News
Young divers help with sea star research at Monterey Bay Sanctuary in California
Young members of the National Association of Black Scuba Divers received a wet introduction to the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary on Thursday – not principally for fun, but to contribute knowledge about a mysterious illness that is killing sea star fish.
“I saw a bat star that looked diseased, but also some healthy ones,” said J’ Darius Thomas, 17, from Atlanta.
Chelsea Prindle, education specialist with the marine sanctuary, said the organization hosted 25 youth ages 10 to 17 from across the country with the goal of developing future leaders in marine sciences. The sanctuary works under the federally-run National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
“Each year the National Association of Black Scuba Divers holds a youth summit and visits a different marine sanctuary,” Prindle said. “This is their first time at Monterey Bay, and we’ve planned a weeklong summit for them. They’re learning about the sanctuary and its ecosystems.”
The program is a partnership between the sanctuary and the CSU Monterey Bay Camp Sea Lab program.
Prindle noted that six of the young students are already certified divers. She said the overall goal of the sanctuary is to protect and understand marine ecosystems.
Jimi Mack, an instructor with NABS and organizer of the group’s 11th Youth Educational Summit, has been diving since 1995 and lives in Dallas. She said the young divers were experiencing Monterey kelp for the first time.
“Sea stars are wasting away and dying, and we’re recording their numbers and observing their health,” she said. “Something is causing sea stars to disintegrate.”
Alexis Braden, 14, a ninth-grader from Tennessee, has already been diving for two years. She formerly took part in a coral restoration project on the East Coast and made dives in Texas at the Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary.
She is currently working toward a master diver certification.
“I just love the beauty of the ocean,” she said.
Scott Kathey, the sanctuary’s federal regulatory coordinator, said everyone can contribute to ocean health by simply observing possible pollutants in the yard or street, the kind of things that might get sucked into drains and end up in the ocean. Oil from your car or dog feces on the ground are two possible contaminants.
“Water quality is paramount,” Kathey said. “Be careful what you put on the land.”
The students will spend a week in the Monterey area. They visited local tide pools and the Monterey Bay Aquarium, and also monitored plankton health off the Santa Cruz Wharf. They also enjoyed whale watching and hiking. Friday, the group will visit Elkhorn Slough.
Aquarius Dive Shop supplied diving equipment and diver instructors for the project.
The Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary extends from Marin to Cambria and encompasses 276 miles of the Central Coast.
Source: www.montereyherald.com
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Renowned anti-whaling activist Paul Watson has been released from custody in Greenland after spending five months in detention. Denmark’s Justice Ministry rejected Japan’s request for his extradition, citing insufficient guarantees that his time already served in custody would be credited against any potential sentence.
The 74-year-old Canadian-American was arrested on July 21 in Nuuk, Greenland’s capital, when his ship docked to refuel. His arrest was based on a 2012 Japanese warrant related to a 2010 encounter in Antarctic waters. Japan alleged Watson obstructed operations and caused damage to a whaling research ship during efforts to disrupt illegal whaling. Watson has consistently denied these claims, maintaining his commitment to marine conservation.
Denmark, which oversees extradition matters for Greenland, concluded that while the legal conditions for extradition were met, the lack of assurances from Japan regarding time-served credit made extradition untenable.
In a video shared by his foundation, Watson expressed gratitude and relief, saying, “After five months, it’s good to be out… and good to know they’re not sending me to Japan.” He added that the most difficult part of his time in custody was being separated from his two young sons.
Watson is a pioneering figure in marine conservation, known for founding the Captain Paul Watson Foundation in 2022 after decades of activism with the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society. His bold efforts to defend marine life have earned him widespread support, including from celebrities and conservationists. His work has also been featured in the acclaimed reality TV series Whale Wars.
Watson’s lawyer, Jonas Christoffersen, praised the decision, stating, “We are happy and relieved that Paul Watson is now free.” He added that Watson is eager to reunite with his family and continue his vital work.
The arrest occurred while Watson’s vessel, the M/Y John Paul DeJoria, was en route to the North Pacific with a team of 26 volunteers to intercept a Japanese whaling ship. His foundation described the arrest as politically motivated and emphasized that Watson’s actions were focused on ending illegal whaling practices.
Japan resumed commercial whaling in 2019 after leaving the International Whaling Commission, asserting that whale meat is a cultural tradition. Conservationists, however, continue to challenge these practices, highlighting their impact on marine ecosystems.
Despite the challenges, Watson remains steadfast in his mission to protect marine life and bring attention to whaling practices. His dedication to ocean conservation has made him a globally respected advocate for the environment.
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