Sharks and Rays Added to Famed Conservation List

The world-famous Zoological Society of London (ZSL) runs a conservation program focusing on species that represent a significant slice of unique evolutionary history. The Edge of Existence program works to identify the world’s most “Evolutionarily Distinct Globally Endangered” species — hence EDGE.

EDGE is the only global conservation initiative focusing specifically on threatened species that represent a significant portion of unique evolutionary history. The program aims to highlight and protect some of our planet’s unique and interesting species that have few close relatives. Most have unusual looks, lives, habits or genetic make up that make them an irreplaceable part of our natural heritage.

The aim of EDGE

The EDGE program hopes to put these species in the spotlight and thus increase conservation efforts to secure their future. This year (December 2018) the EDGE program launched its first sharks and rays list. Among the oldest of all species on our planet, many inhabited the oceans when the dinosaurs still roamed the earth. 

A number of issues, from pollution to unsustainable fishing methods and global warming threaten marine life, as divers know. Unfortunately, many of the most evolutionarily distinct sharks and rays are also the ones facing the most threats.

Taking a look at the list it immediately becomes clear that many of the species divers love most appear: whale shark, thresher, hammerhead, basking, great white, porbeagle and mako sharks, as well as eagle rays.

The list also contains many that will be new to all but the most ardent fans of marine life, including:

Sawfish

Taking up the first four places on the list, these unique creatures have large, saw-like rostrums (nose extensions). Also called carpenter sharks, they are actually a family of rays with the largest of the species reaching up to 25 feet (7.6 m).

Sand-tiger shark

Despite its aggressive looks, the sand tiger is actually a fairly placid shark. Uniquely, it can also breath air from the surface. Its reproductive cycle involves intrauterine cannibalism, which means the embryos will eat each other. The shark has two uteruses and in each the largest embryo will eat its siblings once they develop teeth, leaving just two pups that are around 3 feet (1 m) long when they are born.

Sharpfin houndshark

Inhabiting the coastal waters off Ecuador, we know virtually nothing about this shark. Only two have ever been caught, meaning its population must be very small.

Caribbean electric ray

This small, slow-moving ray has an almost-round body and grows only to 18 inches (45 cm) long. It spends its time in the surf zone and has two electric organs that run from in front of its eyes down to the rear of its body. It can generate a peak of about 14 to 37 volts of electricity that it uses to stun prey or as a defense from predators.

You can find the full list here.

 

The post Sharks and Rays Added to Famed Conservation List appeared first on Scuba Diver Life.

from Scuba Diver Life http://bit.ly/2SB2yVe

Sharks and Rays Added to Famed Conservation List

The world-famous Zoological Society of London (ZSL) runs a conservation program focusing on species that represent a significant slice of unique evolutionary history. The Edge of Existence program works to identify the world's most "Evolutionarily Distinct Globally Endangered" species — hence EDGE.

EDGE is the only global conservation initiative focusing specifically on threatened species that represent a significant portion of unique evolutionary history. The program aims to highlight and protect some of our planet's unique and interesting species that have few close relatives. Most have unusual looks, lives, habits or genetic make up that make them an irreplaceable part of our natural heritage.

The aim of EDGE

The EDGE program hopes to put these species in the spotlight and thus increase conservation efforts to secure their future. This year (December 2018) the EDGE program launched its first sharks and rays list. Among the oldest of all species on our planet, many inhabited the oceans when the dinosaurs still roamed the earth. 

A number of issues, from pollution to unsustainable fishing methods and global warming threaten marine life, as divers know. Unfortunately, many of the most evolutionarily distinct sharks and rays are also the ones facing the most threats.

Taking a look at the list it immediately becomes clear that many of the species divers love most appear: whale shark, thresher, hammerhead, basking, great white, porbeagle and mako sharks, as well as eagle rays.

The list also contains many that will be new to all but the most ardent fans of marine life, including:

Sawfish

Taking up the first four places on the list, these unique creatures have large, saw-like rostrums (nose extensions). Also called carpenter sharks, they are actually a family of rays with the largest of the species reaching up to 25 feet (7.6 m).

Sand-tiger shark

Despite its aggressive looks, the sand tiger is actually a fairly placid shark. Uniquely, it can also breath air from the surface. Its reproductive cycle involves intrauterine cannibalism, which means the embryos will eat each other. The shark has two uteruses and in each the largest embryo will eat its siblings once they develop teeth, leaving just two pups that are around 3 feet (1 m) long when they are born.

Sharpfin houndshark

Inhabiting the coastal waters off Ecuador, we know virtually nothing about this shark. Only two have ever been caught, meaning its population must be very small.

Caribbean electric ray

This small, slow-moving ray has an almost-round body and grows only to 18 inches (45 cm) long. It spends its time in the surf zone and has two electric organs that run from in front of its eyes down to the rear of its body. It can generate a peak of about 14 to 37 volts of electricity that it uses to stun prey or as a defense from predators.

You can find the full list here.

 

The post Sharks and Rays Added to Famed Conservation List appeared first on Scuba Diver Life.

from Scuba Diver Life http://bit.ly/2SB2yVe

Reef-Safe Products for Body, Hair and Masks

We all know that sunscreen is important, but the need to protect our skin and hair from the sun's rays is damaging the oceans. Between 6,000 and 14,000 tons — yes, tons — of sunscreen washes into the ocean every year. Add to this body lotions, hair products, and, for divers, mask de-fogging products, and it all adds up pretty quickly. But never fear: reef-safe products are readily available.

Many of these products contain ingredients that can cause coral bleaching or that are toxic to some reef fish. Products containing benzophenone-3 (oxybenzone), butylparaben, octinoxate (ethylhexyl methoxycinnamate) and cyclopentasiloxane (cyclomethicone) damage the aquatic environment the most. When choosing a body, hair or mask-defogging product, make sure that it does not include any of these ingredients. You can also help by choosing water-resistant and biodegradable sunscreens that do not wash off in the water and that break down quicker. Here is a list of our favorite reef-safe products to use on your next dive trip.

Coconut oil

Natural is always better, and coconut oil is definitely a winner here. It has a natural SPF of between 4 and 5 and the antioxidants it contains protect skin from the sun's radiation. While the SPF is low, you can supplement with red raspberry seed oil and other essential oils, or one of the sunscreens recommended below. Coconut oil works wonderfully as a full body moisturizer — including your face. You can even use it as a leave-in conditioner to avoid messy post-dive hair.

---

Stream2Sea

While Stream2Sea is against animal testing in cases where there are other alternatives, unfortunately, in order to ensure that their products are completely harmless to both humans and the aquatic environment, they had to test their products on "purpose-bred live fish and eco-consciously and scientifically obtained coral larvae." This testing process enabled the company to develop a wide range of reef-safe body and hair products. Offerings include everything from sunscreen to hair conditioner, biodegradable shampoo to lip-balm and after sun products. 

---

Alba Botanica

Alba Botanica is part of the Leaping Bunny Program, which means that the company doesn't carry any products tested on animals. All of Alba Botanica's products are biodegradable and coral-reef safe. They include moisturizers, scrubs (minus microbeads), toners, hair products and sunscreen. 

---

Reef Safe Sun

Reef Safe Sun products are not only approved by the FDA, but have also been tested and proven to be biodegradable and non-toxic to sea life. They use sustainable and renewable plant and vegetable raw materials with no animal testing or animal by-products. They offer a wide variety of products including sunscreen, baby products, and a reef-safe mask-cleaning and defogging spray.

---

Spit

Yes, you read right — spit is the most environmentally-friendly mask defogger (although it's not technically a product). For best results avoid the watery spit that naturally accumulates in your mouth and go for the good thick stuff at the back of your throat.

As ambassadors to the underwater world, diver can make a huge difference when it comes to protecting our underwater playground. By choosing biodegradable, reef-safe products we can help lessen the impact that we have on our environment. Every little step counts!

The post Reef-Safe Products for Body, Hair and Masks appeared first on Scuba Diver Life.

from Scuba Diver Life http://bit.ly/2BOGKi5

Reef-Safe Products for Body, Hair and Masks

We all know that sunscreen is important, but the need to protect our skin and hair from the sun’s rays is damaging the oceans. Between 6,000 and 14,000 tons — yes, tons — of sunscreen washes into the ocean every year. Add to this body lotions, hair products, and, for divers, mask de-fogging products, and it all adds up pretty quickly. But never fear: reef-safe products are readily available.

Many of these products contain ingredients that can cause coral bleaching or that are toxic to some reef fish. Products containing benzophenone-3 (oxybenzone), butylparaben, octinoxate (ethylhexyl methoxycinnamate) and cyclopentasiloxane (cyclomethicone) damage the aquatic environment the most. When choosing a body, hair or mask-defogging product, make sure that it does not include any of these ingredients. You can also help by choosing water-resistant and biodegradable sunscreens that do not wash off in the water and that break down quicker. Here is a list of our favorite reef-safe products to use on your next dive trip.

Coconut oil

Natural is always better, and coconut oil is definitely a winner here. It has a natural SPF of between 4 and 5 and the antioxidants it contains protect skin from the sun’s radiation. While the SPF is low, you can supplement with red raspberry seed oil and other essential oils, or one of the sunscreens recommended below. Coconut oil works wonderfully as a full body moisturizer — including your face. You can even use it as a leave-in conditioner to avoid messy post-dive hair.

---

Stream2Sea

While Stream2Sea is against animal testing in cases where there are other alternatives, unfortunately, in order to ensure that their products are completely harmless to both humans and the aquatic environment, they had to test their products on “purpose-bred live fish and eco-consciously and scientifically obtained coral larvae.” This testing process enabled the company to develop a wide range of reef-safe body and hair products. Offerings include everything from sunscreen to hair conditioner, biodegradable shampoo to lip-balm and after sun products. 

---

Alba Botanica

Alba Botanica is part of the Leaping Bunny Program, which means that the company doesn’t carry any products tested on animals. All of Alba Botanica’s products are biodegradable and coral-reef safe. They include moisturizers, scrubs (minus microbeads), toners, hair products and sunscreen. 

---

Reef Safe Sun

Reef Safe Sun products are not only approved by the FDA, but have also been tested and proven to be biodegradable and non-toxic to sea life. They use sustainable and renewable plant and vegetable raw materials with no animal testing or animal by-products. They offer a wide variety of products including sunscreen, baby products, and a reef-safe mask-cleaning and defogging spray.

---

Spit

Yes, you read right — spit is the most environmentally-friendly mask defogger (although it’s not technically a product). For best results avoid the watery spit that naturally accumulates in your mouth and go for the good thick stuff at the back of your throat.

As ambassadors to the underwater world, diver can make a huge difference when it comes to protecting our underwater playground. By choosing biodegradable, reef-safe products we can help lessen the impact that we have on our environment. Every little step counts!

The post Reef-Safe Products for Body, Hair and Masks appeared first on Scuba Diver Life.

from Scuba Diver Life http://bit.ly/2BOGKi5

Fiji’s Top Five Soft Coral Hotspots

Divers know Fiji as not only a shark mecca but also a soft-coral paradise. Rainbow Reef is rightly famous around the world, but Fiji offers plentiful vibrant soft-coral dives. Here are our picks for Fiji's top five soft coral hotspots.

Great White Wall, Rainbow Reef

There are dozens of beautiful dive sites on the Rainbow Reef, but the Great White Wall is really a stand-out. The entry point is a small depression on a coral wall, with the top of the reef at around 33 feet (10 m). Soft corals of every color in the rainbow cover the top of the reef, with even more colorful fish flitting in and around them. In the overhangs and swim-throughs there are schools of big-eyes and when you peak over the edge — a wall of white soft coral that looks for all the world like a snow scene.

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North Save a Tack or Keenan's, Namena Marine Reserve

It's impossible to pick just one soft coral site in the Namena Marine Protected Reserve. This remote destination is best reached by liveaboard, which is possibly why Fiji's only two liveaboards are booked out months, sometimes years, in advance.

Anthias swarm at Namena Marine Reserve (Photo credit: Cat Holloway/Naia liveaboard)

Keenan's main feature is a narrow pinnacle covered from head to toe in colorful soft corals. At the end of the dive, you'll spend your deco in a lush coral garden. Conversely, North Save a Tack is an adventure, beginning with pelagic encounters ranging from huge schools of barracuda to graceful manta rays before it transitions to a channel covered in the densest soft coral you've ever seen. Pinks, oranges, blues and blacks stretch out before you. At the end of North Save a Tack, you'll reach the 'Window of Dreams' home of some of the world's most famous underwater photographs.

---

Instant Replay, Bligh Water, Raki Raki

Again, it's hard to pick the best dive site in Bligh Water. All of them are good, with names to prove it — Black Magic, Breath-taker and Yellow Mellow. Wheat Fields is another beauty here, with coral bommies covered in fields of vibrant yellow soft coral that looks like…a field of wheat. Instant Replay is ablaze with color and fun drift dive with a twist. Toward the end, you can duck into a gap in the reef wall, swim back and enjoy the drift again.

---

Fantasea, Beqa Lagoon

Fantasea (Credit: Diveplanit)

Think giant sea fans — everywhere. Enormous fans made up of intricate lacework in all different colors — red, orange, yellow, green and purple — dot the Fantasea dive site. It's like swimming through a world created by Lewis Carroll. The coral gardens are great fun to explore, with gullies and swim throughs that will make you feel like a kid again.

 

 

 

 

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Savusavu Bommie, Savusavu, Vanua Levu

 

This Savusavu dive site features one large bommie surrounded by other smaller bommies on a clean, sandy base. Hard corals cover the main bommie, which has one steep side, also covered in soft corals and gorgonian sea fans. Anemones and bright orange anthias make this site an absolute riot of color.

The post Fiji's Top Five Soft Coral Hotspots appeared first on Scuba Diver Life.

from Scuba Diver Life http://bit.ly/2QUMb9w

Fiji’s Top Five Soft Coral Hotspots

Divers know Fiji as not only a shark mecca but also a soft-coral paradise. Rainbow Reef is rightly famous around the world, but Fiji offers plentiful vibrant soft-coral dives. Here are our picks for Fiji’s top five soft coral hotspots.

Great White Wall, Rainbow Reef

There are dozens of beautiful dive sites on the Rainbow Reef, but the Great White Wall is really a stand-out. The entry point is a small depression on a coral wall, with the top of the reef at around 33 feet (10 m). Soft corals of every color in the rainbow cover the top of the reef, with even more colorful fish flitting in and around them. In the overhangs and swim-throughs there are schools of big-eyes and when you peak over the edge — a wall of white soft coral that looks for all the world like a snow scene.

---

North Save a Tack or Keenan’s, Namena Marine Reserve

It’s impossible to pick just one soft coral site in the Namena Marine Protected Reserve. This remote destination is best reached by liveaboard, which is possibly why Fiji’s only two liveaboards are booked out months, sometimes years, in advance.

Anthias swarm at Namena Marine Reserve (Photo credit: Cat Holloway/Naia liveaboard)

Keenan’s main feature is a narrow pinnacle covered from head to toe in colorful soft corals. At the end of the dive, you’ll spend your deco in a lush coral garden. Conversely, North Save a Tack is an adventure, beginning with pelagic encounters ranging from huge schools of barracuda to graceful manta rays before it transitions to a channel covered in the densest soft coral you’ve ever seen. Pinks, oranges, blues and blacks stretch out before you. At the end of North Save a Tack, you’ll reach the ‘Window of Dreams’ home of some of the world’s most famous underwater photographs.

---

Instant Replay, Bligh Water, Raki Raki

Again, it’s hard to pick the best dive site in Bligh Water. All of them are good, with names to prove it — Black Magic, Breath-taker and Yellow Mellow. Wheat Fields is another beauty here, with coral bommies covered in fields of vibrant yellow soft coral that looks like…a field of wheat. Instant Replay is ablaze with color and fun drift dive with a twist. Toward the end, you can duck into a gap in the reef wall, swim back and enjoy the drift again.

---

Fantasea, Beqa Lagoon

Fantasea (Credit: Diveplanit)

Think giant sea fans — everywhere. Enormous fans made up of intricate lacework in all different colors — red, orange, yellow, green and purple — dot the Fantasea dive site. It’s like swimming through a world created by Lewis Carroll. The coral gardens are great fun to explore, with gullies and swim throughs that will make you feel like a kid again.

 

 

 

 

---

Savusavu Bommie, Savusavu, Vanua Levu

 

This Savusavu dive site features one large bommie surrounded by other smaller bommies on a clean, sandy base. Hard corals cover the main bommie, which has one steep side, also covered in soft corals and gorgonian sea fans. Anemones and bright orange anthias make this site an absolute riot of color.

The post Fiji’s Top Five Soft Coral Hotspots appeared first on Scuba Diver Life.

from Scuba Diver Life http://bit.ly/2QUMb9w

Marine Species: Glaucus Atlanticus

A running joke between divers purports that there are two types of divers: those who enjoy nudibranchs and those who don’t. This nudibranch sub-species however, the Glaucus Atlanticus, is no doubt adored by all divers thanks to its beauty and fascinating taxonomy.

Glaucus Atlanticus camouflage

Also called the blue sea slug or the blue dragon, the Glaucus Atlanticus drifts upside down on the ocean’s surface. Its iridescent countershading coloration helps protect it from both airborne and marine predators. Its underside, which faces toward the sky, will appear blue from above. This makes predators think that it’s just another bit of water. When seen from below, the upper side appears gray to mimic the sky. Predators below are thusly uninterested.

Habitat and biology

Blue sea slug devours a man o’ war

Unlike other nudibranchs, the Glaucus Atlanticus inhabits the entire water column. Although, as stated, it’s more common on the ocean’s surface. Typically found in temperate and tropical waters of the Atlantic, Pacific and Indian Oceans, the 1.2-inch (3 cm) creature’s diet is comprised of hydrozoans, especially its most common prey, the Portuguese man o’ war, whose tentacles can reach up to 30 feet long (9 m). Eating the highly-venomous stinging cells of the man o’ war creates yet another facet of self-defense since the blue sea slug stores the venom in each of its 84 finger-like cerata. These stick out from its body, allowing it to harm potential predators who may take a nibble or brush by too closely. Consequently, divers and ocean enthusiasts must take caution and never handle this unique creature.

Subspecies

There are two sub-species in the family of Glaucidae, the Glaucus Atlanticus and the Glaucus marginatus. The former is the larger of the two with a much larger tail. But despite its smaller size, only reaching ½ inch (12 mm), the marginatus has more cerata than its counterpart, creating a smaller yet more venomous threat. Just as with other nudibranchs, they are hermaphroditic, each creating its own sperm and eggs. Each individual must however find a mate to fertilize the eggs.

Seeing one of these beautiful creatures on a dive is always a treat. But remember that they’re highly venomous, so — just as with other sea creatures — look but don’t touch.

 

 

The post Marine Species: Glaucus Atlanticus appeared first on Scuba Diver Life.

from Scuba Diver Life http://bit.ly/2T5bv9a

Marine Species: Glaucus Atlanticus

A running joke between divers purports that there are two types of divers: those who enjoy nudibranchs and those who don't. This nudibranch sub-species however, the Glaucus Atlanticus, is no doubt adored by all divers thanks to its beauty and fascinating taxonomy.

Glaucus Atlanticus camouflage

Also called the blue sea slug or the blue dragon, the Glaucus Atlanticus drifts upside down on the ocean's surface. Its iridescent countershading coloration helps protect it from both airborne and marine predators. Its underside, which faces toward the sky, will appear blue from above. This makes predators think that it's just another bit of water. When seen from below, the upper side appears gray to mimic the sky. Predators below are thusly uninterested.

Habitat and biology

Blue sea slug devours a man o' war

Unlike other nudibranchs, the Glaucus Atlanticus inhabits the entire water column. Although, as stated, it's more common on the ocean's surface. Typically found in temperate and tropical waters of the Atlantic, Pacific and Indian Oceans, the 1.2-inch (3 cm) creature's diet is comprised of hydrozoans, especially its most common prey, the Portuguese man o' war, whose tentacles can reach up to 30 feet long (9 m). Eating the highly-venomous stinging cells of the man o' war creates yet another facet of self-defense since the blue sea slug stores the venom in each of its 84 finger-like cerata. These stick out from its body, allowing it to harm potential predators who may take a nibble or brush by too closely. Consequently, divers and ocean enthusiasts must take caution and never handle this unique creature.

Subspecies

There are two sub-species in the family of Glaucidae, the Glaucus Atlanticus and the Glaucus marginatus. The former is the larger of the two with a much larger tail. But despite its smaller size, only reaching ½ inch (12 mm), the marginatus has more cerata than its counterpart, creating a smaller yet more venomous threat. Just as with other nudibranchs, they are hermaphroditic, each creating its own sperm and eggs. Each individual must however find a mate to fertilize the eggs.

Seeing one of these beautiful creatures on a dive is always a treat. But remember that they're highly venomous, so — just as with other sea creatures — look but don't touch.

 

 

The post Marine Species: Glaucus Atlanticus appeared first on Scuba Diver Life.

from Scuba Diver Life http://bit.ly/2T5bv9a

Seahorses Are in Trouble

Seahorses. Who doesn't like these little guys? Spotting one among the coral is sure to bring a smile to any diver's face. With their curved tails, round bellies and long snouts, it is easy to feel like you just want to put them in your pocket. Sadly, many species are either endangered or nearly extinct for that exact reason.

The International Union for Conservation of Nature's Red List features 34 seahorse species. This means that they are either endangered or that scientists don't have enough data to confirm that they are not endangered. The populations most in trouble are in Asia. But the problem is spreading globally as fishermen are looking for new seahorse hunting grounds.

Where have all the seahorses gone?

There are three markets that encourage mass capture and trade of seahorses. They often end up as by-catch of fishing and trawling practices. But these species are so valuable now that fishermen pick them from the by-catch to sell to one of the following markets.

Chinese medicine

Victims of the Chinese medicine trade.

Traditional Chinese medicine sees vast numbers of seahorses traded every year. Upwards of 150 million, animals, combined with the curio trade, die each year for this practice. Between 65 and 85 countries trade these animals for medicinal use, with more joining the list each year.

Traditional Chinese medicine purports that consuming seahorses can cure a variety of ailments, including asthma, throat infections, insomnia and abdominal pain. Consumers seek pregnant males especially as they believe the carcass can cure impotence. As consumers of medicines containing seahorses become wealthier, the demand has changed from purchasing them to prepare at home to the commercial production of pills containing seahorses. This means that fishermen now catch these animals commercially to produce mass quantities of the "medicine."

About 90 percent of the captured and killed male seahorses are pregnant, leaving them no chance to reproduce and sustain populations.

After capture, fishermen hang the live animals in the sun to die and then dry. Once they are dried the fisherman sells them to a middleman, who then sells them to markets or factories that will process them to make medicine.

Home-aquarium trade

Trade for wild seahorses to the home-aquarium market reaches around one million each year. Only a small number of these animals survive longer than a few weeks. Seahorses require optimal water conditions to survive, which is not always possible to maintain in home aquariums. Education and breeding seahorses in captivity has created a culture of "conservation through cultivation," with limited success. 

The curio trade

Many shops, especially in touristy coastal towns, sell seahorses as mementos. This market also sees northward of one million seahorses traded every year. Although these products often feature a "sustainable,"  label this is seldom — if ever — true. These creatures undergo the same fishing and drying practices as the ones selected for the Chinese medicine trade.

CITES and seahorses

The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of wild fauna and flora (CITES) is an agreement between most countries to regulate the trade in animals and plants to ensure that the it does not affect wild populations. Seahorses joined the list of protected species in 2004 due to the unsustainable practices in catching them.

Seahorses are on Appendix II of CITES, which covers species that are not necessarily near extinction yet but could face that fate if we fail to regulate trade properly. As per the Seahorse Trust, seahorses could become extinct in as little as 20 to 30 years if we do not curb trade or introduce more sustainable practices.

Because seahorses appear on Appendix II, they are subject to certain regulations including restrictions in their trade unless they are accompanied by a CITES permit. Absolutely all trade in seahorses requires CITES permits and authorization from a scientific or management authority. This includes export, import, re-export and re-import of any and all animals whether they are alive or dead, whole or in part.

What can we do?

Several organizations are trying to farm seahorses. They have not been fully successful but could eventually lower the volume of wild seahorses facing capture for trade. 

Seahorses are fascinating creatures. Although they charm and entice, it's best to leave them in the wild  instead of an aquarium or as victims of the Chinese medicine or curio trade. Do not buy them if you see them in the market. If you see them, tell the store owner you won't purchase anything in their establishment as long as they continue to trade in seahorses.

The post Seahorses Are in Trouble appeared first on Scuba Diver Life.

from Scuba Diver Life http://bit.ly/2GFkgpd

Seahorses Are in Trouble

Seahorses. Who doesn’t like these little guys? Spotting one among the coral is sure to bring a smile to any diver’s face. With their curved tails, round bellies and long snouts, it is easy to feel like you just want to put them in your pocket. Sadly, many species are either endangered or nearly extinct for that exact reason.

The International Union for Conservation of Nature’s Red List features 34 seahorse species. This means that they are either endangered or that scientists don’t have enough data to confirm that they are not endangered. The populations most in trouble are in Asia. But the problem is spreading globally as fishermen are looking for new seahorse hunting grounds.

Where have all the seahorses gone?

There are three markets that encourage mass capture and trade of seahorses. They often end up as by-catch of fishing and trawling practices. But these species are so valuable now that fishermen pick them from the by-catch to sell to one of the following markets.

Chinese medicine

Victims of the Chinese medicine trade.

Traditional Chinese medicine sees vast numbers of seahorses traded every year. Upwards of 150 million, animals, combined with the curio trade, die each year for this practice. Between 65 and 85 countries trade these animals for medicinal use, with more joining the list each year.

Traditional Chinese medicine purports that consuming seahorses can cure a variety of ailments, including asthma, throat infections, insomnia and abdominal pain. Consumers seek pregnant males especially as they believe the carcass can cure impotence. As consumers of medicines containing seahorses become wealthier, the demand has changed from purchasing them to prepare at home to the commercial production of pills containing seahorses. This means that fishermen now catch these animals commercially to produce mass quantities of the “medicine.”

About 90 percent of the captured and killed male seahorses are pregnant, leaving them no chance to reproduce and sustain populations.

After capture, fishermen hang the live animals in the sun to die and then dry. Once they are dried the fisherman sells them to a middleman, who then sells them to markets or factories that will process them to make medicine.

Home-aquarium trade

Trade for wild seahorses to the home-aquarium market reaches around one million each year. Only a small number of these animals survive longer than a few weeks. Seahorses require optimal water conditions to survive, which is not always possible to maintain in home aquariums. Education and breeding seahorses in captivity has created a culture of “conservation through cultivation,” with limited success. 

The curio trade

Many shops, especially in touristy coastal towns, sell seahorses as mementos. This market also sees northward of one million seahorses traded every year. Although these products often feature a “sustainable,”  label this is seldom — if ever — true. These creatures undergo the same fishing and drying practices as the ones selected for the Chinese medicine trade.

CITES and seahorses

The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of wild fauna and flora (CITES) is an agreement between most countries to regulate the trade in animals and plants to ensure that the it does not affect wild populations. Seahorses joined the list of protected species in 2004 due to the unsustainable practices in catching them.

Seahorses are on Appendix II of CITES, which covers species that are not necessarily near extinction yet but could face that fate if we fail to regulate trade properly. As per the Seahorse Trust, seahorses could become extinct in as little as 20 to 30 years if we do not curb trade or introduce more sustainable practices.

Because seahorses appear on Appendix II, they are subject to certain regulations including restrictions in their trade unless they are accompanied by a CITES permit. Absolutely all trade in seahorses requires CITES permits and authorization from a scientific or management authority. This includes export, import, re-export and re-import of any and all animals whether they are alive or dead, whole or in part.

What can we do?

Several organizations are trying to farm seahorses. They have not been fully successful but could eventually lower the volume of wild seahorses facing capture for trade. 

Seahorses are fascinating creatures. Although they charm and entice, it’s best to leave them in the wild  instead of an aquarium or as victims of the Chinese medicine or curio trade. Do not buy them if you see them in the market. If you see them, tell the store owner you won’t purchase anything in their establishment as long as they continue to trade in seahorses.

The post Seahorses Are in Trouble appeared first on Scuba Diver Life.

from Scuba Diver Life http://bit.ly/2GFkgpd

What to pack for a trip to Antarctica

Packing for an adventure overseas can be stressful at the best of times. But packing for Antarctica? Where do you even start? Last January I headed down to the Falkland Islands, South Georgia and the Antarctic Peninsula with Quark Expeditions.

It took 10 years of travel for me to become the packing queen that I am today; it didn't just happen overnight, guys. And packing for a month in Antarctica was the ultimate test for me. BRING. IT. ON.

25 photos that will inspire you to visit Antarctica

In fact there was only one thing I needed to buy for the whole trip, can you guess what it was? Everything else I already owned from my adventures around New Zealand. Honestly my house looks like an ad for Backcountry.com. I should start doing gear rentals.

To be fair, I did overpack, which is one of my common mistakes but I'd rather be safe than sorry, and a month at sea with no internet meant I needed a few extras, like games, books, journaling things, and maybe a cheeky bottle of gin.

While there are plenty of helpful packing lists out there, and every trip will usually send out its own list too, I wanted to share my own personal experience of what you might need for an expedition cruise down to Antarctica as well as the subantarctic islands of South Georgia and the Falklands.

Gin aside, here are my best tips of what to pack. Enjoy!

10 things that surprised me in Antarctica

Not recommended to go naked in Antarctica, though it's a lot of fun I hear

If pictures could show the wind….

Outer layers

Step 1. Everything you wear on the outside in Antarctica needs to be waterproof, windproof, and penguin-poo proof.

And by waterproof, I mean REALLY waterproof, not sort of waterproof. I'm talking Goretex here or something similar, don't be cheap because the weather down on the last continent can only be described as wild and unforgiving.

You will get wet a lot. And also not necessarily because of the snow or rain, which trust me, can happen at a moment's notice, but for the zodiac boat rides to and from shore or cruises. The swells can come out of nowhere and you're gonna get wet with the spray of the sea if not soaked. And it's rough salty water too that can destroy your stuff after a while, go heavy duty. If I didn't rinse my gear regularly in the shower, it would get caked with salt.

One of the coldest days

One of the warmest days on the Falkland Islands

This means waterproof pants and windproof shell/rain jacket with a hood. Waterproof gloves or mittens. I have started using these really cool photography gloves by Vallerret that are super handy where you can pull back the end of the finger and thumb to use the controls on the camera.

All the trips I've been on provide you with rubber muckboots or gumboots for the landings, but I bring hiking boots too.

If you travel with a company like Quark Expeditions, they give you one of their signature special yellow parkas, which has a shell and a removable fleece puffer inside.

North Face bib      Trekking Pants     Hiking Boots      Photography Gloves

That is all poop. Not mud. At all. 

Jarrad Seng's take on activewear, what lurks beneath the rain pants

I have a few different pairs of pants I would wear, and even wear my snow pants sometimes, though they were getting a bit tight after 3 weeks of bottomless buffets on board (yikes) though this year I upgraded to Goretex bib snowboard pants, which have a bit more, ah, room shall we say in the waist department.

Also pack a tight beanie or two, it'll be cold and no one likes cold ears, am I right? Also it's windy as all hell, remember where you are: the roaring 40s, furious 50s, and screaming 60s. If your hat isn't tight, it'll be a goner, and you'll be in trouble for littering in a pristine environment, even if you didn't mean to.

Batten down the hatches as they say.

Beanie 1         Beanie 2           Jacket 1            Jacket 2

Inner layers

Underneath my rain jacket, I usually wore several layers I could pull off on land if needed. Since moving to New Zealand five years ago, I quickly became obsessed with merino wool aka the magic fabric.

It dries fast, wicks away moisture from your skin, keeps you warm when you need it, and it doesn't itch, and it doesn't smell! This means you can rewear it over and over again on the trip. Even my underwear is merino. I do change that though.

Thermal top 1        Merino hoodie        Thermal top 2         Puffer jacket        Flannel Shirt

I start with either a short sleeve or long sleeve thin merino shirt, followed up with a merino hoodie. I'm not kidding, I'm obsessed. I usually bring 3-4 merino shirts and one hoodie and one or two fleece shirts I can layer.

And if it's really cold I'll wear a thin puffer jacket on top before putting my wet weather gear over it. As they say in New Zealand, we are not here to fuck spiders i.e. not mess around.

The best base layers have thumbholes – all Mons Royale does!

I wear a pair of merino leggings underneath my wet weather pants, the same thermals I wear when I go snowboarding in the winter. I usually bring two pairs.

My feet are decked out in the thickest wool socks you can find. I bring several pairs, and by several I mean like five pairs, no one wants cold feet though they stay pretty warm inside the good boots the ships provide.

I also bring a pair of thin glove liners or thin gloves I can wear easily than my preferred big old mittens or wear inside my mittens.

Don't forget my wooly merino undies and sports bras! They are game-changers, guys. And I also have a merino wool neck gaiter or buff that I always wear.

Merino leggings            Merino sports bra           Wooly socks         Merino neck warmer

Extra boring bits and bobs

If you guessed the one thing I had to buy for this trip was seasickness meds, you were right!

I don't actually get seasick really, but who's gonna take that chance on the notorious Drake Passage? Not me, that's for sure. My doctor prescribed Cyclizine, again we're not here to fuck spiders with some lame ginger tablets or hippy patch. Gimme the real stuff. These are the roughest seas on earth.

I had two camera backpacks, one large and one small for the trip depending on the landings and the weather, and I also had a few small dry bags I could chuck stuff into if needed.

Also be sure to double check what kind of outlets are on board the ship, they move all over the world and sometimes it can surprise.

The ugly sweater diaries continue… Jarrad can't be tamed

I brought a water bottle of course, along with the other necessities like sunglasses (used once), earplugs (just do it, even if it's not for snoring roommates the booming of the ship in storms is loud as), an eye mask (there's no nighttime and also I day nap a lot), and sunscreen, you know, since we destroyed the ozone layer.

For down time on the ship, of which there is heaps, I wore normal casual comfy clothes. The temperature on board can actually be pretty warm so I would have t-shirts on hand and some easy shoes I could wear around, though you want non-slip ones for when you go out on deck a lot.

I also brought my favorite Onepiece onesie, which I shamelessly wore all the time! And I might add received more than one compliment on. Which might have been sarcastic but who cares. It was so comfortable, and it wasn't like I was trying to meet anyone or anything.

Everything gets shoved willy nilly into my favorite large North Face Duffel. An icon. Can you go to Antarctica with anything less? I don't think so.

Camp Duffel                  Day Pack              Camera bag             Dry Bags

Fun stuff

Now for the stuff you really want to know, all of the fun and random crap that made it inside my Mary Poppins bottomless North Face duffel bag.

Where to begin?

Yahtzee! You will be spending days at sea with total strangers and no Facebook. What to do? Board games! They usually have some on board but I also brought my own, from Yahtzee to Uno to Scrabble among many others, it's a great way to meet people in the beginning.

I also brought my own pillow because I'm a princess. And an insomniac, and anything that helps me sleep better is worth its weight in gold.

Heaps of books! I love reading so I downloaded a few fun novels on my Kindle which were great to read in bed when we had 10 meter swells and Yahtzee was out of the question. I also brought half a dozen paperbacks too, all books about Antarctica and the early explorers. If you only bring one book, make sure it's Shackleton's Endurance. It's incredible to read from the comforts of a modern-day ship.

I also brought a blank Moleskine sketchbook that I used to journal and draw during the trip. I used to always do this when traveling but have stopped in recent years and it was a great way to go back to my roots.

And finally, don't forget a swimsuit! Bathers, togs, whatever you call them. You'll likely have the chance to do the polar plunge and jump into the icy waters which I highly recommend.

While it's important to pack all of the essentials because the weather in Antarctica is unforgiving, it's also a trip with plenty of downtime to make sure you pack a few little treats and goodies for yourself too!

What did I miss? Have any tips for packing for the Antarctic? Share!

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