Caitlin Johnson has long held a keen interest in sharks, but what really sealed the Monarch High School senior’s resolve to study them in college was a research fishing trip she took with scientists …
Billfish Invitational Auction Items Announced
10 May 20118:05 PM
Can’t fish in this year’s Billfish Invitational? No problem – you can still make a contribution as a Friend of Bimini by participating in the Invitational’s live auction on Thursday, May 19th!
Bid paddles are ready. It’s not a Bimini Start, but the next best thing…a live auction featuring exciting travel packages, outdoor gear and original artwork. The Billfish Invitational will be raising proceeds to benefit education and conservation initiatives to be established and monitored by the Guy Harvey Ocean Foundation and the IGFA, for the exclusive benefit of Bimini, Bahamas.
Join in the cause. Join the Billfish Invitational anglers on Thursday evening for cocktails, dinner and after dinner bidding action. Tickets are $150/pp, and can be purchased by contacting Ned Stone at nstone@guyharveyoutpost.com, or the tournament staff on site during the event.
LIVE AUCTION ITEMS:
1. IGFA History Package
2. Lost in the Out Islands (EPIRB from ACR Electronics)
3. “Jumping White Marlin”, photograph on canvas by Scott Kerrigan
4. Dock, Dine, Stay & Play Palm Beach-style (Ritz-Carlton, Singer Island)
5. It’s Good to be a Bahamian Pirate (Graycliff Mansion, Nassau)
6. Abaco Turtle Bones (Green Turtle Club & Black Fly Bonefish Club)
7. “One Second”, photograph on canvas by Marc Montocchio
8. Any day is Valentine’s Day (Valentine’s Resort & Yacht Club, Habour Island)
9. Escape to Eleuthera (Cape Eleuthera Resort & Yacht Club)
10. “The Blue”, a bronze casting by Kent Ullberg
11. The Bimini Big Gamer (Big Game Club, “El Viejo” Sportfishing Charters & Sky Limo Air Charters)
12. “Surfaced”, a colored pen-and-ink original by Guy Harvey
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 with Sharks){kind=link}
![](mailto:?subject=Billfish Invitational Day 1 – Scuba Diving?&body=During this week’s Billfish Invitational tournament, Fred Garth, Editor-In-Chief of <a title="GHM web site" href="http://www.guyharveymagazine.com" target="_blank">Guy Harvey Magazine</a>, will be filing a series of dispatches from tournament headquarters at the Bimini Big Game Club.
The day began with sunny skies and nice reggae music playing at the open air <a title="About the Big Game Bar & Grill" href="http://www.biggameclubbimini.com/bimini-bar-grill.htm" target="_blank">Big Game Bar and Grill</a>. I munched on eggs and bacon and slurped down mucho coffee after a big night of festivities at the <a title="Billfish Invitational web site" href="http://www.billfishinvitational.com/" target="_blank">Billfish Invitational</a> opening celebration. (Note to self: avoid Appleton’s Reserve Rum in the future – stick to virgin Coca Cola).
We set out after a hearty breakfast for a few scuba dives with <a title="Guy Harvey Inc. web site" href="http://www.guyharvey.com" target="_blank">Guy Harvey</a>, his son Alex, Steve Stock (GH Inc, President), Frank Johnson of <a title="Mold Craft web site" href="http://www.moldcraft.com" target="_blank">Mold Craft</a> and sculptor <a title="Kent Ullberg's web site" href="http://www.kentullberg.net" target="_blank">Kent Ullberg</a>. Fishing boats headed out into a glassy sea and negligible winds – 12 boats in all – to try their luck with the wily billfish. A full report on that will come later tonight or tomorrow.
<a href="https://guyharveyoutpostblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/stevekentguyalex11.jpg"><img class="size-full wp-image-737" title="Scuba Diving at the Billfish Invitational!" src="https://guyharveyoutpostblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/stevekentguyalex11.jpg" alt="" width="550" height="366" /></a>Left to right: Steve Stock, Kent Ullberg, Guy Harvey and Alex Harvey
The weather is absolutely and positively PERFECT with zero wind or waves. The scuba trip was also stellar. Saw lots of cool critters – turtles, rays, grouper, permit, and the rest of their slimy brethren. But no sharks. However, Guy Harvey is not the kind of dude to be disappointed. He gathered four mahi-mahi carcasses yesterday for a chum fest this afternoon on the shark dive.
That report as well as fishing results will be coming later, that is, unless the song of the Appleton’s Reserve fills the air with its sweet music before I can jump into the blogosphere. We will see what wins – rum or blog. Place your bets!!
Garth Out! https://guyharveyoutpostblog.com/billfish-invitational-day-1-scuba-diving/){kind=link}
![](mailto:?subject=Guy Harvey Ocean Foundation Supporting New Shark-Free Marinas Initiative Florida Campaign&body=<a href="http://www.sharkfreemarinas.com/florida/submission/submission/"><img class="aligncenter" title="SFMI 2011 Florida Campaign" src="http://guyharvey.files.wordpress.com/2011/09/florida-campaign.png" alt="" width="285" height="100" /></a>
Converting Florida Marinas Critical to Health of Shark Populations
The <a title="SFMI web site" href="http://www.sharkfreemarinas.com/" target="_blank">Shark-Free Marinas Initiative</a> (SFMI) is reaching out to marinas in Florida to ask for their support in conserving the world’s shark populations. Organized as a cooperative by the <a title="Pegasus Foundation web site" href="http://www.pegasusfoundation.org/" target="_blank">Pegasus Foundation</a>, the <a title="GHOF web site" href="http://www.guyharveyoceanfoundation.org" target="_blank">Guy Harvey Ocean Foundation</a> and <a title="US Humane Society web site" href="http://www.humanesociety.org/" target="_blank">The Humane Society of the United States</a>, the SFMI aims to reduce shark mortality worldwide by discouraging the landing of sharks and encouraging catch-and-release of sharks in sport fishing, while rewarding forward-thinking marinas that participate in this program. Supporting organizations include <a title="MML web site" href="http://www.mote.org/" target="_blank">Mote Marine Laboratory</a>, the <a title="PEG web site" href="http://www.pewenvironment.org/" target="_blank">Pew Environment Group</a>, <a title="Fishpond USA web site" href="http://www.fishpondusa.com/" target="_blank">Fishpond USA</a> and the <a title="Fisheries Conservation Foundation" href="http://www.fisheriesconservationfoundation.org/" target="_blank">Fisheries Conservation Foundation</a>.
“Shark populations worldwide have suffered severe declines due to over-fishing,” says world renowned artist, angler and conservationist, Dr. Guy Harvey, “Marinas in Florida can now do their part to help conserve these ecologically vital animals by joining the SFMI.”
Sharks are currently being killed at an unsustainable rate. A scientific study published by Imperial College, London estimated that the fins of from 26 million up to 73 million sharks per year were being traded through the world’s fin markets as of the year 2000, mostly for shark fin soup. In addition, the U.S. government estimates that recreational fishing killed an average of more than 200,000 sharks along the U.S. Gulf and Atlantic coast each year between 2004 and 2008.
“Many sharks species have declined because of overfishing, which recreational fishing has contributed to in the U.S.,” notes Dr. Robert Hueter, senior scientist and director, Mote Marine Laboratory’s Center for Shark Research. “Sustaining these species is in the interest of recreational anglers as well as marine conservationists.”
Marinas in Florida can help reduce the number of sharks being killed by joining the SFMI and preventing dead sharks from being brought back to their docks. "There is no state more important to the success of this initiative in the United States than Florida, the sport-fishing capital of the world," says Luke Tipple, managing director of the SFMI. ""Because of the number of shark species off Florida, and the sheer number of nursery grounds and migratory routes located there, protecting Florida's sharks is critical to maintaining the health of Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico waters."
<a href="http://www.sharkfreemarinas.com/"><img title="SFMI Logo" src="http://guyharvey.files.wordpress.com/2011/09/sfmilogo.jpg" alt="" width="324" height="347" /></a>
SFMI supporter John Land Le Coq, co-founder of Fishpond USA, agrees. “Sharks are the guardians of the ocean and play an essential part in the health of the ocean. Most anglers I know are very concerned about the status of sharks. I hope every marina in Florida joins this important program. ”
According to Dr. John Grandy, senior vice president, The Humane Society of the United States, “Thousands of dollars in prizes are offered in shark tournaments that the government itself acknowledges are poorly monitored. Kill tournaments and misinformed media support the antiquated concept that the only good shark is a dead shark. This has to change.”
There are two different levels of commitment for an interested marina. It can either become a “Shark-Free Marina” that completely prohibits the landing of all sharks on its docks or a “Shark-Friendly Marina” — a facility that discourages the killing and landing of sharks and does not promote any activity that could harm sharks.
“The SFMI works in tandem with businesses and fishermen to increase the awareness of the need to protect our sharks and oceans,” says Barbara Birdsey, founder of the Pegasus Foundation. “This is a voluntary program that will prevent the needless killing of these ecologically and economically vital animals.” Each marina will also receive recognition around the world as a partner in this growing initiative.
Dr. Harvey summarizes: “I encourage recreational fishermen everywhere to join with me and SFMI to help protect sharks and our oceans. Our world needs sharks.”
Facts
The U.S. government estimates that, on average, more than 200,000 sharks were killed annually off the U.S. Atlantic and Gulf coast by sport fishermen for each year between 2004 and 2008.
In 2009, close to 2,000 shortfin mako sharks were killed in recreational and commercial fisheries in the U.S., leading the National Marine Fisheries Service to declare that shortfin mako sharks are “overfished.” Despite asking fishermen to voluntarily release these sharks unharmed, tournaments targeting makos have continued.
Today the dusky shark population in the northwestern Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico is estimated to have lost 80-85 percent of its population since the mid-1970s, according to research cited by a 2011 NMFS report. The NMFS prohibited recreational fishermen from possessing duskies starting in in 2000, but they can be difficult to identify and some sport fishermen still catch and release them.
Forward thinking anglers have already created new fishing tournaments that help conserve sharks and support marine research. For example, in 2011, the Guy Harvey Ultimate Shark Challenge, an annual Catch and Release Tournament in SW Florida awarded $10,000 in prizes for research related tagging, while the Ocean City (Md.) Shark Tournament awarded $30,000 in prizes in its Catch and Release Division.
The Shark-Free Marina Initiative is a program of The Humane Society of the United States. It is strongly supported by the Guy Harvey Ocean Foundation, Fishpond USA, Mote Marine Laboratory, Oceanic Defense, The Fisheries Conservation Foundation, the Cape Eleuthera Institute and the Pegasus Foundation.
https://guyharveyoutpostblog.com/guy-harvey-ocean-foundation-supporting-new-shark-free-marinas-initiative-florida-campaign/){kind=link}
![](mailto:?subject=Join Guy Harvey at the Islander Resort, a Guy Harvey Outpost, In Person for a Signing Event Sept 18th&body=Artist, Scientist, Author, Conservationist, Angler & Diver; Guy Harvey will be signing autographs at the <a href="http://www.guyharveyoutpost.com/destinations/florida/islamorada-fl/islamorada-fl-overview.html">Islander Resort</a> Thursday, Sept. 18th from 10 am to 12 noon. Come join Guy at the Islander Resort, his latest signature hotel and get your autograph or a quick selfie.
<a href="https://guyharveyoutpostblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/gh-signing-at-islander.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-2233" src="https://guyharveyoutpostblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/gh-signing-at-islander.jpg" alt="GH Signing at Islander" width="550" height="711" /></a>
If you need to pick up the latest <a href="http://www.guyharveysportswear.com/">Guy Harvey Sportswear</a> the Islander's Outfitter Shop has a nice selection of Guy's latest designs.
More information on Guy Harvey Outpost & our other great resorts: <a href="http://www.guyharveyoutpost.com/">http://www.guyharveyoutpost.com/</a>
For the Guy Harvey Outpost Blog <a href="http://www.guyharveyoutpostnews.com/">www.guyharveyoutpostnews.com</a>
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For Guy Harvey Outpost on YouTube <a href="http://www.youtube.com/user/GuyHarveyOutpost">http://www.youtube.com/user/GuyHarveyOutpost</a> https://guyharveyoutpostblog.com/join-guy-harvey-at-the-islander-resort-a-guy-harvey-outpost-in-person-for-a-signing-event-sept-18th/){kind=link}
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