SPECIAL EDUCATION ISSUE!
A RESOURCE FOR STUDENTS, TEACHERS AND PARENTS The Art of Ocean Conservation VOLUME 10, ISSUE 36 FALL 2020 $6.95
M A G A Z I N E
Stony Coral Tissue Disease A New Nemesis for Coral Reefs
More GHOF Scholarships
Four High Schoolers Honored
Fish Aggregating Devices of Costa Rica Using FADs to Better Manage Fisheries
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VANTAGE
GuyHarvey.com | 3
CONTENTS
FALL 2020 DEPARTMENTS
8 Guy’s
Editorial
Dr. Guy Harvey discusses his passion for education and how the GHOF is focused on bringing marine scienceeducation to students across the globe.
10 The Bite
From a new Guy Harvey lottery game to Ocean Conservation Month, there’s a lot going on you need to know about in the world of Guy Harvey.
54
BY EMILY RODEN
20 Coastal MS
Discover the hidden gem that is Mississippi’s Secret Coast, and explore all that it has to offer.
42 A New Threat to Coral Reefs
Stony coral tissue disease is sweeping across reefs and killing indiscriminately. Scientists are hard at work saving live corals and trying to determine how to stop this vicious cycle of reef destruction. BY NICK HONACHEFSKY
48 Guy’s Green Apparel
Being a conservationist is about walking the walk. All of Guy’s amazing apparel is now being produced at a factory that uses solar power for energy and recycles its wastewater to drinkable standards. The oceans are happy. BY GREG JACOSKI
54 Photo Portfolio — Amos Nachoum
The man has braved icebergs, deserts and jungles just to capture the perfect photo. Now, they’ve made a movie 4 | GuyHarvey.com
about him. Marvel at the intensity and sensitivity of Amos Nachoum’s incredible photography.
66 Shark School
and Amazon Prime videos
Learn about sharks and other creatures free on Amazon Prime.
70 Fish Aggregating Devices of Costa Rica
With FADs becoming more and more popular for big game sportfishers, some commercial fishing fleets are also exploiting an easy way to target their prey. BY BILL BOYCE
76 A Guy Harvey
Outpost With a Wild History
Imagine traveling 150 miles — and it takes you more than a month to do it. That was the reality in olden times, when Camp Mack was built at the end of the wild and winding Kissimmee River, along the edges of what would become Mickey Mouse’s Kingdom.
80 M arine Max
Buying a boat is a big investment in your time and money. A partner like MarineMax can make sure you make the right choice.
82 White Sharks
Swimming with the sea’s most feared shark in Guadalupe Island, Mexico.
86 Fishing Gone
In this excerpt from the book Fishing Gone?, anglers need to take a good look at how they give back to the waters that they love.
18 Shopping Guide
Bring home Dr. Guy Harvey’s art with these gifts, keepsakes and apparel.
96 Last Cast
A tribute to Wayne Hasson, the man and visionary who invented the luxury Liveaboard Dive Boat industry. BY FRED GARTH
90 Shark Fins
Florida became the 14th state to ban the unsavory business of importing shark fins.
94 Little Angler, Big Waves
Some people go their entire lives trying to achieve an Inshore Grand Slam, landing a bonefish, tarpon and permit on the same day. Elena McDow did it at age 7, making many of us feel inferior. It helps that she lives in Grand Cayman. BY LOUISA SAX
ON THE COVER:
“Smooth Sailing” by Dr. Guy Harvey
22 Education Introduction
Why education is so important to the Guy Harvey Ocean Foundation.
24 Guy Harvey Education Partnerships
Attracting the right partners is the key to success. The GHOF has done just that with Discovery Education, Florida’s Department of Education, Florida Virtual School, Ocean First Education and other major players in the education space. BY FRED GARTH
SPECIAL SECTION
Guy Harvey’s K–12 Education Goes Big
30 Florida Virtual School Ramps Up
With online learning and virtual field trips becoming part of our everyday lexicon, a spotlight is now shining on Florida Virtual School to deliver online classes like never before. That includes a brand new Guy Harvey Ocean Foundation Environmental Science curriculum. BY MATTHEW SANFORD
34 Pursuing a Life Under the Waves
Want a career on and in the salty ocean? Mission Resolve Foundation co-founder Patxi Pastor explains how he pursued his dream, from a child of the sea growing up in Spain to a world-renowned underwater film producer. BY PATXI PASTOR
38 COVID Contingency
Guy explains how he used the downtime from stay-athome orders to explore other opportunities. BY GUY HARVEY
GuyHarvey.com | 5
GUY HARVEY MAGAZINE OFFICES PENSACOLA, FLORIDA Fred Garth, Editor-in-Chief
DAVIE, FLORIDA Guy Harvey Ocean Foundation
TALLAHASSEE, FLORIDA Brian Rowland, Publishing Director
CREDITS TO Publisher
Guy Harvey Ocean Foundation
SUBSCRIBE
TODAY! Stay informed. Be entertained. Help save the fish!
Editor-in-Chief Fred D. Garth Publishing Director Brian Rowland Director of Sales McKenzie Burleigh Director of New Business Development, Western Division Dan Parker Director of New Business Development, Eastern Division Dan Parisi Director of Production Daniel Vitter Creative Director Jennifer Ekrut Publication Designer Sarah Burger Graphic Designer Sierra Thomas Custom Publishing Manager Sara Goldfarb Copy Editor Jeff Price Film/Video Director George Schellenger Education Director Valerie Gaynor Webmaster Russ Kyff Social Media Guru Alex Harvey Editorial Steering Committee Fred Garth, Guy Harvey, Jessica Harvey, Greg Jacoski, Steve Roden, Louisa Sax, George Schellenger Contributors Bill Boyce, Stefanie Brendl, Valerie Gaynor, Shawn Heinrichs, Greg Jacoski, Jessica Harvey, Nick Honachefsky, Amos Nachoum, Patxi Pastor, Emily Roden, Steve Roden, Matthew Sanford, Louisa Sax, George Schellenger, Jane Tebbe-Shemelya Publishing Services Provided by:
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us. That’s why we choose LSC Communications in Lebanon Junction, Kentucky. LSC recycles more than 50 million pounds of paper products per year, which saves 10 million gallons of oil, 14 gallons of water and 35,000 trees. LSC also recycles more than 300,000 pounds of aluminum printing plates annually, and no hazardous wastes are ever sent to a landfill — instead they are recycled and reused. Additionally, they recycle 217 tons of plastic each year and have set aside 550 of the 700 acres they own to be used for conservation and recreation.
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GUY HARVEY MAGAZINE (ISSN 2162111X) is published four times per year (quarterly) by Lost Key Publishing, LLC, 7166 Sharp Reef Road, Pensacola, Florida 32507. Periodicals postage paid at Pensacola, Florida, and additional mailing offices. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to: Guy Harvey Magazine, 10408 W State Rd 84 # 104, Davie, FL 33324. No part of this magazine can be reproduced without express written permission from Lost Key Publishing. Occasionally, we may make all or part of our subscriber list available to carefully screened companies that offer products and/or services that may interest you. To subscribe to Guy Harvey Magazine, call our toll-free subscription number, 800-288-1227.
CONTRIBUTORS
Bill Boyce Bill Boyce has been active in the angling, conservation and journalistic aspects of sport fishing his entire life. Born and raised in a boating and fishing family in Southern California, he was fortunate to have traveled and fished across the U.S. four times by the age of 14. His love of travel and adventure provided the spark for him to pursue a career in the realm of fisheries. Having graduated in 1979 from Humboldt State University in the coastal redwood empire of Northern California with a B.S. in fisheries, his career began with the U.S. Forest Service in Tahoe National Forest. For the next four years he would perform stream habitat analysis and fish population work in Colorado, Alaska and Oregon. In 1982, Bill was hired by the Inter American Tropical Tuna Commission (IATTC) at Scripps Institute of Oceanography in La Jolla, California. For the next 12 years, he worked with tunas, dolphins, billfish, sharks and other pelagic species, managing their harvest by the Eastern Pacific tuna seine fleet. After
16 years as a biologist, his career was altered by the interest and success his photographs were receiving at shows, art exhibits and in magazines. Now, an internationally renowned photojournalist, his images currently adorn galleries, custom homes and corporate office buildings. Bill’s camera talents have been utilized for the past 18 years in worldwide productions and filming expeditions with Dr. Guy Harvey and the BBC Blue Planet documentary in locations that include Africa, Australia, Azores, Spain, Midway Island, Venezuela, Panama, Mexico, the Canary Islands, Cocos Island, the Bahamas and Belize. In 2002, his career path led him into the world of TV, hosting the World Class Sport Fishing series on The Outdoor Channel, then creating his own production company and directing/producing/hosting the TELLY Award-winning TV series, IGFA Angler’s Digest, which has broadcast on Wild TV, The Sportsman Channel, Fox Sport Net and World Fishing Network.
Amos Nachoum Amos has led great expeditions for individual adventurers and institutions like Apple, IBM, Microsoft, Discovery Channel, Armani, Disney and Colombia Pictures. For National Geographic, he was team leader for separate photo expeditions to document the Red Sea, great white sharks and killer whales. His photos and essays have appeared in hundreds of publications around the globe, including National Geographic, Time, Life, The New York Times, Condé Nast Traveler, Le Figaro, Terra Sauvage, Airone, Mondo Sommerso, Der Spiegel, Unterwasser and many more. His work has also been included in the books The Living Ocean, The World of Nature and Ocean. He has appeared on National Geographic Explorer, Today, and Good Morning America and featured in People, Esquire and Money magazines. Amos’s photography has won Nikon,
Communication Arts and BBC Wildlife Photographer of the Year awards. Above all else, Amos loves people as much as wildlife. His concern for both inspired him to co-found Israel’s Marine National Park on the Red Sea. Though his interest in conservation began with sharks, he looks to bring attention to the most fragile regions of the underwater realm with preservation of the environment foremost in his mind. His favorite way to raise awareness and stimulate passion for the ocean is to help guests experience it firsthand. For those unable to join him on his adventures, he brings the oceans to the world through his photography and public speaking engagements. Winner of the 2012 prestigious American Photographic Artists award for a shot of a penguin about to be eaten by a leopard seal and honored as the 2019 Seakeeper of the Year. GuyHarvey.com | 7
Walking the Walk
I
t’s one thing to talk about marine conservation; it’s yet another to do something about it. I’ve always encouraged anglers — or anyone who enjoys the water for that matter — to follow their passion and become an active participant in preserving our waterways. It’s why the Guy Harvey Ocean Foundation has awarded more than 100 scholarships in excess of $800,000 in recent years to students who are pursuing careers in marine science. It’s why we’ve funded the vital work of the Guy Harvey Research Institute at NOVA Southeastern University in excess of $7 million. And, of course, it’s why a portion of every dollar spent on Guy Harvey products and services goes toward marine conservation. Now, I’m very proud to announce that, after several years of diligent work, we’ve made great strides in another area I’m extremely committed to: education. As you may know, I began my career as a college professor, utilizing my Ph.D. to teach Marine Biology. So educating our youth has always been a core passion of mine, along with creating art (and fishing and scuba diving). 8 | GuyHarvey.com
We all know the critical nature of educating students on the importance of protecting our oceans so they can be leaders in a sustainable future. It’s this philosophy that has driven my educational instinct over the years and has now led to a new, collaborative project: the Guy Harvey Education Initiative. In pursuing this project, we have been working with several major visionaries in the education space, such as Discovery Education (of Discovery Channel fame), Florida Virtual School, Ocean First Education, Mission Resolve Foundation, the Florida Department of Education, CPALMS and others key organizations to create the best marine science and conservation curriculum on the planet. Sadly, courses on these core subjects have been lacking. As a result, fewer teachers are teaching marine science, and therefore fewer students are learning about our oceans. They’re not receiving the tools and incentives they need to protect and preserve our waters. We’re working hard to change that. For the past four years, the fall edition of Guy Harvey Magazine has been our dedicated “Education
Issue.” In the following pages of this magazine, you can read all about our education initiative. You can also see more than 30 educational videos online at GuyHarvey.com, under the title of Jessica Harvey’s Expedition Notebook (yes, that’s my daughter). We’ve produced these 1-to-3 minute videos and are in the process of filming more covering topics that range from plastics in the ocean to coral reef restoration. All of them are free to watch on our website, on YouTube and on Discovery Education. Much of the content is written to meet state curriculum standards. Stay tuned as this initiative expands. I’m also very pleased that we’ve made another major advancement, this time in our line of apparel. After an extensive search seeking raw materials for Guy Harvey shirts and other sportswear that is gentle on the planet, we found an extraordinary manufacturer in El Salvador that uses solar energy to help power their facility. They also use an advanced filtration system that recycles wastewater so that it’s clear and clean before being released into the environment. We were so impressed by their commitment to sustainable practices that
GUY TALK
we created a partnership. Now our clothing line is not only functional and attractive, but it’s also environmentally responsible from fiber to finished product. Fishermen began buying my T-shirts more than 30 years ago because of the artwork on the back. They kept buying them because of our commitment to marine conservation. Now, when you purchase our apparel, you’ll know it was produced using the most earth-friendly methods available. I’m obviously quite excited about this program and being able to deliver high-quality products that reflect our beliefs and ultimately funds our research and education. You can read more about this fascinating company on page 48 of this issue. We’re proud of the partnership and the positive impact we will have in the years to come. Even with the pandemic affecting all of our lives, we’re still able to take pride in at least two major accomplishments — teaming up with our new apparel manufacturer and launching an ambitious educational platform. Plus, there’s so much more going on in the Guy Harvey universe such as another lottery game in Florida
coming out in May 2021. Proceeds from that will help to fund our research and educational initiatives. We were able to get permission from the Grand Cayman government to complete another stingray survey at the worldfamous Stingray City. We recorded the highest number of rays since 2005, perhaps because of decreased human interaction due to the virus. As always, thank you for supporting our organization. We are mindful of our obligation to protect and preserve our fisheries and waterways. If we all do our part, I’m confident in a sustainable future. Fair winds and tight lines,
GUY HARVEY, PhD
is an internationally acclaimed artist, fisherman, scientist and world traveler who devotes much of his time and money toward ocean conservation.
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NEWS, NOTES & GEAR BY EMILY RODEN
Martim Quinta, Age 17, Portugal — First Place
Guy Harvey Art Contest 2020 The COVID-19 pandemic is testing our ability to be productive at home, but it is inadvertently making us more creative and more engaged in our natural surroundings. This, for us, is a welcome change to the screen-addicted, fastpaced corporate world we lived in not so long ago. Guy Harvey and Guy Harvey Ocean Foundation have embraced the shelter-in-place order and worked to bring the open ocean to the safety of your home through educational events, activities and documentaries. In one exciting stay-at-home educational initiative, Guy Harvey hosted a virtual art 10 | GuyHarvey.com
class and competition on Tuesday, May 19 via Facebook Live. Viewers followed Guy’s oneof-a-kind tutorial to paint a white shark using watercolors and submitted their artwork for judging by Guy Harvey himself. Each and every one of the 60 submissions to the competition was outstanding, creative and inspirational. In addition to their artwork, participants shared stories of their experience following along with Guy and receiving the information that he and his trusty assistant, Jessica Harvey, shared of marine biology, their adventures and interactions in the field.
The Smicklas family from Vero Beach, Florida, joined every session, setting up a special art station in their living room and making it a family-fun event. Nick and Summer Smicklas, the father-daughter team, both love art and everything on the water. Their favorite classes were learning how to paint the texture of the water and how to mix different mediums together in one piece. The family shared: “Guy and Jessica motivated us to start some new paintings … we have been stuck at home throughout this pandemic, and the sessions gave us something to look forward to and something to do together that we enjoy!” The winner of the Guy Harvey Art Contest was Martim Quinta, a 17-year-old from Portugal. Guy Harvey commented that Martim’s piece showed “very good execution, attention to detail and he stuck to the original concept.” The runner-up was Rio Saress from Cooper City, Florida, whose creative ability demonstrates the white sharks’ vulnerability to extinction. Rio says that she uses a fluid paint and vapor trail technique as a reminder that “while we go about our daily lives, the creatures in our ocean are quietly slipping away,” and to send a message of hope. Guy Harvey looks forward to hosting another art competition in the near future! (Article by Louisa Sax)
Wild Forever Art Contest 2020 At the heart of Guy Harvey’s mission rests both his passion for marine life conservation and his passion for art. Through the Wild Forever Art Contest, the Guy Harvey award has been able to foster both of these passions in contestants from around the world. Each year, a species or category of fish is chosen for contestants to paint and write an essay on. Though the COVID-19 crisis had an impact on the award ceremony and other in-person elements of this year’s contest, it hasn’t impacted the amount of contestants — with over 5,000 entries from 47 states and 32 international countries — nor the amazing creativity shown. This year’s contestants had to create an artwork depicting a saltwater or
anadromous fish from an Official Fish List, as well as write an essay describing the role that this fish plays in the ocean’s ecosystem. This year’s recipient of the Guy Harvey Award was Hyeri Chun from New Jersey, who painted the steelhead trout, as seen below. In winning this award, he received signed artwork from Dr. Guy Harvey, as well as international recognition and a certificate. In sponsoring the Guy Harvey Award, the Guy Harvey Ocean Foundation educates people about issues facing marine life and highlights the work done by the Guy Harvey Ocean Foundation to ensure that future generations can enjoy and benefit from a naturally balanced ocean ecosystem.
Guy Harvey Scholarship In order to foster future generations of marine conservationists, the Guy Harvey Ocean Foundation understands the value of marine education. To help inspire students to continue learning and researching within the field, GHOF has taken part in two scholarship programs the past few years: the Guy Harvey Scholarship award in the Florida Sea Grant program and the Nova Guy Harvey Endowed Scholarship. Through Florida Sea Grant support, the Guy Harvey Scholarship awards undergraduate and graduate students who are enrolled full time at Florida institutions of higher education who are conducting research related to the biology, ecology, habitat or management of fish in Florida’s marine environment. Through this award, the GHOF has given over 70 scholarships. The Nova Guy Harvey Endowed Scholarship supports graduate students at Nova Southeastern University who are pursuing research in Marine Sciences. In collaboration with the Florida Prepaid College Foundation, GHOF has recently launched the Guy Harvey Florida Prepaid College Foundation Scholarship Award. In 2020, this was awarded to four high school seniors in the state of Florida who plan to attend Nova Southeastern University. Students must have completed one or all of the following during high school: Marine Science I, Marine Science II, environmental science, and/or biology. Students provided proof of interest in marine science and conservation through previous education, clubs or extracurricular activities and indicated a strong desire to pursue a science major in college. While this scholarship is currently only awarded to students who plan to attend NSU, the GHOF is looking to expand to other universities and is seeking benefactors who support the Guy Harvey Education Initiative’s mission to spread marine education to younger generations.
Guy Harvey 2020 Award Winner Hyeri Chun from New Jersey paints the steelhead trout. GuyHarvey.com | 11
Ocean Conservation Month For the past three years, the Guy Harvey Ocean Foundation has celebrated March as Ocean Conservation Month. Based in the Cayman Islands, the GHOF team filled this month with tons of activities, such as beach cleanups, lionfish-culling tournaments, cocktail parties and more — all to educate people from the islands about protecting our seas. Unfortunately, most of these events were canceled due to the COVID-19 crisis, but there is still a way to participate in the festivities virtually. A major component, and the catalyst of Ocean Conservation Month, is “Shark Talk” — an annual initiative sponsored by the Kenneth B. Dart Foundation, which invites every child in the Cayman Islands to watch Guy Harvey documentaries on the big screen, followed by question and answer sessions with conservation experts. Last year, the annual showing of the Guy Harvey documentary This is Their Ocean: Sea of Life attracted over 1,000 kids from all over the Cayman Islands to come and learn about marine conservation. This year, the annual documentary showing was canceled, but people are still able to celebrate ocean conservation by watching this year’s documentary Stingray City: A
Guy Harvey Expedition on Amazon. This documentary focuses on Stingray City, located in the Cayman Islands, which is one of the most beloved animal interaction sites in the world. While people from all over the planet visit this location, many don’t know the measures taken to protect the rays within this multi-million dollar tourist attraction. This documentary follows Dr. Guy Harvey in his
conservation efforts to research and protect these animals, inspiring all to take measures to protect our sea. While people were unable to physically participate in this year’s Ocean Conservation month, the team is still on track to celebrate Ocean Conservation month next year and is exploring more virtual options in preparation for more pandemic shutdowns.
GHOF/DiscoveryEd STEAM Conferences When reading this title, you may have thought, “Whoever typed this up accidentally added an ‘A’ to ‘STEM.’ ” This “A” is purposeful and is a recent addition by the Florida Department of Education to incorporate “art” into the fields of “science,” “technology,” “engineering” and “math.” Although this term has only recently been coined, Dr. Guy Harvey has been combining art with STEM for the past few decades. His work in marine research and conservation has been greatly influenced by his use of creativity to inspire passion about the ocean
12 | GuyHarvey.com
and marine animals. Starting Aug. 27, Dr. Guy Harvey began hosting STEAM conferences with scientists, marine conservationists, artists and more on Zoom through the Discovery Education platform. Prior to this, an annual live gathering called STEAMposium allowed 600–800 science teachers, supervisors and more to come together and share experiences of delivering STEAM in a classroom. Due to the COVID-19 crisis, STEAMposium has transformed into these STEAM conferences, which will still allow for the same number of people to be in
attendance for a shorter period of time once a month, all from the safety of their homes. The purpose of these conferences is to give teachers a forum to learn new ideas from experts, as well as their peers, and share best practices for incorporating STEAM into their local school systems. These meetings are a lively and engaging forum that safely allows for a sense of community for teachers, despite the ongoing virus. Stay tuned with Guy Harvey’s Facebook page to learn more about upcoming STEAM conferences.
PHOTOS COURTESY OF TOADFISH OUTFITTERS
Toadfish and our new ‘Friends of the Coast’ People usually perceive oysters in one of two ways: delicacies best served raw or Rockefeller, or slimy creatures they couldn’t imagine ingesting. Toadfish Outfitters, with their oyster bed planting initiative, is asking you to see oysters in a new light — as “friends of the coast” and as a means of saving our ecosystems. In the past 30 years, there has been a 40% increase in the number of people who live on the coast. Coastal living is both expensive to the pockets of movers and to the coastal ecosystems. With the construction of new homes, cities, businesses, etc. along the coastline, there is toxic runoff. This runoff enters into bodies of water and is the No. 1 issue that threatens aquatic plants and animals, contributing to the decline of hundreds of different marine species. As 14th-generation coastal residents and “homegrown conservationists,” the founders of Toadfish decided to tackle this issue with a unique solution — oysters. The Put ’Em Back movement involves constructing 10 square feet of new oyster beds for each Toadfish product sold. Oyster beds serve as a filtration system for water, with a single oyster filtering the toxins out of 50 gallons of water per day. The more oyster beds that scatter the coastline, the cleaner the water. Toadfish, in their efforts to protect the coast, has planted over 73,000 square feet of oyster beds. For more information, go to ToadfishOutfitters.com. GuyHarvey.com | 13
Scholarship Winners
CHAD WALKER
The ocean and preservation of marine life isn’t just my passion, it’s my lifestyle! From seamen to seamen, from generation to generation, saltwater fills my veins. Growing up boating, my life has always been centered around the oceans and their wonders. Through avid involvement, the oceans have become my classroom. From fishing to snorkeling, a day doesn’t go by when I am not involved in the outdoors. I take pride in my conservationist efforts to preserve the ocean and its vibrant inhabitants. I am the fifth in my family’s multigenerational involvement in the ocean. My heart beats in sync to the crashing of the waves. The ocean holds my fondest memories; it is my happy place. As an aspiring science major at Nova Southeastern University, I will continue to respect and preserve our oceans. My wishes are to inspire young minds on a global scale and leave an imprint on generations to come. 14 | GuyHarvey.com
Chad Walker
DIANA PHILLIPS
My favorite thing about the ocean is how weird it is. I have loved every gelatinous, mucus-covered, slippery and slimy organism the ocean has to offer. My fascination quickly manifested itself into a passion that ignited my journey to protect and preserve our oceans. Over the course of the past six years, I have done so many things I am proud of. I have attended Capitol Hill Ocean Week in Washington D.C., to educate congressmen on the impact of their ocean bills. I was one of the first-ever high school students to host “The Expert Is In” at the Smithsonian Institute Ocean Wing. I helped rebuild coral reefs in the Florida Keys with Mote Marine Laboratories and Combat Wounded Veterans. And I also got to lead a two-year independent research project. I have spent the past six years fighting for our oceans, and I am majoring in marine biology to learn the skills I need to keep researching our ocean to make smarter conservation initiatives and to show other girls that there is hope, she can make a difference and that it’s not too late.
Diana Phillips
PHOTOS COURTESY OF WINNERS
In September of 2020, four incoming freshmen to Nova Southeastern University were awarded four-year scholarships from the Guy Harvey Ocean Foundation (GHOF) and the Florida Prepaid College Foundation. While there may have been a tiny bit of luck involved, each of these students earned their scholarship by submitting all of the required information and an essay explaining why they deserved such a prestigious award. They had to give details about their marine conservation efforts, what conservation organizations they’re involved with and how they plan to use their knowledge and expertise to further the protection and preservation of our oceans. “All of the entries received by the GHOF were inspirational,” said Dr. Guy Harvey, “and I wish we could have given scholarships to everyone. However, these four students are well deserving of these scholarship funds, and I look forward to seeing how they will help the marine ecosystem.” The following is a brief outline of the recipients, their interests and their commitment to our water resources, in their own words:
Amar Singh
Nicole Castro
AMAR SINGH
In addition to the oceans, I have a keen interest in movies, video games and comics, as well as school and everything that goes into it. My interest in ocean conservation and environmental science started my freshman year in high school at South Plantation High School, when I was admitted in the Everglades Restoration and Environmental Science Magnet program. This meant that I would be a part of marine life and a part of many ecosystems over those four years. This is where I had begun to garner interest in seeing just how important our marine ecosystems are and how the world is changing them. It allowed me to attend field trips and see parts of the world that I never really understood in marine science. A particular area of interest to me is sea level rise and its impact on marine life and our environment, as living in South Florida, we are very susceptible to sea level rise and the impacts that it has on the world. I had also started to take interest more in our ecosystems, and I started to see what makes each ecosystem unique and special on their own. Seeing just how important our oceans are to the world, and each little part of them, has allowed me to appreciate them more and give them a piece of my
heart. Being able to interact with it up close, you are able to see just how different it is to other parts of the environment, especially with the many ecosystems that somewhere like the Everglades houses.
NICOLE CASTRO
I am a freshman biology major at Nova Southeastern University. I grew up in Miami, so I was born with a love for the ocean. I attended MAST@FIU, which is the Marine Academy of Science and Technology (MAST) of Florida International University. MAST is a magnet school that focuses on various scientific areas, with an emphasis on marine science, and it’s the only public high school in Florida that enjoys a collaborative partnership with a public university. Each year, I was required to take two science classes, whether it be marine science, environmental science, physics, biology, anatomy, etc. This is where my love for marine science began. I was fascinated by the ocean because of all the life it supports and all the beauty that is still unknown to mankind. I cannot wait to take marine science classes at NSU to discover more about the ocean and work hand in hand with Dr. Guy Harvey. GuyHarvey.com | 15
AVAILABLE NOW AT GUYHARVEY.COM, AMAZON, AND SELECT RETAILERS Guy Harvey is committed to using sustainable materials and manufacturing processes for the health of our planet. 16 | GuyHarvey.com
Reel in Prizes with the Guy Harvey Florida Lottery Scratch-off Ticket If you are feeling lucky come May 2021, look for the brand new Guy Harvey Florida Lottery scratchoff ticket! This is the fourth time Guy Harvey has collaborated with the Florida Lottery on a scratchoff ticket that features one of Dr. Guy Harvey’s world-renowned paintings. The grand prizewinner will win $500,000, but if it’s not you, don’t be discouraged! You can go onto the Florida Lottery website and enter your information for a second chance to win. From those entries, 132 people will be chosen for secondary prizes, including three special edition Ford F150s, nine Cayman Islands getaways, and 120 $1,000 prizes. All proceeds from this ticket will go toward the Guy Harvey Ocean Foundation and its mission to protect our seas.
Past Years’ Scratch Tickets:
Special edition Ford F-150
The Custom Sock Company Make custom socks using your own images!
DivvyUpSocks.com
GuyHarvey.com | 17
SHOPPI NG GU I DE Visit GuyHarvey.com for the full range of Guy Har vey apparel, artwork, gifts and more. 1
1. Live Blue Oversized Tote
Premium quality heavyweight cotton canvas. Due to the nature of the material used, each canvas handbag is one-of-a-kind. Includes internal and external pockets, and the exterior size measures 20-by-5.5-by-15 inches. $48.75
2. Divvy Up
Custom Socks Create custom socks using your own images! The perfect gift for someone that has everything. divvyupsocks.com Starting at $24
3. Hawksbill Turtle Yoga Mat
From downward dog to warrior pose, this Guy Harvey 72-inch, 6-mm thick yoga mat provides the cushioning you need during any yoga or fitness routine. $40
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Men’s Marlin Original Realtree Short Sleeve Pocket T-Shirt Guy Harvey and Realtree have partnered up to bring you unique designs and prints, such as this one featuring a Marlin silhouette with Realtree’s distinctive watery camo pattern. Shop the complete line of men’s apparel at GuyHarvey.com. $24
4. Starboard Boat Shoe
Cushioned insole featuring Guy Harvey artwork; unlined for breathability; woven Guy Harvey Maritime Flag hangtag; lightweight non-marking EVA outsole with flex grooves. Perfect for you. $56
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YOU R PU RCHASE H ELPS SAVE OU R SEAS
Boca Summer Blanket Our new blanket collection features a range of your favorite Guy Harvey artwork in full color and tonal patterns, making it the perfect addition to any bedding or home decor. Six designs to choose from, our gorgeous cozy blankets measure 50-by-60 inches and are available in two styles. $49.95–$59.95
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5. Fair Game Canvas Giclée
The Fair Game canvas giclée features a powerful tiger shark and sea turtle with ocean blue background and measures 19-by-32 inches. Each Guy Harvey limited edition giclée is hand-signed and numbered by Dr. Harvey. $225
6. Guy Harvey Mahi Dog Bed
Your dog will love this beautiful pillow-top bed, and it will certainly brighten up any room. Printed with 100% biodegradable water-based inks and made from eco-friendly rPet material: • Fabric made from eco-friendly rPet — at least 12 bottles in each bed • Fiberfill made from eco-friendly rPet fiber with a minimum of 75 bottles per bed Made in Americas. Small/Med – 34” x 26”, $119 Large/XL – 42” x 34”, $139
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Tervis Shark Collage Tervis insulated drinkware delivers the ultimate combination of personality and performance for pure drinking enjoyment. Made in America and BPA free, enjoy this sharky underwater scene on a variety of different styles, including stainless steel. $19-$39.99
7. Heart of the Sea — Wave Necklace in Sterling Silver and Enamel
The Guy Harvey Heart of the Sea necklace adds a salty splash to the Artist’s Collection. Display your love of the ocean with this unique necklace. $159
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8. Guy Harvey Yellowfin Tuna Dog Collar
Sizes: Small, Medium, Large Nylon dog collar is perfect for any dog out fishing, boating or just wandering the outdoors. Plastic clip style buckle for a secure fit with a metal buckle loop. $17
9. Guy Harvey Redfish Dog Leash
9
One size Nylon dog leash measures 1” wide and 6’ in length. Perfect for an active lifestyle and guaranteed to turn heads! $20 GuyHarvey.com | 19
CUSTOM CONTENT
Uncover the Secrets of
COA STA L MISSISSIPPI Redfish, speckled trout, great hosts and more
C
oastal Mississippi’s 62 miles of shoreline feature a natural barrier of islands that make up Mississippi’s portion of Gulf Islands National Seashore, creating a distinctive choice for fishing. Whether the trip is solely dedicated to the sport or if angling is coupled with exploring attractions, non-stop gaming among its 12 casino properties, unique coastal towns and an abundance of natural offerings, the Secret Coast provides and the fun never ends. The region’s temperate climate, along with its astounding natural beauty and rich, unique culture, makes for the perfect year-round destination. The joy of unlimited possibilities, open-ended experiences and plenty of room to roam make Coastal Mississippi an attractive and safe destination for visitors of all ages. Capt. Kyle Johnson never tires of leading a client to catch his or her first saltwater gamefish on an artificial lure. Anglers, including novices, view fooling a speckled trout or a redfish with a jig or a twitch bait or a topwater plug as an accomplishment greater than hooking one on a live shrimp dangled beneath a float.
#VisitMSResponsibly 20 | GuyHarvey.com
“People will scream, ‘I can’t believe I caught one on a lure,’” said Johnson, who operates a guide service, Coastal Waters Outfitters, out of Biloxi. He caught his first trout as a boy on a MirroLure while fishing an oyster bed with his dad. His job, he happily admits, is made easier by the abundance of reds and specks off Mississippi’s Hancock, Harrison and Jackson counties, known collectively as the Secret Coast. Johnson finds reds and specks inshore and offshore, from back bays to barrier islands. Both are year-round fisheries. At times, a mixed bag may also include tripletails, a fish notorious for hanging around anything that floats, and surfrunning pompano. The speckled trout, while spectacularly patterned, is outshone by redfish, which in Mississippi, tend toward a burnished copper color or even gold. They have a minimum of two characteristic tail spots, and some individuals may be marked by a dozen or more tattoos. Their tails are often blue owing to their diet, which includes prey such as shrimp, crabs and fishes that consume blue-green algae. Small trout — Mississippi has a minimum size limit of 15 inches for specks — surrender easily, and an angler may find himself skittering them across the surface as he brings them to the boat. Larger specimens, sometimes called gators, will hug the bottom, shake their heads and put up a serious fuss when they see a boat or landing net. Woe is the angler who introduces slack to his line when fighting a big’un. Gators got that way for a reason.
Redfish are the bulldogs of the flats and bays. Even a slot-sized red may lead an angler — using light- or medium-weight tackle — on a trip around his boat before coming to net. Surprisingly, there are times when redfish, despite their underslung mouths, will eagerly hit lures fished on the surface. Such topwater strikes can be truly explosive. Johnson appreciates that the maintenance of his livelihood and the estuarine environment that serves as his workspace requires adherence to a strong conservation ethic. So it is that his clients are called upon to observe catch limits more stringent than those imposed by the state. The captain is president of the Ship Island Chapter of the Coastal Conservation Association and supports Marty Wilson’s “One Gulf One Goal” Foundation, based in Gulfport. The latter group’s goals include discouraging littering by people when on the water and helping to restock the Gulf cobia fishery.
CUSTOM CONTENT
Dr. Jim Franks, the senior research scientist at the University of Southern Mississippi’s Gulf Coast Research Lab, relates closely to both of those goals. For 30 years, he has overseen a cobiatagging program, and he has worked to identify distinct breeding populations of cobia in the Gulf on the basis of DNA studies. His research has otherwise focused on species ranging from specks to whale sharks. He is currently studying redfish migratory patterns. Franks helped establish the Gulf-Mississippi Marine Debris Task Force and co-wrote the Mississippi Marine Litter Law. He left East Tennessee 57 years ago to become involved in marine research in Mississippi and never left. “I like big water,” he said. He judges Mississippi’s trout and redfish stocks to be healthy but not invulnerable to fishing pressures and pollutants. He applauds the work of marine conservation organizations, including CCA, and is grateful to Guy Harvey’s Ocean Foundation, which has awarded grants for projects at the Gulf Coast Research Lab.
“There is Southern hospitality — and then there is Coastal Mississippi hospitality.” Milton Segarra, CEO, Coastal Mississippi
Johnson intends that in addition to reeling, his trips provide his guests with the feeling of being in a special part of the natural world. Mississippi’s barrier islands host magnificent rookeries of a sort that inspired the artist Walter Anderson, many of whose works hang in a gallery in Ocean Springs. Milton Segarra is CEO of Coastal Mississippi, a regional tourism organization representing Mississippi’s coastal counties. For him, art galleries — along with museums, casinos, breweries, shops, restaurants and activities centers — are part of the onshore experience that complement and add to an angler’s visit to the Secret Coast.
“We want our visitors to have an experience that is varied, safe and enjoyable,” Segarra said. “Kyle and Jim are great ambassadors for our region, and so are all of the residents of our area. I am not from here, but I love it here. There is Southern hospitality — and then there is Coastal Mississippi hospitality.” Enter the Coastal Mississippi + Guy Harvey Giveaway at CoastalMississippi.com/GuyHarvey; check out catches made by Capt. Kyle Johnson and his clients at FishCoastalWaters.com; read more about the efforts of Dr. Jim Franks and the Gulf Coast Research Lab at gcrl.usm.edu. GuyHarvey.com | 21
THE KEY TO SAVING OUR OCEANS 22 | GuyHarvey.com
INTRODUCTION
(Hint: it’s EDUCATION)
PHOTO BY ALEXIS GOLDING / ISTOCK / GETTY IMAGES PLUS (WHALE SHARK)
Can we protect the human race from itself?
Can we ever really stop the exploitation of pollution, plastics and politics? Will overfishing eventually collapse the marine ecosystem, or will we one day achieve harmony and sustainability? Can we stop coral reefs from dying? Will ocean acidification irreparably alter the future of our seas? These are the conundrums marine conservationists deal with daily, and unfortunately, the answers are as complex as the problems themselves. Yet, there’s no question that scientific research is where solutions begin. Research and data creates the foundation for education, and education leads to conservation and corrective action. “We know that we must gather scientific data,” said Dr. Guy Harvey, “to understand and evaluate the problems. Then we can use the data to educate the public and work on solutions.” This is why Guy Harvey has been involved in marine research and education for more than 30 years. It’s also why the Guy Harvey Research Institute (GHRI) was formed in 1999 and has been a leader in cutting-edge research for more than two decades. Now, the GHRI and the Guy Harvey Ocean Foundation (GHOF) are embarking on a project even more challenging than affixing a satellite tag to a live, squirming 12-footlong tiger shark — an act GH scientists perform regularly. “It’s critical that we use the knowledge we’re compiling to educate the next generation,” Harvey said. “The youth of today will soon be the leaders of tomorrow. They must understand the threats and gain the passion to work toward sustainable oceans. That’s why our organizations are focusing so much of our energy on education.”
Ah yes — education! It is the fabric of human advancement, and now with COVID-19, its value has catapulted into the stratosphere. Thus, this issue of Guy Harvey Magazine is dedicated to education. In the following pages, you’ll read about collaborative efforts between the Guy Harvey organization and some of the world’s largest and most advanced learning platforms, such as Discovery Education, Florida Virtual School, Ocean First Education and the Florida Department of Education, just to name a few. Guy Harvey himself is practicing what he preaches by passing his passion on to his kids, Jessica and Alex, both of whom are both driving forces in marine conservation and educational issues. “I’m out on the water almost daily,” said Jessica Harvey, who at the age of 30 is already a seasoned conservationist and filmmaker in her own right. “We’re using our many years of research to create educational films and curricula for students and teachers and to lobby governments to protect our precious resources. There is no time to waste.” Guy Harvey’s educational films are already gaining momentum on Discovery Education, Amazon Prime, YouTube and other outlets. In the coming months, students all over the world — both in the classroom and virtually — will be able to access a wide variety of Guy Harvey marinerelated curricula. “Through our education initiative, we are shaping young minds by explaining how vital it is to have sustainable fisheries and a balance in our waterways,” Harvey said. “I’m encouraged by the progress we’re making, but we still have a long way to go. Fortunately, we’re on the right path and are gaining the right partners helping us to move forward.” GuyHarvey.com | 23
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ENHANCING MARINE-BASED EDUCATION How Strategic Partnerships Lead to Success BY FRED GARTH
Guy Harvey Research Institute and Oceanographic Center
24 | GuyHarvey.com
There’s a famous photo of a grizzly bear cub standing in the river next to a fly fisherman. The little cub says, “You give me half the fish, and I’ll tell my mom not to eat you.” That, my friends, is a successful partnership. Microsoft founder Bill Gates put it this way: “Our success in business has really been based on partnerships from the very beginning.” So when we at the Guy Harvey organization set out to ramp up our education outreach in a mega-major way, we realized that flying solo wasn’t a great strategy. Instead, our No. 1 goal was to create partnerships with like-minded organizations. As American author Warren G. Bennis said, “Savvy leaders will create alliances with other organizations whose fates are correlated with their own.” That’s why one of the GHOF’s first moves was to visit Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis. When Dr. Harvey and his CEO, Steve Roden, met the governor, they presented both the need for improved marine conservation curricula and the willingness to go do something about it. Apparently they made an impression because DeSantis instructed his chief of staff to begin connecting the dots with key stakeholders in both education and conservation. This led to meetings and collaborations with the Florida Department of Education standards team and meetings with the Florida Virtual School leadership. With a strong desire to take this program beyond the boundaries of Florida, Roden reached out to the leadership team of Discovery Education, the largest digital publisher
in the world in the K-12 space. Within a few weeks, a deal was struck. Next came the partnership with the Florida Virtual School. Then a collaboration with the curriculum specialists at Ocean First Education. To wrap a big bow around it all, Guy brought in his longtime education partner, Nova Southeastern University, home of the Guy Harvey Research Institute and Oceanographic Center. After that, the list of willing collaborators continued to pile up — the Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission, the Bonefish & Tarpon Trust, the Everglades Foundation, NOAA, the Coast Guard Auxiliary, the National Parks Conservation Association ... you get the idea. The point is: Most everyone wanted to join the GHOF efforts to support students and teachers. The problem is: Many teachers aren’t provided the tools and resources to deliver compelling marine-related subjects to their students. The good news is: The GHOF is actively changing that with the help of these strategic partners. In the following paragraphs, I will happily elaborate on the forward-thinking companies and organizations that have come together for an ambitious and necessary project: to transform marine science and conservation education in the state, nation and world.
PARTNERSHIPS
DISCOVERY EDUCATION “Seek out strategic alliances; they are essential to growth and provide resistance to bigger competition.” RICHARD BRANSON
With access to 50 million students and five million teachers across 90 countries, Discovery Education is a behemoth in the education sector. Yet, strangely, when we approached them, they didn’t have a marine science course. They wanted to develop one, and the GHOF was just the group to bring that guppy home. In the meantime, DE created a GHOF “channel,” with more than 50 educational videos and virtual field trips that meet many state and national standards. Hitting the standards is key
for teachers. They not only have to educate their students, but they also have specific benchmarks set by each state that they must reach. The GHOF channel includes Jessica Harvey’s Expedition Notebook — bite-sized, 1-to-4minute-long videos that are fun, exhilarating, educational and narrated by Jessica (Guy’s daughter) in her pleasing Caribbean dialect. The Expedition Notebooks are all being produced to meet curriculum standards and cover topics ranging from coral reef restoration to ocean
acidification to plastics in the ocean. And, of course, there’s plenty of fast-paced shark content as well. Tiger sharks, lemon sharks, oceanic white tips, white sharks and the lovable giant of the sea, whale sharks, are all part of the elasmobranch family of films that students and teachers can enjoy on the DE platform. Also coming soon to DE’s marine portfolio is a new Guy Harvey Edition of Ocean First’s Marine Science 1 course. This is a full-blown, standards-based curriculum developed by the educational gurus at Ocean First Education and enhanced with Guy Harvey footage, art and images. Teachers can use the MS1 course in the classroom or virtually to inspire their students and educate them about the wonders and challenges facing the planet’s waters. So whether it’s a Virtual Field Trip, an Expedition Notebook or a Marine Science 1 course, the partnership between GHOF and DE is bearing fruit and providing a rich educational environment for teachers and students around the world. DiscoveryEducation.com GuyHarvey.com | 25
EDUCATION
NOVA SOUTHEASTERN UNIVERSITY (NSU) “Coming together is a beginning. Staying together is progress.And working together is success.” HENRY FORD
Back in 1999, Guy teamed up with the scientists at NSU to form the Guy Harvey Research Institute (GHRI). Being a Ph.D., Guy knew the value of having the university system in his corner. The overarching concept the GHRI promotes is that conservation begins with data collection. In other words, you can’t fix a problem you haven’t thoroughly and scientifically evaluated. For example, sharks travel far and wide — thousands of miles — in a single year. We know this because the GHRI scientists at NSU have been affixing satellite tags to sharks for two decades. See: GHRItracking.org . They’ve tagged shortfin makos, tigers, oceanic white tips, not to mention blue marlin and a host of other billfish. So, now we have 20 years of real, scientific data to use to protect sharks and billfish. Because sharks and billfish don’t recognize international borders, it’s up to us humans to find out which country’s waters they inhabit or pass through. That way, we can lobby those governments to protect sharks and billfish because we know where they go, why they go there and generally what they’re doing, which is usually either feeding or mating. Speaking of mating, a worst-case scenario in marine conservation is to fish an area when the sea life is spawning. Case in point are the Nassau grouper spawning aggregation sites, also known as SPAG sites. Because of overfishing, most of the Nassau grouper SPAG sites around the Caribbean have been wiped out. In Little Cayman, a grouper study was initiated 18 years
Guy Harvey swimming with a blue marlin.
26 | GuyHarvey.com
Guy Harvey in a grouper spawning aggregation site in Little Cayman
ago in conjunction with the GHRI. They lobbied the Department of the Environment to close the SPAG site to fishing during the spawning season, which happens during a 3–4 day period, at dusk/night for the January and February full moons. If you’re a diver, this one of the wildest scenes you’ll ever witness, watching 5,000 to 10,000 agitated grouper all bunched up on one reef and going through color changes from brown to black to white and then swirling up into a sort of fish tornado, spinning from the bottom to the surface. The bizarre ritual culminates when the females spew out millions of eggs, known as broadcast spawning. In sequence, the males release a seminal fluid called milt, which contains sperm to fertilize the eggs. Again, grouper conservation began with data. Now, Little Cayman is brimming with Nassau grouper just
from closing the site for that short period of spawning. In some 20 years, the dedicated team at the GHRI at NSU have published more than 135 peer-reviewed papers. That’s a lot of data, which has led to some pivotal conservation efforts. NSU is also bringing the power of teacher credentialing and hosting teacher workshops for the Guy Harvey Education Initiative. The Oceanographic Center is set on the Atlantic Ocean and provides a perfect venue to bring in teachers and students for an inspirational marine-related session. Not only is the goal to inspire teachers and give them relevant teaching tools to take back to the classroom, but teachers can also gain certifications in marine science and conservation, allowing them to retain or renew their required teaching status.
PARTNERSHIPS
FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION If you want to have a good partner, be a good partner.
PHOTO BY YFHISHINUMA / ISTOCK / GETTY IMAGES PLUS (FLDOE SHARK)
Tiger Shark, Bahamas
As I revealed earlier in this little encomium, Dr. Harvey met with Gov. DeSantis preCOVID to discuss marine conservation and education — two subjects that both men hold deeply in their hearts. Subsequently, the GHOF partnered with the Florida Department of Education (FLDOE) to develop much-needed marine science and conservation curricula. State curriculum gurus PJ Duncan and Jennifer Infinger, who develop and manage curriculum for the DOE, were immediately on board and came up with the bright idea of a Guy Harvey Collection, as in, an art collection. Our GHOF education director, Valerie Gaynor, a renowned Florida science teacher in her own right and now the science
supervisor for Martin County, also jumped aboard the collection’s ship. Valerie wasted no time assembling a team of 10 talented teachers to help develop the first Guy Harvey Collection. In the beginning, they discussed a variety of Guy’s artistic subjects to build the courses around. They threw out lionfish (not literally), blue marlin and turtles but ultimately decided upon sharks due to their insane popularity, viral potential and because, sadly, they’re the most threatened species in the ocean. So, there you have it. The concept was cemented, and the first Guy Harvey Collection is in development. The team is building three iterations to hit all ages: K–4th grade, 5th–8th grade and a high school version.
STEAMPOSIUM That leads us to another brainchild of Team Duncan and Infinger, the STEAMposium. For the uninitiated, STEAM means Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Math. Traditionally, the core of education has been based on STEM but the “A”, has been popping up a lot more lately to represent art, something Guy and his company have plenty of experience with. The STEAMposium is a three-day gathering of some 800–1,000 Florida teachers that Duncan and Infinger created three years ago. It was planned for June 2020 before COVID-19 derailed it. Dr. Guy Harvey was slated to be the keynote speaker along with the possibility of Gov. DeSantis attending. That all fell through like most every other event on the planet in 2020, but a new plan was hatched for STEAMposium 2021. Guy Harvey is still on the agenda. The governor is still invited. It’s still going to be in June. This time, however, we anticipate more than 1,000 teachers as the brand new Guy Harvey Shark Collection is unveiled. Yep, the STEAMposium is going to be a crowd-pleasing affair, with electricity in the air and the state’s top science teacher putting out seriously positive vibes around some cool new courses. FloridaSteamposium.org
STEAMposium keynote speaker, Guy Harvey, with a lionfish. GuyHarvey.com | 27
EDUCATION
STEAMINARS Because the STEAMposium had to be postponed, the Guy Harvey education braintrust collaborated with Discovery Education’s Florida team, Dan Gammage and Jeanette Russell, to create monthly Zoom meetings featuring Guy and Jessica Harvey talking about marine life — all while Guy paints an original work of art. The 90-minute online sessions are aimed at teachers who want to improve their skills and learn more about Guy’s education initiatives. The STEAMinars began in August and run through December, one per month on Thursday afternoons. The schedule is below:
GUY HARVEY OCEAN FOUNDATION/ DISCOVERY EDUCATION STEAMINAR SCHEDULE Date
Time (EST)
Topic
August 27
4:30 PM
Introduction to STEAM
September 10
4:30 PM
Expeditions/Behind the Scenes/Intro to the field trips
October 8
4:30 PM
Policy and Change
November 12
4:30 PM
Safe Fishing Practices/Fisheries Management/Equity in fishing
December 10
4:30 PM
Shark Week/Research
January
4:30 PM
Shark Week/Research
February
4:30 PM
Life on Cayman/ Stingray City Study
March
TBD
Sustainability
April
TBD
Climate Change
May
TBD
Turtles
Visit the Guy Harvey Facebook page for more information and how to attend. 28 | GuyHarvey.com
PARTNERSHIPS
FLORIDA VIRTUAL SCHOOL (FLVS) “It’s amazing what you can accomplish if you do not care who gets the credit.” HARRY S. TRUMAN, 33RD U.S. PRESIDENT
No relationship with the FLDOE is complete without including the FLVS (see article page 27). Even though FLVS is its own entity with somewhat sprawling offices in Orlando, the school is part of the state’s education system. The leadership at FLVS is quick to point out that it is just like any other public school — except it’s all virtual. It’s also Florida’s largest school with more than 200,000 students and 1,800 teachers. Their interest in Guy Harvey is all about amazing content. While FLVS has a Marine Science 1 course, they wanted to revamp it. We agreed that the best way to do that would be to add heart-stopping footage of sharks, rays, turtles, coral reefs and everything that Guy Harvey represents. That collaboration on Marine Science 1 led to an entirely new course for FLVS — Environmental Science presented by the GHOF. Both courses are currently in development and will be ready for primetime this spring, and they will be available free to any student in Florida. The future partnership with GHOF and FLVS is likely to deepen, and there are discussions of marine-related courses translated into Spanish and other languages, as well as integrating Guy Harvey assets across the entire STEAM spectrum of FLVS’s courseware.
CONCLUSION “If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together.” AFRICAN PROVERB
A marine science and conservation education program that was initiated more than 20 years ago by Dr. Guy Harvey is now on a fast track to spread across Florida, the nation and the globe. This has only been possible because of the partnerships that have been created among likeminded organizations focused on enhancing the educational experience for both students and teachers. If someone you know (maybe you!) is ready to join in our efforts, please reach out to us at: GHOF@guyharvey.com . GuyHarvey.com | 29
EDUCATION
ADAPTING TO A LEARNING ENVIRONMENT BY MATTHEW SANFORD
30 | GuyHarvey.com
with teachers and parents that have been newly introduced to online learning. Founded in 1997, FLVS was the country’s first statewide internet-based high school. Accustomed to a large student population, more than 200,000 in all, the school has received numerous awards and is nationally recognized. However, the teacher training has been a monumental task — one that was desperately needed. The platform and the medium that Florida Virtual School occupies
is not a new one. In fact, I was a beneficiary of its accessibility when I was physically unable to attend high school classes in person. What is remarkable is that they are meeting the call for a revamping of curriculums to complement the surge of students who will be taking classes virtually. As well as invention, Florida Virtual School is also representative of innovation. The FLVS format connects students with a teacher in addition to other students enrolled in the class. Due to the
PHOTOS BY EMEVIL / ISTOCK / GETTY IMAGES PLUS (LAPTOP) AND COURTESY OF FLORIDA VIRTUAL SCHOOL
W
ithin the English language, there exists many proverbs: “red skies at night, a sailors delight, red skies in the morning, sailors take warning.” There is also my personal favorite coming from poet Dixon Lanier Merritt, “a wonderful bird is the pelican, that can fit more in its beak than its belly can.” During the current environment, there exists a more apt proverb: “necessity is the mother of invention.” An organization that exemplifies that mantra is Florida Virtual School (FLVS). Because of COVID-19, FLVS partnered with the Florida Department of Education to provide professional development centered on the transition to online learning. In addition, FLVS created an award-winning Online Learning Community, flvs.net/community, to provide a platform to share best practices
FLORIDA VIRTUAL SCHOOL
pandemic and the continued spread of the virus, many families were forced into a moment of reflection regarding the current climate and what is best for their respective families. Florida Virtual School provides a viable alternative for these families if they feel uncomfortable with having their children going back to in-person learning. Even though online education is fairly new, many advancements have occurred since I used the FLVS platform back in 2015. One supplementary function is the capability to engage in online meet-ups. This technology has been around, but the increased use of applications like Zoom and Google Hangout have made virtual meet-ups much easier. Additionally, FLVS addresses a concern that many parents have with online learning, which is the socialization their children lose from not being in a classroom with other kids. To accomplish this, FLVS provides
clubs for students to be involved in, offering a platform for students to join together digitally and share interests with one another. About six months prior to the pandemic, the leadership at the Guy Harvey Ocean Foundation (GHOF) began working with FLVS to develop a new Environmental Science course and revamp their existing Marine Science 1 curriculum. You could say that GHOF was uncannily prescient of the virtual future of education. Or maybe it was fate. Either way, virtual learning has quickly become a “necessary invention.” The GHOF has spent more than two decades accumulating marine-related data through intensive research projects on sharks, rays, billfish and a host of other sea creatures. Some 140 research papers have been published alongside more than 50 educational films and
countless articles in magazines, on websites, blogs and podcasts. This rich content adds real-world application not only to marine and environmental science, but also to many of the subjects within the curriculum created by FLVS in the STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Math) family. The purpose of the GHOF has always been to conduct scientific research and educational programs aimed at conserving the marine environment. The goal is to ensure that future generations can enjoy and benefit from a naturally balanced ocean ecosystem. Teaming with FLVS to expand the school’s marine-related curriculum offering is a great way to further the GHOF mission. The research papers and video footage from these projects allow for the further education of students and increased tools for teachers to familiarize themselves with marine topics. In the state of Florida, the ocean is a constant. It presents food, fun and sometimes hurricanes and waterspouts. But these qualities do not fully account for the complexity of the environmental exchange between Floridians and the waters that surround us. While most science curricula cover the natural phenomenon of precipitation or the way the currents in the ocean are directed, this new Environment Science course differs
Guy Harvey Ocean Foundation’s Florida Virtual School Environmental Science course (flvs.net/new-courses?utm_ medium=magazine&utm_source=guyharvey&utm_campaign=whatsnew)
GuyHarvey.com | 31
EDUCATION
from the norm. The course is dedicated to understanding the interactions between the earth’s natural systems and the demands placed on them by the human population. Perhaps the perfect example of this is the importance of the mangrove forests that line Florida’s coasts. They are beautiful and their twisting roots are instantly recognizable as quintessential Florida, but their contribution to the beautification of our coastline pales in comparison to the environmental protection they provide for both people and wildlife. The mangroves create a windbreak for structures during hurricanes and tropical storms. Without them, storm damage could exponentially magnify. While providing a safe harbor for humans, literally and figuratively, they do the same for wildlife. Many valuable gamefish, such as tarpon and bonefish, find asylum within the mangrove’s network of roots. The sanctuary provides protection for newly spawned fish to grow away from predators, thus allowing for a higher rate of them to develop into maturity. Additionally, mangroves can filter seawater, and some studies have even shown mangroves to reduce dreaded algae blooms that have plagued Florida waters in recent years. These important topics 32 | GuyHarvey.com
PHOTOS BY BELIEVE_IN_ME / ISTOCK / GETTY IMAGES PLUS (COMPUTER) AND COURTESY OF FLORIDA VIRTUAL SCHOOL
FLORIDA VIRTUAL SCHOOL
need to be taught in order to highlight the importance of environmental preservation. It is easy to dismiss something as just being scenic, but it is much harder to do so when understanding the deeper value that its existence provides. Steve Roden, the co-chairman of the GHOF, expressed his intention for this collaboration with FLVS to provide students with the context of how interaction with the environment can result in a domino
effect — either in a good or bad way. This holistic approach to understanding environmental science will help inform students’ perception of the environment around them and cultivate a sense of critical thinking by engaging with ideas on cause and effect. This idea is also reflected by Dr. Louis Algaze, the President and CEO of FLVS, when he said, “It’s important that students learn the environmental challenges that
impact our marine environment. The Environmental Science Featuring the Guy Harvey Ocean Foundation course will teach students how to protect the world’s biodiversity, about the research scientists are doing and the practical strategies they can use to preserve our marine resources.” Teaching students about mangroves might seem like a boring subject, but the infusion of compelling photography capturing exotic fish and fast-paced videography of sharks and billfish is a worthwhile contribution to the preservation of the Florida ecological system. Compounded with Guy Harvey’s award-winning art, this otherwise dense subject matter is portrayed in a fun and exciting way. Hopefully, this new way of proliferating information will inspire both students and teachers to learn more about the marine ecosystem. GuyHarvey.com | 33
EDUCATION
HOW TO PURSUE A SALTY CAREER IN THE MARINE INDUSTRY One Man’s Meandering Oceanic Journey BY PATXI PASTOR
L
ike many children, I was immediately drawn to the magic and mystery of the ocean. As a young boy living on the coast of Spain, I learned about the amazing world at the beach that mesmerized me with colorful and fascinating animals. I longed to be a part of their world. After we moved to the United States, my mother would often lovingly explain that it was once again “time to get out of the water Patxi.” Then came the amazing Frenchman and his television series, The Undersea World of Jacques Cousteau. I became totally hooked on that man and his show. He would solve problems by inventing and modifying these incredible devices to help him and his team on their adventures. I was transfixed by his ship, the Calypso, and the seaplane, the minisubs, a hot air balloon, underwater scooters and cameras that could go underwater and record everything for the world to share. Are you kidding … sign me up Captain! My passion led me to become scuba certified as a youngster. Everything galvanized following a dive trip to the Bahamas, and I focused on becoming a dive instructor. I was fortunate to be mentored
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PHOTOS COURTESY OF PAXTI PASTOR
MISSION RESOLVE
by the amazing Jim Hicks of the NAUI College in Laguna Niguel, California, where I earned certifications as a NAUI Instructor, Rescue Diver and Divemaster. Jim then asked me to serve as a member of his NAUI Instructor Training Staff at UNEXSO (the Underwater Explorers Society) on Grand Bahama Island, which brought me full circle to the beloved blue water and white beaches of the Bahamas, and it’s where I took a job as a divemaster at the Rum Cay Club. Soon after my fabulous Rum Cay adventure, I was awarded a NOAA Scientific Diver recognition by another mentor, the late great Dr. Richard “Dick” Cooper, who was a pioneer in saturation diving and undersea habitation. Working closely with the marine science programs Dick had developed for high schools — like the “High School Aquanaut Program” that took students diving to the bottom of the ocean in a state-of-the-art Johnson Sealink II submarine to conduct cutting-edge scientific research — I had the idea of developing my own series of academically and athletically accredited educational scuba programs. These became first-of-their-kind certifications that were conducted at leading preparatory schools and colleges throughout New England, where I was living at the time. Soon afterward, I received a Christa McAuliffe Fellowship grant to produce a series of children’s marine science videos entitled “Underwater Exploration,” which paired me with my close friend, Dr. Nancy Eastlake, the director of the Torrington Connecticut Talented and Gifted Educational Programs. The videos included live interactive broadcasts into 10 school systems. The first phase of the project focused on “The Wonderful World of the Dolphin” and featured a variety of guests, including a live interview at the StarKist Seafood Company’s World Headquarters (StarKist was
promoting their “dolphin-free tuna”). I then expanded the program by creating the “Coral Reef Studies Programs,” which was conducted throughout the Caribbean for high school students and teachers from top New England preparatory schools throughout the late ’80s. All of the success attracted a lot of media attention, and I was approached by the SONY Corporation to serve as their sponsored underwater cameraman. This new position had me promoting the creative use and application of a variety of SONY’s state-of-theart underwater video technologies. This all led to a dream job invitation by CBS Television to create a monthly underwater television series. Of course I took the job, which meant that every month I “had to” travel to the most beautiful places in the world to film amazing things like sharks, whales and shipwrecks, then come back to the studio to edit and host a feature special on each adventure. I couldn’t help but think at that time of how my dreams as a young lad had come true. I was actually living my own version of my hero Jacques Cousteau. Sometimes it’s true: “If you can dream it, you can do it.” It was around this time that I started speaking with a wonderful woman at the Cousteau Society named Sandy Bond, who headed up their Research and Communications at their headquarters in Virginia. She was excited about all of the marine science education programs I had developed for schools and asked me if I wanted to serve as a Cousteau Society Ambassador for Children. I was thrilled to serve in that capacity for several years. I provided slideshows of my diving adventures and gave out free
Top photo: Paxti Pastor takes a dive with students during his time producing children’s marine science videos with the Christa McAuliffe Fellowship Grant. Bottom photo: Paxti and New England school students hit the pool during a visit to the Bahamas.
copies of the Cousteau’s Dolphin Log kids magazine to enthralled students. A very special encounter happened during one of these school presentations at the Green Farms Academy in Westport, Connecticut, when a teacher introduced me to a young student who wanted to meet me. It was Philippe Cousteau Jr., Jacques Cousteau’s grandson. That began a wonderful friendship, which included home visits from Philippe, his mother Jan and sister Alexandra. By that point in my life, I had realized the power of the underwater footage I was GuyHarvey.com | 35
EDUCATION Paxti Pastor dons his equipment to pose with his Scuba Guides International truck.
producing and how it could inspire people to care about and protect the marine animals and their habitat. I continued producing and using my footage for a lot of cause-related marketing campaigns on the oceans and nationally televised programs, including E! Television; Extra; Access Hollywood; the Earth Day special hosted by Paul Newman and Joanne Woodward; Year of the Dolphin, hosted by George C. Scott; and the Children and the Sea adventure series pilot I created, which was hosted by supermodel Niki Taylor. Life was perfect. Almost. It was around that time that I found myself sitting on the tarmac in Miami getting ready to fly back to the cold of New England. I had been diving in the beautiful blue, warm waters of the Keys with my longtime friend Frazier Nivens, a seven-time Emmy Award-winning underwater cameraman, as we filmed the legendary Captain Spencer Slate’s “Creature Feature Dive” in Key Largo. Then, I had one of those “aha!” moments. I decided, I’m moving to the Keys. Four weeks later, in December of 2005, I was roaring southbound toward Key Largo with all of my 36 | GuyHarvey.com
worldly belongings in tow. I have called Florida home ever since. When I arrived, the scene was pretty grim. After several major hurricanes, the community was just trying to survive with little to no tourism. My dive buddies were finding it hard to support their families. Over some fresh Key’s fish and libations, the conversations turned to the idea of whether I could help the community by producing a major music festival that could bring folks back to the Keys to help spark the economy again. As a result, I came up with the idea of creating the Celebration of the Sea Music & Film Festival, which I produced at Rowell’s Marina in Key Largo in July of 2005. More than 10,000 people attended the event, which included a Harley Davidson fashion show featuring several Victoria’s Secret models, live performances by Aerosmith front man Steven Tyler, rock legend Chuck Berry, rap pioneer DMC, Skunk Baxter of the Doobie Brothers, and Barry Goudreau and Fran Sheehan, the founding members of the band Boston. During the festival, we had touch tanks and an ocean pavilion for kids and families, helping the local
nonprofits get the ocean conservation message out to the public. Through the amazing success and popularity of the festival, my Celebration of the Sea Foundation was born, and subsequent iterations included the Blues Brothers playing live on South Beach, hosted by Judy Belushi. The purpose of the Foundation is to engage, educate and inspire people around the world to protect the ocean and the world’s natural resources. A specific focus of all our initiatives is to develop resilient communities and promote STREAM (Science, Technology, Resiliency, Engineering, Arts & Music) education while focusing on female and minority role models and promoting career paths in these respective industries. Shortly after the festival, we went on to help create The Miami Beach High School Academy of Marine and Environmental Science (AMES) and The Miami Beach High School SCUBA Club. Both offer full scholarships for underprivileged students provided by the U.S. Navy. A little over a year ago, I collaborated with my friend Victor Nappe to create an underwater 3D film experience of the Lady Luck and Okinawa
PHOTOS COURTESY OF PAXTI PASTOR
MISSION RESOLVE
artificial reef shipwrecks. We launched it at the Riptide Music Festival to a crowd of 30,000 attendees on Fort Lauderdale Beach. One of the people who took notice was the owner and founder of Resolve Marine, Joseph E. Farrell Jr. In addition to building Resolve Marine into one of the world’s leading marine salvage and maritime emergency environmental response companies, Joe also has a passion for marine science and maritime education. He has long been known for his generous philanthropic support of public schools in Broward County, Florida, and Nantucket, where he summers. When we met, Joe and I quickly realized we shared a lot of common passions, especially those centered on marine science education and humanitarian work. As a result, we cofounded the Mission Resolve Foundation in July of 2020. A month later, Hurricane Dorian ravaged the Bahamas, so we focused all of our attention on humanitarian support for the Bahamian community. We worked with our good friend Oneil Kosa, the CEO of Bahamas Paradise Cruise Line, to help sponsor and activate three humanitarian cruises to Grand Bahama aboard the Grand Celebration Cruise Liner. The first trip evacuated more than 1,400 hurricane victims from Grand Bahama with free passage. Subsequent cruises brought desperately needed food, water and relief supplies. We then turned our attention to providing fresh water for Grand Bahama as the storm surge had completely compromised their drinking water. With the support of a major grant from the Red Cross, we are proud to continue working in collaboration with Mercy Corps by providing up to 15,000 gallons of fresh water every day to the Grand Bahama community. The NFL’s Miami Dolphins sponsored one of our earliest humanitarian missions, and they helped Mission Resolve donate and distribute 300 generators and tons of relief supplies. Rob Kornahrens, the CEO and Founder of Advanced Roofing, joined us on this humanitarian mission with the Dolphins, and he provided new roofs to more than 40 homes on Abaco. Rob is a longtime philanthropic leader in the Broward Community and shares
our passion for marine science education. For educate and engage students. A major component years, he has worked extensively with the Guy of the program is that it provides amazing free Harvey Ocean Foundation (GHOF) and resources and virtual field trips for teachers and Guy Harvey Research Institute at NOVA students, and it helps to fund teacher workshops Southeastern University. Rob and accreditation. More than envisioned a partnership between $100,000 in scholarships has Mission Resolve and the GHOF already been awarded to in-need and encouraged me to meet with students pursuing marine and Steve Roden, Guy Harvey’s maritime career paths. CEO to discuss the possibility For me, a grown-up kid whose of working together on K–12 passion for the oceans has only education. gotten stronger over the years, Without realizing it, we I’ve realized that just exploring had assembled a dream team and experiencing the sea is not — Mission Resolve, GHOF, enough. Ultimately, sharing Rob Kornahrens, Joe Farrell, that beauty and educating kids Guy Harvey, Steve Roden and about the value of protecting our others who have now joined precious waters is what drives forces on a Virtual Marine me and gives me purpose. From Education Program (VMEP). those wondrous childhood days Patxi Pastor The VMEP has quickly grown on the beach in Spain to my into an extraordinary project life now working with amazing that couldn’t have come at a marine conservationists, I have more important time with the complications truly been blessed to have so many wonderful of the COVID-19 pandemic and the pressing mentors along the way and to continue a challenges that teachers, schools and parents face lifelong journey following my passion and as they desperately seek better online resources to achieving my dreams.
Ultimately, sharing that beauty and educating kids about the value of protecting our precious waters is what drives me and gives me purpose.
Paxti Pastor, here swimming with a nurse shark, has also used his influence to help with humanitarian missions to the Bahamas.
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EDUCATION
ALWAYS BE EXPLORING BY GUY HARVEY
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T
he travel ban imposed in March instantly created the long-awaited opportunity for me to get started on writing a new book. From previous experience, I knew it would take around three months to do the manuscript, requiring an extended period of uninterrupted time researching and writing. My first autobiography, Portraits from the Deep, was completed in early 2002, and so I picked up the story then and recounted the different fishing, diving and research expeditions undertaken by the GH team since then. In the course of doing this over long periods of time, particularly when working with long-lived species like sharks, rays
and groupers, there are measurable changes in fish populations. Some changes are bad, such as the continued annihilation of sharks for the fin trade, and some are good, such as the recovery of some species of grouper, white seabass and the introduction of more fish sanctuaries and marine parks. The ban on importation of billfish into the USA is a major legislative achievement, closing off the main market for billfish and other loopholes. The narrative for my new book is about 110,000 words and will be liberally illustrated with my artwork of action jump shots as well as underwater photos. The book is currently being edited, and the goal is to have it completed in early 2021.
COVID-19
Meanwhile, during the shutdown, my painting continued through the productive avenue of our Facebook Live sessions on Tuesdays and Saturdays from my home studio here in Grand Cayman. The larger format paintings were best suited for this exercise during which we talk about different art styles, art media and the life history behind each species being discussed. My daughter, Jessica, has done a wonderful job hosting the series of FB live chats, and we’ve reached more than 3 million viewers. I never imagined that this would be possible, but the pandemic forced us to look at new ways to get our conservation message out. I turned my full attention back to art production in June, concentrating on a series of new fish designs for our line of apparel focusing on freshwater species of trout and salmon. Then I began working on tropical reef species. As the pandemic continued and limited our ability to execute scientific expeditions to other countries, we made use of the added time at home to be even more productive. The best part was when the authorities in Grand Cayman lifted the ban on boating, fishing and diving. After being restricted to land, we appreciated being out on the water more than ever. The famous Stingray City was closed, but we worked with the Department of Environment to allow us to perform our biannual stingray survey. I was quite curious to see how the stingrays were faring after three months of not being fed by tour operators. Fortunately, we found the population to be thriving, and interestingly, the rays were noticeably darker. We speculated that because stingrays are naturally nocturnal, they had changed their feeding patterns and were not spending daylight hours in the sun on the shallow sandbar. They had returned to their more natural darker colour. With the airport still closed in September, we made the 80-mile trek from Grand Cayman to Little Cayman and experienced amazing diving on Bloody Bay Wall and other incredible sites. Fish populations seemed healthier, especially Nassau grouper, and we logged a lot of underwater video footage for future Virtual Field Trips as part of our Education Initiative. One downside to the lack of sport diving is that the lionfish are also back. As difficult as it has been to live under stay-athome restrictions, I encourage everyone to make best use of this time to be creative productively. Stay well and healthy. Fish responsibly, and dive safely. GuyHarvey.com | 39
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#VisitMSResponsibly GuyHarvey.com | 41
WASTING AWAY Stony Coral Disease STORY AND PHOTOS BY NICK HONACHEFSKY
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ILLUSTRATIONS BY VLADAYOUNG / ISTOCK / GETTY IMAGES PLUS
STONY CORAL
A nebulous, insidious and seemingly unstoppable anomaly is wiping out the very existence of coral reefs in Florida and possibly worldwide — stony coral disease — and it’s spreading. There is no known cure, but Mote Marine Lab in Summerland Key is playing a big part in trying to come up with a solution to stop the threat. I took a visit to the Mote Marine Lab to understand what is transpiring and the steps being taken to quell the impending coral pandemic. GuyHarvey.com | 43
THE PROBLEM So what is stony coral disease? “It’s not coral bleaching, it’s much more serious,” says Allison Delashmit, Community Relations Manager of Mote Marine Lab. “We do not know what it is. It’s not the usual ‘bleaching,’ where coral turns white but not necessarily dead. In stony coral disease, the white means dead tissue. The coral is deceased and cannot come back to life. It was originally found in 2014 on coral reefs in Virginia Key, where the inception of the disease spread through Miami and down into the Keys, and it seemingly has stalled right now at the Seven Mile Bridge area. The disease kills the coral outright. We are not sure where it came from — possibly raw sewage combined with heated water and dredging to combine for the perfect storm.” In April 2018, divers reported contamination in hallowed Looe Key, and scientists believe it is bacterial in nature as it seemingly responds to amoxicillin treatment. “The thing is that nobody knows if disease spread is waterborne, i.e. through parrotfish transmission, sea currents or some other mechanism, but we are already starting to see its spread in the Caribbean,” states Delashmit.
THE STOPGAP PLAN A few stopgaps have slowed the spread so far. “Currently, we have found that if we dig a ‘fire trench’ in the coral, in essence a demarcation line on the coral heads, it slows the spread of the disease and prevents it from jumping over to kill the entire coral head,” she states. Slowing the spread is the first goal, but the ultimate plan is to eradicate the disease altogether, and there are beacons of hope. “Scientists are sharing studies amongst each other, which is groundbreaking in the community, and we are all growing coral completely resistant to disease now, so there is some light at the end of the tunnel. But it’s going to be an undetermined period of trial and error.”
“...We are all growing coral completely resistant to disease now, so there is some light at the end of the tunnel.” Allison Delashmit, Community Relations Manager of Mote Marine Lab
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STONY CORAL
CORAL GROWING
Nick Honachefsky and Allison Delashmit check in on the “coral nursery” at Mote Marine Lab in Summerland Key. These submerged specimens will one day help repopulate reefs damaged by stony coral disease.
Mote Marine scientists, along with the help and funding of NOAA, are growing coral in contained submerged units at the marine lab to test and repopulate the reefs. Currently, a robust coral growth operation is underway. “For what takes 100 years to grow in the wild, we can grow in two years,” says Delashmit. “We are engaging in massive coral growth in-house up to 1 inch per year. We cut the coral, which needs to repair itself, like a healing cut on your body, it grows 40 times faster than in the wild.” The process is called microfragmentation, where 1 centimeter size pieces of coral are glued to ceramic plugs to adhere to and thrive on a submerged platform. In essence, it’s like raising babies in a nursery. But there are serious issues in the growing and replanting process. “One of the major challenges is that coral will only fuse together if from the same genotype,” says Cody Engelsma, Coral Sexual Reproduction Specialist at Mote. “We can’t just work with one piece of coral to grow colonies. We need diverse genotypes, so if one genotype gets wiped out, infected, others will survive. And that makes it a tedious task. We engage in the process of taking the gamete bundles, separate the sperm and eggs with a fine mesh cup; then, polyps find a settlement site to root for life. When planted, we scrape the halos around the coral to grow and hopefully not get outcompeted by surrounding algae.” Currently, there are more than 30,000 baby corals on-site getting ready to be replanted on the reefs to try their hand at life. GuyHarvey.com | 45
STONY CORAL
“Once a coral grows its skeleton, we can transfer them, create duplicates, and cut them to grow more for replanting in the wild.” Dakota Merck, Mote Staff Biologist
The growing of coral colonies is an arduous task as a four person team at Mote Marine cuts the coral, maintains tanks, plants the coral and monitors the growth. The “matchmaking” in the wild is truly a monumental hope, wishing on a wing and a couple of prayers. “Coral reproduce only once a year on the August full moon, after midnight, and only in a five-day window,” says Engelsma. Dr. Hannah Cook manages the spawning program as she is the “matchmaker” assessing genetic favorability for coral polyp growth. Cook’s biologists go out to the reefs and collect eggs and sperm to bring back and grow. In the wild, natural coral reproduction has only a one-in-a-million chance once every 25 years to happen, so the challenge to grow resistant or healthy coral is gargantuan. “The plugs which coral are grown on in the lab are ceramic, as coral polyps adhere better 46 | GuyHarvey.com
than cement due to the PH and algae growth on cement,” says Engelsma. Dakota Merck, Mote staff biologist, is responsible for cutting the coral polyps and gluing them to plugs. “Coral larvae land on the plugs, where we spray a halo around each one, making sure algae doesn’t take root,” says Merck. “Once a coral grows its skeleton, we can transfer them, create duplicates and cut them to grow more for replanting in the wild.” Permits are secured from NOAA and FWC to replant corals on the existing reefs. The “coral babies” are affixed to specially designed “coral trees” built with PVC pipes that offer better waterflow when suspended, allowing thickets of coral colonies to repopulate when planted. To date, over 100 coral trees have been deployed in Looe Key and 50 in Key West. The results have generally been positive so far. The ultimate goal is to “reskin” the reef area and grow stony disease strain-resistant coral that will thrive for generations to come.
The coral nurseries are made up of coral polyps that grow around ceramic plugs. These small “coral babies” are then affixed to PVC pipes to create “coral trees,” which can then be replanted in the ocean.
ILLUSTRATIONS BY VLADAYOUNG / ISTOCK / GETTY IMAGES PLUS
REPLANTING
RESCUING CORALS
THE PROJECTION The frustrating task at hand is two-fold. First, scientists need to identify just what exactly the disease is and where it is spawned from. Second, to grow and repopulate dead or dying coral is paramount to replenishing the species so as not to put coral grown after years of study and care to simply be wiped out again. The immediacy and direness of the situation has brought in many partners who seek to get involved with the initiative. Dr. Michael P. Crosby, Mote President and CEO, shared Mote’s plans to build an additional landbased coral nursery on the property of famed Bud N’ Mary’s Marina in Islamorada in the Upper Keys — the first of its kind in Islamorada. “We’ve been incredibly successful with our efforts in the Lower Keys, but to meet the urgent demand of restoring our rapidly declining reef, we must double our operations and capacity to serve additional parts of the reef tract.” Sara Stanczyk of Bud N’ Mary’s elaborates, “The set up will be an outside marine nursery along our beachfront; a runway of tanks growing coral fragments. It’s a one-of-a-kind set up. We are all trying to do our part to protect our reefs.” Will it all work in the long run to eradicate stony coral disease and replenish the coral reefs? Only time will tell.
Dr. Abby Renegar at Nova Southeastern University is in charge of the Florida Coral Disease Rescue Project. “In 2014, an unidentified disease was observed and spread to the Florida reef tracts, south of Miami into the lower Keys in 2018 affecting 25 out of the 45 stony coral species now,” notes Renegar. “It’s a strange pattern in that you can have two corals of the same species right next to each other; one dies and one is completely untouched. We need to figure out why that is. It’s scary that we are seeing 50% to 90% reduction in abundance of certain species and because of the severity, onethird of coral species may go extinct. That’s why we have taken initiative with the rescue project.” In collaboration with FWC, NOAA, DEP, NOVA, MOTE, ASA and other agencies, there are two main goals set for the program. “First, the immediate goal is to neutralize the threat and prevent ecological extinction by collecting disease free corals to maintain genetic diversity for restoration,” states Renegar. “Secondly, we assist in reproduction of corals. They have never been kept in captivity before, and we are learning what is needed environmentally to reproduce corals in captivity. Eventually, with successful reproduction and growth, we will take the offspring and transplant them back to the reef.” In the local media, the project has been termed “Noah’s Ark” referencing taking species of coral and putting them in a safe space to insure their survival. Renegar adds, “We are currently seeing some spawn in captivity, though there is a lack of information on the mode of reproductions so it is our best educated guesses as to getting continuous successful reproduction. If we can get corals to reproduce in an ex situ environment, we can get a better understanding about their biology to grow and save them. We’re learning things nobody has ever breached before in science, and I think that’s pretty exciting.” Under the rescue program, there are 59 rescue sites with 1,852 colonies presently under care. Facilities housing corals and updated data can be found at myfwc.maps.arcgis.com/apps/ opsdashboard/index.html#/ eba7dc2cabc64f60819e6d4b084d94cd. Updated information and maps on the spread can be found at floridakeys.noaa.gov/coral-disease/ disease.html. GuyHarvey.com | 47
S U S TA I N A B L E A P PA R E L BY GREG JACOSKI, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, GUY HARVEY OCEAN FOUNDATION PHOTOS BY GEORGE C. SCHELLENGER
L
ike a lot of manufacturing industries, apparel has rarely been a bastion of environmental sustainability. Producing garments like T-shirts requires a significant amount of energy to run heavy machinery. Fabrics are often shipped around the world during the production process, which increases the carbon footprint. Dyes and chemicals used to treat the fabrics are often discharged into the environment as wastewater. In some countries, human rights might be sacrificed in order to deliver a cheaper product. So when a man who has built his life around sustainability — both personally and professionally — is looking to develop the latest generation of his clothing line,
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minimizing the impact on the natural environment, while still delivering a comfortable, durable, quality product, is first and foremost. Guy Harvey has been focused on sustainability long before the first Guy Harvey T-shirt hit the shelves in 1986. Growing up on the island of Jamaica, his mother was a naturalist who raised him and his siblings to observe the balance and harmony in the world around them. This focus inspired Guy to draw and paint the plants and animals he observed and led him to pursue a Ph.D. in marine biology. As Guy’s career path shifted from marine biology to that of a commercial artist, it was only natural that sustainability became a cornerstone of his business.
SUSTAINABILITY
More than 50,000 solar panels power the Guy Harvey apparel facility.
From that first Guy Harvey T-shirt, the apparel collection expanded to cover a wide selection of beach and casual wear for the entire family. There are also resorts, jewelry, home goods, gift items, this magazine, a line of Ford pickup trucks and even a cruise ship, just to name a few items that feature Guy’s authentic artwork. Yet no matter the product, Guy keeps the focus on sustainability by requiring a portion of the proceeds from the sale of any Guy Harvey product to benefit the marine conservation work of the Guy Harvey Ocean Foundation (GHOF). These funds have helped enact significant
conservation measures on some of the ocean’s most ecologically and economically important species, such as marlin, sharks and reef fish. As proud as Guy is of his conservation efforts, the latest generation of Guy Harvey apparel is taking the focus on sustainability even further by ensuring that all Guy Harvey clothing is developed and produced using some of the most environmentally friendly processes available. The new Guy Harvey apparel manufacturing facility is on the cutting-edge of sustainable industrial processes. From start to finish, the goal is to reduce the negative impacts on the
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The inner sanctum of the massive apparel factory
More panels capture solar power.
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environment as much as possible. The facility is powered through an array of more than 54,907 solar panels that harness the sun’s energy to power the machines inside. This renewable energy source prevents more than 12,000 metric tons of carbon dioxide from entering the atmosphere each year. That’s the equivalent savings of consuming 1.35 million gallons of gas! Also, 100% of water and steam for dyeing comes from these powergenerating units, meaning no extra fuel oil is consumed for any textile purposes. Taking this focus on renewable energy even further, the Guy Harvey apparel manufacturing facility continually explores the science behind biofuels and utilizing carbon neutral energy from natural sources, such as coconut husks, wood and elephant grass. By continuing to invest in biofuel, we will be able to further reduce the amount of greenhouse gasses that directly impact climate change. Additional energy-eďŹƒcient solutions used in this manufacturing facility include upgrades to the lighting system, sensors and power strips, plus intelligent programmable electronic thermostats. The fabrics generated by this sustainable power include the latest in sustainably sourced materials. The locally sourced materials can be traced directly to its origin. Local
SUSTAINABILITY
FROM START TO FINISH, THE GOAL IS TO REDUCE THE NEGATIVE IMPACTS ON THE ENVIRONMENT AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE.
Literally millions of shirts are produced using the most environmentally sensitive methods.
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SUSTAINABILITY
ANY WATER RELEASED FROM THE FACILITY AND PUT BACK INTO THE ENVIRONMENT IS SO CLEAN, IT IS SAFE ENOUGH TO DRINK.
Above: A new shirt’s vibrant colors hot off the press. Right: Technicians monitor every step of the process.
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sourcing reduces the fuels necessary to transport the materials to the manufacturing facility and allows Guy Harvey apparel to deliver the softest, most comfortable fibers available. The Guy Harvey apparel manufacturing company also reached a pivotal milestone in 2018 in its goal to support sustainable manufacturing practices by receiving REPREVE’s Champions of Sustainability Award. This award recognizes sustainability strategies and efforts geared toward protecting the environment. Billions of plastic bottles go into landfills and oceans every year. REPREVE is made from 100% recycled materials and is integrated into apparel, footwear and in many other products where virgin polyester is replaced, helping keep some of those plastic bottles out of the landfill and oceans. Since the launch of REPREVE, more than 12 billion plastic bottles have been recycled with the aim to recycle 30 billion plastic bottles by 2022. Once the fibers are sourced and the fabric is produced, the dying process has historically been a black-eye on the apparel industry. In some operations, as much as 200 tons of water can be used to dye one ton of fabric. The
Jessica Harvey shows off “wastewater” that has been thoroughly cleaned through advanced filtration systems before being released.
majority of this water is returned to nature as toxic waste, containing residual dyes and hazardous chemicals. However, the Guy Harvey apparelmanufacturing facility maintains an on-site wastewater treatment facility to clean the water used in the production process. Residues from the wastewater are removed and are repurposed for fertilizers and used in yarns for sock and towel production. Any water released from the facility and put back into the environment is so clean, it is safe enough to drink.
Even beyond the green energy and ecofriendly fabrics, Guy Harvey maintains a social responsibility to provide employees in the manufacturing facility a safe and clean place to work. This commitment to its employees has led Guy Harvey apparel to be certified as a “Great Place to Work” since 2016. From the machines that are powered using solar energy to the scientific research that is funded through the sale of the apparel, sustainability is a cornerstone of Guy Harvey — the man and the apparel. GuyHarvey.com | 53
AMOS NOCHOUM A P H OTO P O RT F O L I O
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To see more of Amos Nachoum’s photography, visit BigAnimals.com GuyHarvey.com | 55
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Left to right, top to bottom, from previous page: Hammerhead Shark: The schooling phenomena of the hammerhead is still not clear to science, but it is an event that attracts many ocean lovers to Cocos Island and the Galapagos. Great White Shark and Diver: Legendary great white shark wrangler Andre Hartman and I take a safe and free dive outside the cage in South Africa. Amos Protract: With my Red camera in hand, I have dedicated my career to documenting the life of threatened and endangered wildlife, both for preservation and for conservation.
Sailfish Predation: Once a year, between January and March, sailfish arrive off the coast of the Yucatan peninsula to feed on the Brazilian sardine.The event is fast, colorful, demanding — and greatly rewarding.
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Left: Humpback Whales: A mother humpback whale swims with her calf in the warm and clear waters off Tonga. This 45-foot long mother helps her week-old newborn to the surface to help it breathe more easily. Right: Polar Bear Family: I spotted this family of polar bears off in the distance as they swam from one iceberg to the next.To get the shot, I stayed in one place treading water before the curious family came out for a visit.
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Left: Leopard Seal and Gentoo Penguin: Leopard seals in Antarctica prey on penguin in a very elaborate way. First they snatch them from a shallow lagoon, carry them into deep water to drown them, let them go, chase them again on shore, catch the penguin, then do the entire process all over again. Top Right: Walrus and Calf: Although walruses are big and heavy, they are amazing divers and, like all mammals, will tenderly care for their young. Bottom Right: Bengal Tiger: India is doing good work to protect the dwindling habitat of the Bengal tiger. The creation of the national park and an investment in ecotourism will support the current tiger population for future generations.
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Left: Breaching Great White Shark: In addition to having powerful jaws, the great white shark has the ability to ambush seals by leaping out of the water. This activity takes place only in the early morning and late afternoon, when the angle of the sun over the horizon is so small that the amount of light entering the water is limited. Middle: Lone Walrus: This old male, around 80 or 90 years old, knew it was the end of his life and left the colony to die alone. Right: Mobula Rays: These rays are small, only 3 to 4 feet wide, but they arrive in the thousands to feed in the rich waters off Baja.This pattern of wildlife is mesmerizing to the eye, but it was a challenge to get under the mob.
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Top Left: King Penguins: A group of around 250,000 penguins gather on the Salisbury Plain on South Georgia Island near the artic.They are wonderfully colored, but it can be a bit smelly and noisy. Bottom Left: Pilot Whale Pod: These mammals travel and socialize in big groups, which is different compared to other whales.These pods can become so large that they can chase away pods of larger Orca. Right: The Tail of a Blue Whale: The largest animal to live on our planet, blue whales can reach a length of 100 feet and a weight of 280 tons. Its heart is as big as a small car, and its tail is over 20 feet across. I snapped this shot as the whale slept on the surface.
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STREAMING Guy Harvey with a shortfin mako shark
Prime Time Guy Harvey Stream Guy with Amazon Prime
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f you find yourself at home tonight hungry for a great wildlife documentary, the Guy Harvey team is ready to serve up an expedition. You can even have a Guy Harvey version of Shark Week … if you know where to look. And it’s easy — just ask Alexa. Guy Harvey documentaries are available on Amazon Prime and iTunes — everything from Guy’s expeditions to Panama’s Tropic Star Lodge, to the research that helped change regulations to reduce the fishing pressure on shortfin mako sharks in the Atlantic. George C. Schellenger, the producer of Guy Harvey Expeditions says, “We wanted the opportunity to get the content in front of as many people as possible, and we felt like Amazon Prime Video was a great way to do it. You can watch it when and where you want. With more than 15 documentaries currently available, you can even binge-watch Guy Harvey.” You’ll find season one of Guy Harvey Expeditions on Amazon Prime Video. The series was featured on Discovery’s Destination America Network. This includes programs like Tiger Shark Express (breakthrough tiger shark tracking in the Atlantic), Aliens from the Deep (about the lionfish invasion) and Billfish of North America. Schellenger says, “One of my favorite documentaries is Giants of the Gulf, a fascinating look at the whale sharks off the coast of the Yucatan. It’s an incredible place to go, and the documentary really gives 66 | GuyHarvey.com
“Alexa, show me Guy Harvey Expeditions on Amazon Prime.”
Jessica and Guy Harvey in Cuba
you a feel for what it’s like being on expedition with Guy Harvey.” There’s also a lot of content featuring Guy’s most recent expeditions — including This is Your Ocean: Sharks – Part 2 and This is Their Ocean: Sea of Life. You can even take a trip to Cuba with Guy and his daughter, Jessica Harvey, and follow In the Footsteps of Ernest Hemingway. If you’re heading to the Cayman Islands, don’t miss Stingray City, a documentary about the most popular marine wildlife interactive zone in the world — right off the coast of Grand Cayman. Schellenger says, “From whale sharks to white marlin, each film works to document the research underway by the Guy Harvey Ocean Foundation and the Guy Harvey Research Institute. It’s also fun to see how Guy’s artwork ties into it all. There’s so much, even a program about how Guy created the hull artwork for the cruise ship
Norwegian Escape for Norwegian Cruise Line. In fact, if you’re ever on the cruise ship Norwegian Escape, you can watch the Guy Harvey Channel and sample a lot of the content.” For more than a decade, Schellenger has been in the field with Guy working to show the world Guy’s efforts to help marine life. “Many of the stories are told over a long period of time, providing viewers a look at the difference dedicated field research makes. Having this instant outlet allows you to take part in the work and meet the scientists making it happen.” Part of the proceeds from sales of the films goes back into the research. The films not only focus on each adventure but also marine science education as well — making for great family viewing. So remember, your next great adventure could be as easy as saying, “Alexa, show me Guy Harvey Expeditions on Amazon Prime.” GuyHarvey.com | 67
STREAMING
‘SHARK SCHOOL WITH JESSICA HARVEY’ ON AMAZON PRIME VIDEO WINS PRAISE FROM KIDS FIRST! The critics have spoken: “5 out of 5 stars” — that’s what some of the youngsters from KIDS FIRST! are saying about Guy’s newest educational documentary Shark School with Jessica Harvey, now available on Amazon Prime Video. The Coalition for Quality Children’s Media reviewed the film in May, ranking it as an “All Star” — the group’s highest rating. Founder and President of KIDS FIRST! The Coalition for Quality Children’s Media, Ranny Levy says, “KIDS FIRST! has a long history with the excellent work of the Guy Harvey Ocean Foundation and supports the outstanding films they have produced over the years. Their latest one, Shark School with Jessica Harvey, really stands out as one that we feel should be viewed by every middle and high school student in the country. There is such a pressing need to educate the public about the importance of protecting our marine life and oceans, and this film does exactly that.” Shark School was created in part because so many families were staying home due to the worldwide outbreak of COVID-19, and Guy wanted to create more content for students. Over the past several months, Guy and Jessica Harvey have been focused on education for families delivered in a variety of ways — including Amazon, Facebook Live and YouTube. Some families have even joined for every live event. Shark School with Jessica Harvey continues the focus on marine science education for students of all ages. In the 24-minute film, available for streaming on Amazon Video Prime, students travel with the world with Guy’s daughter, Jessica, and learn about more than a dozen sharks. 68 | GuyHarvey.com
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Chubs and rainbow runners
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DESTINATIONS
FADS AND FLOTSAM THE FLOATING DEBRIS THAT FISH LOVE STORY BY AND PHOTOS COURTESY OF BILL BOYCE
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aking to smooth eastern tropical Pacific seas, the 240foot super seiner makes its initial 360-degree slow turn, scanning the horizon for birds and splashes before committing to a course to start the day’s search for tuna. It’s been 34 days at sea, and half of the 1,200-ton fish capacity has been caught with lots more to go before this vessel heads back to port. The helicopter is summoned to take its first flight of the day, and I hop in the back seat to help the fish spotter and pilot find a school of fish to “make the day.” The Hughes 500 C model lifts off the pilot house deck, and a cloud-filled sky greets us as we rise to 800 feet. Being in a chopper on a fine morning like this — some 1,000 miles offshore of Costa Rica — is a feeling few will ever experience. For 12 years, I was a fish biologist for the Inter-American Tropical Tuna Commission. I worked on commercial super tuna seiners to ascertain multitudes of data on fish populations, density, distribution and range,
and associated species pertaining to porpoise concentrations, flotsam aggregations and school fish populations. When you hear the phrase: “it’s not just a job … it’s an adventure” — know that this job was all adventure. We’re 45 minutes into a two-hour flight, and the navigator’s voice fills our ears in our headsets. “Seeing bird targets on the highly sensitive bird radar all over the screen … could be a busy day boys.” He then commands us to run 195 degrees on our chopper’s compass because 6.7 miles away is a good bird concentration. We arrive and see the commotion, but it’s just flying fish being chased by a few hundred dorado. We are then told to run 240 degrees for 8 miles to another “bogie.” Approaching this target, the splashes and breezers immediately tell us it’s a porpoise/dolphin school that has found some deep bait, and the yellowfin tuna have helped herd it to the surface where a massive feast is now in progress. Years before, this school would have been encircled with our mile
long net, the dolphin released in a backdown procedure and the yellowfin brailed onboard. Not today. After 1991 and the marketing decision of the international tuna canneries to go “dolphin safe” in their harvest techniques, this school of fish is now off limits. With 30 minutes left in the flight, we hear the command to come 345 degrees on the compass and head that way for 7.2 miles. Lots of life has been seen this flight, and we are just hoping for something to make the trip worthwhile. At last — eureka! — we found it: a large piece of rope discarded from an oceangoing tanker, and around it is a circle of radiant blue that becomes a large school of dorado as we survey the vicinity. Hundreds of brown sharks surround the area, and a large area of deep “shiners” — which indicates tuna at depth as they flash and turn in an amoeboid shape of pure fish — resides with this flotsam. This find is fair game, and we immediately tell the vessel to head this way. GuyHarvey.com | 71
DESTINATIONS
WHY THE ASSOCIATION? Mariners and anglers have marveled for centuries at the amount of oceanic life that associates with floating debris. It can be mats of Sargasso weed collecting in the currents, or kelp paddies that form once the holdfast root system breaks away to become a floating hotel that swings more offshore in each passing tide. Or flotsam, such as we found, can be manmade: a wood pallet, a rope or a submerged boat that still has enough bow flotation to keep it at the surface. Then there’s more natural terrestrial types of flotsam, like trees that have been cut from tropical rain forests or merely uprooted in tropical storms. They make it from river to estuary to open sea, along the way collecting a variety of fish like a pied piper: small bait fish, jacks, dorado, tuna, billfish, sharks. This creates a diverse population of piscatorial assemblage that all use their piece of flotsam as their newly found “spatial orientation.” From it, they launch daily feeding sorties; at night, it becomes a dense commingling congregation. Just about anything, manmade or not, that drifts along in the ocean will attract fish. The ones that we design and build are simply called Fish Aggregating Devices or FADs. An amazing study by Dr. Kim Holland, who works out of the Coconut Island Marine Lab in Oahu, Hawaii, uses radio beacons on tagged tunas. The study found small yellowfin and skipjack tunas would leave the FADs in the morning hours and go as far as 15 miles away during the day on “hunting expeditions” before returning to the FAD each night. This shows us the amazing navigation these fish possess and their schooling behavior in using flotsam as a “common ground” fortress from which to live. WHAT ARE THE MOST COMMON FISH TO BE FOUND? Depending on latitude, longitude, water temps, time of year and moon phase, fish types can vary a lot. In the eastern tropical Pacific latitudes I typically worked — say from the equator to the 15 degree north latitude, and from 20 miles out to 1,500 72 | GuyHarvey.com
miles offshore — these warm year-round waters held yellowfin and bigeye tuna, oceanic and black skipjack, frigate tuna, small amberjack, dorado, wahoo, blue marlin, black marlin, silky sharks, Galapagos sharks, oceanic whitetip sharks and a multitude of forage species of pelagic triggerfish, scads, mackerel, triple tail and flying fish. As you head farther north in the Pacific off Baja and Southern California, the species diversity is dramatically reduced to yellowfin, skipjack and in some years, albacore tunas, dorado, yellowtail jacks, small mackerel such as Pacific and jack mackerel, sardines, and the occasional blue shark or mako. In the Atlantic and Caribbean Sargasso weed lines, the variety is most commonly made up of dorado, wahoo, small amberjacks, triple tail, blackfin, yellowfin, oceanic skipjack and the occasional blue marlin. The moon phase can play a role in the concentration of deep meso-pelagic bait species of sardines, anchovies and squid that are more prevalent in the upper pelagic layer during the full moon cycles. From a feeding perspective, these flotsam brethren take great advantage of the lunar cycles. WHAT MAKES A PIECE OF FLOTSAM MORE ATTRACTIVE THAN ANOTHER? When it comes to flotsam, it’s not only the size of it, but also the depth in which it floats. In addition, the
speed it floats can make the difference in a flotsam that collects fish and one that doesn’t. A larger size can make a larger “shade footprint,” which attracts baitfish hiding from predatory bird attacks. One with lots of branches can entangle trash and plastic when it’s found in a strong tide rip, and these items can help “slow” the drift speed. The slower a flotsam drifts, the easier it is to keep up with if you are a fish associated with it. The best natural flotsam pieces I have seen are trees that have been in the water for months or years and have become so water soaked that they float very low in the water, making them less susceptible to wind-generated locomotion. When they are covered with barnacles and gooseneck barnacle growth, their speed of drift is even more reduced. The deeper a flotsam hangs down in the water column, the more effective it can be for fish attraction. One time in the Gulf of Panama, we found a few Japanese long line buoys adrift together. There was no real attraction there except for the long deep heavy clump of monofilament line that had been inundated with heavy gooseneck barnacle growth for several hundred feet. Over the course of three sets on this flotsam, we caught almost 400 tons of skipjack tuna from it. In this case, the depth of its drift was more a factor in its fish aggregation effectiveness than its size or its shade.
Flotsam, manmade or natural, can attract a variety of fish species, such as (l to r) dorado, tripletail or silky sharks.
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DESTINATIONS
Boobies perch for a rest on a natural flotsam log. At left, a variety of fish species swarm around a manmade bamboo raft flotsam.
MAN MADE FLOTSAM – FISH AGGREGATING DEVICES – i.e. F.A.D.S. As commercial tuna fishermen were forced to find other methods of tuna harvest with the “Dolphin Safe” cannery decision, the need to perfect alternative ways to catch marketable fish was immediately thrown into their laps. Knowing the tonnage and year-round tuna fishery in the western tropical Pacific was already well established, commercial tuna fishing efforts in the eastern Pacific quickly adhered to creating the most effective types of flotsam and deploying them in the most productive currents and latitudes for fishing. Plywood sheets, wooden pallets and old pieces of tuna nets were used for FADS. These early commercial FADS were enhanced with a plastic 55-gallon drum attached to several CASAMAR floats that kept them from sinking, then they were drilled with 2-inch holes and filled with dead tuna to keep the baitfish active. Some were further modified 74 | GuyHarvey.com
by dragging a few 5 gallon buckets to act as inexpensive sea anchors to further slow the drift, dramatically helping the ability of their efforts to attract large quantities of marketable tuna. Not long after, governments from around the world started deploying their own FAD buoys and devices. FADS with anchored appendages soon were helping local fishermen find, catch and benefit from the fish found there. These devices would have an anchor, a chain and a floating apparatus to keep the offering in a vertical presentation. When deployed in commercial shipping lanes, the subsurface depth of the flotsam had to be pre-determined so that large ocean freighters wouldn’t take them away in their propellers, or become navigational hazards for smaller craft. These FADS have since become very popular and effective fish collecting tools, and both commercial and sport fishermen have saved many a day in the areas adjacent to their deployment.
THE WORLD'S MOST FAMOUS FLOTSAM FIELD With the immediate success discovered in the blue marlin offshore fishery off Costa Rica’s Pacific coast, many more subsurface FADS have been set, and the blue marlin fishing they’ve produced is currently second to none in the world. Is it the FADS attracting these marlin — or is it something else? No, as with the case of any other well-established blue marlin fishery, the presence of small tunas in consistent supply is what drives their success. FADS are always attracting the perfect sized bait tunas for these hungry marlin. Typically, black and oceanic skipjack from 2–10 pounds, as well as small yellowfin tuna, have made these FADS their “staging areas.” All flotsam is important to juvenile-sized and early year class tunas, both for aggregation and survival. “Security in numbers” as they say when you’re a small fish in a big ocean. Once these tunas
FROM THE LOCAL EXPERTS PERSPECTIVE
grow to a bigger size, they will leave the comfort and safety of the flotsam and become open water rangers the rest of their lives. Yellowfin will then begin associating with spotted and spinner dolphins, and bigeye tuna and oceanic skipjack will leave the flotsam to form large roving schools that roam the water column in search of any bait species they can find. FADS AND ECONOMIC SUCCESS With the active establishment of FADS off the coasts of many nations, we find a larger number of fish are now available for commercial and sport. Fish that historically may have just migrated through these areas now have a reason to stop, feed and stay a while. From this development, many fishermen have increased their catch, and sport fishermen now have instant targets in which to run to for fishing success in what previously might have been a non-productive habitat. What it all boils down to now is the management of not just the fishery but the type of fishing practices — and the rate of harvest a country will allow in its FAD areas. Densely populated areas are obviously more difficult to manage, but with more science collected and more FADS deployed, hopefully we as humans get ahead of this curve and make the best conservation decisions.
Todd Staley has fished and captained sport fishers in Costa Rican waters for the past 30 years. His knowledge and his respect of the resource and all those who utilize it made him the perfect person to be the Communications Director for FECOP, Federación Costarricense de Pesca, a great organization that works closely together with Costa Rican fisheries personnel to support sustainable management practices for the inshore/offshore fishery. He gave a history of the FAD fishery established off the Pacific Coast of Costa Rica and explained the dynamics between the various user groups. The first private FAD deployment by the sport fishing community was in 2012; since then, over 30 have been set in offshore waters ranging from 10 miles to over 100 miles offshore. It did not take long for fish to find and associate with these fish factories, and the news of the incredible marlin fishing found on, near and around them spread like wildfire. With that good news came issues, such as strife within the angling communities — but more specifically with the commercial industry. Sport anglers practice conservation with catch and release management while commercial vessels use every FAD they find to catch and kill their harvest with nets or hook and line techniques. This alone generates animosity that can become heated at times. These FADS are designed to perform their duties under the waves and are therefore set to depths below the surface to avoid detection other than by those with knowledge of the numbers. However, once the “numbers” are discovered, many of these FADS have fallen victim to piracy, not only of the fish associated but also with the entire FAD itself. A few of these are rumored to have been pulled out during purse seine operations in that vicinity. Some satellite tag studies currently are being conducted by Stanford University, but it’s been too early to extrapolate any definitive data from these tags. Blue marlin tend to be roaming into and out of the FAD areas with nothing clearly pointing to a resident “home” population of billfish being established due to the FADS. Should this phenomenon ever establish, these FADS could have significance as spawning areas, but it’s way too early to assume that is probable.There is no denial that the blue marlin fishing has dramatically been altered for the better with the placement of so many effective FADS offshore.
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CAMP MACK A F LOR I DA ORIGI NAL BY MARK ELLERT
DESTINATIONS
“It isn’t as it used to be in the old times. Then everybody traveled by steamboat …” wrote Mark Twain in his great American novel, Life on the Mississippi. And so it was for the Kissimmee River in Central Florida at the turn of the 19th century. With the end of the Seminole Wars, the opening of Florida to commercial trade had begun.
Bottom photo: Shell Hammock was a popular stop for steamboat travelers in need of a meal or a good night’s rest.
PHOTOS COURTESY OF GUY HARVEY OUTPOST
Top photo: Steamboats such as the Lillie frequented the winding and treacherous waters of the Kissimmee River during the late 1800s.
Soldiers, native Seminoles and hardy pioneers all looking to make a future or fortune settled along the winding Kissimmee, where steamboats and stallions connected the great watershed of Central Florida to the Gulf of Mexico. Fish camps, cow camps and trading outposts dotted the shorelines — the truck stops, convenience stores and motels of their day. In a stand of dense oak trees, offering welcome shade from Florida’s brutal summer sun, one such outpost arose on the north bank of Lake Kissimmee. It would become simply known as Camp Mack. Roughly a century later, it would become Camp Mack, a Guy Harvey Lodge, Marina and RV Resort. Established on the grounds of Fort Gardiner, once commanded by U.S. Army Col. and future 12th President of the United States Zachary Taylor, Camp Mack’s riverfront setting was well known among all who called the Kissimmee River home — especially among the colorful steamboat captains who kept the wheels of commerce turning ... paddle wheels to be clear. The headwaters of the majestic Everglades ecosystem are found in Kissimmee, Florida, first settled on the northwest shore of Lake Tohopekaliga, better known as “Lake Toho.” In 1881, almost a century before Walt Disney turned Kissimmee into a theme park juggernaut, another industrialist and real estate developer, Hamilton Disston of Philadelphia, purchased 4 million acres of Central Florida. In an area larger than Connecticut, and mostly swamp, Disston’s vision was to transform the Kissimmee River into another
Mississippi and create a “Florida Delta” rich in agriculture, ranching and trading. In exchange for dredging the southern half of Florida, the state had made him the country’s largest landowner. And in this sparsely populated settlement on the riverbank of Lake Toho, he staked out his next fortune, establishing a dredging operation that spawned the age of steamboats in Florida. The gilded age it was not. Travel along the Kissimmee River was a grueling, twisting journey for all. The steamboat captains who ran the dangerous waters were a resourceful group. Water levels often left boats stranded in tangles of vegetation requiring crews, and sometimes passengers, to pull the steamboats into deeper water. Once described as a “snake’s dream of heaven,” no boat nor captain was immune to the river’s danger, especially come nightfall when pitch dark surroundings made travel impossible, if not lethal with thenabundant Florida panthers on the prowl. The end of a day seldom came early enough, often only a few miles from where it began. Just to the north of Camp Mack is Shell Hammock, recently added to the National Register of Historic Places. Built in 1881 in the Florida Cracker architectural style with a signature wraparound porch and large window openings, the two-story rooming house and dock served weary steamboat travelers anxious for comfort food, cold drinks and a good night’s rest. Originally known as McQuaig Landing, named after its owner and steamboat tour entrepreneur Charles McQuaig, the area became a popular layover for anyone making their way through the region. GuyHarvey.com | 77
Above: Captain Clay Johnson, known as the “King of the Kissimmee,” was highly regarded for his ability as a captain and his skills at entertaining.
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The steamboat industry was in full bloom by this time. Big double-deck steamers traveled the St. Johns River bringing visitors from Jacksonville to Mellonville (today’s Sanford), a town where “civilization stopped” as reported in the day. From there it was overland by mule trains over rutted sand trails to Kissimmee. At the end of the road, four steamboat lines offered river transport on small, single-deck steamers suited to the narrow, twisting Kissimmee. The 150-mile journey from Kissimmee to the coast at Fort Myers was a grueling 50-day excursion, and everyone traveled steerage. Today, of course, it’s just a three hour drive. “Where the road ends, your adventure begins” reads the tagline today for Camp Mack, a Guy Harvey Lodge. True today, but especially true back then. The homesteaders and ranchers living and working inland of the old Fort Gardiner made McQuaig Landing and nearby Camp Mack a popular layover on this long journey. Mary Belle, Lillie, Rosalie, Roseada — they were just a few of the “ladies” who frequented; they were ungainly boxy looking steamers named after wives and daughters of their dedicated captains, the most legendary of which was Captain Clay Johnson. For more than 40 years he was known by all as “King of the Kissimmee” or the “Kissimmee Water Cowboy.” A native of New Orleans, Captain Clay was proud of his physical resemblance to Mark Twain, and while not a storyteller of equal renown, he could curse with the best sailors of the day. With entertainment in short supply along the Kissimmee, and a captain whose skills on the river were without compare or challenge, he was equally well known for often delaying steamboat schedules in order to host impromptu fiddle dances while in port. At times while underway, he would even take to the roof of his pilot house and play for anyone — or anything — within ear shot. These days, the cruise ship industry would call this onboard entertainment. Steamboat landings like McQuaig were boisterous hubs of lodging, hospitality and trading. Along the river’s route through Lake Okeechobee to Fort Myers and the Gulf Coast, catfishing was commercialized with the advent of fish camps that transported bountiful catches north while ranchers transported their herds south to the coast for shipping to Cuba
and beyond. Camp Mack was a trading post for cattle, lumber, turpentine and other goods being used to forge civilization out of the swamps. Steamers and barges lined docks along the riverfront in the area where the Camp Mack fuel dock now sits. A lonely hand crank gas pump sat alongside the earliest general store at Camp Mack, tended to by “Camp Mack Robert,” a friendly fixture of local knowledge on this portion of the river. As word spread among wealthy sportsmen of the adventures to be had in the wild and untamed Kissimmee River delta, they beat a path to Camp Mack Robert’s door for outfitting hunting and fishing expeditions in the heart of Florida wilderness. The Outfitter Store today stands much as it always has, still helping visitors organize and equip themselves for their adventures on the Kissimmee Chain of Lakes. Industrialists, entrepreneurs, corporate executives and the occasional President have all passed through Camp Mack. When he wasn’t inventing the telephone to upstage Thomas Edison, who wintered down river in Fort Myers, Alexander Graham Bell created the first airboat, furthering his passion for hunting and fishing in areas where roads could never be built. It wasn’t a pretty contraption, earning the name the “Ugly Duckling.” His invention spawned an industry that fueled further exploration of the lakes and swamps that fed the river’s course to the coast, all while Disston continued to carve the canals that would ultimately scar Florida's wild beauty in the name of progress. Steamboat landings forged communities out of the swamps, off-ramps to intermittent pockets of civilization along the river as nature could not be tamed easily or quickly. Nine years into his effort to transform Florida, Disston’s success in draining the Kissimmee valley came to cause flooding around Lake Okeechobee and west along the Caloosahatchee River that connected to the Gulf. Intended canals south and east out of Lake Okeechobee were left unbuilt, and by 1896, his fortune had been lost and he died penniless in his hometown of Philadelphia. Today, the steamboats are gone, as are the steam locomotives that oil and rail tycoon Henry Flagler pushed south through Florida
PHOTOS COURTESY OF GUY HARVEY OUTPOST
DESTINATIONS
The days of steamboats long gone, the grounds of Camp Mack today are now home to Camp Mack, a Guy Harvey Lodge, Marina and RV Resort.
during the two decades straddling the dawn of the 20th century. Ribbons of asphalt and concrete now move people and commerce through Florida in ways never imagined by these early industrialists, and development has consumed the coastal regions of Florida with a “Magic Kingdom” at its center. Instead of sprawling farms and ranches, envisioned by the original developers, much of Central Florida has now been transformed into a global tourism mecca with bright lights, wild adrenaline-pumping rides and worldclass entertainment. Yet, through all of the epic growth, life along the Kissimmee and St. John Rivers has changed very little the past 100 years. The Kissimmee River
continues to flow gently south, working its way through countless lakes big and small. World-class bass fishing, airboating and camping attract sports and nature enthusiasts who still find their way to the end of the road, where their next adventure begins. The majestic oak trees still stand along the riverbank at Camp Mack, where the steamboats called. You can almost hear Captain Clay’s fiddle over the crackling of a campfire with shadows dancing against Lille’s hull. No, “it isn’t as it used to be in the old times,” but it’s still pretty darn close. It’s life along the Kissimmee River. Next stop, Steamboat Landing at Camp Mack, a Guy Harvey Lodge, Marina and RV Resort. GuyHarvey.com | 79
CUSTOM CONTENT
A KANSAN TAKES THE WHEEL MarineMax made sure that Midwestern family found the boat that was right for them
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o say that Heather and Zachary Hamel took a deliberate approach to buying their first offshore boat would be a vast understatement. For years, they traveled from their home in Kansas City, where Zachary worked in investments, to boat shows in South Florida, getting to know the plethora of makes and models available. In the process, they met up with Diamond Neeley, a sales executive and Boston Whaler brand ambassador at the MarineMax boat dealership in Naples. Diamond would serve them as an invaluable teacher and consultant whose patience, lucky for the Hamels, erodes about as quickly as a gemstone. “He spent a crazy amount of time with us,” Zachary said. “He teased out of us what we really wanted in a boat, and that wasn’t easy, because I had lived in landlocked Kansas all of my life. He never pressured us to make a decision. He was more concerned about getting us the boat that was right for us.” Zachary gravitated to and kept coming around to Whalers, finding that they are “overbuilt, built to last.” Zachary describes himself as something of a “Safety Sam,” the kind of guy who stows on his boat as many replacement parts as he can readily buy. “When you come from Kansas, the idea of an unsinkable legend sounds pretty good,” he said. Indeed, Whaler, in its past, has produced 80 | GuyHarvey.com
Patience can be its own reward, but for Zachary Hamel, it also awarded him with the boat he really wanted.
CUSTOM CONTENT
commercials in which a small Whaler is sliced with a chainsaw — and the halves remain afloat. At the Miami Boat Show in 2017, Heather fell in love … well, not for the first time. She and her husband walked through the 350 Whaler Realm on display and found much that they liked about it. But when the Hamels moved on to tour the 380 Realm, “it had everything I wanted,” Heather said. Zachary would soon retire, and the Hamels, a family of eight, would move to Naples, Florida. Meanwhile, they had found their boat. “We placed an order, but the Realm series was just being launched, and it was going to take about a year before the boat would come in,” Zachary explained. He worked out a deal with Diamond to buy a 380 Whaler Outrage with the understanding that he could sell it back to MarineMax when the Realm arrived. The Hamels have now had their Realm for two summers, and Zachary has grown comfortable at the helm. (Maybe they should call it healm.) MarineMax provided Zachary with access to captains who got him acquainted with his vessel and its capabilities and introduced him to offshore boating. Diamond has spent time aboard the Hamels’ 380 and has provided Zachary with advice that he would have been a long time discovering on his own. “I wanted multiple engines and a boat capable of making long runs — Bahamas and the Keys,” Zachary said. “It needed to be able to handle whatever may come up. You may take off in what looks like pretty good weather, and all of a sudden you
“I had a lot to learn. But whenever I have a question or a concern, MarineMax and Whaler bend over backward to help.” Zachary Hamel
find yourself in six-footers and you want to feel safe with your wife and children or your guests.” The Hamels’ 380 Realm is powered by four, 350-horsepower Mercury outboard engines, and Zachary has found that it cruises comfortably at 40-plus miles per hour with six adults and their gear onboard. He is grateful that his boat is equipped with Seakeeper anti-roll technology that has the effect of neutralizing rough seas. “It is an absolutely amazing piece of equipment,” he said. Heather is a fan of the boat’s creature comforts and its summer kitchen. “We can have the whole family on board and everyone is comfortable,” she said. “The kitchen is great. It seems like I am always in the kitchen, no matter if I’m at home or on the water.” The Hamels have found that as a product of their dealings with MarineMax and Whaler, they have become part of a close-knit boating family. They have attended
multiple Whaler rendezvous in the Bahamas, where they have enjoyed the camaraderie and knowledge-swaps that take place there. Diamond and Zachary have become friends who often lunch together. “Had someone sold me a boat, handed me the key and said, ‘have fun,’ it would have been too overwhelming for me,” Zachary said. “I had a lot to learn. But whenever I have a question or a concern, MarineMax and Whaler bend over backward to help.” For more information, visit MarineMax.com.
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White Shark Can the world’s best-known shark help cure cancer? STORY BY AND PHOTOS COURTESY OF GEORGE C. SCHELLENGER
Jessica Harvey and the crew 82 | GuyHarvey.com
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hen I first arrived at Mexico’s Guadalupe Island in December of 2004, I was completely in awe. It was more impressive than I could ever have imagined. Guadalupe is a massive, 22-mile-long volcanic island in the middle of the Pacific Ocean that looks somewhat like an elongated camel’s hump. The hump of the island is a 4,257-foot-tall peak called Mount Augusta. Guadalupe is stark, stoic and isolated. The rusty, rocky surface is accented by a tree line growing on the very top of the island; nature’s way of saying even in this remote-end-ofthe-world-type place: “I will find a way.” One look at this place, and you realize it will stay with you the rest of your life. Guadalupe is located about 250 miles southwest off the coast of Ensenada, Mexico (Baja, California). We’d come here all those years ago to make a film. The star would be the island’s most famous resident, or shall
we say, the island’s most famous visitor: the white shark (carcharodon carcharias). Now before you say, “You mean, great white shark.” I would tell you, technically, there is no “lesser” white shark. Great white shark is a Hollywood label made famous by Jaws, Shark Week and the media. Even so, one of the pictures I took in 2004 ended up on the cover for an IMAX Blu-ray called, The Search for the Great Sharks. I was working a lot in New York City, and a week after the expedition to Guadalupe, I was walking from my hotel in Midtown to Rockefeller Center. As I looked at all the people around me, I realized that most would have no idea that Guadalupe Island even existed. I shook my head, haunted by what I’d seen at the island, and I knew I’d have to go back. White sharks use Guadalupe as a stop as they migrate in this part of the Pacific. The underwater upwelling caused by the island brings rich nutrients near the surface of the
PHOTO BY ATESE / ISTOCK / GETTY IMAGES PLUS (SHARK)
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water, attracting a wide variety of marine creatures, including tuna. That’s one of the reasons the white sharks are here. More than 15 years after my film shoot in 2004, we decided to travel to Guadalupe for the Guy Harvey Ocean Foundation. My travel companion on this expedition was Guy Harvey’s daughter, Jessica Harvey. Despite a lifetime of adventures with her father, she’d never seen a white shark, and I was eager to show her the incredible power of this creature. Our mission was simple, we’d arrive in Ensenada, Mexico, and depart on the Aggressor Dive Fleet’s Socorro Aggressor. The Socorro Aggressor is a big, 135foot live-aboard yacht with accommodations that are both roomy and comfortable. (I travel with a ton of dive equipment, and I didn’t feel squeezed at all). We were joined by an international collection of wildlife enthusiasts — everyone eager to spend time with the world’s most talked about species of shark. The trip to Guadalupe Island takes about 18 hours. The surrealness of watching Guadalupe appear on the horizon as you approach in the early morning hours is another one of those things that is seared into your brain. The light of dawn is like the curtain being pulled back on the perfect stage to meet these underwater T. rexes. We arrive at sunrise and anchor in a protected cove. The dive master of the Socorro Aggressor gives us our dive briefing, and the crew places the cages carefully in the water behind the boat. I’m suddenly taken back in time to 2004. The island hasn’t changed at all since I was here last — and I wonder silently to myself … where did all that time go? The blue water is a chilly 68 degrees Fahrenheit, so a 7mm wetsuit is the perfect way to stay comfortable while you wait for the sharks (depending on your ability to handle the cold). Once the sharks arrive, the water seems to warm up quickly. The main goal of this expedition is to bring the Guy Harvey Ocean Foundation some new white shark footage. This will help support Dr. Mahmood Shivji’s genomic research on the white shark at the Guy Harvey Research Institute. Sharks tend to be tumor resistant, and understanding their genetics could benefit humans when it comes to fighting cancer. This research is so groundbreaking — there’s no way to know what the full impact could be. As we prepare to dive, Jessica and I share the excitement of the GHRI’s research with the crew and our fellow passengers. As we prepare to enter the cage, the crew puts us in a heavily weighted vest — to help keep us stable and
The 135-foot Socorro Aggressor takes about 18 hours to reach Guadalupe Island, where we — joined by Jessica Harvey (below) — hope to capture some new great white shark footage for the Guy Harvey Ocean Foundation.
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WHITE SHARKS
on the bottom of the cage. We will be breathing from a hookah hose. One at a time, Jessica and I step on a small plank leading to the cage and climb down the ladder. Before we submerge we are given our cameras, and then we dive in. The water is clear, cold and invigorating. Bait is pulled in front of our cages by shark wranglers. They stand on platforms just above the surface of the water on both sides of the boat. It’s not long before the first white shark arrives. I’ve seen all types of sharks in different oceans all around the world, but seeing a white shark here is like seeing the queen in Buckingham Palace. These animals are the royalty of the underwater world — the stuff of our imagination and dreams. What I always tend to notice first are the white shark’s irises, indigo in color — a brilliant indigo — they’re a far cry from the “lifeless doll’s eyes” described in the movie Jaws. The wranglers at the surface continue to pull the tuna back and forth in front of the cages. The white shark follows — sometimes swimming at full speed, sometimes just playing the game and following the bait. The crew tells us that one white shark has learned exactly how to steal the bait from the wranglers — and they keep an eye out for that renegade shark. Occasionally, one of the sharks looks us over. Likewise, as a diver, you are trying to take in every inch of the creature. Everything is condensed into what I call “Shark Time” — every 45 minutes underwater with a big shark, feels like only 5 minutes. I can tell that Jessica is in her element and enjoying every single second. It’s not long before we are called out of our cage (the crew knocks loudly on the bars to announce it’s time to come back to reality), and we rotate with the other guests. Jessica and I give each other high fives and climb the ladder and walk across the plank back to the boat. As we enjoy a lunch on the top deck, I think about the history of the island of Guadalupe. At one time, it was a major destination for fur hunters from Russia and the United States. The northern elephant seal population was almost wiped out due to over hunting, but the Mexican Government moved in to protect seals in 1922. One of the reasons the island looks so desolate is that the tens of thousands of feral goats that 84 | GuyHarvey.com
once inhabited the island devastated the plant population. Guadalupe has been protected for almost 100 years, making it one of the oldest nature reserves in Mexico. Only 150 people live here yearround, but you can’t really see any settlements from the shark anchorage. After a quick, hearty lunch, we hop back in the cage for more encounters, but this time we enter a submersible cage for a different kind of view. This cage is connected to a small crane on top of the boat, and we are dropped to a depth of about 40 feet. We are investigated by another shark as it passes in front of us. After a while, you really start to see the details on each shark, and it becomes easier to identify the various individuals passing by. There’s even a detailed, $85 book you can buy online called White Sharks of Guadalupe Island Photo Identification Guide. Inside the book, there are more than 300 identified sharks, and the tour operators ask for pictures from each expedition to keep track of any potential new sharks. Since it’s easy to remember a name, most of the sharks have names, including Nacho (the white shark who has learned to steal the bait), Cal Ripfin (because of its torn fin), and the world famous Deep Blue (estimated to be the largest white shark ever seen at Guadalupe). The live-aboard experience at Guadalupe is picture perfect on the Socorro Aggressor, with bight days and beautiful star-filled nights punctuated only by the sound of the fur seals on shore crying out in the darkness. Surreal. Part of the joy of seeing a white shark is sharing the experience with a friend. Taking Jessica Harvey here this time to see the white sharks was an absolute pleasure. It will be up to her generation to continue to protect them. Of all of the places I’ve been to see sharks, Guadalupe is at the top (with Tiger Beach in the Bahamas being a close second). You never forget your first time in the water with a white shark. Being there in person is something Shark Week and shark documentaries try to capture, but there is something completely visceral about this animal, and it has to be seen in person. I’ve been to Guadalupe three times, and one day, I’ll be back again. It’s just one of those things you’ve got to do.
Jessica Harvey and George C. Schellenger enjoy lunch aboard the Socorro Aggressor after a busy morning of swimming with the sharks off Guadalupe Island.
George C. Schellenger
White Shark coming to the surface
The crew of Socorro Aggressor and wildlife enthusiasts in Mexico.
As I wrote this story, I thought a lot about Wayne Hasson, friend to Guy Harvey, mentor to Jessica and a friend to the Guy Harvey Ocean Foundation. I’m honored to have called him a friend as well. He was supposed to be with us on this expedition, but he was fighting cancer. A few months after we came back, he passed away. Wayne started the Aggressor Fleet, and in doing so opened up the wonders of the oceans to generations. Maybe one of those wonders, like the white shark, will even teach us how to beat cancer. Wayne, we won’t forget you.
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FISHING GONE? BY SID DOBRIN The following article is a modified chapter from the book Fishing Gone? by hardcore angler, author and University of Florida English professor, Sid Dobrin. The book covers a broad range of entertaining and valuable subjects and should be on every recreational angler’s reading list.
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ike many who fish in saltwater, I feel compelled when on the water to pick up the floating trash I find. Sometimes I overfill my kayak with trash, making actual fishing difficult. Other times, my boat looks like a garbage barge. I am always amazed by the volume of junk I pull from the water and by the array of debris I collect. Unquestionably, among the usual suspects of beer bottles, plastic water bottles, chip bags and so on, I often find discarded fishing tackle. I would bet that just about anyone who fishes in saltwater regularly, or walks along a beach or dock, finds discarded — intentionally or accidentally — fishing tackle, lures and hooks, in particular. Years ago, a friend of mine began collecting every discarded lure he found while out fishing. At first, he just kept the lures in a pile, but as his collection grew, he began hanging them on a board in his house. Some of the lures were virtually new; others were corroded with time and saltwater. He hung them all, and as the board began to accumulate hundreds of lures, those of us who visited his house began to see the collection as a piece of art. It 86 | GuyHarvey.com
was beautiful not only as an aesthetic piece composed of a kaleidoscope of colors, but also as a polychromatic commentary about waste. The piece, which continues to grow, stands as a testament to recreational angling’s complicity in a culture that contributes to discarded plastics in the ocean. Of course, other anglers who have seen my friend’s “art” ask whether they can have some of the still-usable lures. Some ask why he does not just throw away the lures that are no longer of angling use. I have heard him explain that, for him, each lure carries the same value — the ones some see as still usable and the ones they identify as having no angling value. To my friend, they are all reminders of a more holistic issue regarding anglers’ excess and their own faults in ocean desecration. The collection, that is, reminds my friend of his own anglers’ ethic. I fantasize from time to time about various ways to challenge my fishing. For example, I consider fishing with only bucktails for a year, or only spoons, no matter the target species or location. Could I have a successful year relying on only one of these two canonical lures?
Or how long could I fish with just one lure? Tie it onto my line on Jan. 1 and not switch it out until it breaks off; how long would it last? How many fish would it catch? Or what would it be like to fish with only the tackle in the tackle box I inherited from my grandfather when he passed away? Or with my first tackle box, which sits in storage? How long could I fish with what I already own? (This is an unfair challenge, though, as I have a fairly substantial cache, and I would have to surrender reviewing new gear for my website, InventiveFishing. com, which I’m not willing to do.) Of these challenges though, the one I find most intriguing is fishing only with scavenged terminal tackle I find on piers, along beaches, snagged in rocks and coral, or tossed aside in the water. That is, fish only with what I find expelled into the ocean. Instead of mounting the found lures as trophies, as my friend does, I contemplate recycling them in order to maintain their intended use-value, thereby not condemning them to the status of debris or even art. Let them catch fish again. Given the array of discarded terminal tackle I regularly find tossed
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Author, angler and University of Florida English professor
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PHOTOS BY MICHALDZIKI / ISTOCK / GETTY IMAGES PLUS (TACKLE BOX) AND COURTESY OF SID DOBRIN
SID DOBRIN
into the ocean, I presume I would manage just fine. In fact, I would put it to all recreational anglers — saltwater and fresh — to start your own collection of found tackle. Not only would such collections contribute to conservationist anglers’ efforts to remove trash from our waters, but I’m also betting they would teach us each a good deal about how we function as anglers: what gets discarded in a specific region, which lures are common to a specific area, which lures degrade more readily, and so on. It might be a compelling cultural shift if, alongside stories of our greatest fishing moments and pictures of our trophy fish, we were proud to show off our collections of reclaimed tackle. Ponder, that is, a cultural practice of lure reclamation apace with catch and release, line recycling, and banana aversion. Cultural nuances like this contribute to the overall anglers’ ethic and our willingness to see the details within the complexity of recreational fishing. The new anglers’ ethic, though, requires asking questions that are more complex than what we put in the ocean and what we take from it. Questions that ask about the ways in which the ocean and its inhabitants will adapt to both our additive and removal practices must become paramount. In 2017 for example, U.S. Rep. Jaime
Herrera Beutler (R-WA) introduced H.R. 2083, the Endangered Salmon and Fisheries Predation Prevention Act, which seeks to revise the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA) to allow for the “harassment” and killing of sea lions (which the MMPA protects against) in order to discourage them from feeding on endangered salmon populations. According to the proposed bill, the California sea lion habitat was historically restricted to saltwater environments. However, as many as 3,000 sea lions have recently been foraging as far as 145 miles up the Columbia River in Oregon, altering local ecologies. Similar patterns have been observed elsewhere in Oregon and in Washington. H.R. 2083 identifies that “Federal, State, and Tribal estimates indicate that sea lions are consuming at least 20 percent of the Columbia River spring chinook run and 15 percent of Willamette River steelhead run, two salmonid species listed under the Endangered Species Act of 1973.” Sea lions facilitate this recent behavior by exploiting human technological intervention in the rivers. Sea lions have begun using the dams along rivers to expedite their salmon hunting, including using “fish ladders,” which were installed to encourage salmon migration and spawning. That is, the introduction of dams and fish ladders to the rivers has provided sea lions with the technology needed to access the salmon on which they forage. This adaptation has significantly altered the salmon ecology of the Northwest, changing predator-prey dynamics in ways that are having a significant impact on fish populations, pitting the conservation value of one endangered species value against that of another. In response, Beutler designed her legislation to protect the salmon populations without considering such dynamics of the problem as the ecological impact of changes to sea lion habitat, the introduction of dams and fish ladders, and the possibility of actions against the sea lions without further study. Nonetheless, as an angler, I find myself philosophically supporting the bill, but to do so falls into the ongoing trap of making decisions based on ideology rather than on scientific evidence. Unfortunately, we fall too often into this pattern. We also must recognize that our technological evolution has contributed to ocean degradation for
FISHING GONE?
much longer than we assume. That is, human development has impacted ocean conditions for much longer than the immediate technological age or industrial age. Consider this: from 1854 to 1858, the Atlantic Telegraph Company laid the first transatlantic telegraph cable from Foilhommerum Bay off Valentia Island in Western Ireland to Heart’s Content on Trinity Bay, Newfoundland. On Aug. 16, 1858, Queen Victoria sent U.S. President James Buchanan the first transatlantic telegraph. Prior to the cable, transatlantic communication relied on ships to carry information, but this technological achievement altered more than just global communications. The initial cable routes, as Nicole Starosielski has shown in her eye-opening book, The Undersea Network, laid the foundation for communications networks that have influenced global communication, culture, geography, environment, history and politics. In fact, undersea cable networks are now responsible for carrying almost all transoceanic internet content and serve as the foundation for the functioning of wireless networks (remarkably, despite common assumptions, they do so more quickly, more cheaply, and more often than satellites). In 1860, a damaged portion of the transatlantic cable was lifted from the ocean floor nearly 6,000 feet down. Those working on the cable found numerous deepwater species entangled along the line. Prior to that moment, conventional wisdom, supported by scientific observation (limited by the technologies of the time), understood the ocean to be lifeless below depths of about 1,800 feet. The discovery of deepwater life radically changed not only what we knew about the ocean but how we thought of it and positioned it culturally. From 1928–29, working with engineer Otis Barton, explorer and naturalist William Beebe built a bathysphere, an unpowered, pressurized submersible. Beebe used the bathysphere to make multiple dives to 3,000 feet between 1930 and 1934, from Nonsuch Island in Bermuda. Beebe’s dives marked the first time humans had attempted to observe deepwater organisms in their natural environment. Beebe gave us a firsthand glimpse of the
deep ocean, a place we could only imagine technologically. No matter our beliefs that recby way of writers such as Jules Verne prior reational fishing helps us connect with nature, to the technological development of the and no matter the “get back to nature” sensibathysphere. In the same period as this bility we attach to our cultural promotions, no technological development provided the first such connection unfolds without technologiaccess to deepwater study, giving us the first cal intervention. Unlike the timeworn causalglimpses of previously inaccessible ocean ity dilemma “which came first, the chicken or regions, Ernest Hemingway lived in Key West the egg?” the question “which came first, the and was developing the principles that would technology or the activity?” can be answered come to define recreational sportfishing ethics confidently by recreational anglers knowing and practices. that technology provided the What Beebe, Verne and othaccess to the fish. Since long ... the new ers began revealing for us was before Dame Juliana Berners recreational that the sophisticated technolwrote Treatyse of Fysshynge wyth ogy needed to experience most an Angle in the 1400s, teaching anglers’ ethic of the ocean’s space would only anglers how to make essential will need ever be accessible to us through fishing tackle such as gut lines, to embrace a written description. The nechooks and rods, or before Izaak essary technology would reWalton, influenced by Berners’s and promote main out of reach for the vast work, gave us The Compleat technology, not majority. Now, the ocean needs Angler, the landmark instrucas the vilified an upgrade. As recreational antional resource for fishing techglers, we need to contribute to nologies of the 17th century, cause of ocean a careful, conscientious technodestruction, but human technologies were allogical intervention at all levels ready at work in forging our reas fundamental lationship with the ocean. that strives to weave a path for to the future technological upgrade with a As recreational anglers in a long-term conservation agenhistoric moment that requires of the world’s da. This will include not only the conscientious revision of oceans. careful consideration of the our ethical engagement with materials we use to fish but also the ocean, we find ourselves global consideration of the techneeding to turn our gaze to nologies we employ to enhance the technologies of our ocean fisheries for the benefit of the global protein pact. We need to question those technologies economy. It will include a focus on harvest we have come to depend on — not to concerns on a large scale, as in the massive condisavow their use but to understand the cerns of deep-sea oil drilling and industrial fish ramifications and consequences of that use. harvest. It will concern minutiae such as the We also need to acknowledge and embrace understanding and sustainability of deepwater the idea — and in turn, act on the idea — marine microbes — perhaps some of the most that ocean sustainability will require not important organisms in the scientific study of less technological intervention but more. everything from climate change to biotechnolWhether it’s using high-tech systems to ogy. The upgrade will also require a reconsidfilter microplastics from the sea or using our eration of space — of our very understanding own two hands to pull and recycle old lures of the smallness of what we have assumed to from our fishing holes, the new recreational be a vast and endless ocean — and the role of anglers’ ethic will need to embrace and nanotechnologies in protecting that space. promote technology, not as the vilified cause Ultimately, as recreational anglers, our relaof ocean destruction, but as fundamental to tionship with the ocean is inherently mediated the future of the world’s oceans. GuyHarvey.com | 89
SHARK FINS
SHARKS T WIN, FLORIDA WINS, OCEANS WIN
he shark fin business is massive in at least two ways. One, it’s a billion dollar global industry. Two, it’s responsible for the annihilation of more than 70 million sharks per year. All of this mass killing of sharks is, sadly, just to fill a bowl with soup: shark fin soup. Sharks are caught, often illegally, and their fins are cut off to go to market. This high demand for shark fins in Asia, and the popular soup it flavors, fuels the global shark fin trade — with a large portion of the fins harvested illegally. For years, Florida has been a major hub of the shark fin trade. For shark advocates, this has been a black eye for a state where shark dives and other shark-related tourism generates millions of dollars for the state. More importantly, sharks are apex predators and are essential for maintaining an ecological balance in the oceans. Remove sharks, and the pyramid of life begins to crumble from the top down. Through the hard work of the Guy Harvey Ocean Foundation, Shark Allies and other shark-friendly organizations, Florida recently became the 14th state to take action in stopping the large-scale harvesting and decimation of shark populations. In September, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis signed into law a bill that bans the importation of shark fins into Florida and
BY GHM STAFF | PHOTOS BY SHAWN HEINRICHS
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closes loopholes that enabled the illegal shark fin trade to thrive. The law finally puts an end to a long list of regulations and loopholes that prevented the proper enforcement of the existing Florida shark finning ban, which was implemented in 2012. Prior to the law, Florida ports had become a major hub for the transport of illegal shark fins to China and other Asian countries, where shark fin soup is a delicacy at weddings and other special events. “State fin bans have paved the way to make a campaign for a national fin ban a possibility,” says Stefanie Brendl, Executive Director of Shark Allies. “There simply is no reason why Florida ports needed to keep allowing fin shipments in hopes that national legislation would eventually fix the problem. Local action matters. It is the pathway to national action. The Kristin Jacobs Ocean Conservation Act, named after the late Rep. Kristin Jacobs, was introduced in late 2019 and approved by the House and Senate in March. Rep. Jacobs cospearheaded the legislation with support from the GHOF, Shark Allies and Senate bill sponsor Sen. Travis Hutson (R-Palm Coast). “Prohibiting the importation of shark fins into Florida is a tremendous first step in protecting global shark populations. Until now,
STEFANIE BRENDL
A Life Dedicated to Sharks
Growing up in Bavaria, Germany, Stefanie Brendl had no idea she’d spend most of her life around oceans and sharks. Of course, cavorting with sharks is a lot like hanging out with politicians, something Brendl has done extensively in her effort to protect her beloved toothy fish. After getting certified as a scuba diver, she moved to Hawaii and founded Shark Encounters, a venture that put tourists in the water with wild sharks — behind the safety of a steel cage. Hawaii also turned out to be her introduction into politics. In 2010, Brendl successfully led the charge to ban the trade of shark fins in Hawaii. She also became a cinematographer and filmmaker and produced a documentary called Extinction Soup, which examined the perils of shark finning and her victorious efforts in Hawaii. During the past two years, Brendl has spent so much time in Florida that she’s practically become a resident. Her goal was to pass a bill similar to the one in Hawaii. She teamed up with the Guy Harvey Ocean Foundation, and they pushed through a bill that the governor signed into law in September. It was a major victory for sharks and Florida. As the founder and executive director of Shark Allies, Brendl has been fighting to protect sharks from overfishing, finning and general abuse during the past two decades. We all know how much Guy Harvey loves sharks, but Brendl’s devotion to the sometimes feared creature may equal Harvey’s. Together they’re a formidable force in shark advocacy. With Florida now in her rearview mirror, Brendl is putting her efforts into passing a national shark fin ban. She also plans to cross the big water and spread her shark love in Europe, where some antiquated laws need her wisdom and guidance. It’s hard to imagine how a career and passion in life will develop. For shark populations around the planet, they’re lucky Brendl chose them.
Fins from hundreds of sharks are stacked and dried on a rooftop in Hong Kong.
Florida’s airports and seaports were the main thoroughfare for illegal fins from the Caribbean and Central America,” said Dr. Guy Harvey. “We appreciate the efforts of Rep. Jacobs and wish she were here with us to see the results of her diligent work. We also thank the governor for his support and will continue to push this legislation nationally.” This is a monumental victory for shark conservation advocates in North America since Florida has been the No. 1 hub for the sale, import and transport “The state of ill-gotten shark fins. Researchers from of Florida has Nova Southeastern University’s Guy Harvey Research Institute (GHRI) determined that been a key fins from upward of 73 million sharks end up component of in the global market annually. a movement “I am grateful that the Kristin Jacobs Ocean Conservation Act is now a part of Florida law toward and moves our state in the right direction of ending the putting an end to the ecologically harmful and fin trade in morally repugnant practice of illegal shark finning,” said Hutson. the U.S.” “The state of Florida has been a key Stefanie Brendl, component of a movement toward ending Executive Director, the fin trade in the U.S.,” said Brendl. “While Shark Allies a nationwide ban is the ultimate goal, it is uncertain when that will become a reality and whether that effort will have to come with exemptions and concessions, as most federal acts do. Having state and federal legislation in place assures that sharks receive protection sooner, rather than later.” COURTESY OF STEFANIE BRENDL
For more information, go to SharkAllies.com, a 501 (c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to the protection and conservation of sharks and rays by focusing on taking action, raising awareness and guiding initiatives that reduce the destructive overfishing of sharks. The organization has deep roots in shark fin trade legislation, creating the first of its kind in Hawaii in 2010.
Stephanie Brendl swims with a tiger shark.
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W. North Atlantic
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Mako Sharks
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Little Anglers,
Big Waves BY LOUISA SAX
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PHOTOS COURTESY OF THE MCDOW FAMILY
MEET A YOUNG ANGLER
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n an era dominated by screen time, pixelated entertainment and virtual friends, finding a kid who genuinely prefers investigating snakes, exploring tide pools and learning new fly-fishing techniques is nostalgic — and somewhat rare. Eight-year-old Elena McDow is one of them. Elena has grown up in the Cayman Islands and shares a love of all things ocean with her family. You can tell that this little enthusiast was born with an intrinsic pull to nature. Having been introduced to boating and fishing as a 1-month old, Elena’s first memory is catching a mahimahi with her father, Captain John McDow, from a kayak. Since then,
Eight-year-old Elena McDow, with Guy Harvey (above), has been around boating and fishing for almost her entire life.
“just chasing fish” has been her passion, and she hopes to one day become a fishing instructor. Elena achieved her ultimate goal of completing the IGFA Inshore Grand Slam in 2019 at the age of 7; the International Game Fish Association believes she might be the youngest angler to complete the challenge. Catching a slam requires various skills, preparation and focus, and it requires the angler to catch a permit, tarpon and bonefish on the same day under IGFA rules — that includes making the cast, hooking, fighting and bringing in the fish unassisted. Not only did Elena catch two permits that day, one of her permits and her bonefish were caught on fly. She further demonstrated her skills by tying her own fly and tippet. Her next big goal is to catch a sailfish and blue marlin unassisted. Although Elena loves inshore and fly fishing, she finds marlin fishing the most exciting because of their acrobatic jumps, the thrill and intensity of the strike and having such a big fish on the line. Elena shares her passion on her Instagram account @fishingwithelena and interacts with other young anglers as she shares techniques and learns new skills. Her biggest role model is Chasten Whitfield, a young female angler who spends her time providing disabled and disadvantaged children with the opportunity to experience the rush of fishing through her own nonprofit organization, Chastenation. Elena often travels to meet and spend time on the water with young anglers like herself, but she also enjoys teaching friends at home how to fish and gives them the confidence to “do their best, learn and have fun!” Elena may be young, but she is making a big impact. She is a volunteer for the local Department of Environment, where she helps walk the beach looking for and marking turtle nests. She also encourages other kids (and adults) to become actively involved in the community and saving the planet. According to Elena, she suggests: “Picking up trash every time you go fishing or go to the beach. Helping with group beach clean ups. Don’t cut down mangroves, and using Instagram to teach other people about how to protect our environment.” GuyHarvey.com | 95
Last Cast: Visionary of the Deep
W
hen we reflect on our lives, we’re fortunate if we connected with a visionary or two who impacted our trajectory. For me, my good friend Wayne Hasson, who passed away in February, was one of those deep thinkers who saw the future and helped me write mine. When we met, I was a brash young magazine publisher with more confidence than a sense of reality. Wayne apparently saw potential and invited me into his inner circle of influencers and also into his home. He and his future wife, Anne, had just launched the Cayman Aggressor, the first true luxury liveaboard scuba diving vessel. Truth is, they were inventing a whole new industry. The oil business was tanking, and hundreds of crew boats were setting idle in shipyards all over Louisiana and Texas. Wayne convinced Paul Haines, one of those shipyard owners, to convert a 110-foot crew boat into a floating dive hotel. As Wayne predicted, scuba divers fell in love instantly. Being able to anchor directly over the reef, eat and sleep there and just flop off the stern to dive was pivotal. No more slogging from the dock in a cattle boat across rough seas to the dive site. In fact, if someone wanted to climb out of bed at 3 a.m. and go diving, that was cool too. Plus, Wayne and Anne pioneered many of the amenities that are now 96 | GuyHarvey.com
standard on liveaboard vessels, such as a camera table for the ridiculous amounts of camera gear divers use. They even processed film on board (pre-digital cameras). The year was 1987, and the Cayman Aggressor had launched a new standard for divers. By 1992, there were more than 100 liveaboard dive boats all over the world. An industry had exploded onto the scene, and Wayne continued setting the standard by putting Aggressors in Honduras, Belize, Turks & Caicos, Kona, Fiji and another in Cayman. I was publishing Scuba Times magazine, and Wayne and Anne became one of my first paying advertisers. We were all still in our 20s, bubbling over with adventurous spirits and experimenting with being semi-responsible adults. Life was fabulous considering we spent most of our time on boats, beaches and underwater exploring some of the most pristine waters and coral reefs in the world. Most of my friends and family hated me because I was always jetting off to Belize or Cozumel or Bonaire or Cayman for “work.” In those early days, when I’d go to Cayman I’d sleep on Anne and Wayne’s couch in their apartment, and they’d loan me their beat up truck so I could sell advertising to other resorts and dive operators on the island. Or, if the Aggressor wasn’t booked, we’d stay onboard. That
BY FRED GARTH
was sheer joy. After a few years, when we’d all achieved some success, Wayne invited me to the coveted monthly meeting of the Cayman Island Watersports Operators Association, which was indeed an honor. “You’re going to sponsor the refreshments,” Wayne told me. “Some beer, wine, snacks, that kind of thing.” I didn’t question his wisdom. I followed his lead even though the price tag was more than my monthly expense account. Nonetheless, I was able to rub shoulders with all of the major players with Wayne as my escort. Then he did something remarkable. As the meeting progressed, Wayne stood up and emphatically stated that the Aggressor ads in Scuba Times outperformed every other magazine they advertised in. And, everyone knew that Aggressor advertised everywhere. That was in the early 1990s, well before email and internet marketing had taken over travel advertising. His endorsement boosted our client list considerably, and needless to say, it was not the last CIWOA meeting Scuba Times sponsored. I was in the club. During one of my early visits to Cayman, Wayne and I were having drinks at my favorite spot — My Bar at Sunset House. Best pina coladas on the planet. Wayne spotted someone I needed to meet and dragged me over so he
PHOTOS BY GEORGE SCHELLENGER
LAST CAST could introduce me to “an up-and-coming young I’m forever indebted to him for believing in me artist.” The 30-ish-year-old dude’s name was Guy and sharing his water world with my wife and me. Harvey. We chatted for a bit, and Guy revealed that he We spent many days and nights on the Aggressors was a subscriber to Scuba Times. I instantly liked him and cherished every minute of it. One of the most and, once again, Wayne helped to shape my future in special memories of my life was visiting Stingray ways that I could never have predicted. City with Wayne and Anne before it even had a I was also able to reciprocate occasionally. At a name. We’d anchored the Aggressor in the North diving trade show called DEMA, Jean-Michele Sound of Grand Cayman overnight, and he and Cousteau came by the Scuba Times booth and asked I were both up for sunrise and a steaming cup of me to lunch. Long story short, he and his famous coffee while everyone else slept. As a blood red sun dad Jacques were in a bit of a spat, apparently because peaked out, we went up on the sun deck for a better Jacques had moved in with his mistress only weeks view of the glassy calm, clear water. There’s perhaps after his wife died. Jean-Michele protested, and nothing that surpasses that beauty. Wayne wore his Jacques canceled the lease on the Alcyone, the vessel signature clever grin that said, “I know something Jean-Michel ran. “I need a boat,” Jean-Michele said. that you don’t.” I knew he had a treat up his sleeve, “I have no boat.” I told him I didn’t think my 17so I just waited while marveling at the intense foot Boston Whaler would fit his needs but that he clarity of the water and a group of orange starfish should speak with Wayne Hasson about chartering in 10 feet of water below us. Wayne casually looked one or more of the Aggressor Fleet dive yachts. out and nodded his head toward the horizon. Like The two of them struck up a friendship and ran a photograph developing before my eyes, six dark many Cousteau charters all over the world. I’m not round shapes appeared and swam under the boat. He saying I put the deal together, but I nudged it slightly. just smiled and said. “This is going to be cool.” In the following years, as Anne and Wayne We mingled with the rays all day, caught a wahoo grew their fleet to 15 boats all over the world and that afternoon and grilled it for dinner as the sun I expanded my publishing company into multiple dipped into the blue Caribbean. Life really doesn’t get magazines, we spoke often. Sometimes he’d call with any better than that. My wife and I are blessed to have good advice, sometimes he called to rake me over experienced the best that life on earth has to offer with the coals for something I’d written that he disagreed dear friends Wayne and Anne. He touched so many with. Either way, it was always honest and real and lives, and I’m fortunate to have been one of them. we remained close friends. Eventually Wayne and Anne got married, had kids, and moved to Naples. On a parallel track my girlfriend and I got Wayne Hasson and Guy Harvey married, had kids and stayed in Florida. in Cuba We stayed in touch but didn’t see each other as much because of the joys and pains of our careers and raising a family — school, youth sports, teenage years, cars, college and so on. Wayne was one of the most talented topside and underwater photographers in the world. He was an incredible diver, a brilliant entrepreneur, an outstanding teacher and devoted conservationist. Because he knew anchoring next to the reef was critical to the liveaboard experience, he developed a way to affix mooring balls to the hard bottom. Wayne financed and promoted mooring balls in every Aggressor location and even let other dive companies use them. His mooring efforts spread around the world saving countless reefs from anchor damage.
FRED GARTH
For the past 25 years, Fred D. Garth’s articles have appeared in numerous books, magazines and newspapers around the world.
GuyHarvey.com | 97
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