Credit to Thomas F. Goreau. Trench was fully immersed in marine biology and knew that his future depended on the same move his parents made so many years prior and thus moved to the United Sates – specifically to Los Angeles, California to study invertebrate zoology at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) earning his doctorate in 1969. It was during his time at UCLA that Trench earmarked the field of dissecting the biochemical compounds transferred from algae to coral during their symbiosis for which Trench would make marine biological history and led to a post-doctoral fellowship at the world-renowned University of Oxford in Oxford, England. His Personal Life & Career During his doctorate studies at UCLA’s Leonard Muscatine’s oceanic lab; Trench and Muscatine focused on the biochemical symbiotic conversion between coral and algae which became the focus of Trench’s thesis and his subsequent specialization in Zooxanthellae. Trench discovered that algae use the protection provided by coral while in turn, the algae displace its photosynthesized energy to the coral with both acting as hosts to the other versus a parasitic, one-sided relationship. Trench mastered these histological techniques to reveal species of algae-within-algae and multiple chromosomes; discovering an entirely new biodiverse universe. This discovery made Trench the leading expert in zooxanthellae and led to his role as an assistant professor at Yale for four years. During this time, Trench’s first contribution to marine biology was published in, Nature (having been declined initially by Science) on the subject of photosynthetic animals; raising his popularity in the field and promoting his transfer to the University of California, Santa Barbara as a professor in the Department of Ecology, Evolution and Marine Biology. A statuesque photograph of Robert K. Trench on the water in Discovery Bay with Dave Wethey. Credit to William Sacco. Students enrolled in Trench’s coursework enjoyed unlimited access to peruse their own scientific hypothesis as Trench strongly eschewed from concrete constructs whether in the lab or field. Trench and his students explored and studied symbiotic relationships in multiple global locales including Hawaii, Jamaica, Mexico, Palau and Eniwetok Atoll; while also exploring the effects of temperature changes (now known as global warming) on coral bleaching. His method of teaching future marine biologists included the encouragement of proposing endless questions and living by the motto, “I want to teach them how to learn on their own, so that I become irrelevant.” Despite Trench’s many discoveries and revelations; he was often overlooked and did not receive his fair share of credit which was instead given to those who ‘re-discovered’ his findings. Some of this reasoning was due to his own penchant for solitude and disdain for fame. Trench was known by his colleagues as “the nicest guy” but was a straight-shooter, often proved others’ theories as false and wasn’t afraid of a healthy debate which created some contempt from those who disliked this direct approach. The unfortunate effects of racism impacted Trench’s career as some saw the color of his skin over the monumental influence of his work. Trench was overlooked for the role of the Director of the Discovery Bay Marine Lab from the consensus that a “blackie wasn’t acceptable”; and other distinguished positions and grants in favor of those with more Aryan backgrounds. Other programs hired him merely as their “token black man”. Although excuses were often placed that Trench was too young, too interdisciplinary, too broad for funding, etc.; the reasoning was solely due to the factor of race. While teaching at UCSB, Trench was often confronted by university campus security for not looking “like he belonged on campus”. Trench was quoted as saying, “No matter what I do, to some people I will always just be a n –.” It is this racism that directly led to his early retirement in 2000. Trench published numerous papers and laid groundbreaking discovery foundations which are still being studied today and impact the current field of coral restoration completely changing the entire scope of marine biology. In 1994, Trench was honored with the Miescher-Ishida Prize for his pioneering work regarding the metabolite flux from kleptochloroplasts. When not dissolved in marine biology, Trench enjoyed history - particularly the American Civil War, fishing, boating, woodworking (even making furniture) and collecting coral skeletons. Trench passed only a year after his retirement on April 27, 2021 from undisclosed causes. A lovely photograph of Robert K. Trench with a group of symbosis researchers at UC Santa Barbara. Credit to Lynn Margulis, pictured next to Robert. His Awards, Accomplishments & Achievements 1. He was given an award by Queen Elizabeth II to study the Great Barrier Reef in Australia. 2. In 1994, Trench was honored with the Miescher-Ishida Prize for his pioneering work regarding the metabolite flux from kleptochloroplasts. 3. He was awarded the Healthy Reefs for Healthy People Lifetime Achievement Award in 2010. 4. He was a consultant for the Global Coral Reef Alliance, member of the Society of Limonology and Oceanography and the American Association for Advancement of Science. Directories / Credits 1: “University Bulletin: A Weekly Bulletin for the Staff of the University of California”, Written & Published by the Office of Official Publications, University of California (1984). 2: “Robert Kent Trench (1940–2021): A Life Devoted to Symbiotic Mutualisms and Seeking Nature’s Truth”, Written by Todd C. LaJeunesse, Anastazia T. Banaszak, Charles R. Fisher, J. Malcolm Shick, Mark E. Warner, James W. Porter, Armand M. Kuris, Roberto Iglesias-Prieto & William K. Fitt. Published on January 10, 2022 by Springer Nature. 3: “Robert K. Trench (1940- )”, Written by Robert Fikes. Published on January 23, 2007 by BlackPast. 4: “Celebrating Black History Month: Marine Scientists Who Changed Our World”, Written by Anna Cohen. Published on January 30, 2025 by the Coastal and Marine Laboratory, Florida State University. 5: “Celebrating Black History Month with Five Marine Biologists who Changed Our Understanding of the Ocean”, Written by Rachelle Naddaf. Published on February 5, 2024 by Oceana. 6: “Remembering the Contributions of Black Americans to the Marine Sciences”, Written by Aimee Catalan. Published on February 28, 2021 by the Schmidt Ocean Institute. 7: “Robert Kent Trench: In Memorium”, Written by Tom Goreau. Published on December 21, 2021 by Global Coral. Strategic Partnerships Reel Guppy Outdoors SharkedSkooler Marine Enthusiasts Podcast Cash Daniels Tides of Tomorrow The Open Book, Topanga Olivenbaum Music Pitfire Artisan Pizza Our Loyal Patrons P. R. Ochoa

A photograph of a massive krill storm. Credit to the MercoPress. Ocean acidification is one of the most serious consequences of contemporary climate change. As a result of rising atmospheric carbon dioxide concentrations, increasing amounts of carbon dioxide are dissolving in seawater, leading to a lower pH and disruption of the ocean's chemical balance. Antarctica, considered one of the most sensitive areas on Earth, is home to numerous penguin species whose survival is closely dependent on the stability of the food chain. The staple of Antarctic penguins' diet is krill, whose development and availability are directly dependent on ocean chemistry. Water acidification can negatively impact organisms, leading to cascading changes throughout the ecosystem. The aim of this article is to analyze the impact of ocean acidification on the availability of food for Antarctic penguins and to assess the potential consequences of these changes for their populations. Understanding the relationship between ocean chemical processes and the functioning of higher trophic levels is crucial for predicting future changes in Antarctic ecosystems and implementing effective protective measures. Ocean acidification is a decrease in the pH of ocean waters, primarily caused by emissions of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere, which then enters the water cycle. Chemical reactions produce carbonic acid (H2CO3), which dissociates into a bicarbonate anion and a hydrogen cation, causing a decrease in pH and, consequently, an increase in ocean acidity. Cold waters have a greater capacity to absorb carbon dioxide, which can increase acidification in these areas. Ocean acidification, along with rising water temperatures and lower oxygen levels, poses a significant threat to marine organisms and entire ecosystems. Since the Industrial Revolution, humans have extensively used fossil fuels such as coal, oil, and natural gas, which release large amounts of carbon dioxide when burned (Zhao, 2025). Deforestation contributes to a decrease in the amount of carbon dioxide processed by plants. It is estimated that 10%-15% of global greenhouse gas emissions annually are caused by deforestation. These factors contribute to increased carbon dioxide absorption by the oceans. Ocean warming and glacial melting affect the chemical composition and acid-base balance of saltwater bodies, which translates into a disruption in carbon dioxide isolation. Ocean acidification is also influenced by, among other things, volcanic eruptions, whose emission of large amounts of carbon dioxide and other acidic gases affects water acidity. However, these processes contribute to ocean acidification to a much lesser extent than anthropogenic influences. Human actions are the most significant factor in the ongoing changes in water chemistry and the growing problem of decreasing ocean pH, which negatively impacts marine ecosystems. The oceans have absorbed approximately 525 billion tons of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, a quarter of the anthropogenic carbon dioxide emissions over the last 250 years. 22 million tons of carbon dioxide are released into the atmosphere daily, one-third of which is absorbed by the ocean. The current atmospheric carbon dioxide concentration is approximately 100 ppmv higher than the pre-industrial level (280 ppmv). The average pH of ocean surface water has decreased by 0.1, which is equivalent to a 30% increase in hydrogen ion concentration. According to IPCC emission scenarios, this average pH could drop by 0.3-0.4 units by the end of the century (Fabry, Seibel, Feely, & Orr, 2008), reaching a pH level lower than it has been for over 20 million years. By the end of the century, aragonite and calcite levels will be almost half of what they are today. When pCO2 values ​​in water reach ~560 ppmv, aragonite depletion will be felt in the polar regions of the Southern Ocean - for calcite, this value is 900 ppmv. Polar waters retain gases more easily, leading to higher concentrations. They have less capacity to buffer changes in acidity, making them more susceptible to acidification. Aragonite and calcite depletion could be a serious problem in areas such as the Arctic and Antarctic, and within the next 20 to 50 years, they could become sites of severe mineral depletion. Approximately 10% of the ocean surface is represented by the Southern Ocean, or Antarctic Ocean, which covers an area of ​​almost 35 million square kilometers. It drives the global ocean conveyor belt and plays a key role in shaping ocean climate. According to preliminary studies, if greenhouse gas emissions continue at projected levels, Southern Ocean acidification will be felt earlier and more severely than in temperate regions. According to the Scientific Committee on Antarctic Research (SCAR), the Southern Ocean accounts for over 40% of the mean annual CO2 uptake, making it one of the main sinks for atmospheric carbon dioxide. Future acidification projections indicate that winter surface waters south of 60°S could reach 1000 μatm by 2100 when model projections incorporate seasonal CO2 cycles, and areas of the Southern Ocean could experience aragonite undersaturation as early as 2030 (IPCC RCP8.5) (Hancock, King, & Stark, 2020). Calcite undersaturation could occur in areas of the Southern Ocean surface waters by 2095. Increased ocean acidification poses the greatest threat to calcified organisms, including corals, for which it causes slower growth and difficulty building structure. Acidification can also affect clownfish's ability to navigate on coral reefs and avoid predators. These changes pose a threat to some organisms that have a key impact on ecosystems. In the case of non-calcified organisms, metabolic processes may be exposed to increased hydrogen ion concentrations. The level of water acidification can cause changes in ion regulation, leading to higher carbon dioxide levels in the blood and a lower blood pH, which in turn affects oxygen transport and metabolism. This disruption of homeostasis forces the body to use more energy to regulate the acid-base balance. Less energy will therefore be allocated to development and reproduction. Acidified water can cause abnormal development of organisms, especially larvae. Young crustaceans die due to their inability to form a shell or carapace. Ocean acidification therefore has a significant impact on the development and reproduction of marine organisms. It not only causes abnormalities in the development of young individuals, but also increases mortality. It also plays a role in metabolic processes and the behavior of individuals, negatively affecting them. Chinstrap, Adelie, and Gentoo penguins feed primarily on Antarctic krill (Euphausia superba) and, to a lesser extent, fish, with a significantly higher fish content in Gentoo penguins than in Adelie and Chinstrap penguins. According to DNA analysis of fecal matter from Adelie penguins in East Antarctica (Jarman, McInnes, Faux, Polanowski, and Marthick, 2013), krill was present in approximately 70% of samples, being the sole dietary component in 20% of all samples. Antarctic krill (Euphausia superba) is a key component of the diet of Antarctic penguins, and its sensitivity to ocean acidification and warming may directly impact food availability for these birds. A photograph of a gorgeous, striking Gentoo Penguin. Gentoo Penguins are a species of Antarctic Penguin known for their beautiful orange beaks & white feathers near their eyes. Individuals are known to build nests composed of rocks and pebbles. Credit to voyagers.travel. A photograph of an inquisitive Adelie penguin waddling on a rock. Adelie penguins are a species of Antarctic penguin known for their stark black heads, as well as beak. They are well known for their distinctive waddle, as well as their distinctive swimming technique known as “hydroplaning”. Credit to Dalton Johnson. A photograph of a chinstrap penguin posed in a distinguished fashion. They are primarily located in the Scotia Sea region, with colonies in the South Shetland, South Orkney, & South Sandwich islands. Credit to the Antarctic & Southern Ocean Coalition. Antarctic krill is a key species in Antarctic food webs, linking phytoplankton production to higher trophic levels, including penguins. Their abundance and distribution are important for the organisms they feed on. Antarctic krill occur primarily around ice, where they depend on the biota present there. This is particularly important for larvae, for which the ice not only provides food but also shelter from predators. Global warming is affecting ocean ice, negatively impacting krill larvae. The waters of the Earth's largest ocean current, the Antarctic Circumpolar Current, are warming faster than the entire Earth's ocean (Flores et al., 2012). Antarctic krill have adapted to life in polar waters with stable temperatures. A temperature change of even 1 to 2°C can cause physiological and behavioral changes and affect their distribution. Increasing surface water temperatures can force krill to stay deeper, which can pose a problem for penguins that need to surface and breathe atmospheric air. Regional changes in CO2 concentrations will directly affect Antarctic krill, which occur in areas most vulnerable to acidification. Krill routinely migrate vertically, which contributes to greater exposure to CO2, the partial pressure of which increases with depth as deep ocean waters contain more CO2. A study conducted on krill populations (Kawaguchi et al., 2011) experimentally exposed Antarctic krill embryos and larvae to 380 (control), 1000, and 2000 μatm pCO2. At 2000 μatm pCO2, development in 90% of embryos was stopped before gastrulation, and no larvae hatched successfully. Based on IPCC projections, by year 2100, pCO2 levels could rise to 1400 μatm within krill's range of living, posing a serious threat to their populations. This means that as pCO2 levels increase, the survival rate of young krill decreases. The embryonic and larval stages have a key impact on the structure of the entire Antarctic krill population, and negative changes in development, physiology, and behavior impacts the entire food web. Despite penguins' adaptation to extreme conditions, they are sensitive to sudden environmental changes. Due to their location at one of the higher trophic levels and their adaptation to a constant food source and unchanging atmospheric conditions, they are unable to adapt quickly enough to changes. Their primary survival strategy is migration or changing feeding habits, not microevolution (Forcada and Trathan, 2009). The tendency to migrate in response to threats has been widely observed among species nesting on the shores of ice sheets and those living inland. Increasing climate change associated with melting ice sheets and the dislocation of food sources poses the greatest threat to Adelie and Emperor penguins, whose reproductive success depends on stable food, stable atmospheric conditions, and permanent ice cover (Boersma, 2008). Local food shortages and changes in ice extent result in fluctuations in penguin populations, mostly in declines. During the breeding and chick growth period, negative environmental factors have the greatest impact on penguin populations. Climate change during this period leads to underfeeding, abandonment of young, and deaths due to maladjustment. A delay in reproductive activity is also observed, which is directly related to the growth of the chicks (Barbraud and Weimerskirch, 2006). It is known that synchronizing breeding with appropriate nutritional conditions is crucial, as the period guaranteeing reproductive success is short. Current projections regarding water acidification and the coexistence of factors exacerbating environmental change suggest a reduction or even a halt in the growth of Antarctic krill populations and an increase in the frequency of vertical migrations (McBride et al., 2021). In waters rich in krill, penguins prefer to harvest krill close to land at shallow depths. Increasing krill depths result in increased exercise and energy requirements for penguins (Riaz et al., 2025). It is also known that krill shortages in the surrounding environment are a critical threat to penguins, directly related to the decline of already endangered populations. Water acidification is responsible for the bioaccumulation of water pollutants and their interactions. The correlation observed between increased microplastic and nanoplastic toxicity in the acidic Antarctic environment is a poorly understood phenomenon. The biological responses of krill embryos to the simultaneous decrease in pH and the presence of microplastics are known. Multi-stressor tests have shown that increased microplastic toxicity due to increased water acidity significantly reduces embryonic development and reduces the hatching rate of krill (Rowlands et al., 2021). Given the predicted negative changes in krill and fish populations and the intensive human harvesting of both species, it is impossible to accurately predict the behavioral and biological responses of penguins. Due to varying past responses and insufficient knowledge of the direct relationship between penguins and water acidification, future responses are unknown (Forcada and Trathan, 2009). The reduction in penguin food through migration and the reduction of krill as well as fish stocks constitutes a serious environmental problem. This negative effect is exacerbated by human harvesting of krill in krill-rich coastal zones, the preferred feeding grounds of penguins (Panasiuk, Gic-Grusza, and Korczak-Abshire, 2024). Given the threat to penguin populations, all measures must be taken to prevent the ongoing decline in the Antarctic krill population and the threat it poses to the entirety of the Antarctic ecosystem. A photograph of a krill swimming in a vast ocean. Credit to National Geographic. Citations / Directories Barbraud, C. and Weimerskirch, H. (2006). Antarctic birds breed later in response to climate change. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 103 (16), pages 6248-6251. Boersma, P. (2008). Penguins as Marine Sentinels. Bioscience 58. Fabry, V. J., Seibel, B. A., Feely, R. A. and Orr, J. C. (2008). Impacts of ocean acidification on marine fauna and ecosystem processes. Journal of Marine Science, pages 414-432 Flores, H., Atkinson , A., Kawaguchi, S., Krafft, B. A., Milinevsky, G., Nicol, S., . . . Werner, R. (2012). Impact of climate change on Antarctic krill. Marine Ecology Progress Series 458, pages 1-19. Flynn, E. E., Bjelde, B. E., Miller, N. A. and Todgham, A. E. (2015). Ocean acidification exerts negative effects during warming conditions in a developing Antarctic fish. Conservation Physiology, Volume 3, Issue 1. Forcada, J. and Trathan, P. N. (2009). Penguin responses to climate change in the Southern Ocean. Global Change Biology (15), pages 1618-1630. Hancock, A. M., King, C. K. and Stark, J. S. (2020). Effects of ocean acidification on Antarctic marine organisms: A meta-analysis. Ecol Evol. Handley , J. M., Baylis, A. M. and Brickle, P. (2016). Temporal variation in the diet of gentoo penguins at the Falkland Islands. Polar Biology 39, pages 283-296. Jadwiszczak, P. (2009). Penguin past: The current state of knowledge. Polish Polar Research 30 (1), pages 3-28. Jarman, S. N., McInnes, J. C., Faux, C., Polanowski, A. M. and Marthick, J. (2013). Adelie Penguin Population Diet Monitoring by Analysis of Food DNA in Scats. PLoS ONE. Kawaguchi, S., Kurihara, H., King, R., Hale, L., Berli, T., Robinson , J. P., . . . Ishimatsu, A. (2011). Will krill fare well under Southern Ocean acidification? Biology letters, pages 288-291. McBride, M. M., Stokke, O. S., Renner, A. H., Krafft, B., Bergstad, O. A., Lowther, A., . . . Stiansen, J. E. (2021). Antarctic krill (Euphausia superba): spatial distribution, abundance, and management of fisheries in a changing climate. Marine Ecology Progress Series 668. Panasiuk, A., Gic-Grusza, G. and Korczak-Abshire, M. (2024). Availability to predators and a size structure of the Antarctic krill Euphausia superba in the 48.1 CCAMLR subarea. Sci Rep 14, 21538. Panasiuk, A., Wawrzynek-Borejko, J., Musiał , A. and Korczak-Abshire, M. (2020). Pygoscelis penguin diets on King George Island, South Shetland Islands, with a special focus on the krill Euphausia superba. Antarctic Science, pages 21-28. Riaz, J., Machado-Gaye, A. L., Chimienti, M., Kato, A., Ropert-Coudert, Y., Alegría, N., . . . Soutullo, A. (2025). Bout time for krill: contrasting Adélie penguin foraging behaviour during years of high and low krill availability. Animal Behaviour vol 226. Rowlands, E., Galloway , T., Cole, M., Lewis, C., Peck, V., Thorpe, S. and Manno, C. (2021). The Effects of Combined Ocean Acidification and Nanoplastic Exposures on the Embryonic Development of Antarctic Krill. Front. Mar. Sci. 8:709763. Saba, G. K., Bockus, A. B. and Seibel, B. A. (2021). Combined effects of ocean acidification and elevated temperature on feeding, growth, and physiological processes of Antarctic krill Euphausia superba. Marine Ecology Progress Series 665, pages 1-18. Tai, T. C., Sumaila, U. R. and Cheung, W. L. (2021). Ocean Acidification Amplifies MultiStressor Impacts on Global Marine Invertebrate Fisheries. Front. Mar. Sci. 8:596644. Xavier J.C., C. Y. (2018). A review on the biodiversity, distribution and trophic role of cephalopods in the Arctic and Antarctic marine ecosystems under a changing ocean. Marine Biology 165, 93. Zhao, Y. (2025). Research on the Principle of Ocean Acidification and its Impact on Marine Organisms. Strategic Partnerships Reel Guppy Outdoors SharkedSkooler Marine Enthusiasts Podcast Cash Daniels Tides of Tomorrow The Open Book, Topanga Olivenbaum Music Pitfire Artisan Pizza Our Loyal Patrons P. R. Ochoa

A distinguished portrait of Joe Moody, the head aquaculturist at Whitby Lobster Hatchery & today’s interviewee. Credit to Joe Moody. Recently, we were very fortunate to sit down for an interview with Lobster Aquaculturist & Ocean Conservationist, Joe Moody! Joe Moody is the Head Aquaculturist at Whitby Lobster Hatchery, a conservation initiative dedicated to the European Lobster. He leads the organization’s hatchery initiative to increase the European Lobster population. In today’s interview, we sit down with Joe to discuss his passion for the sea, his education, his work with the Whitby Lobster Hatchery, & his advice to passionate people looking to make their way in the field in a comprehensive 18-question interview. Before delving into today’s interview, please note everything said has been edited for clarity, & that the opinions of our interviewee do not necessarily reflect the opinions & values of our organization. With that being said, let us delve into the contents of the interview! The Contents Of The Interview Questions About His Passion: 1. What sparked your passion for the ocean, & marine science? I know it’s super cliche, but for as long as I can remember, I’ve wanted to become a marine biologist. Instead of watching cartoons like a normal kid, I loved watching nature documentaries, particularly those focused on the ocean. David Attenborough’s Blue Planet is a personal favourite of mine, I found it so fascinating how many unique-looking and unique-acting creatures there were. I don’t know if you’re the same, but even with all you know about the ocean & the things that live in there, every now & again you’ll see something & go, “How does that work? How has evolution led you here?” I think it started way back in school. Every time we’d get a personal project to do, I’d always find a way to make it about the ocean. My mom tells me this story from when I was in year four, I was about eight years old. We had an aspirations board outside of our classroom where you put what you wanted to be in the future. Amongst all the classic childhood jobs, athlete, pop star, whatever, right in the middle, there was me listing marine biologist. I probably knew I wanted to be a marine biologist before I knew how to spell it. 2. What sparked your passion for aquaculture, & aquariums? It’s quite a new passion. Aquaculture wasn’t something that we covered much during our university course. My only real exposure to it was that I kept crabs for my dissertation project. I did a feeding experiment with them, we kept them in what's called a “Crab Hotel”, but that was it. The name glamorizes it slightly, it’s just a big stack of tanks where you can keep lots of crabs with water flowing between them all. As with all aquaculture facilities, the goal is to keep the animal alive & healthy, so there wasn’t any room service in the crab hotel. There was something quite amazing about getting to watch a creature so closely. It was never really anything I considered taking forward, because we didn’t really know about it. All I knew was that I wanted to do something hands-on, & my passion was conservation. I didn’t realize that aquaculture was such a great way to marry those two things. 3. What is your favourite terrestrial, or marine animal personally, & what is your favourite marine or terrestrial animal that you have worked on? It probably isn’t surprising that my favourite animal that I’ve worked with is most certainly the European lobster. I guess this is the case with any animal that you spend a lot of time with. When you witness them every day, you notice little nuances in their behaviour, & they’re just so fascinating. They’re absolutely amazing. For the sake of argument, I have some honourable mentions. When I was a kid, I was in awe of how big things could get. I loved marine megafauna. The Blue Whale deserves an honorable mention. I loved anything that looked sort of weird & unusual. I had a bit of a Moray Eel obsession for a moment. If I had to choose one that wasn’t a lobster, I would go with the Blue Shark. A striking photograph of a European lobster (Homarus gammarus) in one of the facilities at Whitby Lobster Hatchery. Credit to Whitby Lobster Hatchery. Questions About His Career: 4. What university did you attend for your undergraduate degree, & was there any particular reason you chose that university? I studied Marine Science at Newcastle University in the North of England. There are many reasons why I wanted to study there. On the first day I visited, I completely fell in love with the course. Despite what I said before, there was a short period where I reconsidered what I was going to study at University. I wouldn’t go as far as to say my secondary school talked me out of Marine Science, but they definitely encouraged me to study something a bit less niche, something more employable. I went to the university to check out their biochemistry course, but after seeing the course, & talking with some of the lecturers there, I made up my mind that it was marine science that I wanted to do. I also liked that it was close to home. Newcastle, & where I’m from in Yorkshire, share the same stretch of coastline. As a result, they generally have quite similar geography & habitats. I’ve always been interested in the local marine environment, I think it’s really underappreciated. I think a lot of people see the North Sea as a cold, grey, dull place. I mean it is cold, especially today, it’s freezing, & it is quite grey, but it’s not dull. If you look below the surface, there are so many beautiful & interesting creatures under there. They may not be as colourful as their coral reef cousins, but you shouldn’t judge a person on looks. You should judge a person on their personality & actions. I think the North Sea is the same, but the North has a great personality. 5. How did you come to work at the Whitby Lobster Hatchery? I had quite unfortunate luck of graduating from a university course in the year 2020, straight into a global pandemic. I had a master’s planned, I was going off to Zanzibar to study the life history of the Halavi Guitarfish. Of course, because of the pandemic, it was postponed multiple times, then eventually indefinitely. With all of the unknowns of the pandemic, I had to put my life on hold a little bit. You know, I was constantly hoping that the next set of restrictions would lift, & I could go do this amazing project. It never quite did. I felt a bit low, & a little bit nervous. I thought maybe I was wrong to choose a subject I was passionate about over something more employable. All of this was happening between rejection letters & ignored job applications. It wasn’t great. I was scrolling through jobs one day, & I saw an advert for head aquarist at the Whitby Lobster Hatchery. I thought “Oh, what the hell is the Whitby Lobster Hatchery?”, I’d never heard of it, so I was instantly intrigued. Not only was it a unique project, but it was local to me as well. As I read more & more about the job, I realized that I was far from the experience that was needed. I sent over my CV & my cover letter anyway, & I didn’t get the job obviously, but it did put me in touch with them. I asked if they took volunteers, & they did! I remember walking in on my first day & thinking, this can’t be right. This can’t be the place. We have a small native marine aquarium attached to our hatchery called the Discovery Center. At the time I arrived, it was still being built. I hadn’t got lost, I had found the right place. It just didn’t look like the kind of place that released lobsters. I volunteered there every Friday for the better part of a year, & slowly became more independent. Eventually, I did full solo days as a volunteer. Then in April (2024), a part-time position came up for the busy breeding period, & they asked me! So I quit my previous very boring shelf-stacking job in a supermarket, & here I am now! Haven’t looked back since. 6. Over the course of your career at the Whitby Lobster Hatchery, you’ve held 3 positions. What positions have you held, & how did you work your way up to becoming head aquaculturist? It all happened very quickly. My title was simply Aquarist in the first part-time job offered to me. My job was to look after the life support system, feed the lobsters, count larvae, & other proper good hands-on stuff. Then, at the end of the 2024 season, the current head aquarist moved on, which left me as the only hatchery employee at that point. My role shifted over the winter period to what’s called a Hatchery Technician, which reflected the kind of shift in the work. The hatchery goes into the decommission stage over the winter which involves completely draining the system, cleaning the pipes, & making sure that it runs as efficiently as possible. That’s why my title sounded more technical as I wasn’t looking after lobsters at the time. Once I was done decommissioning stuff, I had experience in all aspects of the hatchery. As 2025 rolled around, I got my promotion to Head Aquaculturist, & I went full-time then. I think the biggest change wasn’t in the work that I was doing, but in the jump in responsibility. I wasn’t only in charge of hatchery things anymore, I was now in charge of volunteers & stuff. It’s been a fun challenge. I’ve enjoyed developing a much wider set of skills, a much wider set of skills than I thought I ever would when I first started volunteering. No offence to anyone who volunteers. 7. Illuminate the work you all do at the Whitby Lobster Hatchery. How would you describe the work of the to all those unfamiliar? To put it simply, we’re a conservation charity that hatches, rears, & releases the Juvenile European lobster back into the North Sea. We have a small aquaculture facility which is located in Quayside. The process starts with the fishermen. We take egg-bearing female lobsters, which we call hens. We hold them in our tanks, where they will eventually hatch. When they hatch, we count them & move them into our development room. There, they’ll stay for about two weeks or so. Soon, they’ll reach a point during their development where they’ll change to their third or fourth stage. Between stages three & four, they undergo quite a significant morphological change. During stage three, they are small & curled up, almost shrimp-like. They gradually change into what essentially is a mini-lobster, so their claws stick out in front of them, & their tails curl out behind them. They can actively swim, feed, & find places to hide. They will stay in our facility until it is time to release them. To release them, you want a nice calm day. We focus on keeping the environment controlled & clean, which ensures the lobsters we release are as healthy as possible. There are a few different ways we release them. The best way & the way we release most of them is by sending out a dive team. We’ll send them off with divers to different shipwrecks off the coast. Some of them, we will take on a boat, & stick a long tube off the edge to pour them down. We want to release them at the bottom, as the vast majority of predation will occur from pelagic fish or seabirds. So, we send them straight to the bottom where they can find places to hide. The final release we do each season is a public-focused shore release from Whitby & the surrounding beaches. We’ll take some of the trays, & advertise our releases so the public can come along. We will release them into rock pools with plenty of seaweed-covered sandy bottoms. As soon as they are released, they’ll want to hide. It’s like saying goodbye to your many, thousands of children. 8. What is the goal of your work, & how does it impact the local marine ecosystems, as well as fisheries? One of the most important aspects of what we do is conservation. You can split that conservation into two branches. The European lobster is a keystone species in our local habitat. They play an important part in the marine food web. They are omnivorous scavengers, which means they’ll eat just about anything, preferably dead things. They clean up the sea essentially. They add lost energy back into the food chain, so they play a very important role. Despite Whitby’s relatively small size, it is a huge lobster fishery. It’s the third largest in Europe after items after its neighbours, Scarborough & Bridlington. Lobster is super important commercially. The reason we want to ensure there is a future in lobster fisheries is that, as techniques go, potting is relatively sustainable. To start, it’s a static fishing gear, which means once it is released it will cause minimal damage to the seabed, much less than a trawl or a dredger which kind of tears it to pieces. It’s quite sustainable in that sense. They’re selective too. By law, any pot that is released must have an escape gap. That escape gap is designed so that any lobster that is undersized can crawl out of the pot if it finds its way in. That takes away the stress of being hauled up. If an undersized lobster is hauled up, it’s obviously thrown back again. There’s also significantly less bycatch, as other animals can escape too. Whitby’s been a fishing port for years & years. They’ve caught things like whitefish, & tuna. When fisheries collapse, fishermen don’t just stop fishing. That’s their living. So, they’ll move on to something else. Everything they’ve caught near here has had more pronounced unsustainable impacts on the local marine environment. That’s one of the reasons why we want to ensure the lobster fishery survives. I think one of the unique things about us is that what we do is not at odds with exploitation as conservation so often is. Our project shows you can do both. You can take from the sea & put back into it in a sustainable way. We’re really pleased & lucky that the fishermen have got behind what we do. We want to play a part in making sure that fisheries remain sustainable for the next generation, & hopefully future generations to come too. 9. What does a typical day for you consist of? Quite poetically, I guess it follows a lobster larva as it develops in our hatchery. They’re fed artemia, also known as brine shrimp or sea monkeys. We harvest them every single day. The fresher the feed, the more nutritious it is for our lobsters. We harvest about five million artemia every day, which sounds like a lot, but they are tiny. Once the first feed’s harvest, we chuck it in the tanks. If you imagine the hatchery as three rooms, the first room is the live feed room, the second is the hen room, & the third is the development room. We move from the live feed room into the hen room next, to start catching the freshly hatched larvae. The European Lobster is nocturnal. Most of its activity, including hatching, occurs at night, which means we leave the tank empty on an evening, & come back to find thousands of larvae. It’s not a continuous process, thankfully we only have to count once a day. At the height of the season, you can see up to 10,000 larvae per day, which is a lot. It’s a lot for one person to count, especially when you’re doing it by hand, which is how we do it, with a clicker, & nothing else. It can take a long time, & if you’re unlucky, you’re on your own & you’ve got 10,000 larvae to count. Once we’ve done that, we move into the development room, which is where they’ll spend the majority of their time with us. We put them into one of 12 large upwelling tanks. We call them that because the water comes in from the bottom, creates a nice flow, & keep them moving. We check on these upwelling tanks every day for lobsters that have reached stage four. Lobsters are natural cannibals at all stages of their lives. When they molt to stage four, as I mentioned before, their tail flips out so they’re much better swimmers, & they gain use of their claws, so they become a significant threat to any larvae who haven’t molted yet. Once they hit stage four, we move them into what are known as aqua-hives, which are these big cylindrical tanks that can hold trays. Each of these trays holds 135 individual cells, one per lobster, & that’s where they’ll stay until they’re released. If you have any time left or any time between counts, that’s usually spent on system maintenance. Things like cleaning pipes, siphoning, or changing filters. The system must remain clean, so you can raise the lobsters in an environment that is close to ideal. Sometimes you can squeeze in a few emails too. 10. Take us through the lifespan of a lobster born in your facility. What does each stage of life look like, & what is the average mortality rate? They’re very small during all of the life stages in the hatchery. They start super duper small as an egg which is attached to the female’s abdomen which is below her tail. They start jet black in colour, & over the span of 9 months go from a jet black to a rusty red, which means they’re ready to hatch. We don’t tend to hold them for that time. The fishermen bring us those rusty red colour eggs, which reduces their handling time with us. Once they hatch, they collect in little tanks where we count them. They’re about half a centimeter, maybe less. The first three stages are somewhat similar, though they can be distinguished by size. Behaviour-wise, all three of them are planktonic. They can’t do very much in the way of swimming. They can grab things with their claws, but they awkwardly droop down from their body. They’re passive suspension feeders at this stage, so they eat whatever comes to them. When they reach stage four, as I mentioned before, they go through quite a significant morphological change into that mini-lobster, & grow to about 2 centimeters. They become active swimmers at that point, which is when they become a danger to the other ones. That process in the hatchery is about 2 weeks in the hatchery, in the wild it is about 4 weeks. In the wild, the mortality rate is incredibly high, so lobsters are what’s known as R-strategist breeders. They have large broods, but little to nothing in the way of postnatal care. It’s a strength in numbers sort of thing. The goal is to hatch as many as you can & hope that one or two of them survive. The high mortality rate is somewhat by design, but it doesn’t make the actual numbers sound any less shocking. The vast majority of mortality will happen in the first three stages. So, the most vulnerable stages of their lives are the ones we keep them through the hatchery during. We’ve managed to get the survival rate to about 9% in the hatchery, from hatch to release. We’re happy with that. It doesn’t sound like a lot, but compared to the wild, it’s not bad. 11. On average, how many lobsters are born in your facility annually, & how many lobsters are released annually? Last year (2025), we managed to release over 20,000 lobsters, which was our biggest year! We’re super happy with that. We did 9,000 in 2023, & 15,000 in 2024. We’re hoping that number keeps climbing. We’ve released about 44,000 total. Based on our survivor rate last year, we probably saw about 200,000 lobster larvae come through the hatchery. 12. What education programs do you have at the Whitby Lobster Hatchery, & how do you attempt to involve the community in your work? We do a lot of work with school groups. That’s probably our biggest one. They come in pretty regularly to visit the Discovery Center where we teach them about all the creatures you can find in the tanks. We talk about the hatchery process as well, & tell them the importance of what we’re doing. We’ve had over 100 in the last year, & a lot of them are local. It’s always great seeing them thinking, & in awe of the stuff in the tank. It’s super rewarding. We also give talks to local groups, & institutions, which are a bit more in-depth. They always go really well, & we host stalls as well at local events. There’s one coming up in the next few months called the Fish & Ships festival which celebrates Whitby’s fishing heritage. We will have a little stall there, & talk to people about what we’re doing. I think it’s important to me to inspire, & take pride in the local marine environment. It’s something I’m passionate about, whether it’s showing off the local marine life in the aquarium, or talking about the work we do with the lobster. It always ends up being a highlight for me when we get to share what we do, & teach. 13. What research programs does the hatchery partake in or support? We’ve previously worked with dissertation students. We’ve had some students come & volunteer with us before their dissertations. They’ve loved the hatchery & the idea of raising lobster. They’ve come back to us later on, & based their project on the facilities we have. One (research project), looked at feeding behaviour in juvenile lobsters, & another looked at stress responses in mother hens. They used a heart rate monitor that stuck to the back of the carapace, which was really cool. I originally envisioned myself going into research, as I think a lot of people who studied marine biology did. So, it’s always exciting to get involved in that. Another great thing is that the results of those experiments can be very useful to us. They can inform stuff about the hatchery process. It’s a nice two-way thing, people doing their dissertations get to do something unique, & we get useful data out of it. We’ve also done external projects. Back in 2024, I looked at the water quality in the River Esk, which runs through Whitby. It’s great to know the water chemistry when we are releasing our lobsters. I mean, we don’t release them into the river, we release them into the ocean, but all of the water there will eventually make its way to the sea. So, knowing what’s happening out there is useful for informing our release sites. We’re also currently working with local fishermen & York University to co-design a project to create a device that the fishermen can stick to their pots. The goal is to give fishermen a way to collect data themselves in a simple accessible way, so they can use the data as well. What’s the point in collecting data if the people who need it most can’t use it? 14. How are volunteers involved with the operations of the hatchery? If someone wanted to become involved in volunteering with the Whitby Lobster Hatchery, how would they approach contacting you all? Volunteers are so incredibly important to the work we do. I can’t stress how important they are. The hatchery staff is a team of two. There’s my colleague Amber & me, that’s it. Between the two of us, we can get the job done, but it wouldn’t leave time for anything else. So, we wouldn’t have time for all of the outreach, & research projects that I mentioned if it weren’t for volunteers dedicating their time to us. We’re so lucky to have found ourselves with such a dedicated team. An extra special shout out to our weekly regular volunteers. We absolutely could not do it without them. They’re integral to the work we do. I hope some of them are reading & hearing how important they are. If you wanted to get involved yourself, we’ve hosted loads of volunteers. We’ve got different ways you can do it. You can do it in week blocks, or you can do it regularly such as once a week. We’re always looking for more volunteers. If you head over to the website (https://whitbylobsterhatchery.co.uk), there’s a super simple volunteer application form. Just pop in your name, contact details, a few details about why you want to volunteer for the program, & your background in marine science maybe. That’ll come straight through to me. Summer’s the best time to come, as I mentioned, that’s the lobster breeding season. There’s loads to do in the summer, many hens to tend to, & larvae to count. 15. What is the biggest triumph, or proudest moment you have had in your career thus far? That’s a tough one! There are two that stand out, hatchery-specific. I mentioned before that we hit 20,000 larvae last season. That was way beyond what I expected us to achieve, & way beyond the target I set for myself, which was essentially to break last year & hit 15,000. It was my first full season in charge of the hatchery, & I still felt like I was learning the ropes. That was one of our proudest moments. The second thing that I’m most proud of is the team we’ve built over the years. We’re a very weird, wonderful, & varied bunch. We’ve all got our own skills & strengths. We’ve got different roles in the Hatchery & Discovery Center as a result, & somehow it just works! It’s such a joy to work with all these amazing people. That takes it, I’m the most proud to be a part of a dedicated, knowledgeable, & overall lovely team of people. All brought together through the love of lobsters. I’d say my most proud thing is the people I work with. They’re great. 16. I’m sure you’ve experienced as many challenges & setbacks in your career as you have leaps forward. What is the biggest challenge or hurdle you have faced in your career thus far, & how did you overcome it? I’ve always kind of struggled with my self-confidence. I think that has definitely held me back before. Especially when I first took charge of the hatchery operations when I was a hatchery technician. My first job in that role was the decommission process, which was something I’d never done before. I was on my own. Amber, whom I mentioned before, my colleague, hadn’t started on the hatchery side yet. She was still working in the Discovery Center, so everything was on me. Having responsibility doesn’t pair very well with low self-confidence. I learned a lot, I learned that I could do it. That decommission set us up for the biggest season we’ve had yet. It’s something that I’ve been working on, trusting in myself that I know what’s best for the hatchery & for the lobster. There are definitely still times where I think “God, what am I doing?”, & I get imposter syndrome. That probably won’t ever go away, but hey, I’m having a good time. 17. Do you have any advice for young passionate aquarists, people interested in marine conservation, or young marine scientists? Keep at it. Your passion will take you so much further than you think, & so much further than anyone will tell you it can. Get yourself out there. Go to conferences & career fairs. Talk to people. As minor as it seems at the time, it will eventually build you up a base of experience & contacts, & it will show off your enthusiasm for this line of work. I was at an event earlier this week at my old university, showing off careers, & volunteering opportunities that were focused in the marine sector. When you’ve got limited vacancies, from an employers perspective, to have met someone face to face before offering any further offers is a huge comfort. As crazy as it sounds, I don’t think it was my degree in marine biology that got me this job. I’m sure it helped, but, I was more dedicated myself to the work. I kept pushing, asking to learn more & eventually when a paid position came up, I was the top candidate. It might take a while, but eventually you’ll find what you’re looking for. 18. Do you have any final words about your passion for the sea, the work done at the Whitby Lobster Hatchery, lobsters, the ocean in general, or aquarium science? There’s so many ways that we can look after & care for our oceans, not just to protect them, but to work in harmony & exploit them in a sustainable way. What we do at the Hatchery is niche & unique, but there are so many organizations out there doing whatever they can to help the ocean. Help those organizations out in any way you can, be it money, time, or showing an interest. Perhaps this one’s more relevant to anyone listening in the UK, but learn more about your local marine environment on the surface. It may not be as exciting as the California coastline, but if you look below the surface, which you should always do in the ocean, there are just so many colorful, interesting, & wonderful things living on your doorstep. The ocean has always played an important part in my life. It was the first thing I remember having a deep obsessive interest in. I work by the sea. I feel calm by the sea. I proposed to my girlfriend by the sea. It’s a very special place for me. I’ve chosen a career that helps me give something back, as a thank you in a way for what it’s done for me. It’s quite a lot for a load of water. I love the ocean, & I hope that inspires people to also love the ocean. A gorgeous photograph of Whitby Lobster Hatchery as seen from Pier Road. Credit to the Scarborough News. Directories / Credits https://whitbylobsterhatchery.co.uk Strategic Partnerships Reel Guppy Outdoors SharkedSkooler Marine Enthusiasts Podcast Cash Daniels Tides of Tomorrow The Open Book, Topanga Olivenbaum Music Pitfire Artisan Pizza Our Loyal Patrons P. R. Ochoa

The ocean faces many threats from pollution to climate change. In this new series “Disasters at Sea” we will be covering environmental disasters and their effects on marine systems. In this, the first article of the series, we're covering one infamous environmental disaster that sparked the beginning of the environmental movement of the 1970s and led to the creation of America’s first Earth Day: the Santa Barbara oil spill of 1969. The Disaster: The Santa Barbara Oil Spill of 1969 Bird’s eye view of the oil spill from platform Alpha 1969. Credit: Vernon Merritt III / The LIFE Picture Collection / Getty Images On January 28th, 1969 at 10:45am, an oil rig five miles off the coast of Santa Barbara, California blew out. The rig, platform Alpha, was operated by Union Oil and on the day of the spill, pipe was being extracted from a 3,500 foot deep well. During this extraction, pressure increased on the casing of the upper well and was not compensated for properly with drilling mud. An emergency attempt to cap the burst only succeeded in increasing the pressure within the well, leading to an explosive burst of natural gas that not only split the casing but also created cracks along the seafloor.  From the time the well burst and the seafloor cracked until the spill was eventually contained, three million gallons (80,000 to 100,000 barrels) of crude oil spewed into the Pacific Ocean. After eleven days the well was capped, but by then the oil had spread to over 800 square miles of ocean and some oil continued to seep from between seafloor cracks for several weeks. Between Santa Barbara and Ventura, 35 miles of coastline were coated in oil up to six inches thick.  The Impact ​ Seabird covered in oil. Credit: Bettmann/Getty Images For the marine life living in the contaminated zone, the spill was catastrophic. 3,600 seabirds died, washed ashore alongside numerous marine mammals from dolphins to sea lions and elephant seals. Oil clogged the blowholes of cetaceans. Intertidal organisms suffered an estimated 80-90% mortality rate.  The Santa Barbara Channel is considered a biodiversity hotspot as it hosts a thriving marine ecosystem with numerous endemic species of fish, seabirds, marine mammals, and plant life. It is considered one of the most beautiful stretches of US coastline and has been referred to as the “American Riviera". As the oil spread and choked out the pristine landscape and wildlife, its devastation spurred outrage. It was the largest oil spill in United States history at the time (third largest today). Its impact on marine life was monumental. Its impact on local communities, activists, and U.S. environmentalism was even bigger. Recovery: The “Get Oil Out!” Movement / Birth of Earth Day Straw soaks up crude oil along the coast after the oil spill. Credit: Bettmann/Getty Images In the aftermath of the spill, local volunteers mobilized with cleanup efforts, wildlife rehabilitation, and environmental activism. 3,000 tons of straw soaked up oil along the shore while contaminated sand was trucked out of the area. Over 5,200 large dump truck loads were hauled away. From the ocean surface, skimmer ships removed layers of oil. Planes overhead dumped chemical dispersants and detergent over the sea to break up larger oil clumps. Marine life washed ashore or found floating along the coast was cleaned and treated at temporarily established animal rescue stations to remove the contamination from their feathers and fur. These efforts were taken by people of all ages and backgrounds as Santa Barbarans jumped into action, their passion loud enough to reach the entire nation.  People took to the streets to push for stronger environmental safeguards that would prevent future similar disasters. Numerous environmental organizations were formed during this time, including the grassroots movement “GOO!” which stands for “Get Oil Out!”. They called for the end of offshore oil drilling in the Santa Barbara Channel. The Environmental Studies department at the University of California Santa Barbara was established the following year, one of the very first universities to have such a program. Images of dying wildlife, silent black waves, and oil stained beaches spread in newspapers and televisions across the country. The disaster marked a tipping point in the public’s attitude toward the environment. As Silent Spring by Rachel Carson became a bestseller a few years earlier, as concerns over nuclear fallout and cancer risk increased, as discussions about herbicide and public health spread, the Santa Barbara oil spill catalyzed an already growing public concern.  President Nixon himself visited the scene, stating that “the Santa Barbara incident has frankly touched the conscience of the American people.”  The Environmental Protection Agency was established the following year, and public pressure from the oil spill helped pass the Clean Air and Clean Water Acts in 1972. From this disaster at sea came a silver lining — a push for environmental protection at the national level. Gaylord Nelson, a Wisconsin senator, also visited Santa Barbara during this time. The devastation he saw directly inspired his idea for a national “teach-in” on the environment. He felt that the youth’s activism towards social and political issues could be channeled toward preserving the natural world too. He selected April 22nd, a date convenient for students as it fell between Spring Break and finals, for the teach-in. In 1970, this teach-in became the first Earth Day and was celebrated by 20 million people demonstrating for environmental action.  Conclusion This year marks the 56th Earth Day. It is an annual reminder of the interconnectivity between humanity and nature. The Santa Barbara oil spill of 1969 serves not only as a cautionary tale for what can occur when our natural world is disregarded as an afterthought, but it also serves as an inspiration for what can be accomplished when we take action to prioritize environmental and marine preservation.  Citations / Directories Citation 1: “A Brief History of the Santa Barbara Oil Spill and Earth Day”, Written by Unknown, & Published at an Unknown Date. Published by the Santa Barbara Earth Day Festival. https://www.sbearthday.org/history-of-earth-day  Citation 2: “The Santa Barbara Oil Spill: A Retrospective”, Written by Keith C. Clarke, & Jeffery Hemphill, & Published in 2002. Published by the University of California, Santa Barbara. https://people.geog.ucsb.edu/~kclarke/Papers/SBOilSpill1969.pdf  Citation 3: “‘The Ocean Is Boiling’: The Complete Oral History of the 1969 Santa Barbara Oil Spill”, Written by Kate Wheeling & Max Ufberg, & published on April 18th, 2017. Published by Pacific Standard. https://psmag.com/news/the-ocean-is-boiling-the-complete-oral-history-of-the-1969-santa-barbara-oil-spill/  Citation 4: “Decades After the Oil Spill That Inspired Earth Day, Are We Prepared for the Next One?”, Published by Lindsay Key, & Published on April 21st, 2021. Published by Columbia University. https://lamont.columbia.edu/news/decades-after-oil-spill-inspired-earth-day-are-we-prepared-next-one  Citation 5: “History of GOO!”, Written by Unknown, & Published at an Unknown Date. Published by Get Oil Out. https://www.getoilout.org/about  Citation 6: “How an Oil Spill Inspired the First Earth Day”, Written by Lila Thulin, & Published on April 22nd, 2019. Published by Smithsonian Magazine. https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/how-oil-spill-50-years-ago-inspired-first-earth-day-180972007/  Citation 7: “Santa Barbara Oil Spill: 1969 California”, Written by Jack Doyle, & Published on February 22nd, 2016. Published by Pop History Dig. https://pophistorydig.com/topics/santa-barbara-oil-spill/  Citation 8: “Our History”, Written by Unknown & Published at an Unknown date. Published by EarthDay.org. https://www.earthday.org/history/  Citation 9: “See the impacts of 1969 oil spill off the coast”, Written by Unknown, & Published on January 23rd, 2019. Published by the Ventura County Star. https://www.vcstar.com/picture-gallery/news/special-reports/outdoors/2019/01/24/see-impacts-1969-oil-spill-santa-barbara/2661708002/  Strategic Partnerships Reel Guppy Outdoors SharkedSkooler Marine Enthusiasts Podcast Cash Daniels Tides of Tomorrow The Open Book, Topanga Olivenbaum Music Pitfire Artisan Pizza Our Loyal Patrons P. R. Ochoa

A gorgeous photograph of Phang Nga Bay, Thailand. Credit to yatra.com. Phang Nga Bay is a bay on the southern coast of Thailand, between the mainland & Phuket Island. It is well known for its small islands dotted around the bay, limestone formations, underwater caves, & mangrove forests. Many divers flock to the area each year to photograph marine animals, swim in the bay, & take in the surreal beauty around them. There are many areas for swimming, kayaking, snorkelling, & picnicking on the islands in the bay & on the mainland coastline bordering the bay. It is common for tourists to travel between Phuket, & the Phang Nga, as the drive is approximately 1 hour & 54 minutes under optimal circumstances. Many tourists travelling the coast of Thailand will pass through the area for a day trip, to enjoy the beauty of the area. The entire bay is protected as a marine protected area as part of Ao Phang Nga National Park. In addition to its beautiful landscape, the island is extremely biodiverse. The bay is filled with many beautiful ecosystems, ranging from mangrove forests to coral reefs. One of the popular creatures of the area, is known as the Giant Oceanic Manta Ray. We published an article about this species on the 10th of this month, & it can be found by typing “Manta Ray” into the search function of our website. In this article, we will be discussing the salinity, tides, temperatures, marine geography, & depth of the oceans surrounding Phang Nga Bay, the most prominent marine ecosystems of Phang Nga Bay, the marine flora & fauna of Phang Nga Bay, & finally how ocean acidification & rising oceanic temperatures are affecting Phang Nga Bay. With that being said, let us delve into this gorgeous Thai paradise! The Salinity, Tides, Temperatures, Marine Geography, & Depth of The Oceans Surrounding Phang Nga Bay Unfortunately, the salinity of Phang Nga Bay is unmeasured. The salinity of the Indian Ocean where the bay is located ranges from 32 parts per thousand, to 37 parts per thousand. Salinity is measured in 1000-gram increments of water, & for every 1000 grams of water, a certain amount is salt. This measurement is called parts per thousand, or practical salinity units. There are not many recorded brine pools inside the bay, & there are very few salt deposits. The tidal charts for Phang Nga Bay can be found on many websites, including https://www.tideschart.com, https://nashaplaneta.net, & https://nashaplaneta.net. The tides of the bay usually do not rise above 3.54 meters (11.61417 feet), & sit below 0.27 meters (0.8858268 feet). The oceanic temperatures can be found on similar websites, such as: https://www.seatemperature.org, & https://www.tideschart.com. Using the data given by these sources, the average yearly temperature is approximately 29.316666666667° Celsius (84.7700000000005929° Fahrenheit). At this temperature, no wetsuit is needed to comfortably swim. There is very little riptide in the bay, & few dangerous currents that pose a threat to humans. Although there are rip currents, they are very minor. The bay is safe for swimmers, & is not very polluted. There are very few environmental hazards in the bay that would limit swimming. Both snorkelling & scuba diving are incredibly popular in the bay. Kayaking is also fairly popular, with kayaking tours being particularly popular in the areas with limestone caves. The bay has a fair amount of coral, & is relatively shallow. The deepest part of the bay is approximately 40 meters (131.234 feet) deep. Most areas consist of a mud or sand sea bottom. The entire bay is protected as a marine protected area, as a part of the Ao Phang Nga National Park. The Most Prominent Marine Ecosystems of Phang Nga Bay Ecosystem Type No. 1: Mangrove Forest Coastal mangrove forests are a particular kind of forest, that adorn the shoreline of the bay. A mangrove forest is a type of forest that grows in saltwater or brackish environments, in the intertidal zone. They often have exposed tree roots, known as aerial roots. These forests are incredibly important to biodiversity, for terrestrial, oceanic, & avian creatures. The forest provides shelter, food, & a spawning ground for many different species. Additionally, they provide a buffer between the land & the ocean for storms, such that if a hurricane or storm were to occur, the mangrove forest could absorb some of the damage. The mangroves also protect against flooding from storm surges. Many trails can be found leading through these forests, which attract many ecotourists. The two major species of Mangrove Tree found in this area are Rhizophora apiculata (Tall-Stilt Mangrove), & Bruguiera gymnorrhiza (Large-Leafed Orange Mangrove). Ecosystem Type No. 2: Fringing Coral Reefs Coral reefs are massive structures of coral polyps, typically located along the ocean floor. These coral reefs act as a breeding ground, hunting ground, spawning ground, & shelter. There are various kinds of coral reefs, the most important of which are atoll, barrier, & fringing. The coral reefs in the bay are of the fringing kind, meaning that they grow directly against the shoreline, without a significant water barrier. Unfortunately, there is no report or compendium of marine species that inhabit the coral reefs of Phang Nga Bay. A snorkeler above the shallow coral reefs of Phang Nga Bay, Thailand. Credit to andamanseakayak.com. Ecosystem Type No. 3: Sunken Caves Sunken Caves are common in Phang Nga Bay. These caves are located underwater, & extend into cave systems occasionally. These caves largely serve as shelter for marine animals, & the majority of them are located on the western side of the bay. The Documented Marine Flora of Phang Nga Bay Unfortunately, it is not clear what species of seagrass or algae inhabit the bay. For this reason, we are going to instead dedicate this section to the mangrove trees of the area. Mangrove Tree No. 1: Rhizophora Apiculata (Tall-Stilt Mangrove) Rhizophora Apiculata is a species of Mangrove Tree native to the Indo-Pacific, & Australia. The tree has a light to dark greyish bark, with beautiful 4-petalled yellow flowers. The shape of the tree is conical. Individual trees in this species range from 16 meters to 30 meters in height. It is not endangered internationally, it is endangered in specific countries. Mangrove Tree 2: Bruguiera Gymnorrhiza (Large-Leafed Orange Mangrove) The Large Leafed Orange Mangrove is a species of mangrove tree native to the Indo-Pacific, Indian Subcontinent, & Polynesia. The tree is very recognizable for its large leaves, & its dark red to black bark. It produces large Red or Orange flowers, with yellow centers. Individual Trees themselves are between 16 & 20 meters tall. A breathtaking photograph of kayakers kayaking through a mangrove swamp in Phang Nga Bay. Credit to ambitionearth.com. The Documented Marine Fauna of Phang Nga Bay Though Phang Nga Bay is extremely biodiverse, there have been no animal surveys of the bay yet, meaning we do not have a comprehensive understanding of the marine animals that inhabit the bay. Species such as Mobula birostris (Giant Oceanic Manta Ray), Rhincodon typus (Whale Shark), Eretmochelys imbricata (Hawksbill Turtle), Chelonia mydas (Green Sea Turtle), & Lepidochelys olivacea (Olive Ridley Sea Turtle), are all commonly found in the bay. In addition to being biodiverse, the bay is also a haven for an endangered species of porpoise. The bay is home to the Black Finless Porpoise, an endangered species of Porpoise found in the Indian & Pacific Oceans. How Ocean Acidification, & Rising Oceanic Temperatures Are Affecting Phang Nga Bay Ocean acidification is caused by increased levels of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. Atmospheric carbon dioxide levels have increased, largely because of human-caused burning of fossil fuels, & deforestation, for the past 150 years. When carbon dioxide contacts seawater, it forms carbonic acid. Carbonic acid gives off positive H+ ions, which causes increased oceanic H+ concentrations & decreased oceanic pH. When the ocean has decreased pH, it effectively acidifies. When this happens, it causes conditions that will eat at the shells of bivalves, stress out & eventually bleach coral, & utterly destroy seagrass patches. As of 2026, it is not clear if ocean acidification is affecting the coral reefs of Thailand. More long-term monitoring data is needed to make a conclusive determination, which is currently not available. If current trends continue, then ocean acidification will likely devastate the coral reefs of Phang Nga Bay. Directories / Credits Citation No. 1: “Ao Phang-Nga National Park - Thailand's most famous marine protected area”, Written by Unknown, & Published at an Unknown Date. Published by the Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity. Retrieval Date: April 30th, 2024. https://asean.chm-cbd.net/ao-phang-nga-national-park-thailands-most-famous-marine-protected-area Citation No. 2: “Mangrove forest in Phang Nga Bay, Andaman Sea, Thailand”, Written by Unknown & Published at an Unknown Date. Published by Peapix. Retrieval Date: April 30th, 2024. https://peapix.com/bing/39122 Citation No. 3: “Rhizophora apiculata Blume”, Written by Unknown, & Published at an Unknown Date. Published by Flora & Fauna Web. Retrieval Date: April 30th, 2024. https://www.nparks.gov.sg/florafaunaweb/flora/3/2/3265 Citation No. 4: “Large-Leafed Orange Mangrove”, Written by Unknown, & Published at an Unknown Date. Published by Mangroves. Retrieval Date: April 30th, 2024. http://www.mangrove.at/bruguiera-gymnorhiza_large_leafed-orange-mangrove.html Citation No. 5: “Bruguiera Gymnorrhiza”, Written by Unknown, & Published at an Unknown Date. Published by the Flora & Fauna Web. Retrieval Date: April 30th, 2024. https://www.nparks.gov.sg/florafaunaweb/flora/3/2/3260 Strategic Partnerships Reel Guppy Outdoors SharkedSkooler Marine Enthusiasts Podcast Cash Daniels Tides of Tomorrow The Open Book, Topanga Olivenbaum Music Pitfire Artisan Pizza Our Loyal Patrons P. R. Ochoa

Recently, our head writer had the privilege of sitting down with the extraordinary Dr. James Lindholm, Marine Biologist, Seafloor Landscape Ecologist, Professor, Environmental Policy Advocate, Researcher, Author, & Ocean Conservationist! Dr. James Lindholm is a marine biologist, scientific diver, seafloor landscape ecologist, professor, environmental policy advocate, researcher, author of the Chris Black marine fiction series, & ocean conservationist. He is well known for his illustrious career with CSUMB, his work in environmental policy, his ocean fiction series featuring marine biologist Chris Black, his work in ocean conservation, his work in benthic ecology, his work assessing humanity's effects on the ocean, & his work in coral reefs ecology. In today’s interview, we sit down with James to discuss his research across a variety of fields, his trips to the Aquarius Undersea laboratory, his vast experiences underwater, his passion for the sea, & his advice to young curious marine biologists looking to make their way in the field in a comprehensive 25-question interview. Before delving into today’s interview, please note everything said has been edited for clarity, & that the opinions of our interviewee do not necessarily reflect the opinions & values of our organization. With that being said, let us delve into the contents of the interview! A photograph of Dr. James Lindholm preparing to go diving. Credit to Dr. James Lindholm. The Contents Of The Interview Questions About His Passion: 1. What sparked your passion for marine science & the ocean? That’s a great question, it’s an interesting one. I think many of us have been asked this question more than once. I had a father who was a scuba diver & a mother who was a surfer, but neither of them was doing those things by the time I was born, so we don’t entirely know where my motivation came from. It appears that I was fixated on the ocean at a very early age, like pre-kindergarten. My parents met on a diving boat off the coast of Santa Barbara. My dad was diving & my mom was out doing what we call bubble watching, she wasn’t diving that day. That was their first date. It was interesting, I saw my father’s gear in our garage. I remember being preschool age & walking around looking at the tanks, I knew the drawer that had regulators & things like that in it. I can smell the neoprene still now, from that garage all those years ago. I’ve asked this question of other people, & we’ve done a little research & found many people describe this phenomenon of being preordained to do something, but I don’t think science has an answer for it. 2. Was there any particular person, place, moment, or piece of media that assisted in sparking your passion? There have been many people who’ve helped spark the passion along the way. From elementary school, I remember there was someone in high school, & then grad school kind of set me off on the direction that I am now & have been for the last 30 years. It reminds me of the importance of mentors, because I’ve had a lot of them, & they’ve helped shape how I think about the world, & many of the activities that I do. With respect to other things, I look at what motivates our students now, & it’s funny. None of them would recognize any of the popular culture that motivated me back in the day, so it’s not even worth mentioning. I played with toys that were action figures, & scuba divers. I watched every movie that had marine themes, & many of them in the 70’s weren’t very good, but it was fun to watch them nonetheless. I think by & large, I was always the kid who wanted to get wet, who came back from the field trip soaking wet for some reason. What I benefited from was having a few key mentors along the way who nudged me along & enabled that enthusiasm. I saw Jaws when I was very young, I think I was seven when it first came out. My dad was adamant that I did not see it because he didn’t want me to get afraid of going in the ocean. Then my mom took me to it, & she got in big trouble, & it stands as one of the most impactful movies in my life. There’s a lot more going on obviously now, but back then it was quite an impactful movie for me. 3. What sparked your passion for marine fiction? Well, I was an early reader, & I read everything I could find. My first book is dedicated to my mom, because she was feeding me books. I was reading spy novels, & other thrillers much earlier than you would probably want someone reading those. I started early. There weren’t a lot of marine-themed books in those days, they’ve increased over time. It always occurred to me that if I ever were to write something, I would try to weave in tales of undersea adventure. That’s how that came to be. I read a lot of different things. I’ve read a lot of legal thrillers over the years. I’ve read medical thrillers. I’ve read a lot of spy thrillers. One of the things I find engaging about the books I’ve read, particularly series where you follow the same characters through multiple adventures, is that they offer you enough insight into the legal world, the medical world, or the spy world to keep you engaged. The good ones don’t overwhelm you with the content, because a lot of the time that gets a little tedious. It occurred to me that I hadn’t aspired to write novels. I write a lot of research papers on science. What I want to do is write a novel that’s engaging, hopefully exciting, & then insert & contextualize it by placing my characters in undersea situations. You learn a little bit on the side, but you’re not being browbeaten on the topic. I’ve been working at the intersection of Science & Policy for a long time. Years ago, this was more common, but once upon a time there were groups that formed to help train scientists to talk to policymakers. If we were going to Washington D.C. to brief Congress or to go to the White House, this group would help us prepare our presentations & think about talking points. It’s far more common now, but that training, the focus on your audience, learning who you’re talking to, & tailoring your message because everybody has these different expectations & different aptitudes, kind of drove my enthusiasm for science communication over time. I see these novels as an extension of that science communication effort because I get feedback from readers that they enjoy a little bit of science tossed into the story. I’ve been fortunate to travel all over the world, & a lot of people come up to me & say “I always wanted to be a marine scientist!”, but they didn’t enjoy calculus, or chemistry, or they found the laboratory classes too overwhelming. It struck me that there is a natural audience of people out there who are interested in the marine environment, but are not scientists themselves. The way to connect with them is to give them enough to connect with whatever enthusiasm they had, but not to overwhelm them with details. 4. What sparked your passion for scuba diving? I think there’s no single answer to that question. I started surfing long before I was a diver. My experience with the ocean for many years was as a kid surfing. I had a few really cool experiences snorkelling at various points & realized “I think that scuba diving might be the way for me to do it.” When I finally got certified to scuba dive, I immediately, both literally & figuratively dove into the ocean & never looked back. I’ve been diving all over the world, & here at CSUMB (California State University, Monterey Bay) with a colleague, I started what is now the largest university dive program in the country. We’re training over 400 students a year, in a variety of different courses culminating in scientific diving. It’s been a career-long experience for me. 5. What is your favourite terrestrial, or marine animal personally, & what is your favourite marine or terrestrial animal that you have worked on? It’s tough to narrow them down, it’s so hard to avoid being cliché because all of the animals I’d probably choose are ones that most people have thought about. I’ll tell you a couple if that is okay. One of the things I’ve been fortunate enough to do is I’ve done a lot of surgery on fish, surgically implanting transmitters so we could track their movements over time. Much of this work is done underwater. I have to hold these fish in my hands while I’m anesthetizing them, & conducting surgery on them. Then I swim them around until they wake up in my hands, & swim away. It’s really neat. I’ve done this to many species. From the moment we trap them underwater, remove them from the trap, anesthetize them, do the surgery, & have them swimming around in the water, it takes a little over 2 minutes. It was very quick, it’s a nice thing to do underwater. It’s not major surgery, you’re slicing a small incision along their ventral line on the bottom of the fish, inserting the transmitter, & then using sutures similar to surgery on humans to stitch them on. You also put an external tag on them that has an ID code, then finally swim it around & release it. Probably the most compelling fish that I’ve done this to on the California Side is called the California Sheephead. The males get very big. In the Caribbean, the blue parrotfish is a uniformly beautiful blue. Watching these fish wake up & swim away has endeared them to me, so I love sheep-head & parrotfish. The surgery is more impactful for some fish than others. We have to constantly remind my students that for the purposes of discussion, we’re all human beings, & look at how widely variable our responses to anything are. So why would you expect every single blue parrotfish to respond identically? I’ve found a great deal of variability, some of the fish find it traumatic, & I’m not wild about that, but it’s something we have to do. Also, like many of my students, I’m a fan of great white sharks. I’ve had several encounters with them over the years, I don’t work with them as a rule, but I enjoy them. Questions About His Career: 6. What university did you attend for your undergraduate degree, & was there any particular reason you chose that university? I chose California Polytechnic State University, at San Luis Obispo. I chose it largely because I like doing outdoor activities all the time. I grew up in the area, & I wanted to keep doing all those activities. Cal Poly was a fantastic university that provided me with the opportunity to do all the things I like to do outside. I went from preschool through undergraduate within a 25-mile radius. It was great, I loved going to Cal Poly. The Cal Poly learning by doing mantra set the stage for the rest of my professional career for sure. That was very engaging to somebody who’d spent all their time out in the water getting wet & dirty. The idea of learning by doing the thing that you’re interested in was super compelling. Indeed our marine science program here (CSUMB), is in a very real way, informed by that experience at Cal Poly all those years ago. I think Post-Covid, there’s certainly a push to get as much online content as possible because people got used to doing things like school sitting on their beanbag in their pyjamas, & they still want that. Maybe that works for some majors, but for ours, I think that would deprive our students of these critical connections that are made by being on, around, or in the environment where organisms occur. 7. What university did you attend for your master’s degree, as well as P.h.D, & was there any specific reason you chose that university? I’d gone to school for so long in the same area, so I took a couple of years off between undergraduate & graduate school. I surfed & dove a lot, & helped my friends open a restaurant. I kind of looked around to see what my options might be. I really wanted to go to a place in Massachusetts called Woods Hole. It’s out on Cape Cod in Massachusetts where the first private research laboratory in the country, the Marine Biological Laboratory, the National Marine Fisheries Laboratory, & the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute (WHOI) all coexist. It’s this concentration of marine science effort. Being a Californian & not having spent much time on the East Coast, Woods Hole called to me. I enrolled in a Master’s Program at Boston University because they had a program where you could study in Woods Hole, but it was still administered by Boston University. I was always planning to come back to California when I was done with my Master’s degree, & see what I could figure out. By the end of the first year of my master’s, I’d met a couple of different faculty members, & gotten to know them very well. Over the summer, I applied for the PhD program, so the second year of my Master’s degree was my first year of my PhD. So, I stayed, & I never looked back! I ended up living in Woods Hole for a year & a half, which was great. My dad’s family was from Cape Cod, so I was able to drive further out onto Cape Cod to visit them periodically. It was rather quiet. I’m from a small town, & I grew up outside of San Luis Obispo, so the small-town environment was perfect for me. This little community by the ocean with all kinds of world-class marine science going on was fantastic. The Marine Biological Laboratory where the laboratory & our classes were had this incredible library with iron spiral staircases & catwalks with books. Spending time late into the night in the archives doing science was extraordinary as a graduate student. For a variety of reasons, primarily related to the colleagues that I began working with, I ended up moving down to Connecticut for a while to finish my research there, even though I was still a student at Boston. 8. What was the first research project that you led, & what was the first research project that you participated in? There were a lot of projects that I got involved with at various levels. The first consequential leading project for me was with this colleague who was on my P.hD committee. He was one of those mentors I was referencing earlier, his name is Dr. Peter Oster. He’s an emeritus professor at the University of Connecticut. When I started working with him, we would go out on long three-week research cruises. There was a cruise we went out on, on a large NOAA vessel, & we were cruising around & doing science all week. He got off the first week, & left a colleague & me in charge. Now we’re up on the bridge, talking with the captain about where we’re going to put the ROV. That was really exciting & compelling. I realized on that cruise that that is what I wanted to do for sure. That project was using ROVs to study fish interactions with the seafloor, & that set the stage for much of the rest of my career. When I was in grad school, our understanding of human interaction with the marine environment was very two-dimensional. We would eat the things that came out of it, & maybe frolic in the shallow waters a bit, but few people understood what was going on deeper. Shark week was a big thing, but it wasn’t nearly as big as it is now. The internet was not as out of control as it is now. People didn’t have an understanding of what it looked like down there, including me! Using a remotely operated vehicle in 400 meters of water, & being able to see animals doing things in the environment that I’ve never been able to see before was super compelling. A colleague of mine, Dr. Elliot Norris, worked for the Carter Administration many decades ago. He was one of the people who coined the term biological diversity. He drew this interesting analogy about what we understand in the marine environment versus what we understand on land. If we had to survey land the same way we survey the sea, we would have spent much of human history sampling water, flying over forests in the fog, dropping a net down into the forest, dragging it through the forest, bringing it up, & dumping it out to see what we found. Imagine you did that, you would find flowers squished up at the back of the land. You might find some hummingbirds also squished up at the back of the net, but you would miss any ecological connection between the hummingbird & the flower. For much of human history, if we did any marine science at all, it was dredging things up from the bottom, & dumping them out on deck to look at what we found. That’s still an interesting way to do science, & you can learn a lot that way, but you miss a lot of the ecological relationships. By taking an ROV, a submersible, or a variety of other tools down deep, you’re able to see the animal in the environment in which it occurs, the insights are extraordinary. 9. Take us through your research regarding the landscape ecology of fish. What research have you done in this niche? I’ve been at it for a while, & it’s been all over the place. Fundamentally, since mid-grad school I’ve been interested in how fish living on (Benthic) or near the sea floor (Demersal) interact with the seafloor, & how they leverage habitat. This is one of the things that captivated me so much during those early ROV cruises. I’ve been slowly trying to understand different attributes in different ecosystems as to how animals interact with the seafloor. Sometimes that means participating in mapping efforts to collect topographic maps of the seafloor. Then you take an ROV or a submersible out, & you’re able to target particular areas because you know what the relief of the seafloor looks like. Then with video, still photographs, & sometimes physical samples, we study. In New England, we study a species of Acadian rockfish called Sebastes fasciatus. It’s one of the only three rockfish species in the North Atlantic. What’s interesting about New England is that its continental shelf is super wide, much wider than the West Coast. Also, they don’t have nearly as much rocky substrate as we do. When the last glacier moved down during the last ice age, the Laurentide glacier, it came down & basically ended right around Cape Cod. When it receded, it dropped all the boulders that it had ground up as it was moving southward. Offshore Massachusetts you have what otherwise would have been a deep muddy or sandy bottom, all of a sudden you have these long linear piled boulder reefs. So, you have this extraordinary habitat right in the midst of a flat sand or mud plane. We were able to use ROVs to find those reefs, & study fish interactions with them. People often refer to the sea floor as a desert. It is not! There are enormous amounts of activity. It is true with respect to the types of fish I’m interested in that the more structure you find, the more fish you’ll get, along with a higher diversity of fish. Understanding why they’re there, & answering the questions “Did they grow somewhere else then move there?”, & “Were they spawned here?”, are all very important. During my research, we would tag fish at each boulder reef, which were typically a few miles apart. Afterwards, we would record their movement between each boulder reef in order to look at migration patterns. We found that a third of animals stayed at the reef where we tagged them. Another third were recorded moving back & forth between islands, while the last third moved off & left the area completely. We’ve also done studies looking at genetic shifts in habitat usage. We looked at a species on the West Coast that is very interesting, it’s called a lingcod. It’s a large predator that eats fish & invertebrates. If you asked what habitat lingcods live in, most people would answer “rocky reefs”, & they would be right. Although they would be right, you have to think about how they occupy habitats at different stages in their life. 10. Part of your career has been spent researching anthropogenic impacts on the ocean, primarily through fishing. What research have you done in this regard, & what conclusions have you come to? This has been a very interesting subset of my research. I stayed in New England for about 10 years total. There’s a lot of bottom trawling in New England, or at least there was at that time. Having spent so much time out underwater, I’ve looked at how animals relate to topographic structure & biogenic structure a lot. I should clarify that topographic structure is a physical structure like rocks, reefs, or sand waves. On top of those are anemones, sponges, & things that provide additional three-dimensional relief up in the water column. Then I started working with a colleague on how towing a net over the seafloor impacts the habitats where fish live. When you trawl, you’re not only potentially extracting a lot of fish, you’re also altering the environment in which those fish are produced. It’s a double whammy to those species. I’ve done a number of projects on both the East Coast & the West Coast trying to understand how trawling impacts the seafloor. I think one of the coolest results of that project is the recognition that you need to match the tool to the environment, & that no tool is itself necessarily bad. I’m not anti-trawling or anti-fishing by any means. I eat fish, many of us do, & there aren’t too many ways to get fish. In fact, right now there is no way for us to get fish without some kind of environmental impact. Trawling is one of those potential environmental impacts. What we’ve done from a research perspective is try to understand how different types of gears interact with different habitats, & what the different levels of environmental impact are. We found a place off the coast of Morro Bay out on the continental shelf. We did a long-term study with the Nature Conservancy & we towed the net across the bottom in certain areas more than 10 times, in some areas once or twice, & then we had a control where there was no trawling. In certain habitats, we could see no difference between the intensely trawled, the moderately trawled, & the untrawled. This suggests that certain habitats are reformed frequently by swells, tides, & stormed. Others are more long-term, so you need to from the vantage point of a manager match the gear & effort to the type of environment. For example, if you tow a trawl through a rocky environment in deep waters with deep-sea corals. Those corals take 1,200 years to get to their height, so when you knock them down, that’s it for them. Now you’ve damaged an environment that either won’t recover, or won’t recover for at least another thousand years. Alternatively, you could tow in an adjacent habitat where it’s shallower & every time a storm comes through, the sand wave habitat is restructured. Maybe allocate some trawling to this area, & do something else in the deep sea. 11. How has scuba diving assisted your scientific research? Scuba is an awesome tool. I love it, but it is a tool, & it’s not perfect for every application. If you’re studying large marine mammals, scuba diving is probably not the tool for you. If you’re working in 400 meters of water, scuba diving is not the tool for you. Scuba diving has a certain type of application. Within that context, it puts the marine scientist in the environment where the animals occur. I think that is invaluable. My preference as somebody who studies fish ecology on the sea floor is to be there. That’s my first goal. If I can’t be there on Scuba, then a sub is the next best option because I’m there, though I’m constrained a little bit. If I can’t do a sub, then an ROV where I’m getting live feedback to the surface is my next option. I want to be able to see what’s going on. Scuba diving has been transformative in our understanding of how marine communities work. Before scuba diving was introduced, we were doing a variety of old-school things like towing nets. Now we know so much more by virtue of scuba diving. A photograph of Dr. James Lindholm scuba diving under the sea. Credit to Dr. James Lindholm. 12. How has using both underwater videos, & photographs shaped your work? I’ve been doing a great deal of imagery based work now for maybe 30 years on multiple coasts all around the world. There are many, many benefits to it. One, you’re in the environment observing the animal. Two, the video or still photographs become a snapshot in time of what the ecosystem looked like. One of the things that’s pretty cool is that you can go back to those still photographs or videos & ask questions a decade later that you weren’t thinking of at the time. The paper I was talking about earlier which one of my grad students wrote on Lingcod, that project was the result of multiple videos taken from multiple projects up the coast. They were not dedicated towards Lingcod, but because of the ROVS which were on the Seafloor, we got data from Lingcod on them, & produced a very interesting coast-wide study. You wouldn’t have been able to do that without video, or it would have been much more expensive. Video & still photos have enabled us to understand how animals interact with their world, & to see them doing it. I’ve spent my whole career trying to engage a non-scientific audience. That’s varied widely over the years. When I was doing a lot of ROV work, we oftentimes were working from converted fishing vessels. When we’d have an ROV in the water, I’d put a screen in the wheelhouse where the captain is. We would have captains seeing the seafloor that their families had been fishing for decades for the first time. It was interesting to see their fascination with the habitats. You know, they understood it in a particular way based on the feel of the way their gear was moving over the seafloor. They had a type of knowledge that’s very different than what science provides, to see the seafloor visually for them was very compelling & exciting. As the internet developed, I’ve developed a variety of different portals where video is available for people to check out. More recently, immediately pre-COVID, I started exploring virtual reality as a research tool. We have some divers who come to CSUMB who are set on a career in diving & doing marine science. Then, several of them have had health issues set in, including things like late-onset epilepsy. We call epilepsy a contradiction to diving. They can’t dive anymore. My initial enthusiasm for VR was to think “If I took a camera down & swam sections of the seafloor like a diver does, could people collect the same type of data from a virtual environment, of a 360 environment inside a headset?” A graduate student did this for his thesis, & what we discovered was that yes, you can. You can capture essentially the same information from a VR environment. Right around this time, COVID shut us down. I had a graduate class in fish ecology that needed to do a project & we still had three months left of the semester. So, I swam with a VR camera around several kelp forests in Monterey, & provided imagery to my students. They did a project collecting data from fish using VR. As COVID continued, I worked with a colleague of mine Dr. Corin Slown to develop a high school curriculum based on it. We’ve taken that high school curriculum around to a wide variety of high schools, as far away as the Canary Islands. It’s not passive. You don’t watch a movie & see things, nobody tells you what you are seeing. You swim an area of the ocean & are challenged to collect data like a scientist. It’s kind of a scavenger hunt. We give them an ID book & they watch them, & we give them a list of fish they have to find. It’s mission-oriented, & they enjoy that. We have undergraduates using video to study the sea floor. We have high school students who have continued to broaden it. Now, we’ve been working locally with juvenile halls. We have a Juvenile Hall in Monterey that we have brought the curriculum to. 10 of the students really took to it. They were super enthusiastic & became very adept at collecting data from imagery. They approached me about a new long-term project, & we decided to do what I think is a novel approach to citizen science. We had them adopt a kelp forest in Monterey, & my students & I go out to collect VR imagery. Then, we bring it to the Juvenile hall where the students collect data. They then produce summary analyses that will display on a website. These students are incarcerated & are prevented from coming to the ocean, yet via VR, they’re going to not only be exploring the undersea world, but they’re going to be collecting data that helps us manage it. We also have a project going with a local hospital where we’ve recorded 30 to 40-minute dives at interesting locations around the world, like a part of Cuba that’s closed off to everybody, Indonesia, or a kelp forest off the Channel Islands. Patients in great pain can sit with a headset on & watch with calming music in the background, & just take a dive. We’ve had patients who deferred pain medication, like stage four cancer patients, who deferred pain medication while they’re on the headset. Over the course of my career, I’ve been to the White House, I’ve briefed Congress, I’ve been to the State House in California many times, & I’ve dealt with international governments, but to have people in great pain relieved a bit as a consequence of the work that we’ve done is an extraordinary feeling. To have these at-risk incarcerated youth have the opportunity to do some of these things, there’s no comparison to that in my career. It’s the most rewarding thing I’ve done to date for sure. I’ve fortunately avoided hospitals for most of my life, but I have been put in there once or twice. Everybody has been touched by this. Somebody in their families has had cancer or some kind of debilitating illness. My dad passed away from cancer, & I observed it, it was terrible. The idea that I could bring somebody calmness who was experiencing pain like I saw my father experiencing is very important to me. 13. What work have you done in relation to marine policy? Well, it’s extremely frustrating & super challenging. Most of the time my colleagues joke that you know, you should go running & screaming in the other direction. One of the analogies I’ve seen is that if you eat sausage, you don’t want to watch a documentary about how your sausage is made. If the guy who was stirring the pot of sausage fell into the pot & is now a part of your sausage, you don’t want to know. That analogy is used a lot with respect to the political process. I think it’s very apt. I’ve seen the process first hand, it can be quite frustrating, it can be frustrating & difficult in ways that you would never expect. My colleagues & I joke a lot that much of our work has been better received outside of the United States. I was at a conference in Canada, & I was approached by two managers from South Africa. A month later I was in South Africa helping them work on some trawling projects. Everything’s more complicated here. I was very fortunate early in my career to go to the White House to help draft language for an executive order that President Clinton signed. That was a very exciting early experience. That executive order created a nationwide marine protected area network. There was a website you could go to dedicated to it called mpa.gov, which is now gone. You cannot find any more. That was a high point in my early career. I got to go to Congress & talk to people on both sides of the House & the Senate. I got to see the types of questions they ask, which are not always the ones you expect. I’ve seen things scuttled by the attitude of one person in the room. I’ve also seen things happen as a result of one person in a room. Oftentimes, you hope when you conduct science, that the paper you write is read by the right people, & those right people develop reasonable laws based on your science. What you learn very early on is that nobody reads your papers except other scientists & maybe some staffers. You have to spend a lot of time distilling your work to make it accessible to the staffers & elected representatives. 14. What are you currently working on at California State University, Monterey Bay? Lots of different things! I have a project I started way back in 2000. A colleague & I were on an island off the coast of Venezuela called Bonaire. It’s part of the Dutch Antilles. It’s a small tropical island. We sent an ROV down there, & we chartered a boat for 14 days. At the end of the 1st day, our ROV had broken beyond our scientists' ability to fix it. So we kicked it, sent it home, & we had 13 more days with the boats. We went to a pub, spoke about it, & came up with a plan. We started a project looking at how coral reef fishes cooperatively feed. Some of it is called “facilitative group foraging”. People had previously studied how it results in benefits to individual fish who participated in the group foraging. We started studying how the species richness, & reef biodiversity influenced group foraging. What we found in Bonaire was that at selected reefs, the more animals were group foraging, the higher the reef biodiversity was. Now, 26 years later, we have done this all over the world & found interesting commonalities across systems. My next trip is back down to that area in Curaçao in June to continue working on this project. We’ve done this in the Indian Ocean, South Africa, Indonesia, the Galapagos, Cocos Island, & Australia. It’s rather interesting, & illuminating. I have several projects that leverage the incredible diving we have here in Monterey. We have a deep water canyon in Carmel that comes up about 200 yards from the shore. So you can dive into Carmel Canyon, which is pretty extraordinary. I have a project working on an island in Southern California called San Clemente Island. It’s owned by the Navy. At the northern end of the island, there’s a military exclusion zone where you’re not allowed to go because they do military exercises. It’s where Navy SEALS practice their skills. We have been working there for 15 years now, trying to better understand how the military exclusion zone provides what we call de facto protection for the marine environment. Those are areas not closed to protect animals, but the fact that Navy SEALS are blowing things up means that fishing boats can’t go there. The fish community doesn’t seem to care that stuff’s being blown up. All they care about is that fishing isn’t going on. What we’re seeing is the benefits to the fish community of a de facto closure. One of the first examples of this is a place called Merritt Island. There’s a reserve there that encompasses the area offshore Cape Canaveral. Due to all the sensitive things happening at Cape Canaveral, nobody can fish. At some point, somebody said, “Hey, wait a minute, there are more fish, & they’re bigger!” That laid the foundation for discussion about de facto protection. 15. Throughout your career, you have participated in an astonishing 6 missions to the Aquarius Undersea Laboratory in the Florida Keys. What were these missions for, & how would you describe the experience? It was incredible. It was a highlight of my career for sure. I did six missions. For four of of them I was saturating (staying underwater), & for the other two I was the leader of the mission, but I was working from the surface. For the four times I was living there, I dove for a 10 day period. That’s more than a month of my life underwater. It’s extraordinary, there’s no comparable experience in my life. One of my favourite stories that I love to tell that has nothing to do with science is that my first mission to Aquarius began on Tuesday, September 11th, 2001, at 8:30 AM. So 15 minutes before the planes hit the World Trade Center was when my first mission started. For 10 days my colleagues & I were underwater. Now, we had connection to the world, we had a laptop down there that had wireless, so we were able to see what was going on, but we were underwater for the first 10 days. For a lot of my generation who sat at home for 10 days, nobody was flying anywhere, & nobody could travel anywhere. Everyone was just watching the tors fall over, & over, & over again. We missed all of that. When we went under there was one world, & when we came up, it was a totally different world, & it’s never been the same world since. The day that I flew from Florida to Boston was the first day that planes were allowed back up in the air. I’ll tell you, that was the most tense flight I've ever had. Everybody was looking at each other. I had a headache by the time I landed. It was a two-&-a-half-hour flight, very short, but everybody was watching & wondering if anything was going to go wrong. I had this profound headache when I landed. From a scientific perspective, once I did the first mission, I understood what you could do there. So, I started writing proposals to do more work there. Three months later, I was back for a fish tagging project, & the following year again to tag more fish. You can spend eight to ten hours a day diving from this lab, that’s an incredible amount of time to collect data. When you live underwater, you don’t come to the surface, you get to spend more time underwater doing more science than ever before. There is also an opportunity to do fish tagging. In other areas of the world, when you don’t have an undersea laboratory, you hook the fish underwater & you bring it to the surface. The temperature & depth change is quite stressful on the fish. Then, you bring it onto the boat, & you put it in an anesthetic bath. I’ve done all this & the animal gets about 10 times the anesthesia it needs. Finally, you tag it, you put it in this release device, & send it hack into the deep hoping it’s going to resume normal activity & not be eaten. In Aquarius, I was able to catch them right outside the habitat, hand-select the ones I wanted to tag, anesthetize them in two to three minutes, tag them, swim them around in my hand, release them, then watch them swim away after. I have a video of a hogfish that I tagged feeding on the seafloor two minutes after it was released. Six minutes before it was swimming around, it was anesthetized it had surgery conducted on it, it was revived, it’s eating again, & it had resumed its behaviour. From a science perspective, you’ve put an 800$ to 1,000$ tag in it, you want to see it doing its normal thing as soon as possible. A fantastic photograph of Aquarius Undersea Laboratory from the exterior. Credit to the NOAA. 17. What work have you done in relation to marine conservation? MPAs have been one of the primary focuses. I’ve been a strong advocate for marine protected areas as opposed to restoration efforts. I think we have a better track record of letting nature do what nature does best rather than trying to tweak it to produce some outcome that we’re interested in. I appreciate MPAs because there’s an opportunity to close an area off, & you don’t necessarily get the outcome that you’re interested in, but you’re allowing nature to do what it does best. I have done a lot of outreach efforts to try to bring other audiences into the marine environment, & there is a conservation element there. I’ve also participated in many briefings tor policy makers as well as staff, & various NGO’s in Sacramento that have conservation implications. We did a briefing several years ago on fishing, for instance, that highlighted the fact that if you want fish, there are really only 3 ways you can get fish in the United States. You can have wild-caught fish which is associated with challenges, you can have aquaculture which is associated with challenges, or you can import things, which has a high carbon footprint & is oftentimes troubling. Any way to get fish in the United States has consequences. Rather than demonizing any particular one, what are the trade-offs we are comfortable with? One of the largest issues for my students right now is desalination plants. They point out all the troubling things about desalination where you’re drawing in seawater that’s bringing in organisms, & impacting populations that are drawn in. I understand that. Then I suggest, okay, where’s our water going to come from if we don’t have that plant? Oftentimes, they don’t have an answer. We have to think about that. I asked them, how many of you protested the road you drove in today on? The answer is obviously that no one protested the road, but what is a road? A road is a habitat fragmentation device. Roads disrupt the movement of terrestrial animals all the time, but humans have accepted their presence in order to do things. I think we need to contextualize & understanding any new thing we demonize. We need to contextualize that into all the trade-offs we’re already accepting into our lives. I think it’s important from a conservation perspective that we need to talk about conservation, not preservation. Preservation is closing things off, leaving them as they are, & not touching them. Conservation is about reconciling the natural world with human needs. Questions About His Books: 18. Avoiding spoilers, is the title & basic plot of your book series? My goal was always to tell a story involving interesting characters that are put into difficult situations seeing how they respond. My first book was set up here in Carmel-by-the-Sea off the Monterey Peninsula. It was called Into A Canyon Deep (2017). It puts a team of scientists out doing research into direct interaction with bad people. They’re out doing ROV work, & there are bad guys who have been dumping waste offshore, & bad things ensue. I’ve also been interested in book series that get to follow a team of scientists or a team of characters over time, & watch how they develop. The next book takes some of the same team to South Africa where again, they are doing science, & they come into contact with some hard actors, this time the legacy of apartheid. They go next to the Galapagos off the shore of Ecuador, & there things go south because of some pirates. The next one features an undersea laboratory, very much like Aquarius, but it’s deployed in the Dry Tortugas off the coast of the Southern End of the Florida Keys. In that case, the mission to the habitat is threatened by political forces. It’s the same core group of people across all four books. They are put into difficult situations, & respond in different ways. That’s the kind of book I’ve always enjoyed reading. I feel these books are perfect for reading on a plane, reading at the beach, or reading a few chapters before you go to sleep at night. I’m not aspiring to great literature. I’m more interested in a fun story that keeps you moving through it. I think some of the best compliments I’ve received were from a friend of mine who sent me a picture of her husband reading, & then she said “This guy never reads!” Now she can’t get him to sleep because he’s reading the book. One of the book covers for “Into A Canyon Deep”, the first book in the Chris Black fiction series written by Dr. James Lindholm. 19. Who is Chris Black, & what is his role in the book series? He’s a scientist who does similar stuff to what I do. His close friend, Mac Johnson, with whom he grew up with. Mac was a Navy SEAL then was injured in combat, had to leave the service, went back to school for an engineering degree, & ends up being an ROV technician in the same group that Chris works. Much of the story of the four books that I’ve written so far is about their friendship, their history, & how together they solve problems. Other people come & go. A little bit like life, there are people that you run into frequently, then there are some that touch your life once & you don’t hear from them again. So, you see those kinds of characters come & go as the adventures unfold. I am about 75% of the way through the fifth book which is going to introduce a similar type of story, but it’s a new set of characters. I’m hoping it will come out sometime in 2027. That’s with a new publisher. It’s a diverse group of people, some are characters, while some are more serious than others. They’re also younger in this case. The new hero, his name is Magnus Gray. He’s had some life experiences that have affected him very early on in his scientific career, so he attacks problems a little differently than a more established scientist would. One of the things I say for sure is that no character in any of my books maps 100% onto any one person. Inevitably some of the attributes of my characters reflect my own perspective or experience I’ve had. I have also had the great joy of working with some real characters over the years. They all show up in different ways in different characters in different parts of the book. Some of their stories show up too. I always attribute those stories to my colleagues in the afterward of the book. I am not Chris Black, nor am I Magnus Gray. There is no Mac Johnson. Many of my colleagues or students have reported seeing parts of themselves in some of the characters. Something I’ve enjoyed is something I informally call revenge fiction. That’s where I if they disappoint me, or are unfavourable to me, a character that relates to them may have something very bad happen to them. I threaten them with that, which is really fun. I haven’t done it yet, but I like to threaten it. 20. Has your career in marine science shaped the way that you approach writing, & if so, how? I think broadly where my career is influenced by some of my stories, the anecdotes that find their way into the stories are often experiences that I have had. The years have accumulated as have the stories. A lot of these stories find their way into fiction as side notes in the story that are fun & interesting. Once I started writing, every place I went, I started to think about what story could be associated with this location. To that extent, my career, where I’ve gone, & the types of experiences I've had, have found themselves in my novels so far. For instance, the book I’m working on now is a two-parter. The first half takes place on an island offshore of Costa Rica called Cocos Island. It’s 400 miles offshore, it’s way out there. It is the place that Michael Crichton identified as the place for Jurassic Park. It’s also the place with the highest density of elasmobranchs in the world. It’s also historically a place back in the 17th & 18th centuries where piracy was happening, & people allegedly buried treasure out there. A gorgeous photograph of Cocos Island, Costa Rica. Credit to scubadivingflamingo.com. 21. What has been your biggest triumph or proudest moment across your entire career? I would definitely answer that differently at different times in my career. From a policy standpoint, going to the White House & helping with that Executive Order was a high point. Diving at Aquarius was also a high point. Getting to travel around the world & work in remote places that most people only get a chance to see on film or on the internet has been a high point. We spoke about helping cancer patients, & helping incarcerated students. The highest point of all, I’m a father to the daughter, & she is one of the things that makes me the proudest. Even though I have a job that could be done 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, I compromised, I was able to work around it. I was able to be present for lots of her activities. I missed very few of her soccer games that I coached, dances, or water polo games. When she was 10, we made her a scuba diver. She’s been all over the world with me diving & is now studying to be a scientist herself. To be honest, the highest point in my career is the ability to do that & engage her in it too. It has been rewarding & fun. 22. I’m sure that you have faced just as many challenges & setbacks as you have leaps forward, what has been the biggest hurdle or challenge that you have faced across your career, & how did you overcome it? You don’t always overcome, you learn to work around many things. I tend to say the most impressive thing about me is my list of rejections. I have an impressive list of rejections whether that be grant applications, rejected peer-reviewed articles, & publishers. I was not prepared for how hard it is to get a publisher. The funding climate has changed fundamentally, which has made the type of research I do, which is generally very expensive work offshore with ROV’s, a bit more complicated. We’re still trying to figure out how to deal with that. Thankfully, if funding gets tougher, we have focused work that can be done relatively inexpensively, such as leveraging the living laboratory of Monterey Bay to do projects right there, 20 minutes from campus. We still have money coming in various ways, & we’re making small dollars go further. The fact that we fail far more often than we succeed sounds like a cliché, but it’s absolutely true. Just like anybody else, we’re out there doing science while life is happening to us. People are dying, marriages are falling apart, & people are trying to work through it. 23. What is your advice to new marine scientists, aspiring ocean professionals, & those looking to enter the world of marine fiction? With respect to science, whatever drew you to marine science, cling to it. If it was a trip to Monterey Bay Aquarium & you fell in love with otters, cling to that. It doesn’t necessarily mean that you’ll spend the rest of your life working with otters, but remember what drew you to it. Come into science with an open mind. I didn’t enter graduate school to study the landscape ecology of fishes, yet here I’ve spent a career doing it. Keep an open mind, stay motivated by what’s interesting to you, & understand you may go in a wide variety of different directions. The world is full of people with good intentions, but good intentions only bring us so far. I’m a strong advocate for getting into some kind of STEM-based training. In addition to your good intentions, you can bring a real skill set to the table to help solve our problems. If you’re not great at calculus, mathematics, or chemistry, there are different ways to support the marine environment. As for marine fiction, I would say if you have a passion for writing, go for it. Prepare yourself for a challenging endeavour if any kind of fiction is your goal. 24. Do you have any final words about marine science, ocean fiction, your research, or the beauty of the ocean? There’s nothing as impactful to me as the ocean. If you ever have the opportunity to participate in & experience the ocean, I would encourage you to do so. It can be transformative. It’s not always easy, it’s humbling, I’ve nearly been killed in the ocean multiple times because it’s Mother Nature at its finest. I’ve found interaction with the ocean to define my whole life. My interaction with my daughter, my professional career, & much of my fictional interests. Many of the activities I do all happen around the ocean. I think the coastline of California provides a venue for understanding the ocean that is better than many places on the planet. I think despite that, we still need a lot of help in California. It’s a very well-studied place, but we still know very little overall. There’s plenty of work to be done if you’re motivated. A fantastic photograph of Dr. James Lindholm at the controls an ROV named Beagle. Credit to Dr. James Lindholm. Directories / Credits https://www.jameslindholm.com Strategic Partnerships Reel Guppy Outdoors SharkedSkooler Marine Enthusiasts Podcast Cash Daniels Tides of Tomorrow The Open Book, Topanga Olivenbaum Music Pitfire Artisan Pizza Our Loyal Patrons P. R. Ochoa

A magnificent giant oceanic manta ray, sprawled out in the ocean, along with a female diver. Credit to Citrus Reef. This month’s article series will be discussing the gorgeous region of Phang Nga Bay. Phang Nga bay is a bay on the southern coast of Thailand, between the mainland & Phuket island. It is well known for its small islands dotted around the bay, limestone formations, underwater caves, & mangrove forests. Many divers flock to the area each year, to photograph the marine animals, swim the bay, & take in the surreal beauty around them. There are many areas for swimming, kayaking, snorkelling, & picnicking on the islands in the bay, & on the mainland coastline that borders the bay. It is common for tourists to travel between Phuket, & the Phang Nga, as the drive is approximately 1 hour & 54 minutes under optimal circumstances. Many tourists travelling the coast of Thailand will pass through the area for a day trip, to enjoy the beauty of the area. The entire bay is protected as a marine protected area as a part of Ao Phang Nga National Park. In addition to its beautiful landscape, the island is extremely biodiverse. The bay is filled with many beautiful ecosystems, ranging from mangrove forests to coral reefs. One of the popular creatures of the area, is known as the giant oceanic manta ray. The giant oceanic manta ray is the largest species of ray in the world, with the second largest being the Reef Manta Ray. This species is extremely large as its name implies, getting to the astonishing 30 feet long. Though they are large, they are not very temperamental animals, & are gentle giants of the ocean. They are passive animals, & don’t bother divers unless they are provoked. They have very long tails, & do not have poisonous barbs on them. Manta rays are not venomous, & cannot sting divers. The giant oceanic manta rays are a decent source of eco-tourism for the region, as many people wish to swim with them in a natural setting. In this article, we will be discussing the discovery & life of the giant oceanic manta ray, the mating tactics, techniques, habits, procedures, practices, & strategies of the giant oceanic manta ray, the distribution of the giant oceanic manta ray, & the scientific detailings of the giant oceanic manta ray. With that being said, let us delve into this gentle & fascinating behemoth of the ocean. A gorgeous photograph of a scuba diver & giant oceanic manta ray. Credit to the Garden & Gun Magazine. The Discovery & Life Of The Giant Oceanic Manta Ray Giant Oceanic Manta Ray’s were discovered in 1798, by German Naturalist & Taxonomist, Johann Julius Walbaum. As mentioned in the Introductory paragraph, Giant Ocean Manta Ray’s are able to reach up to 30 feet (9.144 meters). in length. Their maximum weight is approximately 3,600 pounds (1632.933 kilograms). Unfortunately not much is known about their longevity, however they are believed to live up to 45 years old. Manta Ray’s are far more intelligent then most fish species. An example of this is that they are able to create mental maps of their environments using visual cues, & use them to navigate. Additionally, they have some level of self awareness, as when put in front of a mirror, they don’t attack it, or respond to it as if it is another individual. Of all fish, their brains are some of the largest both physically, & relative to their bodies. Their brain’s are very developed as well, with the parts of their brain responsible for learning being especially developed. Giant oceanic manta rays have mild temperaments, & are generally extremely relaxed. They can be rather playful on occasion, & are generally curious creatures. They only become aggressive if provoked, & rarely cause serious issues for humans. Individuals are often territorial, & stay in the same area throughout their life. It is not clear whether or not they will attack other rays in defence of their territory. Individuals are known to congregate when feeding. Manta rays will have a cruising speed of 14.5 miles per hour (23.33549 kilometers per hour), however if faced with a threat, they can swim as fast as 22 miles per hour (23.33549 kilometers per hour). They swim by oscillating their fins up & down, which propels them forward. Depending on fast they wish to swim, they will oscillate their fins faster, or slower. This type of swimming is called undulatory swimming. They are incredibly graceful as well as agile with their swimming, being able to navigate the water column with ease. Similar to sharks, manta rays remain buoyant by storing extra oil in their livers, that weighs less than the water around them. It is currently unknown to science how manta rays sleep. They seem to be in constant motion, gliding through the ocean with a sophisticated ease. This is because in order to absorb oxygen from the water, water has to always be going over their gills. If they stop moving, they begin to suffocate, & eventually pass away. Giant oceanic manta rays are filter feeders, meaning that they feed on microorganisms such as plankton, copepods, decapod larvae, cephalopod larvae, fish larvae, shrimp, & occasionally small fish. They are not cannibalistic at any stage in their lives. They feed by opening their large mouth, & having organisms simply fall into their mouth. Although they are cathemeral, they will consume the most at nighttime. With such a large body weight, they must consume between 55 & 75 pounds of food per day to survive. Due to their massive size, very little is able to predate upon them. The few predators that are able to fight them fairly, are orcas, humans, & large sharks. Giant oceanic manta rays have large diamond shaped bodies with elongated wings, small eyes, wide mouths, ventrally placed gill slits, & are usually black or grey with a white belly. Unfortunately, they are classified as endangered by the IUCN Red List. They were last accessed on November 12th, 2019, & have a population trend listed as decreasing. The Mating Tactics, Techniques, Habits, Procedures, Practices, & Strategies Of The Giant Oceanic Manta Ray Giant oceanic manta rays breed via sexual reproduction, & have 2 distinct sexes. They are not naturally hermaphroditic. Their breeding system is polygamous. Of all the Elasmobranchs, they reproduce the slowest. Both male & female individuals will sexually mature at 8 to 9 years of age. There is a specific breeding season for Manta Ray’s, that being Late December to Mid-April. During breeding season, they will congregate in large gathering’s known as mating balls. Once a female has found a male, they will breed via internal fertilization, in which they will have a sexual union. After this the male will not have any role in the children’s, or the females life. Giant oceanic manta rays are ovoviviparous, meaning that they gestate children in eggs, however they gestate the children inside of the mother. The mother ray will gestate her child for 1 year, & give birth to a single pup. It is rare to have twins, as the children must be a certain size at birth to ensure survival, & there too little room in the mothers womb to comfortably allow for that. After giving birth, the mother will provide no further care to the baby, & the little ray will swim off into the ocean, ready to take on the world. She will wait at 1 to 4 years until she has another child. The Distribution Of The Giant Oceanic Manta Ray This species is found all around the world in both temperate & tropical regions between the 35° Parallel North & the 35° Parallel South. They currently inhabit the Indian, Atlantic, & Pacific Ocean. They are not migratory animals, & will stay in the same areas throughout their entire lives. Giant Oceanic Manta Ray’s inhabit areas as shallow as 10 feet (3.048 meters) & as deep as 3,280.84 feet (1,000.000032 meters). The Scientific Detailings Of The Giant Oceanic Manta Ray Giant Oceanic Manta Ray’s arose during the early Miocene, approximately 23 million years ago. Due to the fact that they have a cartilaginous skeleton instead of a calcified skeleton, it is very difficult for them to fossilize. There are only 3 sediment beds in the world with giant oceanic manta ray fossils, 1 of which is in South Carolina, & 2 of which are in North Carolina. Manta rays, similar to sharks, are known to have remoras attach to their backs. The 2 most common remora species that attach to the manta ray are Remora remora (Common  remora), & Echeneis naucrates (Slender sharksucker). Remoras are not the only species that enjoy hitchhiking with manta rays, as 11 other species of fish have been identified to swim along side the Manta Ray for long distances. Contrary to popular belief, giant oceanic manta rays do not have venomous stingers, & cannot hurt humans in that way. Individuals have very small reduced teeth, that are minimal in the digestive process. The only purpose of these teeth is to direct plankton & water into their mouth. Their phylum is Chordata, meaning that they developed these 5 characteristics all species under the phylum of chordata develop 5 similar characteristics either In adulthood or as juveniles. The characteristics that they develop include, a notochord, dorsal hollow nerve cord, endostyle or thyroid, pharyngeal Slits, & a post-anal tail. Their class is Chondrichthyes. This is a class of fish that are primarily composed of cartilage. This class can be compared to the class Osteichthyes, which is a class of fish who are primarily composed of bone. A few universal characteristics for any fish in the class Chondrichthyes is that they all are jawed vertebrates, they have paired fins, paired nares, scales, & a heart with chambers in a series. Their order is Myliobatiformes, which is an order of Batiods. This order comprises of all living rays. Their family is Mobulidae, an order of pelagic rays. The majority of species in this family spend the majority of their time in open ocean, instead of on the ocean floor. Their genus is Mobula, a new genus of ray. This genus contains the 2 largest species of Manta Ray on Earth. Their binomial name is Mobula birostris. A striking photograph of the giant oceanic manta ray in the sunlit sea. Credit to WiseOceans. Directories / Credits Citation No. 1: “Giant Manta Ray”, Written by Unknown, & Published at an Unknown Date. Published by Oceana. Retrieval Date: April 26th, 2024. https://oceana.org/marine-life/giant-manta-ray/ Citation No. 2: “Manta ray brainpower blow other fish out of the water”, Written by Amy Mcdermott, & Published on July 25th, 2017. Published by Oceana. Retrieval Date: April 26th, 2024. https://oceana.org/blog/manta-ray-brainpower-blows-other-fish-out-water-10/ Citation No. 3: “Giant Manta Ray” Written by Unknown, & Published at an Unknown Date. Published by the Save our Seas Foundation. Retrieval Date: April 26th, 2024. https://saveourseas.com/worldofsharks/species/giant-manta-ray Citation No. 4: “All About The Mysterious Giant Manta Ray”, Written by Unknown, & Published on December 28th, 2020. Published by Manta Ray Advocates. Retrieval Date: April 26th, 2024. https://mantarayadvocates.com/how-do-manta-rays-sleep/ Citation No. 5: “Oceanic Manta Ray”, Written by Unknown, & Last Updated in 2022. Published by the International Union For The Conservation Of Nature. Retrieval Date: April 26th, 2024. https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/198921/214397182 Citation No. 6: “Manta Ray Behaviour”, Written by Hannah Brown, & Published on April 12th, 2023. Published by Sea Paradise. Retrieval Date: April 26th, 2024. https://www.seaparadise.com/manta-ray-behavior/ Citation No. 7: “Manta Birostris”, Written by Nancy Passarelli & Andrew Piercy, & Published at an Unknown Date. Published by the Florida Museum. Retrieval Date: April 26th, 2024. https://www.floridamuseum.ufl.edu/discover-fish/species-profiles/manta-birostris/ Citation No. 8: “Oceanic Manta Ray”, Written by Unknown, & Published at an Unknown Date. Published by the Manta Trust. Retrieval Date: April 26th, 2024. https://www.mantatrust.org/mobula-birostris Citation No. 9: “For manta rays, parasitic hitchhikers can be a pain in the rear, study finds”, Written by Elizabeth Claire Alberts, & Published in July, 2021. Published by Monga Bay. Retrieval Date: April 26th, 2024. https://news.mongabay.com/2021/07/for-manta-rays-parasitic-hitchhikers-can-be-a-pain-in-the-rear-study-finds/amp/ Citation No. 10: “Giant Manta Ray”, Written by Unknown, & Published at an Unknown Date. Published by the National Atmospheric & Oceanic Administration. Retrieval Date: April 26th, 2024. https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/species/giant-manta-ray Citation No. 11: “Giant Manta Ray”, Written by Unknown, & Published at an Unknown Date. Published by Save Our Seas. Retrieval Date: April 26th, 2024. https://saveourseas.com/worldofsharks/species/giant-manta-ray Strategic Partnerships Reel Guppy Outdoors SharkedSkooler Marine Enthusiasts Podcast Cash Daniels Tides of Tomorrow The Open Book, Topanga Olivenbaum Music Pitfire Artisan Pizza Our Loyal Patrons P. R. Ochoa

An idyllic photograph of Isla de la Juventud. Credit to Cuba Travel. In this article, we will be discussing the history of the intriguing cuban island, Isla de la Juventud. The name of the island roughly translates into the Isle of Youth, & Rejuvenation. Isla de la Juventud is an island off the coast of Cuba, owned by the Cuban government. The island is approximately 213.88 nautical miles (396.10576 kilometers or 246.128708 miles) from the mainland North American Continent. It is the second largest island Cuban Island, only second to the main island. The island is approximately 2419.05 square kilometers (934 square miles or 597,760 acres). The island is south of Havana, & is the seventh-largest island in the West Indies as a whole. The official language of the island is Spanish, & tourism is high. Ecologically, the island is covered in Pine forests. The island is mild, & not as tropical as the rest of the Caribbean. The island is incredibly well known for its gorgeous beaches, never-ending nightlife, historic prisons, biodiversity, & its reputation as a pirate hideaway. The coastline of the island is extremely biodiverse, & filled with nature preserves & coral reefs. The coral reefs are very large, & are of the fringing kind. These coral reefs house many interesting creatures, one of the strangest being the Green Moray Eel. We covered this species on the 10th of this month, & the article can be found by typing “Green Moray Eel” into the search function of our website. The history of Isla de la Juventud is extremely intriguing, with a reputation as a pirates hideaway. It spans approximately 135 million years, beginning when Cuba began to form in the late Jurassic. The original indigenous inhabitants of the island are the Ciboney People, & unfortunately, the original culture has not been preserved very well. There is no official group for Ciboney descendants, & the culture is largely considered to be extinct. This was likely due to massive disease epidemics, & pressure from the Arawak & Spanish. This indigenous group is well known for their lack of a large-scale political structure, as well as a lack of governmental oversight. In this article we will be discussing the documented history of Isla de la Juventud, the indigenous aboriginals of Isla de la Juventud, the Most Destructive Natural & Man Caused disasters to affect Isla de la Juventud, & finally the Economic State of Isla de la Juventud. With that being said, let us delve into this Cuban Paradise. The Documented History Of Isla de la Juventud Before Colonization By The Spanish Historical Events From Approximately 135 Million Years Ago Isla de la Juventud as well as the rest of Cuba began forming approximately 135 million years ago, in the late Jurassic. The island as formed by the breakage of Pangea’s coastline, & how some of the coastline broke off then drifted into the area. Historical Events From Approximately 3000 B.C The Ciboney people began migrating to Cuba & the Surrounding islands approximately 5,000 years ago, from mainland America. They likely came via dug out kayak, instead of there being a land bridge. Archeologically, there are 2 major groups or cultures of the Ciboney people. The Ciboney of the northern area of the island, were known as people of the stone. This is due to the fact that their tools were largely made of stone. The Ciboney people of the south were known as the people of snails, as their tools were mainly made of the Strombus Gijas snail that is abundant in southern Cuba. All of their culture were hunters, gatherers, & fishermen. After Colonization By The Spanish Historical Events From The 1500’s After the arrival of Christopher Columbus, pirates began visiting the island to hide treasure & valuables near the coastlines & in the mountains. The first pirate to visit the island was the infamous Jean Francois La Roque, in 1543. The island was not used by the spaniards for much of anything for years. Many more pirates would visit over the years, including John Hawkins in 1565, & Francis Drake in 1586. Francis Drake visited the island many times prior to 1586, & is rumoured to have buried many valuables along the coast. Historical Events From The 1600’s The island was officially conquered in 1627 by Captain Hernando de Pedroso. Pirates would continue using the island in this century, with Pieter Hayn using the island for shelter in 1628. A year later in 1629, pirate Cornelius Cornelizoon Hol used the island as a station to attack Havana. He would repeat the action in 1638, in order to attack naval fleets being sent from South America. At least 6 more pirates would visit the island in the later half of the 1600’s. Historical Events From The 1700’s Pirates continued to regularly visit the island into the early 1700’s. The Spanish Earl of Ricia attempted to colonize the island, however he failed & had to return back to Spain. This was despite the island having an official owner, Domingo Duarte. The first official census was conducted in 1787, & 300 inhabitants were accounted for. In the same year, a small settlement was formed in modern day Nueva Gerona. Historical Events From The 1800’s Ex-soldiers began being deployed to the island from Saint Augustine, Florida, in 1831. This would help the locals ward off pirates who harassed the island. The first church on the island was constructed in 1847, & was named Nuestra señora de los Dolores. 2 elementary schools were also constructed, along with a hospital & a prison. This is when the island began to flourish, & truly began to have a community. Migration to the town exploded, & approximately 14 soldiers settled nearby the new Nueva Gerona. Barracks were built in 1850, & more soldiers came. The island was called the island of deportees by the Spanish Government, as they would deport those who desired political independence to the isle. Its name would soon change to the Isle of Pines, & would remain so until 1972. Cuba gained independence from the Spanish in 1898, & so did Isla de la Juventud. The next census occurred in 1899 & accounted for approximately 3,200 inhabitants. After Becoming A Part of Cuba Historical Events From The 1900’s Cuba officially became its own country in 1902, however Americans didn’t recognize that Isla de la Juventud belonged to Cuba until 1925. Approximately 500 American families moved to the region after the independence movement, as they saw many economic prospects on the isle. In 1913, there were approximately American 1,600 residents, along with the 3,200 Spanish residents. These residents increased the economic influence of the island by beginning farms, & fisheries services. In the Hay-Quesada treaty of 1925, the United States officially recognized that the island belonged to Cuba. Many U.S citizens would leave as a result of this, selling their land & stakes on the isle. In 1931, a prison named the Model Prison was constructed with the capacity for 6,000 inmates. The prison had horrific conditions, & 532 deaths were registered with in the first 4 years. A book was written by an ex-inmate who was imprisoned at the jail, called “Model Prison”. Many political prisoners were held at this island, & in World War 2, it was used for captured Japanese, Italian, & German soldiers. The prison was closed in 1967, & was legally declared a national monument in 1972. Modernly, the island has a population of 83,583 humans. The Indigenous Aboriginals Of Isla de la Juventud The Ciboney People Of Isla de la Juventud The Ciboney indigenous peoples lived all throughout the Caribbean. They lived throughout Cuba & as well as the greater & lesser Antilles. They were also known as the Siboney. Their language was unknown & it was a language was an isolate. They often stayed out of the way & lived on the coast lines. Their ambitions in relation to war & peace are unknown. They did not practice agriculture to our knowledge, instead opting to hunt & gather their supplies. Fishing was also popular for gathering food. They did not write anything down, so extremely little is known about them as the majority of them were gone before the Europeans arrived. Some of their primary sources of food were shellfish, turtles, & certain available island rodents. They also lacked in arts such as pottery & weaving. They may have originated from southern America in the areas of modern day Venezuela. If they were, they would have migrated to up to Cuba. Alternatively, they may have originated from the southern areas of modern day Florida. However, they did not have very apt maritime technologies. The Most Destructive Natural & Man Caused Disasters To Affect Isla De La Juventud Disaster No. 1: Hurricane Flora of 1963 Hurricane Flora was one of the deadliest Hurricanes to ever affect Cuba. It formed on September 26th, 1963 as a tropical storm in the Hurricane Convergence zone. At its peak, it reached Category 3 status. Its highest wind speed was approximately 149 miles per hour (239.792 kilometers per hour). Unfortunately, due to advisories not being sent out at the proper time, very few people had the opportunity to prepare for the hurricane. Hurricane Flora levelled At least 6,500 houses, & claimed the lives of at least 7,180 people. It cost approximately 528 million U.S.D to rebuild from, & forever scarred many lives. Disaster No. 2: 1932 Camagüey Hurricane The 1932 Camagüey hurricane is considered to be one of if not the most devastating hurricane to affect Cuba. The 1932 Camagüey Hurricane was a category 5 level hurricane that lasted from October 30th to November 14th of 1932. It caused a severe storm surge, & caused waves to reach 30 feet (9.144 meters) high. Additionally, it caused winds as quick as 175 miles per hour (281.635 kilometers per hour). It claimed the lives of approximately 3,103 people, & cost 40 million U.S.D in damages. The Economic State Of Isla Juventud The economic state of Isla de la Juventud is relatively stable. Their largest sources of revenue are tourism, fishing, citrus production, & grapefruit production. The Covid-19 Pandemic did heavily affect the economic development of the island, however it slowly has been recovering. Due to economic turnout not being as high as expected, the Cuban President began regularly visiting the province in 2024, to seek solutions for their development. He continues to actively tour various provinces to seek growth strategies & provide guidance to the labor forces on the island. A magnificent photograph of a natural coastal pool on the coast of Isla de la Juventud, Cuba. Credit to Claire Boobbyer. Directories / Credits Citation No. 1: “History”, Written by Unknown, & Published at an Unknown Date. Published by Isla de la Juventud, Cuba. Retrieval Date: April 23rd, 2024. https://isladelajuventud-cuba.com/history.html Citation No. 2: “Isla de la Juventud Island, Cuba”, Written by Unknown, & Published at an Unknown Date. Published by Trip Cuba. Retrieval Date: April 23rd, 2024. https://www.tripcuba.org/isla-de-la-juventud Citation No. 3: “1963- Hurricane Flora”, Written by Unknown, & Published at an Unknown Date. Published by the University of Rhode Island. Retrieval Date: April 23rd, 2024. https://hurricanescience.org/history/storms/1960s/flora/ Citation No. 4: “Hurricane Flora 1963”, Written by Unknown, & Published at an Unknown Date. Published by University of the West Indies. Retrieval Date: April 23rd, 2024. https://www.uwi.edu/ekacdm/node/159 Citation No. 5:  “Monthly Weather Review”, Written by Unknown, & Published in August 1932. Published by the National Atmospheric & Oceanic Administration. Retrieval Date: April 23rd, 2024. https://www.nhc.noaa.gov/data/mwreview/1932.pdf Citation No. 6: “Irma is first Cat 5 hurricane to make landfall in Cuba since killer storm of 1932”, Written by Mimi Whitefield, & Published on September 10th, 2017. Published by the Miami Herald. Retrieval Date: April 23rd, 2024. https://amp.miamiherald.com/news/weather/hurricane/article172355037.html Citation No. 7: “Cuban President Checks Economic Development Of The Isle Of Youth”, Written by Unknown, & Published at an Unknown Date. Published by Radio Habana Cuba. Retrieval Date: April 23rd, 2024. https://en.granma.cu/cuba/2023-05-23/cuban-president-checks-economic-development-of-the-isle-of-youth Citation No. 8: “Diaz-Canel visits sites of Economic Interest in Isla de la Juventud”, Written by Ed Newman, & Published on February 12th, 2024. Retrieval Date: April 23rd, 2024. https://www.radiohc.cu/en/noticias/nacionales/346864-diaz-canel-visits-sites-of-economic-interest-in-isla-de-la-juventud Strategic Partnerships Reel Guppy Outdoors SharkedSkooler Marine Enthusiasts Podcast Cash Daniels Tides of Tomorrow The Open Book, Topanga Pitfire Artisan Pizza Olivenbaum Music Our Loyal Patrons P. R. Ochoa