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A gorgeous photograph of a European Common Cuttlefish. Credit to the Tennessee Aquarium. This month’s article series is going to be about the beautiful isle of Cyprus, located in the Mediterranean Sea. Cyprus is a small Island Country in the Mediterranean Sea, off the coast of Turkey. It is the third largest island in the Mediterranean Sea, as well as the third most populous island in the Mediterranean Sea. The isle is approximately 37.22 nautical miles (42.832011 miles or 68.93144 kilometers) from the mainland country of Turkey on Asia Minor. Additionally, is approximately 149 miles long from east to west, & 62 miles from north to south at its widest point. Cyprus has been settled by various groups of people, since at least the Bronze Age approximately 13,000 to 12,000 years ago, giving time for its incredibly interesting & unique culture to develop. The isle is very well known for its rich culture & history, arts, & folk music. A strong part of the local culture is hospitality. Guests & visitors are almost always offered small amounts of food as a sign of appreciation, & are often served with a special kind of silver fork known as the protsoues. Cyprus contains a unique ecoregion known as the Cyprus Mediterranean Forests, known for its endemic species, temperate climate, & vast sprawling landscapes. Approximately 128 plants are endemic to these forests, as well as a sub-species of sheep. The island isn’t only diverse in its terrestrial landscapes, & is also highly diverse in its marine landscapes. This is shown in their beautiful sea caves, rocky shorelines, & seagrass meadows. One of the interesting species that inhabits these meadows, is the European Common Cuttlefish. The European Common Cuttlefish is a species of cuttlefish found all across Europe & the Atlantic Ocean. They are one of the largest & most well-known cuttlefish species on Earth. They are known for being highly migrational, & living on beds of sand or mud-beds. During the day, they will bury themselves in this substrate & remain inactive until evening, when they become lively & vivacious predators. Cuttlefish are incredibly important to Mediterranean Cuisine, & are prized for their ink. Their ink is used to dye pasta, as well as pasta sauce, black. Consuming this pasta is believed to have health benefits such as being anti-inflammatory, & anti-oxidant. In this article, we will delve into the discovery & life of the European Cuttlefish, the mating strategies of the European Cuttlefish, the distribution of the European Cuttlefish, & the scientific details of the European Cuttlefish. With that being said, let us delve into these beautiful cephalopods. The Discovery & Life Of The European Common Cuttlefish European Cuttlefish have been present throughout Mediterranean culture for hundreds of years, & were officially described in 1758 by Carl Linnaeus, a Swedish taxonomist, naturalist, biologist, & zoologist. The largest common cuttlefish will reach 19.2913 inches (49 centimeters) long, however, the average size is a mere 9.84252 inches (25 centimeters). As far as cuttlefish are, they are quite heavy, having an average weight of 6.61387 pounds (3 kilograms). Cephalopods in general have very short lifespans, with the common cuttlefish being no exception, with a lifespan of one to two years. Cuttlefish are known for being amongst the smartest marine animals, with an almost unrivaled intellect. Though they are not as intelligent as octopuses, they are extremely capable creatures. In captivity, individuals can recognize caretakers, & exhibit self-restraint for a delayed reward. Throughout multiple studies, it has been shown that they have a level of reasoning, & the ability count. Overall, they are some of the most intelligent marine animals. Cuttlefish as a group have existed for approximately 23 million years, having evolved in the Miocene. In the wild, cuttlefish are rather shy, & avoid interaction with humans. While they aren’t aggressive to humans, they are incredibly aggressive towards each other & their prey. They are known for being vivacious & lively hunters towards smaller animals, & each other. Individuals are very territorial, fighting other cuttlefish violently if they encroach. However, they won’t always fight by physically attacking each other. Often, they will choose to show aggressive patterns on their skin instead. Apart from mating, common cuttlefish spend the majority of their lives in solitude. Cuttlefish swim through a method called undulatory swimming, popular amongst fish. They do this by oscillating their fins to move themselves forward. Individuals have a maximum speed of 2.5 meters per second. Their buoyancy is controlled through an interesting body part known as the cuttlebone. The cuttlebone is an inner shell made up of various chambers that a cuttlefish will pump air & water into to control its buoyancy. If a cuttlefish wishes to move up or down in the water column, it will pump air or water into its cuttlebone accordingly. The way that a cuttlefish sleeps is not the same way that humans sleep, in that cuttlefish don’t turn off their entire brains & sleep for long blocks of time. At the risk of being consumed, they cannot sleep for long periods. They have 3 different stages of sleep, those being REM Sleep, quiescent sleep, & active sleep. They will sleep for between three to 4 minutes while in REM sleep. Even while sleeping, their brains are still partially active, & guarded. The average diet of a common cuttlefish consists of small crustaceans, bivalves, shellfish, worms, small octopuses, fish, & occasionally each other. They are known to be cannibalistic, however, that is usually out of stress. They are nocturnal, & primarily hunt during the night, dawn, & dusk. Individuals locate food through a combination of odor, sight, & feel. By nature, they are ambush predators, meaning they hide & wait for prey in the sand instead of actively pursuing them. Once they feel an animal swim over them, they will reach their large arms out, grab the animal, pull it towards their mouth, & tear its flesh with its beak, & then consume the animal. Cuttlefish are preyed upon by many different animals such as seals, birds, fish, dolphins, & sharks. The appearance of a cuttlefish is vastly different depending on the environment, & the mood the cuttlefish is in. The patterns on their skin are ever-changing, & rarely stay the same for extended periods. Generally, they have large eyes, 2 long tentacles with 8 smaller arms, fins running down the length of their body, & are stalky. Thankfully as of 2026, the Common Cuttlefish is listed as Least Concern by the IUCN Red List. The Mating Habits, Practices, Procedures, Techniques, Tactics, & Strategies Of The European Common Cuttlefish Common cuttlefish breed via sexual reproduction. They have 2 distinct sexes, & are not naturally hermaphroditic. This breeding system is polygynous, as male cuttlefish will take multiple partners in a lifetime, while females will often only take one. Female cuttlefish will take very few partners, & shortly after breeding, will lay their first clutch of eggs. Individuals mature very quickly at ages as young as 6 months. They do have a particular breeding season, that being spring. After maturing, they will wait until breeding season, when females will begin looking for a mate, & males will begin putting on extravagant shows. Male cuttlefish have this ritual of putting on an extravagant display using their skin to create patterns, & beckoning to females. When a female finds a male she deems suitable, the 2 will promptly copulate. Upon copulation, the male will have no role in the child’s life, & the females will often not breed again. The mother will gestate her young, before laying them in large clumps in shallow ocean water. The eggs will sit for 1 to 2 months before hatching into baby cuttlefish. Unlike octopuses, the mother will not guard her children, instead letting them fend for themselves. Soon after laying her eggs, the mother will pass away. The Distribution Of The European Common Cuttlefish Common Cuttlefish are found all across Europe, & the Atlantic Ocean. They may be found as far as the North Sea down to South Africa. They tend to prefer sandy ocean floors or flat mud beds, as they enjoy burying themselves during the daytime. They prefer shallower waters, & live from the coastline to the end continental shelf. Individuals are highly migrational, & will not stay in the same area for their whole lives. The deepest a common cuttlefish has ever been observed was 200 meters deep. The Scientific Details Of The European Common Cuttlefish Cuttlefish are most well known for their skin, which can create interesting patterns of color. They can do this through a set of small organs across their skin that controls ink sacs, allowing them to change their skin whenever they’d like. These organs are known as Chromatophores, & layered with 2 other organs known as Iridophores & Leucophores, which refract colored light & white light from the skin of the cuttlefish. Cuttlefish have a total of 3 hearts much like octopuses or squid. They have 2 branchial hearts which pump blood to their gills. At this point, the blood will take in oxygen & be sent off to the systemic heart. After this, the systemic heart will pump the blood all over the body. Their blood is also blue instead of red. The reason for this is due to a copper-rich protein known as Hemocyanin existing in their blood. The existence of this protein in their blood causes their blood to be blue. This is very similar to the iron in Hemoglobin in human blood. This blue blood exists in all cephalopods. If used properly, this blood can be used as a pigment or a dye. Cuttlefish are invertebrates, & do not have any hard areas apart from their cuttlebone & beak. Similar to humans, Cuttlefish have to worry about Parasites invading their bodies. The most common kinds of parasites are Dicyemids, & Nematodes. Their phylum is known as Mollusca. Mollusca is the 2nd largest phylum, just behind Arthopoda. Mollusca is however the largest marine phylum as it comprises approximately 23% of all documented marine species. The three most commonly found features defining modern species categorized under mollusks are the following: a mantle with a significant cavity used for breathing & excretion, the presence of a radula, and the structure of the nervous system. Their class is Cephalopoda. This class includes almost all species of cuttlefish, octopi, squid, & nautilus. Their order is Sepiida, which is the order of all Cuttlefish. All cuttlefish have an inner shell, known as a cuttlebone, which is used to control buoyancy. Their family is Sepiidae, which is one of the largest families of cuttlefish. Their genus is Sepia. This genus contains some of the most well-known Cuttlefish. This genus encompasses cuttlefish with an ellipsoid shape. Their binomial name is Sepia officinalis. A gorgeous pair of European Common Cuttlefish swimming near the bottom of the sea. Credit to underwater photographer David Nicholson. Directories / Credits Citation No. 1: “Common Cuttlefish: Sepia Officinalis”, Written by Unknown, & Published at an Unknown Date. Published by Monterey Bay Aquarium. Retrieval Date: August 30th, 2024. https://www.montereybayaquarium.org/animals/animals-a-to-z/common-cuttlefish Citation No. 2: “Common Cuttlefish”, Written by Unknown, & Published at an Unknown Date. Published by The Wildlife Trusts. Retrieval Date: August 30th, 2024. https://www.wildlifetrusts.org/wildlife-explorer/marine/squids-octopuses-and-cuttlefish/common-cuttlefish Citation No. 3: “Common Cuttlefish (Sepia)”, Written by Unknown, & Published at an Unknown Date. Published by Dimensions. Retrieval Date: August 30th, 2024. https://www.dimensions.com/element/common-cuttlefish-sepia-officinalis Citation No. 4: “Common Cuttlefish”, Written by Unknown, & Published at an Unknown Date. Published by Animalia. Retrieval Date: August 30th, 2024. https://animalia.bio/common-cuttlefish Citation No. 5: “Embracing Their Prey At The Dark Hour: Common Cuttlefish (Sepia Officinalis) Can Hunt In Nighttime Light Conditions”, Written by Melanie Brauckoff, Magnus Wahlberg, Jens Ådne Rekkedel Haga, Maria Wilson, & Hans Erik Karlsen, & Published on June 10th, 2020. Published by Frontiers. Retrieval Date: August 31st, 2024. https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/physiology/articles/10.3389/fphys.2020.00525/full Citation No. 6: “Sepia Officinalis”, Written By Unknown, & Last Updated on March 29th, 2009. Published by the International Union For The Conservation Of Nature Red List. Retrieval Date: August 31st, 2024. https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/162664/939991 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 was fortunate enough to sit down for an interview with Environmental Activist & Chair of Surf Rider-Chicago, Devin McAllester! Devin McAllester is an Environmental Activist & Chair of Surf Rider-Chicago known for his work with the Surf Rider Foundation. In today’s interview, we sit down with Devin to discuss his career, his passion for the Great Lakes, the beaches surrounding Chicago, the Surf Rider Foundation, & the programs of Surf Rider-Chicago in a comprehensive 17-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’ve always liked the water. I grew up playing on the beach, going kayaking, & playing in the waves. I grew up mostly in the Chicago Area. I liked to surf on Lake Michigan. I moved away for a long time, then I came back about 3 years ago & got back into surfing. I’ve gotten more involved in environmental advocacy, which eventually led to my current position at Surf Rider. 2. What sparked your passion for surfing? It’s the right mix of being outside, it’s exciting, & there’s an art to it that I like. It’s not something you can instantly pick up, you’re always honing your skills. The feeling of sliding down a wave is something else, it’s next level. It’s a beautiful sport. 3. Was there any particular person, place, moment, or piece of media that assisted in sparking your passion? If we’re talking about environmental advocacy & community organizing, I moved back to the Chicago area in 2023. In 2024, a beach near where I live that used to be free started charging people to get on the beach. You used to be able to just walk onto the beach, swimming wasn’t allowed, but it was totally free & open to the public. If you didn’t live in that village, you had to pay $10 per person to get on the sand. I felt that was deeply unfair. Because I was a surfer, & Surf Rider works on beach access, Surf Rider seemed like the kind of organization that might help work on that. I started working on trying to make that beach free again. I started attending Surf Rider events, which is sort of what kicked off my path to where I currently am in terms of environmental advocacy & community organizing. 4. What is your favourite terrestrial, or marine animal? I’m going with morning doves (Zenaida macroura). In my backyard, there are all sorts of birds. We have a little koi pond, & they like to come to take a bath. Morning doves always seem so relaxed & calm. They’re very sort of docile & humble birds. They’re not very showy. Other birds are kind of jerks, like the grackles, & the blackbirds. They enjoy attacking other birds. Morning doves have got this nice kind of call. They are very chill, friendly birds. They’re my favourite animal. A photograph of a pair of morning doves (Zenaida macroura) perched on a branch. Credit to Kevin M. McCarthy. Questions About His Work: 5. How would you describe the Surf Rider Foundation to someone who isn’t familiar? We’re an environmental nonprofit that weds wave, wind, & human powered sports with environmental activism. We work on beach access, & helping people access the water. We have fun events such as learn-to-surf days, & paddle out surfing competitions. We also work really hard on clean water. Whether that’s fighting industrial pollution, fighting plastic pollution, or working with restaurants to reduce single-use plastics. It’s an environmental nonprofit with a fun side. A photograph of the official Surf-Rider Foundation Logo. Credit to the Surf Rider Foundation. 6. How did you join Surf Rider-Chicago, & what is your current position with them? I started going to Surf Rider events in 2024 when working on the beach access issue in Wilmette, Illinois. I attended a few events in the summer, then in the following January (2025), they needed some help. The local chapter needed some help with the website & the email system, so I started doing that. I became their communications coordinator. Then, in January of this past year, we had elections, & I became their chair. I am now the chair of the Chicago chapter. 7. What are your responsibilities in your capacity as Chair? I lead our executive committee, so we have a whole leadership team. Everyone has different roles. We have our social media coordinator Milo who manages our Instagram & Facebook content. We’ve got Ted, who’s our volunteer coordinator. He does a lot of our event planning. We’ve got Quinten, our vice chair, Quentin’s helping with our water testing program. I help coordinate the efforts of all of our leadership team. I also serve as a spokesman for the chapter. If ABC wanted to do a piece on our beach cleanups, for instance, then I would help coordinate that, & might do some interviews. I help with direction. Obviously, we would decide on that as a team, but, I kind of steer that process. I manage those sorts of big things of coordinating & managing our campaigns & programs, making sure everything’s running smoothly. All that good stuff. 8. How would you describe your Great Lakes Friendly Restaurant program? The idea is essentially that a lot of single-use plastics come from dining. Imagine if you’re going & getting takeout. There’s a plastic foam takeout container, they toss some plastic silverware, there are little plastic ramekins, & oftentimes there’s a plastic bag. The idea is to collaborate with restaurants to both recognize restaurants that have eliminated single-use plastics, but just as importantly to help restaurants reduce those single-use plastics. There are incentives for restaurants, we offer discounts on restaurant supplies. If you wanted to buy stainless steel ramekins, or paper straws, if you were a participating restaurant, you would get discounts. It’s collaborative! We also try to promote them on our social media accounts, like our Instagram & our website. They get a sticker decal that they put on the front of their restaurant. We also have a dashboard on our website where you can see Great Lakes Friendly restaurants. Let’s say I was visiting San Diego, & I wanted to grab lunch. I could go on Surfrider’s website, find an Ocean Friendly restaurant, then choose that as where I get lunch so that I’m supporting a restaurant that’s working on reducing plastic. 9. How would you describe your Blue Water Task Force Program? The idea behind the Blue Water Task Force is that water testing at public swimming beaches usually has gaps. One gap could be seasonal, which is the gap we have in Chicago. They test in the summer, fall comes, the district stops testing, but people are still going in the water. The idea behind the Blue Water Task Force is to fill those gaps in water quality testing at public beaches. In Chicago, we’re trying to start up the program & Quinten’s leading the effort. We plan to focus on a few beaches in the off-season during fall & spring. There are a lot of people, especially in the fall when the water is warm, who are still going into the water. Water quality in Chicago varies wildly day to day. If we hadn’t had a lot of rain for a long time, the water quality could be good. You can have that sort of nice crystal clear blue water. If we get a lot of rain, it can get kind of murky, & it can be a little hard to tell whether or not the water is safe in terms of bacterial levels. Our goal is to test at three beaches in the fall & spring once per week. That information will be available to the public through our website. 10. How would you describe your Beach Cleanup program, & how often do you conduct beach cleanups? We conduct half a dozen to a dozen beach cleanups per year, mostly in the summer, but also in the spring & fall. The goal of the beach cleanups is threefold. Obviously, when you clean a beach, you’re taking all of this mostly plastic garbage off the beach, so you’re making it prettier. You’re reducing plastic pollution as well, & you’re preventing it from breaking down into those nasty microplastics & contaminating the water. That’s definitely an aspect. I think another important aspect is educating the public. If someone attends a beach cleanup they go down to the beach, they fill a bucket with a whole bunch of broken up plastic, & they get to see firsthand how bad the single-use plastic pollution problem is in sort of a visceral way that’s going to stick with them a lot more than some statistic. The third prong of our beach cleanup program is collecting data from all chapters across the country. Surf Rider has about 200 chapters & clubs. Then we aggregate that data, & it’s available on our website. It helps us communicate to policymakers the scale of the issue. To say we found X pounds of foam takeout containers on beaches this year helps us communicate to a policymaker that foam takeout containers are a serious problem. 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? There’s currently a bill that’s being considered at the state level to ban polystyrene foam food service containers. That bill was brought to life by a broad coalition of environmental groups. Foam breaks down easily, & it sort of breaks into smaller, & smaller pieces without ever going away. That’s a pretty big problem, especially when you’re thinking about water. A foam container that ends up in the lake won’t biodegrade like a paper container. Instead, you end up with all these microplastics that end up in our water supply. They end up in the fish & the birds. We’re very hopeful that the state of Illinois will pass that bill, & that foam food service containers will become a thing of the past. A photograph of a classic 9-inch polystyrene foam food service container. Credit to HorizonMart. 11. What does your schedule look like week-to-week or day-to-day? I’m a volunteer, you have to set some sort of boundaries. You can’t spend your whole life on this, as much as perhaps I’d like to. I think that we have a lot going on. We have beach access issues, industrial pollution, water testing, & beach cleanups that need our attention, plus administration work. I think the biggest challenge for me is being able to focus my time on a particular issue & give it the attention that it needs. It’s easy to say “I’m going to spend 15 hours on Surf Rider this week!”, then you spend an hour here, an hour there, & it all sort of trickles away. I’m fairly new to being chair, I’ve been chair for less than 6 months. I’m still figuring out things in terms of my day-to-day schedule, I slide in Surf Rider where I can, when I can, when it’s needed. I do my best to give all of our various programs & campaigns my attention. 12. If someone were interested in volunteering with Surf Rider-Chicago, how would they approach you all? We have a calendar of events on our website. A great first step is to attend one of our beach cleanups or attend one of our fun events. We have learn-to-surf days, sea glass collection days, & rock collection days. Any of those are great opportunities to get involved. On our website, there is a volunteer interest form, where you can give us your contact information. If you’re interested in volunteering on the beach access issues, or if you’re interested in working on clean water issues, you can fill out that form & we’ll get back to you with ways you can help us out. 13. What are your plans as Chair for the chapter in the coming years? (2026, & 2027) We want to grow. Surf Rider-Chicago is a place for anyone who loves the lake. I think that we are not reaching the full breadth of engaging lake lovers that we could. All sorts of groups love the lake. There are kayakers, paddle-boarders, scuba divers, & snorkelers. One big goal of mine is to bring all those groups together so that we can collectively accomplish more in terms of environmental protection. I see Chicago as a beach city, just like Los Angeles. I think that it hasn’t fully realized its beach city potential. One of my big goals is helping more & more people get out there to enjoy the water. 14. What has been your biggest triumph or proudest moment across your career? I’ve only been Chair for about 6 months, I was on the executive committee for about a year before that as the communications coordinator. I feel that I & the chapter are in this position where we are building steam & heading towards our goals, but we haven’t fully realized them. I’m still super proud of everything that we’ve done. We organized a learn-to-surf day with a group called Latino Outdoors. Latino Outdoors is a nonprofit that helps the Latino Community get outside & enjoy the great outdoors. Latino Outdoors-Chicago is led by a wonderful organizer, Vicky, & we collaborated with her to host a learn-to-surf day. There were 17 participants, 12 volunteer surf instructors, & no waves at all! But, everyone had a blast. It turns out you don’t actually need waves to start to learn to surf. You can have people practice standing up on the beach, & they can practice paddling in the water. I think people had a great time, & it’s awesome to see people try surfing for the first time, dip their toes in the water, get excited about it, & watch their connection with the lake grow. 15. 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 think the biggest challenge for anyone working in environmental protection or beach access is feeling as if there’s nothing that can be done. Hopelessness is the biggest challenge. I guess I have overcome by believing that a positive difference can be made, & that we can do something. It doesn’t have to be this way. It doesn’t have to be the case that people are charged $25 to get on the beach. It doesn’t have to be the case that our water is filled with plastic garbage. We can do something about it, we will do something about it, & there will come a day when it’s not the case. 16. What is your advice to new ocean conservationists, aspiring ocean professionals, & passionate young people looking to make a positive impact on the sea? Just start working at it, & don’t give up! 17. Do you have any final words about marine science, the Surf Rider Foundation, the beauty of the sea, or ocean conservation? If you live near the water, you should go to the beach. Enjoy the day. Work hard to protect it, but also enjoy it. 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 Three J’s Kitchen Our Loyal Patrons P. R. Ochoa

A gorgeous photograph of coastal Saint-Jean-de-Luz, France. Credit to interhome.com. 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. The city itself has a very long & rich history as a meeting place for both the Spanish & the French. It is the birthplace of the Treaty of the Pyrenees, which ended the Franco-Spanish War of 1635. Additionally, it is the wedding place of Maria Theresa, Infanta of Spain, & Louis XIV of France, the longest reigning monarch of any nation. This marriage was one of the most important political marriages in both Spanish & French History, as it brought about the end to an extremely bitter war. Overall, the city has been especially appreciated by Spanish & French Aristocracy, & nobles. In this article, we shall discuss the Documented History of Saint-Jean-De-Luz, The Indigenous Peoples Of Saint-Jean-De-Luz, & The Economic State of Saint-Jean-De-Luz. With that being said, let us delve into magnificent history of Saint-Jean-De-Luz. The Documented History Of Saint-Jean-De-Luz Historical Events From The 1600’s Saint-Jean-De-Luz had existed since at least the 1400’s, however it was not given much attention until the 1600’s. Beginning in 1659, Catholic Cardinal Jules Mazarin spent several months in the town, to host meetings between the French & the Spanish, to organize the Treaty of the Pyrenees. Soon after In 1660, Louis the XIV of France & Maria Theresa, The Infanta Of Spain, choose a cathedral in the town as their wedding venue. This marriage is what officially brought with it the end of the Franco-Spanish War, as the Treaty of Pyrenees was technically a clause in their marriage contract. They hosted the wedding on June 9th, 1660, in the local Cathedral. Immediately after, they had the front entrance of the cathedral walled off. There are varying theories as to why the couple choose this, however the most popular are that they wished for it to represent the conflict between their respective nations coming to an end, or that they wished to be the only couple to ever wed in the church. Historical Events From The 1700’s & 1800’s During the Peninsular war between Denmark-Norway, Britain, France, Spain, Portugal, & Italy, the Duke of Wellington set up his winter military base in the city. The base was in operation from 1813 to 1814. Historical Events From The 1900’s The city played a minor role in World War 2, as in 1940, 55,000 Retreating Polish Soldiers were evacuated from the area. These soldiers were attempting to get to ships leaving further north, however they couldn’t reach them in time. Approximately 5 different passenger ships from Britain & America quickly sailed to the harbour, to retrieve these men. In total, 24,352 men were successfully evacuated. After the war ended, the fishing industry began to decline, & the tourism industry began to increase rapidly. As the 1960’s approached, More buildings were built along the harbour front, & the city was expanded. Modernly, the city is a place of much tourism, luxury, & is one of the cultural centers of the Basque Region. The Indigenous Peoples Of Saint-Jean-De-Luz The Basque People The Basque’s are a group of Indigenous peoples from the Iberian Peninsula, & South Western Europe. They inhabit an area known as the Basque Country, which encompasses Northern Spain, Southern France, & part of the Pyrenees. This area is also known as Euskal Herria. They speak the Basque Language, a language isolate. They have generally been a peaceful civilization, & are known for their astounding hospitality. Potatoes, tolosa beans, wheat, barley, olives, grapes, chestnuts, & lentils have been some of the staple crops for the Basque People throughout the centuries. Their meats largely consist of lamb, along with beef, & fish takes up a considerable portion of their diet. Fishing is an extremely important part of Basque Culture, & has been generating profits for the Basque People since the 1600’s. Their traditional clothing is very long & modest to combat the cold climate. For women & girls, it consists of long skirts with a scarf to cover the head, that is tightly fitted at the waist & occasionally embroidered. For men, it consists of a loose shirt, long pants, & a traditional hat known as a txapela. Scarves are very popular for both the head & the neck as well, to defend against the frigid weather in the winter. Individuals from this group have been described to have pale skin, dark brown hair, flat noses with small bumps, & brown eyes. The social structure of the ideal Basque life is based around the cuadrilla, which is a close group of friends. The cuadrilla has protective rights & duties to each other, & to support each person in the group. Each family is based on a 2 parent household, with 2 loving spouses. Males & females are equal, & both male & female heirs are regarded in the same way. The majority of the people are Christians, of either the Catholic Church or one of the Protestant Churches. The Economy Of Saint-Jean-De-Luz The economy of Saint-Jean-De-Luz is heavily dependent on tourism, & fishing. Approximately 10,000 fish from varying species are harvested off the coast of Saint Jean De Luz each year, which is then shipped around France or sold at the local seafood markets. The most popular species of fish caught near the city are sardines, as sardines are abundant in the area. The area is heavily dependent on tourism, both international & domestic. Approximately 40% of the homes in Saint Jean De Luz are secondary homes, as the area is a popular place for Europeans to retire. The city is considered to be a resort town, with many luxurious hotels & rental homes. A photograph of the port at Saint-Jean-de-Luz filled with fishing boats. The fish markets of Saint-Jean-de-Luz are renowned for their premium seafood. Directories / Credits Citation No. 1: “The City Of Saint-Jean-De-Luz”, Written by Unknown, & Published at an Unknown Date. Published by Madison. Retrieval Date: May 31st, 2024. https://madison-saintjeandeluz.com/en/the-city-of-saint-jean-de-luz/ Citation No. 2: “The Golden Age Of Saint-Jean-De-Luz”, Written by Unknown, & Published at an Unknown Date. Published. By La Demeure Historique. Retrieval Date: May 31st, 2024. http://www.maison-louis-xiv.fr/the-golden-age-st-jean-de-luz,246,en.html Citation No. 3: “Overview of Saint Jean go de Luz”, Written by Unknown, & Published at an Unknown Date. Published by the Eusko Guide. Retrieval Date: May 31st, 2024. https://www.euskoguide.com/places-basque-country/france/saint-jean-de-luz-tourism/ Citation No. 4: “The Basque Country, Who was the Basques”, Written by Daniella Levy, & Published at an Unkown Date. Published by MyHeritage. Retrieval Date: May 31st, 2024. https://education.myheritage.com/article/basque-heritage-who-are-the-basques/ Citation No. 5: “Saint-Jean-de-Luz : The Royal City”, Written by Unknown, & Published at an Unknown Date. Published by the Office Of Tourism for the Basque Country. Retrieval Date: May 31st, 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 Olivenbaum Music The Open Book, Topanga Pitfire Artisan Pizza Three J’s Kitchen Our Loyal Patrons P. R. Ochoa

A distinguished portrait of Dr. Monica Montefalcone, ready to dive. Credit to Monica Montefalcone. 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. Monica Montefalcone. Dr. Monica Montefalcone was a renowned seagrass restoration ecologist, marine biologist, & scientific diver. She is well known for her work with the University of Genoa focusing on Posidonia oceanica, colloquially known as Neptune grass. 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 dive into the incredible life & contributions of Monica Montefalcome! Her Formative Years & Education Monica Montefalcone was born in 1974 in Milan, a city located in Northern Italy. After an unspecified amount of time, her family moved to Genoa. Unfortunately, very little information is available on her early years. She acquired her bachelor’s degree in Marine Science in 1999, investigating the health of Posidonia oceanica off the coast of Sanremo, a coastal town in Liguria. This focus on Posidonia oceanica would stay with her for the rest of her career. In 2007, she acquired her P.h.D, with her dissertation focusing on utilizing thematic cartography & synthetic indexes to evaluate the health of coastal seagrass meadows of Posidonia oceanica in Liguria, Italy. A photograph of Dr. Monica Montefalecone skillfully diving in blue ocean waters. Credit to Wikimedia. Her Career & Personal Life Dr. Montefalcone made numerous contributions to the field of marine science. After joining the University of Genoa as a researcher in 2018, she began teaching students all about the fascinating world of ecology. She taught a plethora of courses all while simultaneously continuing her research on Posidonia oceanica, & pursuing other academic interests such as benthic ecology, coastal marine ecology, & underwater caves. Her work impacted marine policy, the field of conservation, & research at large. Alarmingly, her work showcased that approximately half of the Posidonia oceanica coverage in the Mediterranean has died in the last century, with severe losses in the Liguria region. Spending her summers in Sardinia, an island off the coast of Italy, even during her vacation she still studied the sea. A patch of bright green Neptune Grass (Posidonia oceanica). Credit to Cravena Luka Resort. Unfortunately, on May 14th, 2026, Dr. Montefalcone along with her daughter, Giorgia Sommecal, Muriel Oddenino, Federico Gualtieri, & Gianluca Benedetti perished during a diving accident in the Maldives. The posse had been diving near Vaavu Atoll in the Central Maldives, when tragedy struck. The specifics of the accident have not been confirmed at the time of publishing. Unfortunately, a military diver, Mohamed Mahdi, who was attempting to recover the bodies was killed by decompression sickness during recovery operations. Her daughter Giorgia, fellow researcher Muriel, & fellow researcher Federico were all students, researchers with, or recent graduates of the University of Genoa. The catastrophe is the worst diving accident in Maldivian History, & one of the worst of all time. Dr. Montefalcone made an immeasurable impact on the field of marine science, & will forever be remembered for her work in the beautiful seagrass meadows of the Mediterranean. Her contributions will not be forgotten. She is fondly remembered for her advocacy not only for the ocean, but for young scientists looking to make their way in the field, & her role as a skilled science communicator. She is survived by her husband Carlo Sommecal. Her Accomplishments, Achievements, & Awards 1. She was a well-respected Associate Professor of Ecology at the University of Genoa, shaping many students' lives & introduction to marine science. 2. She contributed tremendously to our modern-day understanding of Posidonia oceanica, its ecological importance, & how we can best conserve it. 3. She personally supervised or co-supervised at least 120 degree theses, & 5 research fellows. 4. In 2022, she won the Atlantide award for dedicating her career to marine science, one of the most prestigious awards in Italy for the field. 5. She was the chairwoman of the BENTHOS scientific committee of the Italian Society for Marine Biology. 6. She contributed to over 130 scientific publications across her career. 7. She was one of the leaders of the GhostNet project. A photograph of Dr. Monica Montefalecone on a boat near the coast. Credit to Greenpeace. Directories / Credits Citation 1: “Monica Montefalcone, leading seagrass scientist dies diving in Maldives diving accident, aged 51”, Written by Rhett Ayers Butler, & published on May 16th, 2026. Published by Mongabay. https://news.mongabay.com/2026/05/monica-montefalcone-leading-seagrass-scientist-dies-in-a-maldives-diving-accident-aged-51/ Citation 2: “Renowned Seagrass Research Scientist Dies in Maldives Diving Accident Along with Four Colleagues”, Written by Unknown, & published on May 16th, 2026. Published by EnviroLink. https://www.envirolink.org/2026/05/16/renowned-seagrass-research-scientist-dies-in-maldives-diving-accident-along-with-four-colleagues/ Citation 3: “The University of Genoa’s condolences”, Written by Unknown, & published on May 14th, 2026. Published by the University of Genoa. https://unige.it/en/news/cordoglio-14mag2026 Citation 4: “Who were Monica Montefalcone and the other divers who died in the Maldives”, Written by the Editor of the Observatorial, & published on May 14th, 2026. Published by The Observatorial. https://observatorial.com/news/world/1719375/who-were-monica-montefalcone-and-the-other-divers-who-died-in-the-maldives/ Citation 5: “Monica Montefalcone”, Written by Unknown, & published at an Unknown Date. Published by the University of Genoa. https://rubrica.unige.it/static/cv/UkNGWl1s_cv_en.pdf Strategic Partnerships Reel Guppy Outdoors SharkedSkooler Marine Enthusiasts Podcast Cash Daniels Tides of Tomorrow The Open Book, Topanga Olivenbaum Music Pitfire Artisan Pizza Three J’s Kitchen Our Loyal Patrons P. R. Ochoa

Introduction As climate change progresses, marine systems are in increasingly hot water – literally. Water has a high heat capacity and as such our oceans have absorbed 90% of the excess heat created by greenhouse gasses in our atmosphere. These warming waters have led to four major global coral bleaching events. The fourth and most devastating started in 2023 and is ongoing. In this article, we’ll dive into the mechanisms behind coral bleaching, the impacts of bleaching events, and what can be done to protect coral reefs going forward. Bleached coral on the Great Barrier Reef, Australia 2017. Credit: Brett Monroe Garner The Disaster: Coral Bleaching To understand what coral bleaching is, it is important to know a bit of the biology of corals. Many people may not be aware that corals are actually animals in the phylum Cnidaria (related to jellyfish and anemones). They are made of hundreds of individual coral polyps in which algae reside. This algae, called zooxanthellae, has a symbiotic relationship with the coral, meaning the two organisms benefit from each other. The coral provides the algae with protection and produces the carbon dioxide algae use for photosynthesis. In return, the algae are the primary energy source for the coral. 90% of the nutrients produced by zooxanthellae are transferred to the coral. Additionally, the algae is what gives coral their vibrant colors. When corals experience stress however, the coral rejects the algae. There are a number of stressors from pollution to changes in water salinity and temperature. Marine heatwaves — periods of warmer water temperatures — are the most common reason for coral bleaching today and increasingly so due to global warming. When there’s an increase in water temperature, the zooxanthellae become toxic to the coral, and as such are expelled from the polyps. In doing so, corals lose their color, turning white and appearing bleached. Without the algae, corals lose their primary food source. While it is possible for coral to survive a bleaching event, should stressors persist, bleaching often results in the death of the reef. Those corals that do survive the event often grow more slowly, become more susceptible to diseases, and face lowered reproductive capacity. Global climate change has increased the ocean’s temperature and made marine heatwaves more common. Because of these temperature shifts, reefs around the world are experiencing bleaching events more frequently. In fact, the large-scale mass coral bleaching events we see today are unprecedented historically. The Impacts In the most recent mass bleaching event between 2023 and 2025, 84% of the world’s coral reefs were impacted. It was the most devastating bleaching event ever recorded, with the first three bleaching events affecting 21%, 37%, and 68% of reefs respectively. Before vs after a bleaching event on the Great Barrier Reef. Credit: Dr. George Roff Corals are considered a keystone species as they support the structure and biodiversity of their ecosystem. Coral reef ecosystems may have the highest biodiversity — that is, the greatest range of animal species living in one place — of any ecosystem on the planet. One third of all known marine life depends on corals. When coral reefs die out from a bleaching event, the entire ecosystem is impacted. Fish populations often decrease dramatically. What once was a thriving underwater city filled with diverse species suddenly becomes a ghost town. The loss of a coral reef is felt deeply, not only by marine life, but by humans too. Corals provide both direct and indirect benefits to people and society. As storm barriers they can lessen the impacts of large waves, prevent erosion, and protect shorelines. Since climate change will result in more intense storms, preserving coral reefs will be vital to safeguarding coastal landscapes. Seafood industries also rely on reefs to support fishery populations, and reefs bring in money through eco-tourism. Over one billion people around the world benefit from coral reefs, and reefs contribute an estimate of $10 trillion to the economy through food, jobs, and protection. Unfortunately, some projections warn that we could lose 90% of all coral reefs by 2050. Recovery As the weather begins to warm and we yet enter another hot summer, the future of coral reef ecosystems appears grim. One solution is to slow global warming by decreasing greenhouse gas emissions. However, even if we stop emitting tomorrow, the planet will continue to warm for decades as the climate equilibrates and the oceans will continue to absorb the largest portion of that warmth. It is therefore critical that we work on coral restoration in the face of this future. Scuba diver working on coral reef restoration. Credit: Coral Reef Alliance / Antonio Busiello Coral restoration includes growing and harvesting coral to repair or create reefs. Scientists are also researching how to produce coral that is more resilient to climate change. Even a rise in temperature of just one or two degrees celsius above the summer maximum for just a couple weeks can trigger a bleaching event. Creating coral that is less sensitive to these temperature shifts is critical. Conclusion With 2026 already gearing up to be one of the hottest years on record, and with the fourth major bleaching event still ongoing, it’s important that we prioritize marine environmental work through climate policy, research, and finance. Building resilient reefs and preserving our remaining coral ecosystems is vital to the health of our oceans and our planet as a whole. Sources Citation No. 1: “Coral Bleaching Events”, Written by Unknown, Published on Unknown Date. Published by Australian Institute of Marine Science. Retrieval Date: April 19th, 2026 https://www.aims.gov.au/research-topics/environmental-issues/coral-bleaching/coral-bleaching-events Citation No. 2: “NOAA confirms 4th global coral bleaching event”, Written by Unknown, Published on April 15th, 2024. Published by NOAA. Retrieval Date: April 19th, 2026 https://www.noaa.gov/news-release/noaa-confirms-4th-global-coral-bleaching-event Citation No. 3: “Current Global Bleaching: Status Update & Data Submission,” Written by Unknown. Published on December 4th, 2025. Published by NOAA. Retrieval Date: April 19th, 2026 https://coralreefwatch.noaa.gov/satellite/research/coral_bleaching_report.php Citation No. 4: “Ocean Warming - Earth Indicator”, Written by Unknown, Published on Unknown Date. Published by NASA. Retrieval Date: April 26th, 2026 https://science.nasa.gov/earth/explore/earth-indicators/ocean-warming/ Citation No. 5: “Coral Diseases”, Written by Unknown. Published on Unknown Date. Published by Smithsonian Environmental Research Center. Retrieval Date: April 26th, 2026 https://serc.si.edu/research/projects/parasite-ecology-and-disease Citation No. 6: “What is Coral Bleaching?” Written by Unknown, Published on Unknown Date. Published by Australian Institute of Marine Science. Retrieval Date: April 28th, 2026 https://www.aims.gov.au/research-topics/environmental-issues/coral-bleaching/what-coral-bleaching Citation No. 7: “Vanishing Corals: NASA Data Helps Track Coral Reefs”, Written by Unknown, Published on June 22nd, 2023. Published by NASA. Retrieval Date: April 28th, 2026 https://science.nasa.gov/earth/climate-change/vanishing-corals-nasa-data-helps-track-coral-reefs/ Citation No. 8: “84% of the world’s coral reefs impacted in the most intense global coral bleaching event ever”, Written by Unknown, Published on April 23rd, 2025. Published by ICRI. Retrieval Date: April 28th, 2026 https://icriforum.org/4gbe-2025/ Citation No. 9: “Restoring Coral Reefs”, Written by Unknown, Published on Unknown Date. Published by NOAA. Retrieval Date: April 28th, 2026 https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/national/habitat-conservation/restoring-coral-reefs#how-we-restore-coral-reefs

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 photograph of the Space Needle as seen from downtown Seattle. This prominent building is featured on today’s nautical chart, & is easily visible from the coastline. Credit to Insight Pest Solutions. Today’s map is a relatively modern 58-year-old nautical chart of Seattle, Washington. The chart is fairly large, at 33.7 inches long by 46 inches wide. It features the entire Seattle Harbour as it was in 1966, along with depth measurements for the entire area. It is in amazing condition for its age, with minor signs of wear near the edges. In today’s article, we are going to examine this antique map, discuss it, & perform an analysis of it. With that being said, let’s delve into the cold, unforgiving waters of the Pacific Northwest! The Map Itself A vintage nautical chart of Seattle Harbour, Washington. Credit to the United States Coast & Geodetic Survey. This chart focuses on the Seattle Harbour, as well as the surrounding Elliott Bay. It includes important information about water depth, local channels, marine life, lighthouses, buoys, coastal features, headlands, & roads in & around Seattle. It also includes important islands such as Harbor Island. There are approximately 4 compass roses littered on the map, useful to any sailor looking to traverse the harbour. Information about submerged rocks, ruins, or rocky coastlines would have aided mariners in avoiding collisions. Brief information about local marine life can be seen, with remarks about dolphins in the harbour, & seagrass on the seabed. At the bottom of the chart, a table with tidal information for Seattle can be seen. According to it, the average tide level is approximately 6.6 feet. Below it, information about abbreviations for different coastal features, buoys, & coastal light sources can be found. To the right of this table, another table containing information on water depth in the Duwamish Waterway can be found, based on surveys by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers conducted in May of 1966. A publisher’s ink stamp can be seen at the very bottom of the chart in blue ink, indicating that the chart was published on June 10th, 1967. A second seller’s ink stamp can be seen to the right, illustrating that after being published, it found its way into the hands of Max Kuner Co. Nautical Instruments, Charts, & Technical books. Max Kuner Co. was originally started by mariner & watchmaker Max Kuner in 1897 in the Seattle Harbour. Upon his passing in the 1930’s, his wife, Anna Kuner, took over the business. After her passing in 1943, it was sold to Tom Williamson, a longtime employee of theirs. Eventually, a returning WW2 Navy Veteran named Leonard Schrock opened a shop in Downtown Seattle. When Tom passed away, Leonard purchased the store. For many years, both stores co-existed in waterfront Seattle, until both were consolidated into a single location. Modernly, the store is called Captain’s Nautical is Captain's Nautical Books & Charts, & continues to fulfill orders online. A photograph depicting Captain’s Nautical Books & Charts storefront prior to it being moved online. Credit to Captain’s Nautical Books & Charts. Additionally, the chart is coloured, with yellow being used to indicate land, light blue used to indicate coast, & white used to indicate water. An Analysis Of The Map This chart was designed by the U.S. Coast & Geodetic Survey, one of the precursors to the National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration. The United States Coastal & Geodetic Survey was the first scientific agency established by the United States Government, established in 1807. The Agency was unfortunately abolished in 1970, when it was merged with several other agencies to create the National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration. The chart was released in 1967. It is titled “Seattle Harbour: Elliott Bay & Duwamish Bay”. This chart was originally manufactured for civilian as well as military use. It is extremely accurate, with headlands, seabed composition, rocks, piers, & roads depicted accurately. Upon considering the incredible quality & detail of the chart, the publishing house it belongs to, & the time it was manufactured in, it was manufactured using lithography. Lithography is a method of printing that arose in the 1820s, & remained the most popular method of printing in both color & grayscale until the early 1960s, when more efficient methods became available. Although it has existed since the mid-1790s, it took a long time to gain popularity in Europe due to technical difficulties, & only began gaining commercial popularity in the early 1820s. It is still widely used for certain kinds of printing, such as fine art printing today, however, digital printing is far more common. Considering the time this chart was manufactured, it was likely manufactured using offset lithography. During the printing process, an inked metal, often aluminum or tin plate with an image or text is printed onto a rubber blanket before being transferred, or offset, to its final medium such as paper, wool, tin, cardboard, or leather. A photograph of a dolphin spotted in Puget Sound off the coast of Seattle, Washington. Today’s nautical chart indicates different areas of the harbour where dolphins have been historically spotted. Credit to Fox13 Seattle. Directories / Credits All credit for this map analyzed today goes to Rare Maps, a California rare & antique maps store. To purchase this chart, antique atlases, or other cartographic objects, please visit www.raremaps.com. To be clear, this is not an advertisement for Rare Maps, as we do not have a partnership with them. 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. 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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