Grenzenlos - Video!

Toothy Bull by Ozzie Sam-  click for detail!

 

Behold!

 

This was filmed just before the pandemic hit.

I happened to be away, and it never made it to the blog - so there, as a memento of much happier times.

 

Enjoy!

 

 

 

Shark Reef - Video!

BRAT, way back then when life was easy.

 

Behold!

 

The virus is on the loose.

Government is doing a truly fabulous job in containment and contact tracing - but as we all must play our part, we've all decided to home isolate, meaning that I've had plenty of extra time on my hands. 

 

So there.

Filmed in 4K and down-sampled to ProRes 1080 due to my measly upload speed of 242 kbps  - and it still took me nearly five full days to post!

 

Oh and.

There's a reason why ours has been called The Best Shark Dive in the World - and this is why. 

The dive keeps on changing, and we keep on learning and adapting, too - but after literally thousands of dives I for one continue to find it as mesmerizing as on day one!

Watch in 1080 - enjoy!

More Poaching on Shark Reef!

Watch.

 

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Beqa Adventure Divers (@thefijisharkdive)

 

Damn those people.

I knew that little friendly red Grouper.

And those are some of our last Parrotfish, and seeing that dead Angelfish breaks my heart.

But at least Tashi Blue was able to save that little Turtle.

I know, it's not much, just a little Hawksbill - but it is something, and for that little Turtle it is everything. We've known her for many years and can only hope that she will make it.

And Fred the clam is happy, too! :)

 

The poachers are known and will be prosecuted.

And before you ask and/or start lecturing us in Fijian protocol and the like: no, they're by no means destitute and desperate. 

They all have jobs, and have done this for fun. 

 

And the other inevitable excuses are just that.

Shark Reef has been a tabu since 2004, and since the gazetting in 2014, the fishing ban is like any other law and needs to be respected - and no there's no need for special signage or the like: it's up to the fishermen to know what is legal and what not. And we are duty-bound, by law, to enforce the ban - and enforce it we will.

All our local communities know that and don't poach there, the more since for many years, the reef has provided them with spillover fish for their qoliqoli, hundreds of thousands of dollars in direct assistance, and jobs for their youth. 

But those folks are not from here and didn't even bother to follow protocol and ask for permission before fishing in somebody else's reefs - and lemme tell 'ya, over in Beqa that's a transgression punishable by bush knife, not just a bit of shouting!

So people, chill - and as a minimum, know the facts!

And Turtles are protected country-wide.

And everybody in Fiji knows that.

 

It's so bloody disheartening.

Hopefully, now that the first batch of vaccines is in country, tourism and the economy will slowly pick up and the poaching will subside - but from what we can see, the damage is enormous and will take years to mend.

For now, all we can do is to keep on fighting.

Oh well.

Onward and upward - nobody said it was gonna be easy.

 

To be continued.

 

Comments policy: please leave your comments here and not on FB. 

Please be aware that this is  not a public chatroom, and that comments we don't like will  be deleted.

Our blog our rules! :)

 

The Sharks of Shark Reef!

Our forever unforgotten Rusi with probably Bum or possibly Crook.

 

Behold!

 

 

Obviously the quality is what it is.

But that was in 2007 when most of us were still filming in DV, and when the editing suites didn't quite have all of today's bells and whistles. Plus this is from a DVD we used to sell that had chapters and sub-chapters one could click on, hence the video's disruptive architecture.

 

And before you comment.

The generic Grey Reefie images are obviously not from here but from Tetamanu, much like the generic Blacktip Reefie footage. But then, you can witness Rusi's very first hand feed of a Blacktip, this after 4 years (!) of daily attempts - and once the first one took the bait, all others followed suit and have been hand feeding ever since!

Incidentally, Tootsie who back then was a total asshole continues to visit (!!!) but is now very much a polite elder statesman! 

Same-same for Whitenose who's the first-ever Shark I named back then in 2003 and who still pops by to say hello - much more politely and last time last week! And of the featured Bulls, we still see Long John, Stumpy, Bum, Crush, Crook and Granma, too - and there's even early footage of Valerie and Hook!

 

Or for you in the know.

Check out how much Whitetail has bulked up, and how even back then, she already mysteriously managed to always attract and surround herself with ever new cohorts of juvenile Golden Trevallies - something the other Lemons don't do, the more as having them constantly swim in front of your face must be a total pain! 

And yet, Whitetail continues to do it - maybe because she alone continues to visit some unknown aggregation of juvenile Golden Trevallies, maybe when she goes to give birth, maybe always in her own birthplace like her Atlantic cousins?

So many questions!

 

Or check out Adi who now is a giant but back then was merely a baby!

Anyway, enjoy.

We really cherish and are also really proud of what we've achieved over these many years - and now that the vaccine is looming and there's finally light at the end of the tunnel, we can't wait to see what the future will bring - and yes we got big plans! :)

So Sota tale - hopefully soon!

Playing with Sharks!

Source - and here - and here - click for detail!

 

Hah - watch this.

And here she is on Shark Reef in all her glorious pinkness, a couple of days later - watch in 1080 and full screen.

Of course she did stand out like a sore thumb. 

And of course she did catch the attention of our big, bold and very dominant Shark Icon Tip. Talk about being given a haircut - and then watch how her nephew Jono barely avoided smacking her with his heavy video housing on top of it! 

But of course Valerie would have it no other way!

Anyway, it has been loads of fun.

Valerie, and Ron have been our best friends literally forever, and every visit is always a great joy and an honor, too - and having been chosen to be featured in her movie, doubly so.

And now the whole big shebang has been completed - and apparently it is great, to the point that is has been selected to screen at the prestigious Sundance Festival. Considering the mess in the USA, I expect the event to be largely virtual, and that one will be able to watch the movie online, possibly even outside of the US - so there.

And if not, make sure you don't miss it.

Valerie is one of the true diving Legends, and then some - and what makes this movie so unique is that much of her adventurous, passionate and fascinating life has actually happened on camera. And now the public will be able to actually witness it, which could not have come soon enough - especially when compared to the exploits of today's forgettable self promoting Shark charlatans and media whores!

So thank you to Producer Bettina and Director Sally - this is really very much appreciated.

But I'm digressing as always.

Enjoy Valerie's movie!

Fiji Bull Sharks - Paper!

Yes those would be our samples - click for detail!

Remember?

 

That was then and alas, nothing much has come of it.

For some reason that eludes me, Christine never got around to actually publishing the relevant paper, and a later attempt at resuscitating the effort failed due to a general lack of interest and/or funding and/or time, or whatever. Plus I've been told that nowadays, the newest and shiniest tool for population studies is SNP markers and not anymore microsatellite DNA - and I'll most certainly leave it that, the more as that's about as much as I understand.

Or not - so correct me if I'm wrong.

Enter our indefatigable friend Kerstin!

She is now a newly minted, and highly deserving PhD - and the latest paper from her thesis once again confirms that the insular Bull Shark population from Fiji is genetically different, and likely closed = isolated from its continental counterparts. 

In essence, this means that our Bulls are truly unique and that they spend their whole life right here in the archipelago without ever engaging in large transoceanic migrations across deep water trenches and vast distances. And no, they also most definitely do not travel to Vanuatu and Australia for mating as was recently publicly proclaimed from the peak of Mount Stupid!

Obviously, this makes them specially precious but also, especially vulnerable - and Tashi's My Fiji Shark initiative, especially pertinent!

 

And the taxonomic consequences?

Years ago my ichthyological guru told me that a species is what a geneticist tells you it is - and very sadly and despite of my best efforts all the way to outright begging, the relevant Shark taxonomists remain firmly of the opinion that the present genetic distinction doesn't warrant declaring a new species. 

And when it comes to our Bulls at least being a possible (and I would add: obvious!) subspecies or race, I'm being told that apparently, in Shark taxonomy one just doesnt do that . 

Oh well - but we will keep on trying!

Anyway, great job!

Enjoy Kerstin's paper!

 

Oh and - please, Adopt Your Shark Now! 

Thank you.

 

Poachers on Shark Reef!

Here they are - click for detail!
 

Bingo.

It's exactly like I said.

With Fiji effectively closed for business and Government busy addressing COVID 19 and now, the destruction by TC Harold, it was only a matter of time til some disrespectful asshole folks would set their sights on Shark Reef.

Thankfully somebody gave us a call.

We are empowered by Government to enforce the fishing ban and did just that, by rushing out and apprehending the poachers who had deployed a net on top of the reef and wiped out our resident school of beautiful Highfin Parrots.  Everything has been recorded on video and upon comparing the images with video from a previous event, it turns out that those total assholes folks are repeat offenders = they knew exactly what they were doing and consequently, this really warrants an exemplary punishment, the more as they have also breached MSAF regulations.

Shark Reef is a gazetted National Marine Park.

As such and contrary to Fiji's many MPAs, there is a specific law defining the penalties for poaching insofar as Art (6) of the Regulation states that Any person who contravenes this regulation commits an offence and is liable upon conviction to a fine of not less than $500 and not exceeding $10,000 or imprisonment to a term not exceeding 6 months, or both.

We're gonna most certainly advocate both, and for confiscation of the boat etc - but that's obviously for the judge to decide.

And so it goes.

What a shame, really. 

Shark Reef is a global attraction that has brought many millions to Fiji in general and the local community in particular, from wages and payments to the neighboring villages and settlements to flights to transfers to meals to accommodation to souvenirs to local attractions to shopping in the local supermarket. And the list goes on and on, to the point that most people here have benefited in some way - even those very same fishermen who were able to sell their catch to the local hotels and restaurants.

So let's hope that this sticks.

And if not, we stand ready  for more apprehensions, prosecutions and public shaming.

To be continued no doubt.

Stay safe everybody.

Per i nostri Amici Italiani!

Ciao!

C'è Sergio ed è proprio bravissimo!
Complimenti!
 

Shark Reef - it's working!

Forget Tumbee and the Bull: we got Fishes, too - click for detail! Great pic by Jayne!

Great News!

The SRMR is continuing to be a success story.

We had heard rumors about poaching in the Reserve, and did embark in a series of aggressive, and also successful patrols together with the good people of the new Department of Inshore Fisheries - and although we are still missing some of the once ubiquitous larger Groupers and Sweetlips, and although some total asshole has poached our biggest Giant Clams, the effects on the reef are nevertheless quite encouraging.

Here is the evidence.

The indefatigable Helen of Marine Ecology Consulting has been tasked to do a survey of several reefs in Serua and Beqa, see the below map - click for detail.

The results are pretty much unequivocal.

The following are unpublished excerpts of her report, reprinted with kind permission.

Discussion 

General reef condition in the area 

Overall, from the perspective of coral cover and diversity, most of the reefs in the Beqa and Serua area are in good condition, and have both a history, and the future prospect, of having some of the highest coral cover in Fiji, showing resilience to, and swift recovery from, crisis events such as elevated water temperatures and cyclones. 

However, the numbers of fish and macro-invertebrates targeted by the subsistence and small-scale commercial fishing industries are much lower than seen in many other comparable areas of the country, and, particularly on the west side of Beqa, near Yanuca Island, were quite starkly low, some of the lowest populations this surveyor has seen in over 20 years of carrying out reef surveys in Fiji.

Algal cover on the reef floors of the west Beqa reefs also correlates with the extremely low number of herbivorous animals such as sea cucumbers, surgeonfish and parrotfish. Such algal films can retard new coral settlement, and suggests that the extreme levels of overfishing in Beqa may very soon be at the point where the overall health of the reefs may become impacted in an irreversible way. 

Effects of Marine Protected Areas  

There were four MPAs within the surveyed reefs, of which two are regularly patrolled and enforced (Shark Reef Marine Reserve SRMR, and the Kauvala Tabu at Lawaki Beach House). The other two are larger, and more distant from the managing communities, so the level of observation and enforcement is uncertain. 

Coral cover and diversity did not seem to be affected by marine protection over fished reefs. Fish and invertebrate levels were low at all sites except the SRMR and, to a lesser extent the Lawaki MPA and one of the two survey sites within the Cavity MPA behind Yanuca Island. The other three MPA survey sites were no better, or in one, case worse, than fished sites, indicating the importance of proper management and enforcement on the success of marine protection.

Please click on the below for detail. 

Of interest, the results for the SRMR are merely from the shallow back of the reef where we actually expect to encounter less Fishes compared to the highly productive frontal reef slope to the deep Beqa Channel where we dive - and yet the Reserve is still a clear standout!

Bingo - remember what I said here?

Convincing some village to declare a tabu is the easy part - but that it is only a start, and after that comes the real heavy lifting. One needs to train fish wardens (we have sponsored 5 courses and trained dozens of people so far), and then one has to engage in regular long-term monitoring and enforcement which is both expensive and bloody frustrating as it consists of tedious night-long patrols where little to nothing ever happens, and this often on the weekends where poaching is traditionally worst. And when you catch someone, the evidence collection and the prosecution are equally time consuming and laborious.

But it simply must be done - especially where one aggregates Fish and Sharks for tourism and has the moral obligation to assume their stewardship as a consequence!

So again, stop lying talking and start doing!

And to you out there: please do your due diligence - especially you clueless and frankly, terminally irritating  foreign chicks who fancy yourselves some sort of thought leaders and commentators of the local shark feeding scene!

Anyway. 

Let's go Shark diving - sustainably!

Fiji Shark Dive with B.A.D!

Amazing weather - click for detail!

Well well.

No we are definitely not on Beqa (?) nor in the Lagoon.

But this is typical for what our clients can experience - and this very much inclusive of the friendliness and outright exuberance of our unequaled staff!

Enjoy!

World Oceans Day - Ocean Championship!

And I cite.

Today is World Oceans Day! 
ARE YOU AN OCEAN CHAMPION?

At Shark Diver, we receive a lot of inquiries from individuals looking for opportunities to help in the area of shark or ocean conservation. There are so many ways to apply the diverse amount of talents out there that people possess. So this year, we decided to show our support for those who are making a difference toward protecting the oceans we love and their inhabitants, by awarding them with the experience of a lifetime!

Today, on World Oceans Day, we officially begin the Ocean Championship, a competition for conservationists of all ages who are working to preserve anything and everything ocean related.
Your focus could be saving sharks, saving dolphins, protecting coral reefs, cleaning the beaches, or bettering the ocean in general. What is your passion? Social media awareness is nice, but it doesn’t always get the job done. We are looking for enthusiastic, motivated, and driven individuals who are working hard to make a direct impact. Are you working with legislators to enact protection laws? Are you working with businesses to reduce or eliminate plastic usage? Are you planting mangroves? Have you started a major ocean/beach cleanup effort? The sky is the limit. We want to know how you are making a difference. Do you know what you’d like to do, but just haven’t put your idea to work yet? What are you waiting for? Get going! We want to hear from you.

Here’s one example of conservation efforts at work: Beqa Adventure Divers created a national marine park called the Shark Reef Marine Reserve through their bull shark diving operation in Fiji. Regular surveys and fish counts are conducted in an effort to help in the long-term survival of endangered species. Their findings led to the expansion of a vitally protected area now called the Fiji Shark Corridor which runs approximately 30 nautical miles along the southern coastline of Fiji’s beautiful main island of Viti Levu.

Yes, some efforts take a lot of time. 
And yes, some efforts take a lot of money. But many major efforts begin with just one thing. Love. If you love the ocean and its incredible inhabitants, let’s see what you can do or are doing, so that generations to follow will be able to love it too.

This competition will yield two big winners!

Winner number 1, picked by Shark Diver, will receive a 5-day inclusive Great White Shark Diving Adventure at Guadalupe Island, Mexico where you will cage-dive with great white sharks! No SCUBA certification is necessary. Spend 5 days with Shark Diver’s owner learning about the magnificent great white shark, which finds the volcanic island of Guadalupe a mating ground and plentiful food location.

Winner number 2, selected by our sponsor Beqa Adventure Divers, will win a shark adoption through their My Fiji Shark shark adoption initiative, plus a full week of diving at the Shark Reef Marine Reserve in Fiji to ‘meet’ their shark. (SCUBA certification required)

Both are unique and unforgettable experiences!

Get inspired! Do something! Stop talking about it and take action… be an Ocean Champion!

Shark Diver hopes to make this an annual event. Good luck!

CONTEST RULES:

Ocean Championship is open to any individual to enter.
All submissions must be sent to oceanchampionship@gmail.com.
Entries are subject to being published on SharkDiver.com and FijiSharkDive.com and/or all participating sponsor’s social media pages or websites. Finalists will be asked for verification of all documents submitted and may be asked for references for contact. Airfare to and from San Diego/Fiji is not included.

Enter by May 1st, 2020.
Winner will be announced on World Oceans Day, June 8th, 2020.

So there.

When Martin contacted us with his stellar initiative, we were more than happy to contribute. As detailed above, the winner of our prize will be selected by us and receive

• A free adoption of one of our Shark Stars through our My Fiji Shark initiative, and


• One week of diving with us.
  This usually comprises 5 days of two-tank diving in the Shark Reef Marine Reserve and two days of two-tank coral and/or wreck dives. Diving is FOC but exclusive of the daily Marine Park Levy of FJD 25.00 and the cost of any rental gear or other extras like Nitrox fills, etc.

Having said that, there is a high probability that as time progresses, we will announce further perks and prizes - so keep watching this space!
As to what we like and want to reward

• Obviously, Shark conservation!
  But please, something tangible on the ground and not merely the dreaded raising awareness by posing for selfies and posting dreadful home videos, or misguided petitions for finning bans and the like! And no, contrary to what some quarters would have you believe, petting, riding and otherwise molesting Sharks is not Shark conservation - especially not in bikini!
  What we are looking for are initiatives that actually reduce Shark mortality to below sustainable levels - e.g. read this!


• And because the Sharks cannot survive if we fish away their prey and obliterate their habitat, we'd also like to see more holistic projects like implementing effective sustainable fisheries management or the establishment of well-enforced MPAs, etc - but please, spare us the fashionable but misguided fads!


• And please, show us the track record even if what you do is still work in progress and there is only partial success - but mere breathy announcements do not count!

There you have it.

Wishing you the very best of success - and hopefully, see you next year in Fiji's first National Marine Park!

To be continued!

 

Shark Diving in Fiji 2019!

Hunter and Predator - click for detail! 

Behold!

Very nice!

Tom calls it a little teaser, and we are obviously very much looking forward to what is to follow.

More info by Tom here and here.

Enjoy - and a big Vinaka Vakalevu!

Thanks for all the Fish!

Behold!

I must say, this is really nice.

Firstly, because it doesn't do the usual touchy-feely treehugging thing but is instead very personal albeit a tad overly dramatic - the more as Juliette has been diving with us before and was by no means frozen in fear but did instead thoroughly enjoy the experience; and secondly, because this is the very first article about us that mentions the all-important toilet etiquette - and yes please do not pee in our rental wetsuits!

So, a big vinaka vakalevu from all of us.

Enjoy!

Chunky!

Gates nerds and BAD boyz in action - click for detail. Source.

This is a great capture.

Bravo Pete.

Last week, he was here teaching DaVinci Resolve to a gaggle of Gates and Red Digital shooters at the Gates STO Fiji 2018, and now this is his and Kylie's well-deserved holiday - which they obviously choose to spend diving on the Fiji Shark Dive in Fiji's first National Marine Park!

The pesky Shark with the busted first dorsal is Chunky.

He one of our most faithful friends and of interest, one of the very few individuals who is a true virtuoso both on the hand- and the bin-feeds.

Enjoy!

PS - Pete here.
Thank you - this really is  much appreciated!
 

FIRST TIME SHARK DIVING IN FIJI!

Love love love this!

And the FOOTAGE IS 100% REAL! :)

Enjoy!

Fiji Shark Diving 2018!

Behold!

Very nice!

And here is Tom's latest blog post, with plenty of stellar pictures as always - and yes, as long as it doesn't become a gimmicky fad, the new fisheye lens is certainly very impressive!

So far so great!

Enjoy!

«Einstein» unter Haien - Teil 1!

Behold!

Bravo - I must really say that I like it!

Kudos to producer François Loriol and presenter Tobias Müller for a job very well done!

Enjoy!

Für unsere Freunde in der Schweiz: Einstein!

Morgen ist die erste Folge!

Sofern Ihr wirklich nix Besseres zu tun habt. :)

Die zwei Sendungen sind hauptsächlich über die SRMR und die Forschung von Jürg und Kerstin - und obwohl ich noch nichts gesehen habe meinte ich, dass das Fernsehteam da wie üblich super Arbeit geleistet hat.

Viel Spass beim schauen!

In the Lion's Den!

Yes it is true.

Here she is in all her splendor.

She glided in nonchalantly in the middle of the shallow feed, and took up residence right next to the bait crate until some lumbering brute with a camera had her move away again.

Talk about a contender for the Darwin Awards!

Click for detail!

They're at it already!

Click for detail!

Behold!

Yes those would definitely be mating scars!

This is way, way early - but then again, this has been a very warm year likely leading to strong fetal development and a very early pupping season, too! To wit, Fold, Tip and Bum are already back from the nurseries all gaunt and ravenous, and busy bulking up after more than a month of fasting!

Long story short, the Running of the Bulls may be upon us very shortly indeed!

So, what are you waiting for! :)