Underwater Thrills had This to Say ...

Hard to believe it's been almost a year since we first met Patric Douglas. Time flies so we're having fun. He's never at a loss for words or short on opinion, but he's always there, and that's just fine by us.

Check out the rest of the Underwater Thrills Blog while you're there checkin' out what he had to say about some of our recent shenanigans.

Sport Fishing Magazine on the GH-USC

View entire article, and check out the official tournament website while you're there.

ch, ch, Ch, CH, Changes ...

Hello Everyone --

I hope this finds you and yours doing well. Yes, it's been a while, but please don't mistake recent gaps in my blog blasts with a lack of things to talk about. As a matter of fact, the old shark, chainsaw and bowling ball juggling act has been on the road and running the old Vegas 24/7 rotation lately; only stopping to sweep up and take out the trash, every now and again. 

As most know, we've been experimenting with a sort of total immersion therapy the past 11 months or so, as part of our efforts to develop and launch the Guy Harvey Ultimate Shark Challenge. It's been a little like hanging on to the wing of an airplane ... while it's flying; a very exciting experience, with a great view that never, ever spits out a dull moment.

In 2 weeks from today, the rubber will finally meet the road with the qualifying round taking place at Burnt Store Marina in Punta Gorda. That weekend will provide us with our 5 championship contending teams, who will, 5 weeks from today, jump in the ring at the grand championship taking place at Mote Marine Laboratory and Aquarium in Sarasota. One of these teams will be crowned the ultimate champions.

There’s no way to fully explain the logistical complexity of what this undertaking demands because much of what it requires has never been done before. For me, that's been more than half the attraction, but simply put, the guiding vision my brother and I have maintained for this was to combine the goals of sport, science and conservation.

Pun intended, and here's the catch; we wanted to do it the only way it could be done -- collaboratively and with effective results. So far, so good, but not beyond my greatest expectations because I knew all along, with the right people involved, that the little snowball we rolled down the hill, a long time ago, would pick up speed and mass and compelling amounts of energy.

In countless ways, what we've achieved so far would not be possible if it wasn't for a key group of some of the most interesting, talented, dedicated and forward-thinking people around. From that, we’ve attracted a building list of like-minded and influential supporters. You won’t find a single bench warmer in the crowd because bringing something like this from thought to tangible reality is not a spectator sport. You’ve got to suit up and run some plays. It's an honor and a true thrill to be working with them.

There still remains much to do, and there are some imposing gaps to close, but in the spirit of adventure and wildlife, I consider this one huge expedition; a word literally translated as, ‘a journey undertaken with a definite objective’. Its success won’t be measured by any one thing or on its simple completion because it won’t be over on May 23^rd when our championship team is crowned.

That’s the beginning. This is about future building. Success for the Guy Harvey Ultimate Shark Challenge will be measured more on what comes of it … what comes next. It’s those changes, and those things remaining left to do, that make it all worthwhile.

Stay tuned … over & out for now,

-stp-

Shark Free Marinas & Humane Society

All the impassioned opinion, blunt positioning, heated debate and hyperbole in the world can't measure up to tangible and effective results. With anything, but very notably in the wild world of conservation, effective results are the only things that truly matter.

Everything else is wasteful posturing and a lot of getting ready to get ready ... so enough, already. It's been our personal experience that effective results can only come from rolling up the shirtsleeves and just getting it done.

When we were first introduced to the Shark Free Marinas Initiative early last year, the doers behind the effort, like us, were deeply entrenched in the getting it done part of our respective efforts to effect rationally sustainable policies and practices. However, while so many other conservation aims miss their mark, this viable new concept, and more importantly, the people behind it, were immediately compelling to us, by virtue of the fact they weren't repelling, as so many others almost inherently are.

They believe in adding real collaboration to the mix of forward-thinking effectiveness, and that's why we support them. They are among the exceptions and not the rule. As far as results go, they've already achieved many, but you can add the following puzzle piece to their emerging and expanding picture of success. Congratulations to everyone involved.

The Humane Society of the United States Joins Shark-Free Marinas to Reduce Killing of Ocean’s Great Predators

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
‘Shark-Free Marina Initiative’ promotes catch-and-release

Note: There are Shark-Free Marinas in Harwich, Mass.; Key Largo, Fla.; Miami; Tequesta, Fla.; Vero Beach, Fla.; West Alton, Mo, Fiji, Tonga, and the U.K

The Humane Society of the United States has teamed up with Shark-Free Marinas in a campaign to significantly reduce worldwide shark mortality.

Fittingly, the effort is called the “Shark-Free Marina Initiative” and seeks the support of marina operators worldwide to prohibit the landing of any shark on their premises, thus encouraging catch-and-release fishing. To help publicize the plight of sharks and the need for their protection, The HSUS and SFMI are supplying signs and public information to participating marinas in the U.S. and the Caribbean.

“The Humane Society of the United States is pleased to join the efforts of the Shark-Free Marina Initiative,” said John Grandy, Ph.D., senior vice president of wildlife for The HSUS. “The HSUS works tirelessly to end animal cruelty, exploitation and neglect and is deeply concerned by the deteriorating status of shark populations.”

Luke Tipple, executive director of the Initiative, said, “The Shark-Free Marina Initiative welcomes the support of The Humane Society of the United States and its members to protect beleaguered shark species.”

The HSUS, the nation’s largest animal protection organization, strives to end the killing of sharks in sport tournaments around the United States, and works to raise public awareness about celebrating ocean life instead of destroying it. The Shark-Free Marina Initiative encourages marinas to adopt shark-friendly policies, preventing kill tournaments from using those facilities.
Facts Dozens of marinas in the United States, the Caribbean and the South Pacific have registered as Shark-Free Marinas since the initiative began in 2008. The HSUS also works to protect sharks by campaigning against shark finning, and the organization recently petitioned the National Marine Fisheries Service to list the porbeagle shark as endangered.

The Shark-Free Marina Initiative runs a Regional Ambassador program where anyone can get involved in their important work. Visit the SFMI Web site (sharkfreemarinas.com) or The HSUS Web site (humanesociety.org/protectsharks) for more information.

Other groups supporting the Shark-Free Marina Initiative include the Fisheries Conservation Foundation and Cape Eleuthera Institute.

Media Contact: Liz Bergstrom, 301-258-1455, ebergstrom@humanesociety.org

Nurse Shark, Ring Around the Collar

Guy Harvey Ultimate Shark Challenge tournament Co-Director, Robert Moore, sent this to me. Nice save ...

Plastic Ring not Shark Bling

Two divers had a close encounter few would believe over the weekend.

John Dickinson and Chip Garber were diving on a wreck off of Florida's Palm Beach when they found a nurse shark lying lifeless on the bottom of the ocean.

They noticed the emaciated shark had a large plastic ring around its neck, which apparently prevented it from eating.

Garber was able to approach the shark from behind, grab the ring and remove it.

Garber and Dickinson say they hope the shark will begin eating again and make a quick recovery.

Watch Video