Challenges with Shark Conservation Success vs. Recreation VSFS: Virtual Student Federal Service Dads Doing All Of The Work Dates Released for Summer 2022-Baja A Solution for your SeaSmart News FOMO New SeaSmart Swag In Time For The Holidays! |
|
|
Success Story for Shark Conservation, but... As ocean advocates and shark protectors, we all try to debunk the media's and public's sentiments that sharks are to be feared as man-eating machines. However, with clean and healthy oceans, comes more marine life. This includes an abundance of sharks in certain areas, which in the case of Cape Cod, creates some new challenges. Over the past decade the waters around Cape Cod, Massachusetts have become host to one of the densest seasonal concentrations of adult white sharks in the world. Acoustic tagging data suggests the animals trickle into the region during lengthening days in May, increase in abundance throughout summer, peak in October and mostly depart by the dimming light and plunging temperatures of Thanksgiving. To conservationists, the annual returns are a success story, a welcome sign of ecosystem recovery at a time when many wildlife species are depleted. But the phenomenon carries unusual public-safety implications. Unlike many places where adult white sharks congregate, which tend to be remote islands with large colonies of sea lions or seals, the sharks’ summer residency in New England overlaps with tourist season at one of the Northeast U.S.’s most coveted recreational areas. Moreover, the animals are hunting in remarkably shallow water, at times within feet of the beach. This puts large numbers of people in close contact with a fast and efficient megapredator, historically the ocean's most feared inhabitant. This creates a call for balance between conservation and recreation. This challenge is not new for other areas around the world - Australia, for example - yet adequate solutions are still not fully within reach. |
|
|
Student Internship Opportunities The Virtual Student Federal Service (VSFS) is a nine-month remote internship for U.S. citizen students, college-level and above, who would like to make a real difference in the work of the U.S. government. Virtual interns work only on unclassified projects. They report to their mentors in the Department of State and other federal government agencies in the U.S. and around the world by email, phone and video chat. As some of our alumni SeaSmart students move into their college studies and beyond, this may be of interest. There are a number of NOAA internships, including writing, research and analysis, educational design and other opportunities addressing topics such as: -Citizen Science & Fisheries -Analyzing Coral Reef Restoration Imagery -Creating Reproducible Reports for Coral Reef Monitoring -Using Storytelling to Engage More Communities in Marine Conservation -Communicating the Role of Citizen Scientists -Measuring the impact of Citizen Scientists -Joining the Office of National Marine Sanctuaries to conduct outreach with members of Congress on key marine conservation issues ...and more! Have a look at the many marine-related (and other!) opportunities. It could be a great way to gain experience, investigate interest in topics for future studies, network and build your resume. Let us know if anyone pursues one! |
|
|
Daddy Daycare Seahorses are among the only species where the male gives birth and takes care of the young. When mating, the female seahorse deposits up to 1,500 eggs in the male's pouch. The male carries the eggs for 9 to 45 days until the seahorses emerge fully developed, but very small. The young are then released into the water. Some seahorse species mate for life. Seahorses use their long snouts to suck in their food and swallow it whole. Thus their prey needs to be very small. However, they are slow to consume their food and have extremely simple digestive systems that lack teeth or a stomach, so they must eat constantly to stay alive. Seahorses are not very good swimmers, and for this reason they need to anchor themselves to seaweed, coral or anything else that will anchor the seahorse in place. They do this by using their tails to grasp their object of choice and ambush prey that floats within striking range, sitting and waiting until an optimal moment. Primarily, seahorses feed on plankton, small fish and small crustaceans, such as shrimp and copepods. To compensate for its lack of swimming speed, a seahorse's neck is well adapted for catching prey. |
|
|
Summer 2022 is Shaping Up! We are headed to the southern Baja peninsula for the incredible marine life and conservation research that is happening there. Famously called “the world’s aquarium” by oceanographer Jacques Cousteau, the Sea of Cortez is one of the most biologically diverse bodies of water on Earth. The ocean habitat supports super-pods of more than 1,000 dolphins, schools of jumping mobula rays, and colonies of sea lions along the coastline. It is home to nearly 900 species of fish, including 77 found nowhere else on the planet. At least 26 species of seabirds breed on the islands. The Sea of Cortez, where the desert meets the sea, also serves as a major feeding and breeding zone for large marine mammals, including blue, humpback, grey, sperm, pilot, Baird’s beaked, and Bryde’s whales. Partnering with local conservationists, marine scientists and dive professionals, the program promises to offer exciting and exceptional experiences. Think side-by-side research experiences with mobula ray conservation experts, shark biologist studies & workshops, diving with sea lions, SCUBA diving/certification, a night dive with unparalleled star gazing, incredible hikes, and more! If you would like more information, reach out to our Director at lisa.mcintyre@seasmartocean.org or (201)960-2363. Due to the custom nature of our program, we will be limited to 12 participants per week. For a large group traveling together, alternative arrangements can be made to the program. Week of July 9-16: Student Week (Parents are welcome based on availability) Week of July 16-23: Mermaids/Adults Week Well of July 23-30: Waitlist Student Week |
|
|
Don't Worry If You Have Missed Past Newsletters SeaSmart monthly newsletters are now available on our website for a rolling year. You can catch up on all of the cool info and opportunities here: |
|
|
SeaSmart Swag: New Styles Added! We have new additions to our collection of SeaSmart branded items. The new Protect What You Love style is available on our super cool sweatshirts, and long & short sleeved T's. Choose from a variety of sizes and colors with proceeds going toward the 2022 Diversity Scholarship. Every ocean lover will want one in their stocking this year! |
|
|
|
|