Guy Harvey Ultimate Shark Challenge

We are proud to announce:

The Guy Harvey Ultimate Shark Challenge Tournament Series

to take place in April / May 2010 

- Catch and Release Shark Tournament Hailed as a Model for Sport Fishing Enthusiasts and Marine Conservationists -

Ft. Myers, FL (December 03, 2009) – Jack Donlon, original founder of The Ultimate Shark Challenge Tournament Series, and his co-directors, Sean Paxton and Brooks Paxton II, have teamed up with renowned marine wildlife artist, scientist and conservationist Dr. Guy Harvey to present an innovative competitive event with $100,000 in cash and prizes that will serve as a model for sport fishing enthusiasts and marine conservationists.

The newly branded Guy Harvey Ultimate Shark Challenge Tournament Series will be a catch and release competition off the Southwest Florida coast – and much more. “For the first time, what we call a ‘love ‘em and leave ‘em’ shark tournament will be transformed into a true spectator sport,” said Sean Paxton. He and his brother, Brooks, known as the Shark Brothers, continued, “Our shared goal with Dr. Guy Harvey and Jack Donlon, is to give participants and viewers the most interactive, entertaining and educational shark-infested, multimedia spectacle found anywhere on the planet. This is not your grandfather’s fishing contest, but something completely new for a shark fishing tournament.”

Harvey, a long-time marine conservationist and founder of the Guy Harvey Ocean Foundation, said the tournament will increase global awareness of the important role that sharks play in the world’s oceans and our ecosystem. “The Guy Harvey Ultimate Shark Challenge Tournament Series will be a uniquely exciting event for participants, spectators and everyone who cares about the future of our oceans,” Guy Harvey said.

A total of 60 fishing teams will compete in the 2010 tournament, which will begin with three separate qualifying rounds next April and May. The series kicks off in Fort Myers Beach, Florida, on April 9 – 11, with additional stops in Marco Island and Sarasota.  Twenty teams will compete in each round and the top four will qualify to compete in the two-day Grand Championship Finale on May 22-24. The finale and its sister event, Shark Fest –a family-friendly, educational and entertaining event for all ages – are sponsored by Mote Marine Laboratory and Aquarium and the Center for Shark Research in Sarasota. 

Tournament organizers hope that this event will become the “next generation” model for shark fishing competitions. Joining Donlon, the Paxton brothers and Guy Harvey in this ambitious effort are strategic partners Robert E. Hueter, Ph.D, director of Mote Marine Laboratory’s Center for Shark Research; Lee County Commissioner Ray Judah; Luke Tipple, director of Shark-Free Marinas; and other advocates of environmental stewardship.

"With the increasing demands facing our marine resources, we saw an opportunity to implement an alternative to traditional harvest formats that is not only environmentally sound, but also a viable tournament business model,” said Jack Donlon. “Through strategic alliances and with the support of like-minded corporations, such as Guy Harvey Inc., our vision will become a reality.”

Hueter noted that the staff from the Mote Center for Shark Research will oversee all scientific aspects of the tournament, including tagging operations. Selected sharks will be outfitted with satellite tags to track their movements after release. “This project will provide a breakthrough in collaborative research involving the marine scientific and recreational fishing communities,” he added. “By working together to develop a 21st century, conservation-oriented alternative, the Mote Center for Shark Research and tournament organizers will provide a national model, while changing public attitudes about responsible use of marine resources.”

Tournament organizers are planning a major television broadcast, which promises to deliver an adrenaline-fueled mix of extreme angling, cutting-edge research and wildlife management efforts. The show will be co-anchored by the Shark Brothers and Tipple, a marine biologist.

“In these days of technological connectivity, we will be able to put spectators right into the action, above and below the water,” said Tipple. “Our viewers will experience the sheer power and raw beauty of these animals, while seeing scientists and anglers working in concert to protect and understand their world.”

Limited sponsorship opportunities are still available and team entries are currently being accepted for review. For more details and additional contact information, visit: UltimateSharkChallenge.com and www.guyharveyoceanfoundation.org.'

About Dr. Guy Harvey:

Born in Lippspringe, Germany in 1955, Harvey is a 10th generation Jamaican of English heritage.  Growing up in Jamaica, Harvey spent many hours fishing and diving with his father.  He was obsessed with the creatures of the sea and began drawing pictures of the many different fish he observed.  From those early inspirations, Harvey’s gift of recreating marine life propelled him from Professor of Marine Biology to a wildlife artist and photographer. He initially opted for a scientific education, earning high honors in Marine Biology at Aberdeen University in Scotland in 1977. He continued his formal training at the University of West Indies, where he obtained a Doctorate in Fisheries Management.  A vocal proponent of catch-and-release, Harvey generously donates artwork, time and funds for numerous institutions and conservation groups, including the Guy Harvey Research Institute established at Nova Southeastern University in 1999.  In 2008, Harvey created the Guy Harvey Ocean Foundation, which supports marine conservation, research and education efforts.  For additional information on Guy Harvey, visit www.GuyHarveyinc.com. For complete information on the Guy Harvey Ocean Foundation, visit www.GuyHarveyOceanFoundation.org.

Backyard Wildlife Rescue

Just a day after a post highlighting the Wildlife Center of Venice where we do volunteer work, I got a call from Brooks, next door, that we had a squirrel down. Apparently a neighbors free roaming 'outside' cat had a successful hunt, but abandoned the cute little rodent for more domesticated eats.

Brooks and 'Rocky'

Brooks said he was still alive, but not 'entirely mobile'. I told him I'd be right over with a square-edged shovel. This handy tool has been efficient, on a few occasions, for the quick guillotine-like dispatch and handy disposal of smaller compromised wildlife in our backyards, over the years. The old circle of life, and a quick end to the suffering, as provided by The Home Depot.

After arriving on scene, and just as I was about to bring down the death, the little guy started to make a move for it. We gave him a few minutes reprieve, during which, he managed to convince us he still had some fight left. Despite a front left leg with obvious stability issues, he was pretty scrappy so we called the Wildlife Center of Venice and talked with Kevin Barton, who said to bring 'em on in.

One Lucky Damn Squirrel

So we caged 'em up and Brooks and Clay left to make a drop off at the wild animal ER. We'll follow up to check on Rocky's fate. If he pulled through, we likely bring him back for reintroduction on his home turf.

We're fortunate to call this home because Rocky the squirrel is one small link in an abundant and long food chain thriving, literally, in our back yard. Aquatically, we've got everything from bass to bull sharks, tarpon, snook, manatee, dolphin, American alligators AND crocodiles. On dry land and in the air, there are eagles, osprey, owls, gopher tortoises, plenty of snakes including eastern diamondback rattlers and water moccasins. This past Thanksgiving, we worked hard to capture a bobcat on video, but it was perfectly elusive when the cameras came out. Anyway, it's an unexaggerated paradise -- a perfect cross-section of Florida's wild bio-diversity. As the kids would say these days, it kicks ass.

We don't take it for granted, and have enjoyed it tremendously over the years. Where we live is a big part of who we are. Aside from all the recreating we take advantage of, we've also performed many rescue, rehab and reintroductions right outside our back doors. We're putting a segment of all that together for the 'Adventure & Wildlife' series. Hell, we might as well start a blog category, while we're at it. Too much cool stuff to do in one post, but just outside, we've taken tarpon DNA samples, documented satellite-tagged manatees, rescued entangled gators ... Like I said, we're fortunate to live where we do, and as long as we're here, we'll make the most of it. Thanks for tuning in and Happy Holidays.

My Cribbage

Brooks' Place Next Door ... Look Close, It's in There

The Shark Bro Compound

And Mom & Dad's Place Just Down the Canal

Pelican Public Service Announcement

When in the proximity of anglers, pelicans can be instinctively driven to go after hooked bait, as it’s cast or once it lands in the water. When these animals become hooked, anglers will too often cut their line, thinking that maybe it’s the best thing for the bird, since it’s able to fly away.

Out of sight, but unfortunately, out of mind, too. What often happens to these animals, after a cutaway release, and when they fly back to their communal roosting and nesting habitats, can be a slow and agonizing death. The good news is, that with just a little awareness and preparation, this is an easy thing to avoid.

In addition to our efforts with sharks, we also lend our time and experience as volunteers with various wildlife rescue centers in our southwest Florida community, specializing in the recovery, rehabilitation and reintroduction of injured and orphaned wildlife species, ranging from owls to alligators. 

L-R: Brooks Paxton II, Kevin Barton and Linda Schrader at the Wildlife Center of Venice

The Wildlife Center of Venice is one of those operations. A couple years ago we produced a focused piece designed to address a problem they deal with on an annual basis, when the tourist season goes into full swing, and an increased number of recreational anglers descend upon our local fisheries.

The inevitable result is an escalation in the number of unfortunate interactions between humans and pelicans. Well, 'tis the season, and we want to, once again, get the word out about, not only the extent of the problem, but more importantly, how easy it is for our fellow anglers to do their part in reducing the impacts of collateral damage on the local pelican population.

Read More About the Wildlife Center of Venice and the
Steps to Releasing Hooked or Tangled Pelicans and Other Birds

Thanks

It's just a word, but when you lean in to it and mean it, and think about what's in between it ... and all you really have to be grateful for, that simple word becomes visceral.

To my family, friends, collaborators, biz partners and others I've had the privilege of crossing paths with -- even those that have agreed to disagree agreeably with me -- thanks.

And a special expression of gratitude to our service men and women actively engaged here and abroad on this day. Thank you for all you're doing that makes it possible for most of the rest of us to enjoy turkey, football, family and friends on a cool and quiet Thursday in November.

Enjoy the holidaze everyone ... eat, drink, be merry and safe,

-stp-

Somali Pirates & Incidental Conservation

This is, indeed, irony in the truest definition of the word. I follow the piracy issue closely so when I heard a blurb on CNN about Somalia, I was ready for the latest reported hi-jacking / kidnapping / ransom news, of which, there is no shortage.

The International Maritime Bureau's Piracy Reporting Center states that 250 crew members are still being held hostage, as we speak. Intelligence sources believe the number of vessels held presently is about 15.

Image from: Somalia - 'Pirates Love Fish'

However, here's an interesting twist that has sprung from the interminable scourge that is Somalian Piracy. Their relentless campaign has scared away the international trawlers who were, in less pirate-infested times, decimating Kenya’s fish stocks. As a result, local fishing is thriving again.

Sam Farmer did a revealing piece on this, some of which I caught on the CNN segment. In it, marine biologist and conservationist, Steve Trott, makes a direct correlation between the retreat of the factory ships and revived fish stocks, stating:

'All the indicators are there that the fishery is recovering. I think that is the strongest indicator yet that these commercial scale fleets have been having a destructive impact on our Kenyan fisheries'.

From Farmer's piece, 'With only one patrol boat at their disposal, and thousands of miles of ocean, preventing illegal fisheries has been an impossible task for the Kenyan fishery department. Something, ironically, the pirates are taking care of.

On this occasion, it's the Kenyan locals, not the pirates who are jumping for joy and are enjoying an unexpected gold rush'.

View this piece in its entirety

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