Issue 23 - April 1

Green Fins Top 10 Member: BADLADZ

SEVENSEAS Travel Magazine has been working in close collaboration with The Reef-World Foundation, international coordinators of the Green Fins initiative, since 2016.

This year we are promoting the hard work and commitment it involves to be a Top Ten member with a series of short interviews.

When your dive centre was created did you envision including environmental practices as a core part of your business?

BADLADZ Dive Resort was formed around 16 years ago so before Green Fins was around I’m sure. There have been a few different owners over the years so of course I can’t speak for the previous owners but for me the answer is 100% YES. I became involved with BADLADZ at the very start that Green Fins were starting out in the Philippines so you guys made it very easy for me to use environmental practices in our business plan. Mostly with the material you gave us to help show our customers how and why not to damage the reef. Also with the different members of your team advising us on how we could do better. I was very new to diving at the time so the advice you gave me was extremely helpful.

What was your first impression of the Green Fins initiative and how has it evolved through time?

I was very happy for your team to come by for a chat and was always very willing for them to come out on a dive with us. Unfortunately I don’t get to dive some much anymore so it was great to have someone outside of my dive staff to let me know how we are doing out on the dives. I always got great feed back for your team, so if we needed to improve on anything we were instructed rather than told how we could do better. If I remember correctly we always had a pretty low score but with your advise and tips we were able to become a top 10 member.

What is the main benefit you’ve found by being a Green Fins member?

All the staff and myself are very passionate about the water and the life within it. Having your material is a big help to get the message across to our guests that we are serious about protecting the reef with our rules on on touching and promoting good buoyancy. With our Advanced Open Water course we always suggest Peak Performance Buoyancy as 1 of there 5 adventure dives. We find the guests are very happy doing this and no matter if the student has done just 4 dives or 100 dives before taking the course they always finish up being a better diver and much more aware of there impact on the sea life. We do not in counter many situations were we have to stop or cancel a dive as the guests are fully aware on our rules using your info cards, also my staff know that I have there back if a guest doesn’t do as we ask of them. Unfortunately this is not the case in some dive shops in the area. I am very happy to say in the 7 years of working at Badladz I have not had to cancel a dive or ban a diver because of there behaviour. A polite suggestion from the dive master to the guest to watch there fins seems to be enough. This could be for several reasons but I am very sure a major reason is what it means to be a member of green fins and our positive attitude and being aware that we are guests in this environment so it is our responsibility as professional divers to do everything we can to limit our impact.

Can you tell us the biggest challenge of implementing the Code of Conduct on your day-to-day business practices?

As I said before I and very lucky that 99.9% of my guests are very happy to follow our ways of how we operate so I really don’t have many problems implementing the Code of Conduct to our guests. In fact we have many guests that are very pleased that we have these rules as other dive shops around the world they have dove with before did not have as much care for the sea life. I do get some inquiries about being able to spear fish or request bread or rice to feed the fish. I have no problems letting them know the reasons why we don’t and why they should not do this. Again this is not a big problem for me as this happens very rarely with the guests we attract. Is this because the guests are aware we are a member of green fins? I don’t know but for sure guests who are aware would not contact us if we were not members.

Have you noticed a significant change on the diving industry in your location thanks to the presence of Green Fins?

In short yes. Any fellow dive shop owner friends of mine are members and have the same attitude as me so not having Green fins around would only be a bad thing. Unfortunately dive shops who are not members are the ones who are most likely not to care about what there guests are doing. Speaking with many shop owners we would be happy to have to pay a fee to the local government which would be apart of our business license that we must be a member of Green Fins. If you don’t agree to be a member then you do not receive your license. I am fully aware this is not an approach that Green Fins can or does have towards local governments but if there were something like this in place I would guest there would be many dive shop owners more than happy to pay.

Do you think tourists are now more likely to choose environmentally friendly dive centres that work hard to protect the marine environment?

I believe most will, there are always going to be tourists picking a certain place because of cost rather than there diving practices. Having said that I am seeing more divers come to our shop because of our reviews on tripadvisor with our previous guests complementing us on how we operate in regards to our care for the environment.

What does it mean to you to be a Green Fins Top 10 member?

My Staff and myself are extremely proud to be a top 10 member. It’s no joke that we all love our job and feel very privileged to be able to show our guests the amazing life we have in the ocean. For me it’s not about recognition of our hard work to promote good diving behaviour but it stands for that we do care so if we care more than likely our guests will follow. If they didn’t care before they dove with us I am sure they do at the end of their trip. For me that is the most important thing, the education and making more people aware of there impact. Of course we have many guests who are very good divers and care about what they are doing but i feel we have done are job when we teach someone better buoyancy for example and making them aware that there actions do have an effect on marine life. I believe being a top 10 member makes that easier for us.

Related Topics:diving green fins sustainable travel

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Four adult humpback whales cruise along patches of coral and rock in the deep waters off of Tonga.

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Karim Iliya is a professional underwater photographer and Aerial Cinematographer based on the island of Maui, Hawaii. Growing up in the Middle East and Asia, Karim lives a nomadic lifestyle with a focus on photographing wildlife and marine environments to help increase awareness and an appreciation of our delicate ecosystems on Earth.

www.karimphotography.com
karimiliya@gmail.com
instagram: karimiliya

Issue 23 - April 1

Shark Tagging in the Revillagigedo Archipelago

Courtney Mattison

In the radiant blue of the Revillagigedo Archipelago Biosphere Reserve, about 250 nautical miles south of Cabo San Lucas, sharks rule. From its depths, Galápagos, hammerhead and silvertip sharks find all they need to thrive. White tips and silkies abound. Even the elusive whale shark, its enormous body weightless and almost invisible in the deep blue, frequents these waters. Humans are merely guests, and earlier this month, the Mission Blue expedition team paid a visit.

Sharks and rays throughout the Mexican Pacific and Gulf of California are threatened by commercial fishing operations, some which catch tuna and trap sharks as bycatch while others target sharks outright. Last year, the Mission Blue expedition team discovered tons of dead sharks on the beach of Bahia Los Frailes (https://www.mission-blue.org/2016/03/special-report-sharks-in-trouble/) in Cabo Pulmo Marine Park in the Gulf of California Hope Spot, only 250 nautical miles from the Revillagigedo Archipelago Biosphere Reserve. Luckily, this year’s expedition revealed more hopeful signs of health and resilience. Yet there is no doubt that sharks in Revillagigedo—Mexico’s “Little Galápagos”—are threatened.

“You shouldn’t notice such a big difference in shark abundance over a ten year period,” remarked Shane Taylor of Fins Attached after returning from a dive at Roca Partida, one of the four volcanic islands of the Revillagigedo Archipelago. “Ten years ago, you would have had to swim with your eyes closed to not see groups of Galápagos and silvertip sharks and even a wall of hammerheads on every dive” he said, recalling his first visits to the islands. “It’s hard to take the temperature of a place from one or two days of diving since things change every day,” said Mission Blue Board Director Shari Sant Plummer. “But compared to stories we’ve heard from even a few years ago, there seems to be a big difference.”

Left to right: Jonathan the Dive Master, Devon with Fins Attached, Shane Taylor of Fins Attached, Andrea Asúnsolo Rivera of Pelagios Kakunjá, Shari Sant Plummer of Mission Blue, Dr. James Ketchum of Pelagios Kakunjá, Courtney Mattison of Mission Blue. (c) 2017 Kip Evans Mission Blue

Data about where sharks feed, have their pups and migrate help researchers identify places of special importance to shark conservation. “It’s very important to collect these data because we want to know how much these animals are using the marine reserves,” says Dr. James Ketchum of Pelagios Kakunja —the lead scientist sponsored by Fins Attached on our recent expedition. “This gives the park managers more data to support their existence.” Data collected by Dr. Ketchum and his team support the creation of networks of marine reserves, or better yet, no-take marine protected areas (MPAs) where all extractive uses, like fishing, are prohibited. “The key to protect these species is to make networks of marine protected areas,” says Dr. Ketchum.

New findings from acoustic tags placed on sharks in the Revillagigedo Archipelago reveal corridors of movement between the islands and the Gulf of California and broader Mexican Pacific, making these networks of protected areas more important now than ever thought before. Sharks outfitted with acoustic tags send signals to monitoring receivers planted underwater at around 30 meters (100 feet) deep throughout the region. When a shark comes within the 300-meter range of an acoustic receiver its tag sends a timestamp, allowing researchers to trace movements of individual sharks and recognize patterns in their behavior.

Protected species of sharks are sold on the black market to satisfy Chinese demand for shark fin soup, while unprotected ones are legally sold for their meat, with their fins also exported to Asia. Only whale sharks, great whites and basking sharks are protected under Mexican law, putting the sale of other more common (yet extremely threatened) species up for grabs. For example, the Eastern Pacific population of scalloped hammerhead (Sphyrna lewini) is listed as endangered by the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species (http://www.iucnredlist.org/) and the U.S. Endangered Species Act (http://naturalresources.house.gov/esa/), and is also listed on CITES (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species) Appendix II (http://www.cites.org/eng/app/index.php), which prohibits international trade of shark products from this species without first verifying that these animals are being fished sustainably with legitimate certificates of origin. Yet in Mexican waters, the scalloped hammerhead is fair game.

Left to right: Brett Garling of Mission Blue, Dr. James Ketchum and Andrea Asúnsolo Rivera of Pelagios Kakunjá. The scientists are retrieving an underwater receiver full of shark data and replacing it with a new one. (c) 2017 Kip Evans Mission Blue

Recording patterns in shark migration, feeding and reproduction behavior is more important now than ever before, as advances in tracking technology make it increasingly easy to understand how and where to protect key habitat. More robust research findings are also making it more compelling for policymakers to base regulations on science. Today in the Revillagigedo Archipelago, Dr. Ketchum says:

Fishermen can go in between the islands and fish whatever they want. But our proposal based on these studies is to make no-take zones of 40 nautical miles radius around each island, and in this way create a large no-take zone around the San Benedicto, Socorro, Roca Partida triangle of islands. We are also proposing a very large (400,000 square km) marine protected area around the whole archipelago, where fishing is limited.

By documenting the tagging process, Mission Blue aims to raise awareness about how tagging is valuable for protecting species under constant threat. “One of our long-range goals is to highlight the work of Dr. James Ketchum and Fins Attached so that the public understands the importance of studying sharks and protecting shark migration corridors and marine reserves,” says Kip Evans, Director of Expeditions and Photography for Mission Blue. He continues, “When these sharks leave the boundaries of the MPA, they get hammered. Essentially, there are no protections for them. So tracking data is essential to help us recognize the importance of these shark migratory corridors and help policymakers understand how to protect them.”

As Mission Blue embarks on its shark conservation program for 2017, we seek to support our partners and push the Revillagigedo Archipelago into full protection, including designation as a sanctuary for sharks with surveillance to enforce protection of these species. Join us by supporting our partners at Fins Attached (http://www.finsattached.org/) and Pelagios Kakunja (http://pelagioskakunja.org).

For more information please visit: https://www.mission-blue.org/2017/01/tailing-sharks/?mc_cid=bb6801d796&mc_eid=757d3a4265

Feature Destination

Raja Ampat, the most colorful reefs of the world

The Pindito

West Papua, known locally as Irian Jaya, is a unique dive region. Probably the best known archipelago is “Raja Ampat” which roughly means “united kingdom”. The area has over 1,500 islands. The four main islands are Misool, Salawati, Batanta and Waigeo.

The word “fantastic” summarizes the region “Raja Ampat” well. Photo-and videographers find the best opportunities to create macro shots at its finest. But also wide-angle shots of the beautiful reef life are recommended. There are countless dive sites, all with different characters. The attentive viewer can find all sorts of “macro-animals” in crevices and on terraces of steep walls. “Raja Ampat” is also a Mecca for lovers of pygmy seahorses. These cute dwarf seahorses are found here in every shape and color, red, yellow, orange, purple or white.

Other places offer an overflowing abundance of fish along exposed underground rock saddles. An experienced eye will catch sight of the well camouflaged frog fishes, scorpion fishes and ghostpipe fishes. Napoleon fish, mobulas, white tip reef sharks and schools of other pelagic fish can be seen in the blue when you can drag your attention away from the walls. Manta rays, barracuda, rare wobbegong and epaulette sharks (walking shark) guarantee plenty of variety. A highlight of any tour is the famous Zodiac trip around the islands (subject to wind and waves being low to allow it).

Misool
Diving in the endless maze of the islands of Misool is a very special treat for any diving career. It is paradise for macro enthusiasts, but encounters with larger fish such as manta rays are often possible. Misool is one of the most biodiverse regions in the world with fish, corals, sponges, soft corals, shrimps, crabs and countless nudibranchs and other invertebrates. Huge shoals of sardines are a definite highlight. Soft corals and sea fans (diameter of 3-4 meters) in all sizes and colors dominate the underwater landscape.

One of Pindito’s special places is called “Vrenelies Gärtli” (in English it means Vreni’s Garden). It is a legendary dive site that has it all, because of it’s very diverse landscape. Overhangs, huge caverns with swimthroughs, lush steep walls with all kinds of corals are found here.

There is also plenty to do on land. With a unique speedboat ride you will explore the beautiful scenery. Crystal clear, turquoise water awaits you as well as a variety of exotic tropical plants such as orchids and even carnivorous plants.

Waigeo
A special feature of this tour is the crossing of the equator. This area has a fascinating landscape. Many of the famous Raja Ampat landscape photographs were shot here. On the north is the island Wayag with the famous “Mount Pindito”, from where you get a fantastic view of the many islands. Pindito on anchor in the middle of the Bay, completes the beautiful landscape. “Sele Pele” offers the opportunity to look at a pearl farm up close. Depending on the production stage you will be invited to witness the fertilization or harvest! A unique opportunity you cannot afford to miss.

“Jef Fam” is the name of a group of karst islands with great diving, lots of fish and colorful corals. Night dives at the “Red Wall” are always a special experience. In the sand under the pearl diving pier a lot of special and peculiar creatures, especially wobbegongs and epaulette sharks (walking sharks) can be found. Countless nudibranchs, pipefish, seahorses, frogfish, scorpion fish cannot escape the well trained eye. A great highlight is the manta cleaning station near Mansuar.

Dampier Straight
The Dampier straight separates the “Vogelkop” (Birdshead) Peninsula from Waigeo and Mansuar. The name comes from the Dutch colonial times. It refers to the shape of the peninsula on the map, but it is also a paradise for many rare bird species.

Here the Pacific Ocean meets the Halmahera Sea, with an explosion of marine life as consequence. With regular strong currents, big fish feel especially comfortable. Manta rays, reef sharks, different schools of mackerel, tuna and barracuda are seen again and again. Even dolphins and whales (Bryde’s whales, pilot whales) keep spending time in the Dampier straight Since May 2011, we offer a special Whale-Macro tour that combines the macro-diving with whale and dolphin watching. This tour is accompanied by a marine expert in whale and dolphin behavior.

Raja Ampat cruise itinerary
Pindito puts great importance to plan the best possible tour for their guest. When planning the route, many factors play an important role. The most important factor is the weather. Since there can be storms in the tropics at any time, Pindito might change routes and itineraries at short notice.

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There are basically two ways to navigate the Raja Ampat area. One leads from Sorong, the capital of West Papua, to the south. We’ll do most dives around the island maze of Misool. On the return journey you’ll visit Dampier Straight and maybe Sele Pele or Kofian before you go back to Sorong.

The second tour leads north from Sorong visiting Wayag Island, which lies west of Waigeo. The dive areas are the Dampier Straight, Jef Fam, Sele Pele and Wayag. The tour ends in Sorong.