Ocean Geographic Issue 29 2014

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plights of our ocean

sustainable seafood
lembah strait
malapascua
The Sustainable Edition
ISSUE 29:7/ 2014
ISSUE 29:7/2014
OCEAN GEOGRAPHIC Almanac of Our Seas
www.OGSociety.org
Plights
of Our Ocean
Dr. Hanny Batuna Hero of the Sea
cenderawasih bay
Sustainable Seafood
Lembeh Strait
Malapascua
Cenderawasih bay
Locally Grown
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content
ISSUE
29:7/2014
The Sustainable Edition
Founding
S u ppo r te r s
On the cover:
thresher shark
photographed by Steve De Neef
at Malapascua
This editions cover received the most votes from OGs

Associates, Editorial Board and Premier Members.
Essay
09
Fish: To eat or not to eat

(Sustainable Seafood)
Alex Rose
24
Peter Scoones
(A Pioneer of the Blue Planet)
Gillian McDonald
27
46
Killing ourselves quickly

(Plights of our ocean)
The Shark that Rebuilt
an Island
BLUE
(A Global Convergence of the
Ocean Arts and Sciences)
20
Ocean Geographic
64
Garden of the Gods

(Art serving nature)
Media
Pa r t n e r
Cassandra Dragon,
Charlie Fasano
Nautiluss
window
35
Faces of the Ocean

Jayne Jenkins
S u ppo r t i n g
O r ga n i S at i o n s
Steve De Neef
67
Dr. Hanny Batuna

(A Man of the Ocean)
Michael AW, Dr. Mark Erhmann,

PhD, Dr. Carden Wallace, Phd,
Arlene Batuna
73
83
Ocean
Watch
A Naturalist in Lembeh
Mike Scotland
Lionel Unch
Protecting a Phenomenon
(The Whale Sharks of
Cenderawasih Bay
Sojourns
87
International League
of Conservation
Photogapher(s)
www.ILCP.com
Michael AW
captures
57
An Absolute Essential
for Digital Underwater
Photographers
Gillian McDonald
Nancy Merridew
Ocean
Insider
55
The Vizl Effect

Christian Vizl Mac Gregor
60
V.I.P
(Very Important Bag)
The British Society of

Underwater Photographers
www.bsoup.org
MissionBlue Sylvia Earle Alliance

www.thesealliance.org
Editors
EPISTLE
Natures capacity for survival is evident. Take Ta Prohm, one of

the many temples built in Angkor, Siam Reap, during the 12th and
13th century. Today, most of it is engulfed by the roots of the giant
banyan and silk-cotton trees (some of them over 400 years old)
growing out of its ruins. These trees start out as seedlings that
take root in cracks on the roof. The roots flow down the temple
walls between the rocks, pushing them apart, yet paradoxically
providing support. That is, until the tree dies then an entire
section of the temple will collapse. You do not need to be an
engineer to realise that over a period of centuries, these trees
would eventually pull the temple apart and bring it down. Trees!
And lets not forget the 102-year-old floating forest; originally a
large steam ship condemned to dismantling in Homebush Bay,
Australia, after the Second World War, it now houses a forest!
Mankinds capacity for survival however, is questionable. Despite
the plethora of knowledge and technology that surrounds us
about climate change, ocean acidification, overfishing, rising sea
levels, and the importance of our ocean to our survival, we seem
happy to continue plodding (more likely rolling uncontrollably at
this stage) down the path of self-destruction; not only ignoring
but debunking and even ridiculing what scientists have been
trying to tell us for decades. Instead of changing our ways, we
dump even more toxins, more garbage into the ocean the very
ocean we get our seafood from. How revolting is that? There is
a reason why I avoid seafood as much as possible. Perhaps the
solution to overfishing is to create more awareness about marine
toxic pollution. If more people knew that over 10 billion litres
of industrial waste (excluding offshore oil and gas effluents) is
discharged directly into U.S. waters alone every day, and heavy
metals (arsenic, lead, mercury, cyanide, together with over
30 other dangerous chemicals) are often found in marine life,
seafood consumption would probably decrease and overfishing
would cease to be an issue. I would also like to give special
mention to cancer-causing toxins such as pesticides, dioxins,
PCBs (polychlorinated biphenyls), and PAHs (poly-aromatic
hydrocarbons) and radioactive waste all of which are found
in our ocean the very ocean we swim in and eat from. Is it
any wonder cancer is on the rise? We are killing our planet, and
ourselves.
However dismal and bleak it might seem, I like to think we still
have a sliver of hope. This issue marks the start of our eighth
year of production for Ocean Geographic. We have grown over
the last seven years, and will soon have two print and two online
editions. All this is possible only because of you; just by being
associates or members of the society, you have contributed to
the production of a benchmark journal of the ocean, helping to
educate and inspire conservation of our ocean. You give us that
glimmer of hope for this planet. For that and your support, all of
us at Ocean Geographic would like to say: THANK YOU.
Evonne Ong
Chief Editor
lowepro.com
PS: Your views consummate a meaningful relationship and keep the fire for quality
burning. We value your views. Write to me at: editor@OGSociety.org
OG Issue 29 : 07/2014
Michael AW Founder
Founding Editors
Joe Moreira: David Doubilet : Dr Carden Wallace : Dr Alex Mustard : Dr Gerald Allen: Emory Kristof : Stan Waterman :
Doug Perrine : Jennifer Hayes : Christopher Lee
Charter Members
Adam Read
Adelene Lynch
Adrienne Savage
Agnieszka Malkowska
Alastair Dow
Aleta Pitstock
Amanda Dies
Andreas Jaschek
Andrew Carr
Andrew Aylett
Anne-Maree Frost
Anthony Atkinson
Anthony Tan
Aqua Pros Swim School Inc
Armin Geltinger
Barbara Hinton
Bari Gowan
Barry Stimpson
Bernard Hart
Bob Hollis
Brent Bain
Brian Jones
Brian Daly
Brian Newbold
Carl Brandes
Carle Parkhill
Carly Sorensen
Caroline Lim
Charles Bowden
Chris Kowalski
Coreen Lee Pooi Yee
Corpus Christi H School
Craig Koltasz
Craig Grube
Dale Ponsford
Darren Pill
Dave Ball
Dave Sorbo
David Hettich
David Hughes
David Kittos
David Watson
Dean Boyce
Deborah Bowden
Dennis Shepard
Dennis Olivero
Des Paroz
Digant Desai
Dorothy Schooling
Emily Chan
Eric Matson
Eric Winters
Erica Lansley
Ernie Brooks
Faris Alsagoff
Fenella Cochrane
Ferdie Franklin
Freda Ho
Gary Wilson
Gary Samer
Gina Mascord
Gordon Brown
Graeme Thomas
Graham Thompson
Graham Reynolds
Grant Graves
Gwen Shah-Ingram
Gwen Noda
Halszka Antoszewska
Hamish Foster
Heather Sowden
H Bartram & C Alleway
Helke Florkowski
Hellmuth Weisser
Henrik Nimb
Ian Sheffield-Parker
Ian Barcham
Ian Dewey
Ignacio Esparza
Inger Vandyke
Ingvar Eliasson
Janna Jones
Janne Hultberg
Jason Santospirito
Jeffrey Bohn
Jennifer ONeil
Jeroen Deknatel
Jessica Schoonderwaldt
Jim Morrison
Joanne Marston
Jordan Thomson
Jorgen Rasmussen
Jukka Nurminen
Kal Attie
Kathy Nikas
Kellie Wood
Kian Hing Soo
KL Kwang
Klaas Mekking
Kliment Kolosov
K Bilham & F Cosgrove
Larissa Cheong
Leesa & David Pratt
Leon Ebbelaar
Lex Beatty
Malcolm Neo
Malcolm Peisley
Marcel Eckhardt
Margaret Flierman
Marie Goarin
Mark Gerlach
Mark Seielstad
Mark Templeman
Martin Havlicek
Matt Curnock
Maxi Jennifer Eckes
Melanie Teloniatis
Michael Holme
Michal Krzysztofowicz
Michelle Chua
Mick Moran
Mickey Pascoe
Mikael Jigmo
Natalie Forster
Nicholas Kuhn
Nick Robertson-Brown
Nico Paradies
Nicola Goldsmith
Novianti Songtono
Owen Scott
Patricia Pei Voon Lee

Patrick Schwarz
Paul Castle
Paul Double
Paul Turley
Paul Gagnon
Paul Ryan
Peter Maerz
Petrina Tay
Pij Olijnyk
Ramadian Bachtiar
Rebecca Simpson
Robert Yee
Robert Hughes
Robert Lupo Dion
Ron Currie
Ruben Gamoo
Sam & Jo Bartram
Samuel Ong
Sarah Jacob
Selwyn Gregory Sng
Simon Talbot
Sol Foo
Sonia Gentle
Stacey Herman
Steve Tucker
Susan Howard
Teresa Hemphill
Terry Farr
Tim Gleeson
Tomos Hedges
Tony Manning
Tony & Phyll Bartram
Travis Graham
Troy Horsburgh
Victor Lendzionowski
Virginia Fage
W D Fong
Wayde Simes
Wendy McIlroy
Wendy Campbell
Wyland
Wendy Benchley
Charter membership is now closed. Join now as Premier Member see p96.
www.OGSociety.org
4
THE MOMENTS THAT TAKE OUR

Beyond the Ordinary Expeditions
BREATH AWAY
Bahamas: Feb / March
Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by
Great Hammerheads: Tiger Sharks
Cuba Jardines de la Reina: March

Maldives Baa and Northern Atolls: August
Silkies & Reef sharks, Goliath Groupers and American

Salt water Crocodiles
Sharks, Mantas and Rainbow Reefs
Indonesia Cenderawasih Bay: September

Whale sharks, Dr Seus Reef and Ancient Sea
South Africa Sardine Runs: June
Expedition leaders & Photo Pro
Christian Vizl, Mathieu Meur and Michael AW

All Ocean Geographic expeditions are specially research and design for
optimum interaction opportunities.
Spots are limited. Ocean Geographic member priority and discount apply.
OceanGeographic.org : expeditions@OGSociety.org
Dolphins, Bronze Whalers, Dusky Sharks, Brydes

and Humpback Whales and Gannets
The Editorial Board

Michael AW Director & Board Member
Michaels saturated colour imageries have earn him more

than 60 international awards; his work have been featured
in BBC Wildlife, National Geographic, the Smithsonian,
GEO, Ocean GEOGRAPHIC, Asian Geographic, Action Asia,
Nature Focus to name but a few. In 2010, he was a recipient of
the WYLAND ICON award for Conservation. His most glorious
achievement is a Palme Dor for Philippines Heart of the Ocean, won at
the World Underwater Pictures Festival, France 2009. He is also a recipient of
three awards from the Natural History Museum BBC Photographer of the Year
Wildlife Competition in 2000, 2010 and in 2006 he won the Best Winner award in
the underwater category. Michael AW is the founder of OceanNEnvironments
a charity organization registered with Environment Australia. In 2008 Stan
Waterman conferred Michael with the Peter Benchley Shark Conservation
Award by Sharks Research Institute in recognition of his highly-effective and
unrelenting campaign against shark fin soup consumption in the Asia Pacific
region. Michael is also the founder of Asian Geographic.
Carden Wallace PhD Honorary Editor & & Board Member
Cardens research has focused on biogeography and

biodiversity, particularly on corals and tropical biota.
Her current interests are directed towards other tropical
countries, especially Indonesia. She feels strongly
that scientists should give back all they possibly can, in
communicating and applying the results of their work. With her
appointment in 1987 as Curator in Charge, Carden Wallace became the first
woman to head the Museum of Tropical Queensland in Townsville. Among
the high points in her career was the POL Prize for Environmental Research,
awarded in 1992 to Carden along with four other scientists from James Cook
University for their exciting discovery of mass annual spawning on the Great
Barrier Reef by over a hundred species of coral. This dramatic example of
sexual synchronization is unique among animals, and its discovery by the team
in 1984 attracted immediate scientific and media attention around the world.
Carden is a board member of OceanNEnvironment
Jennifer Hayes Honorary Editor
Jen is an aquatic ecologist who has collected a couple of

graduate degrees in zoology, marine and fisheries biology.
She came into underwater journalism (photography and
writing) out of sheer necessity to enliven dull scientific
presentations and publications. To put it simply, strong images
of ancient sturgeons spawning, hatching, migrating are infinitely
more captivating to an audience than bar graphs and pie charts. Photography
and science lead to natural history articles and then into popular journalism.
Jen formed a partnership with David Doubilet in 1999 and co-founded the
stock photo company; Undersea Images Inc. Jen and David co-photograph
and write for assignment features for numerous domestic and international
publications, ad shoots and book projects.
David Doubilet
David is the worlds most ce le brate d unde r wate r

photographer with over fifty stories published in National
Geographic. David challenges himself to redefine
photographic boundaries each time he enters the water. His
passion is the undersea majesty of light and how to capture it.
Completely at home on a coral reef, a World War II wreck, a deep
dark fjord or among the great giants in our sea, David has relentlessly pursued
the many hidden layers of coral reefs around the globe. His cold water work has
immersed him in the rich waters of New Zealand, Tasmania, Scotland, Japan,
the Northwest Atlantic and Northeast Pacific. Recent photographic journeys
have taken him into some of the largest freshwater systems on our planet such
as the great Okavango Delta system in Botswana and the St. Lawrence River.
Emory Kristof Honorary Editor
Emorys photography has discovered the unexplored worlds

of the deep sea. In August 1998 Kristofs pictures of the
Titanic were presented in the National Geographic magazine
article, Tragedy in Three Dimensions. The pictures, taken
in 1991 employing high-intensity lighting systems, achieved
unprecedented detail due to advances in 3-D computer videoediting. Born in 19 42, Kristof studied journalism at the University of Maryland at
College Park and received a bachelors degree in 1964. Kristof was a National
This is a production from the

hearts and souls of a passionate team.
We are blessed with the support of some of
the most published authors and image makers of
our natural world. OceanNEnvironment
is privileged to introduce the editorial board of
Ocean Geographic
the almanac of our seas.
Board of Directors,
OceanNEnvironment Ltd
Geographic staff photographer from 1964 to 1994 and has produced 39 articles
for the National Geographic magazine. Kristofs accomplishments have earned
many awards for both writing and photography, including the NOGI Award for
Arts from the Underwater Society of America in 1988 and an Explorers Club
Lowell Thomas Award for Underwater Exploration in 1986. That same year
Kristof received the American Society of Magazine Publishers Innovation in
Photography Award for their photographic coverage of the Titanic. Kristof
was presented with the 1998 J. Winton Lemen Fellowship Award by the U.S.
National Press Photographers Association for being one of our professions
most imaginative innovators with particular attention to pictures from beneath
the ocean brought to the readers of National Geographic magazine.
Stan Waterman Honorary Editor
Stan has been at the forefront of scuba diving since

its inception as a recreational sport both at home and
throughout the world. Stan was co-director of underwater
photography and the second unit in the production of The
Deep, a movie based on Peter Benchleys best-selling novel.
More recent productions include documentaries for ABCs
Spirit of Adventure series and the Expedition Earth series on
ESPN. Stan has received numerous honours and awards for his work in
television, including five Emmies, two Gold Medals from the U.K. Underwater
Film Festival, four Golden Eagles, a lifetime Achievement Award from the Miami
Expo and from Boston Sea Rovers, the Cousteau Diver of the Year Award,
the Richard Hopper Day Memorial Medal from the Philadelphia Academy of
Natural Sciences, and most recently has been inducted to the International
Scuba Diving Hall of Fame.
Doug Perrine Honorary Editor
Doug is widely regarded as one of the worlds foremost

marine wildlife photographers. His photographs have been
reproduced in virtually every major nature magazine in the
world, as well as in thousands of books, calendars, greeting
cards, posters, etc. His photography has won a number of
awards, including the prestigious BBC/ British Gas Wildlife
Photographer of the Year competition in the animal behaviour category
and the Natures Best/Cemex competition in the Professional Marine Wildlife
category. He is also the author of seven books on marine life, and numerous
magazine articles.
Gerald Allen PhD Honorary Editor
Gerald is an internationally renowned authority on the

classification and ecology of coral reef fishes of the Indian
and Pacific Oceans. He is the author of 31 books and 400
scientific publications. He has an intimate knowledge of fish
life on coral reefs, having logged more than 7,000 dives. Field
studies form an integral part of Dr. Allens research, probably
more so than any other marine biologist. He received a Ph.D. in marine zoology
from the University of Hawaii in 1971, having done his thesis on anemonefishes.
He served as Curator of Fishes at the Western Australian Museum in Perth for 24
years before leaving to take a position with Conservation International as their
Science Team Leader. He is a past President of the Australian Society for Fish
Biology, an honorary foreign member of the American Society of Ichthyology
and Herpetology, and a recent recipient of the prestigious K. Radway Allen
Award for Outstanding Contributions in Ichthyological Science.
The Editorial Board

Wyland Honorary Editor
Marine life artist Wyland has developed an international reputation for his
commitment to marine life conservation. Most notable, is his monumental
marine life murals, the Whaling Walls. Spanning thousands of square
feet, these massive works of art expose the thrilling diversity and beauty
of life that exists below the surface of our ocean planet to more than one
billion people each year. Today, this multi-faceted artist works in multiple
mediums, from oils, water colours, acrylics, Japanese ink paintings, bronze sculptures, fine
art photography, and mixed media.
Howard and Michele Hall Honorary Editors
Howard and Michele are perhaps best known for their underwater
IMA X films Into the Deep 19 9 4, Island of the Sharks 19 9 8
respectively. In 2002 Howard was underwater sequence director and
Michele was location manager for Coral Reef Adventure, a film in which
both he and Michele are featured on-camera. In 2005 they directed and
produced Deep Sea 3D which was awarded Best Picture at the Giant Screen
Cinema Association Conference and Best Large Format Film at Wildscreen 2006. In
2009 the Halls released Under the Sea 3D. This film won best cinematography at the
Giant Screen Cinema Association Conference in 2009 and Best Documentary at the
International 3D Society in 2010. Howards career as an underwater natural history film
producer, cinematographer, still photographer and writer began in the early 1970s. His
photographs have been published internationally in hundreds of books and magazines
including: Life, Natural History Magazine, National Geographic, GEO, Terre Sauvage,
London Illustrated News, and BBC Wildlife. Howard has authored several books including
Sharks, Dolphins, The Kelp Forest, Successful Underwater Photography, and Secrets of
the Ocean Realm. Michele Hall is an accomplished still photographer whose images have
been published by National Geographic, Fathoms, National Wildlife, Ocean Realm, and
many other magazines and books. Howard and Michele have won seven Emmy Awards.
Christopher Lee Editor Emeritus
Christopher was the co-founder of Asian Geographic and the managing

editor for six years until 2005. Chris was also behind the successful
transformation of Scuba Diver Australasia, and was its managing editor
until 2005. He has worked on a range of marine conservation issues
including the successful Say No to Shark fins campaign. Chris has also
served on the board of OceanNEnvironment. Building on his early career in
economic research, he is currently a Senior Economist with the Department of Environment
and Climate Change (NSW) in Australia.
Laurent Ballesta Honorary Editor
Laurent is a marine scientist, photo journalist and documentary maker

for the French TV program Ushuaia Nature. He was the youngest
photographer to have won three Gold diver awards at the World Festival
of Underwater Pictures. In In 2005, Laurent authored with Pierre Descamp
Plante Mers the book was later translated into five languages and
published by National Geographic. He was the first to capture the Coelacanth
in their habitat at 110m. Laurent is also the author for Secrets de Mditerrane which
was the first to reveal the deep water (180m) of the Mediterranean Sea.
Cabell Davis PhD Oceanographic in Residence
Cabell is a Senior Scientist at Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution

and is the Director of WHOIs Ocean Life Institute with over 30 years
experience in plankton ecology. He has conducted research on 50
oceanographic cruises and co-developed the Video Plankton Recorder,
an underwater video microscope with automatic imaging of high-resolution
fragile plankton data. He recently worked with MIT engineers to develop a
small underwater digital holographic camera for imaging plankton. He is now
modeling the impact of climate change on the fisheries ecosystem.
Evonne Ong CHIEF EDITOR
Dancing. Diving. Drugs. Not necessarily in that order or done in any specific
combination (in case you are wondering). Drugs are her profession. A
pharmacist who has spent most of her career lecturing and training, she
currently oversees the training within Asia-Pacific for a pharmaceutical
company. Diving is her love. An avid diver since 1998, her love for the
ocean and wildlife conservation, led her to progress from land to underwater
photography, and eventually cross paths with Michael Aw. After a good deal of
cajoling by Michael Aw, she finally started editing her first full issue in 2011 and has not looked
back since. She has since written several articles for the magazine as well as newspapers,
been involved in several projects with OG and has also been a judge in several international
underwater photography competitions. Dance is her passion. If you want to know more, you
will have to ask her when you meet her!
director Michael
AW
research & publisher assistant

editor emeritus Christopher
chief Editor Evonne
Ong
Lee
Jannica Jigmo
honorary editors Emory
Kristof, Wyland,
Carden Wallace PhD, Gerry Allen PhD, Alex Mustard PhD,
David Doubilet, Jennifer Hayes, Doug Perrine,
Stan Waterman, Michelle Hall and Howard Hall,
Laurent Ballesta
feature editor Gill McDonald
science editor Alex Rose
field editors Pamela Martin, Steve Jones
Copy and Field Editor: Mathieu Meur
copy editors Mathieu Meur, Gill McDonald
oceanographer-in-residence Cabell Davis PhD
photographers-in-residence Mikael Jigmo, Jorgen
Rasmussen, Mathieu Meur, Foo Pu Wen, Christian Vizl
contributors Mike Scotland, Steve De Neef, Nancy Merridew,
Jayne Jenkins, Michelle Westmorland, Jane Morgan, Ellen
Cuylearts, Charlie Fasano, Mark Erhmann, Arlene Batuna
designer P.S Looi
Production co-ordinator Daniel Tay
advertising & events Gill Sands
accounts & circulation Alison Redhead
OceanEnvironment Executive Officers
Cassandra Dragon (Australasia), Gillian McDonald (UK),

David Borus (USA), Ronny Rengkung (Indonesia)
Emily Chan (Singapore)
Music Director Eric Bettens
Business Development Manager
Sidney Seok (Malaysia)
customer service info@OGSociety.org
editorial enquiries editor@OGsociety.org
photo submissions images@OGsociety.org

advertising ads@OGsociety.org
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www.OceanGeographic.org
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OG Issue 29 : 07/2014
OUT NOW
The 100th Year Tribute to Ernest Shackletons

Endurance Antarctic (1914) Expedition
CAPTURED BY SOME OF THE WORLDS MOST CELEBRATED WILDLIFE PHOTOGRAPHERS, this limited
edition tribute comprises the absolute finest of over 20,000 images. Only 1914 copies Fine Art Production
Author
Michael AW
Principal Photographers
Michael AW: Ernie Brooks: David Doubilet : Jennifer Hayes :
Andreas Jaschek : Amos Nachoum : Jenny E. Ross
Artist
Wyland
Supporting Photographers
Emory Kristof, Steve Jones, Davide Vezzaro, Edward
Dixon, Scott Portelli, Jorgen Rasmussen, Carl Brandes,
Eric Bettens, Emily Chan, Stephen Henshall, Alhay Avila,
Bartosz Strozynski, Henry Yip, Elizabeth Quat,
Wendy McIlroy, Gwen Noda, Chris Chan
Box bound edition with Five ready-to-frame prints packaged A$198

Classic case-bound limited edition A$118
*Each book comes with it own Certificate of Authenticity
Order your Copy now
To order an autographed copy, email us at: elysium@OGSociety.org

Part of the proceeds from the sale of Elysium Epic will go towards the
Ocean Geographic Ocean Change Photographic Index (GOCPI). This
index focuses on speciation, habitat and climate change images for
education and research assessment.
OceanGeographic.org : ELYSIUMEPIC.org
to
Eat
or Not to Eat
(Sustainable Seafood)
Essay by Alex Rose | Photographs by Michael AW
Essay
Understanding what sustainable seafood truly means and
using our collective buying power to
SHIFT GLOBAL DEMAND TOWARDS MORE

ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY OPTIONS.
all
to shift global demand towards more
growth. However, our growth has been
up
environmentally friendly options are the
far from sustainable. The Industrial
knowing that
waves of the future. It is no longer a case
Revolution forever changed the way we
seafood is a
of plenty of fish in the ocean. In order
healthy part
to get a clearer picture of exactly what
fish, and signalled the beginning of the
of our diet,
plenty once was (so that we have a goal
but is it healthy for our planet? Bluefin
in mind when discussing the rebuilding
tuna has been fished to the brink of
of fisheries), we will need to begin by
extinction, wild salmon spawning runs
travelling back into the pre-industrial
get sparser each year, the north Atlantic
world.
have
grown
destructive fishing practices in which we

currently find ourselves.
With the advent of steam-powered ships,
humans were now able to regularly
cod fishery collapsed in the early 1990s,
employ quite possibly the most efficient,
advancement,
yet destructive method of fishing ever
ways ever invented. This may make a
growth, and invention associated with
conceived: the beam trawl. This piece of
trip to the grocery store to pick up a
hallmarks of progress such as the steam
equipment is nothing more than a large
engine, telegraph, reliable light bulbs,
net held open by a wood or metal beam
canned
assembly
that is then dragged through the ocean,
lines, and incredible expansion of our
but until steam was used to power fishing
and wild shrimp is harvested in one of
The
the most environmentally destructive
period
piece of sustainable seafood for dinner

seem like a daunting task but it all comes
down to being a conscious consumer.
We must all be aware of the choices we
have and which ones are good for both
Industrial
of
Revolution
incredible
food,
large-scale
was
worlds canals, roads, and railways.
vessels, sailing ships driven by wind alone

were not strong enough to haul these huge
our bodies and our environment. Fishery
The foundations of daily life changed
management practices that accurately
drastically as massive improvements
reflect the needs of fish populations
in mining, manufacturing, technology,
instead of the relentlessly increasing
agriculture, and transportation altered the
human demand, and laws that reward
socioeconomic and cultural landscape of
in the late 1870s with the goal of reducing
sustainable fishing methods and punish
our existence. Nobel Prize winner and
the carnage brought on by trawlers,
the opposite are also necessary if we are
economist, Robert E. Lucas, Jr., once
catalysed by an already apparent decline
to continue harvesting our ocean beyond
said, For the first time in history, the
in fish catches in the North Sea. These
living standards of the masses of ordinary
efforts did nothing to curb the steady
people have begun to undergo sustained
growth of a fleet of trawlers increasing in
the middle of this century. Understanding

what sustainable seafood truly means
and using our collective buying power
10
age of unsustainable and environmentally
Fishto Eat or Not to Eat
nets. The pestilential power of trawls was

recognized and regularly debated long
before their widespread use. The English
actually convened commissions starting
size, destructive capacity, and numbers.
PRAWN FISHERIES ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR

ONE THIRD OF THE WORLD'S DISCARDED
CATCH, DESPITE PRODUCING LESS THAN
two percent OF GLOBAL SEAFOOD
Essay
Trawling nets are now equipped with chains, rock
hoppers and giant tires which allow the nets to
be dragged over uneven terrain, decimating all
underwater habitats as they are pulled along the
ocean bed.
The worlds wild catch remains at an astronomical

170 billion pounds annually; this amount is equal
in weight to the entire human population
of China!
Prawn trawlers catch 10-20kg of marine species

in the tropics to obtain just 1kg of prawns. This
"bycatch" is discarded, dead or dying, overboard.
12
r a w l e r s
indiscriminately
capture all living
things in their
path and leave
in their wake
a
complete
destruction
of
the seafloor. This
was evident at the turn of the century
when fishermen tried to demand that
their governments outlaw the use of these
detrimental fishing practices. A New
England newspaper article in 1911 stated
that, the continued operation of these
trawlers scraping over the fishing grounds
and destroying countless numbers of
young and immature fish, is the greatest
menace to the future of fisheries, and
the greatest danger the fisheries have
ever faced along this coast. Sadly, not
only did these factual proclamations not
reduce trawler use, this fishing method
has grown ever more efficient. Nets are
now equipped with chains (to stir up all
remaining wildlife) rock hoppers and
giant tires which allow the nets to be
dragged over uneven terrain, decimating
all habitats as they are pulled along the
ocean bed. According to the Alaska Marine
Conservation Council, 82% of everything
caught by bottom trawling in North Pacific
fisheries is unwanted bycatch, which
is discarded dead and dying back into
the ocean. Factors like this one make it
almost impossible to accurately estimate
the damage done by trawling, but one
does not need to be a fisheries biologist
to comprehend the magnitude of biomass
loss brought about by trawlers and other
types of environmentally destructive
fishing methods such as long lining and
dynamite fishing.
ONE-AND-A-HALF CENTURIES OF RAMPANT

PILLAGING of our worlds waters by unsustainable fishing practices,
has reduced the bounty of our seas to a mere glimmer of what
it once was.
One-and-a-half centuries of rampant

pillaging of our worlds waters by
unsustainable fishing practices, has
reduced the bounty of our seas to a mere
glimmer of what it once was. It has been
determined that all the major stocks of
large fish in the world such as cod, tuna,
swordfish, halibut, and many others
have been reduced to approximately
10% of what their populations were in
the 1950s. Ironically, this is the number
associated with the total collapse of a
fishery, a term defined as a state where
90 percent or more of the historical
population is gone. It has also been
shown that it only takes 10 to 15 years
of modern industrial fishing pressure to
reduce any healthy fish community to
this 10% mark. Yet the worlds wild catch
remains at an astronomical 170 billion
pounds annually; this amount is equal in
weight to the entire human population
of China! As fish populations shrank, our
fishing methods were made even more
efficient in order to extract the same
amount of seafood. Even as I write, our
last giant bluefin tunas are being hunted
down by sophisticated sonar in the largely
unmanageable international waters of the
open ocean, and slaughtered to feed our
bottomless appetite for sashimi. There are
too many exploited populations of fish to
cover in anything less than a book, but in
an effort to succinctly analyse the nature
and condition of our worlds fisheries, I
will focus on four representative marine
animals and the issues associated with
each of them: cod, salmon, tuna, and
shrimp.
collapses began to occur, the validity of

the idea that our ocean could be overfished
was dismissed as impossible. Even into
the early 1980s, the U.S was still heavily
subsidizing the expansion of the American
fishing fleet to the tune of about $800
million in order to make up for declining
catch numbers. This huge increase in
fishing pressure along with the use of the
ubiquitous ocean destroyer, the trawler,
All the way up until the 1970s when some

of the first documented local fishery
However, even with these regulations,

it is unlikely that the North Atlantic cod
brought about something unimaginable:

the collapse of the Atlantic cod fishery. In
1992, the Canadian government closed the
Grand Banks to cod fishing and in 1994,
the Georges Banks, known as the most
prolific cod fishing grounds in the United
States and the area whose abundance
gave Cape Cod its name, were officially
closed to commercial cod fishing. This
industrial fish that had been the very
image of plenty and the definition of
commonness, was nearly wiped out and
only about 5% of the historic population of
cod remained. Great care has been taken
since the closing of these once-fecund
fishing grounds, and the Sustainable
Fisheries Act was passed in 1996, to
ensure that these populations are rebuilt
in a reasonable timeframe. Policy makers
are always under extreme pressure from
fishing interests to raise allowable catch
limits to satisfy our growing demand for
whitefish flesh, a requirement on the order
of 40 billion pounds annually (that is the
equivalent of 41,000 fully loaded Boeing
747s), but have managed to maintain some
of these crucial cod breeding grounds as
no catch zones, allowing their decimated
populations to recover and stabilize.
(Gadus morhua) will ever return to their

former levels of abundance, nor will
they really be the same fish. This is due
to two main factors: our unintentional
selective alteration of the cod genome,
and the scarcity of fish for cod to eat. By
fishing a stock to collapse, we are taking
out the biggest fish first, followed by the
next biggest fish, etc. By the time a stock
has reached the stage of collapse, the
only fish left that are still reproducing
and consequently passing on their genes,
are much smaller than what the average
sized fish used to be prior to intense
overfishing. Studies show that removal
of 70-80 percent of a fish population
has a certain degree of reversibility
in a case where 20-30 percent of fish are
still in the water, the population may be
unstable and vulnerable but still has a
reasonable potential for recovery because
the genome of the stock is not likely to
have been heavily depleted. When 90
percent or more of the fish have been lost,
it is probable that the entire fish genome
has been affected and that a full recovery
is unlikely; this is the scenario playing
out in the North Atlantic cod fishery. By
catching all the big animals, fishermen
have inadvertently selected for smaller
fish. The other major problem is that the
fish populations that cod depend on for
food are also drastically declining. Cod
eat fish in the herring family, all of which
require open access to clean, shallow,
freshwater spawning grounds, conditions
which have all but disappeared as a result
of dam construction. These prey species
are also being harvested from the ocean at
unsustainable rates, essentially ensuring
that cod will be unable to return to their
original range or density due to a lack of
food.
OG Issue 29 : 07/2014
13
Essay
here have been

attempts to both
farm
cod
and
find a reasonable
replacement fish,
neither of which
has been entirely
successful. Farming cod, or any large
predatory fish for that matter, represents a
net loss in terms of marine protein removed
from the sea because several pounds of
feed are required to make one pound of
saleable fish. This poor feed conversion
ratio makes predators expensive to
farm and buy, as well as contributes to
overfishing of
small fish that
are lower on
the food chain.
Replacing cod
with different
whitefish has
been difficult
as well. There
was an effort
to grow the
New Zealand
hoki
fishery
sustainably
in hopes of
diverting
our consumption of cod, but the hoki
fishery also collapsed under the weight of
demand and improperly set catch limits.
Alaskan pollock is currently filling the
void left by cod with an annual harvest of
2 billion pounds, primarily made into fish
sticks and other highly processed, cheap
whitefish products. It is yet to be seen
if pollock can withstand this collection
pressure long term.
populations has been well documented

since the end of the 19th century when
countless river tributaries were dammed
for power generation, cutting off the
access these fish need to their natal
spawning grounds. There is Atlantic and
Pacific salmon and both are anadromous
fish, meaning that they live, feed, and
grow in the sea, but return to fresh water
to reproduce. Each fish will come back
to spawn only in the waters from which
it hatched, making salmon extremely
susceptible to local extirpations resulting
from anthropogenic changes in natural
landscapes. Between the damming of
up to British Columbia, Alaska, and parts

of Russia, and the fishing of these fragile
sub-populations is heavily regulated and
monitored from one year to the next,
but even this has not kept the runs from
diminishing or oceanic salmon from being
caught.
While there is not much wild salmon to be
had, our supermarkets are all overflowing
with their succulent orange flesh. This is
because the majority of the salmon we
consume is farm raised. Being a large
predatory fish, salmon must consume
large amounts of food in order to sustain
themselves and
gain
enough
weight to be
able to make
the
incredibly
strenuous
and
time consuming
journey
from
the open ocean
back to their
freshwater
s p a w n i n g
grounds.
This
means that the
feed conversion
ratio for salmon
is atrocious. Over the last few decades,
salmon have been selectively bred to
grow faster and get to market size on
much less food than wild salmon needs.
It takes 10 kilograms of small fish and
other prey items to produce 1 kilogram
of wild salmon, whereas it only takes
about four kilograms of feed to produce
one kilogram of farmed salmon. This is
still a problematic ratio that reflects an
unfortunately large net seafood loss, but
is probably the least disturbing aspect of
salmon farming.
SALMON HAS BEEN CALLED

THE KING OF FISH,
but unfortunately has not been treated that way.
Salmon farms have been linked with a range of
SERIOUS, DEVASTATING,
IMPACTS ON THE MARINE
ENVIRONMENT
The next fish on our menu is salmon.

Salmon has been called The King of
Fish, but unfortunately has not been
treated that way. The decline of salmon
14
rivers and streams, which barred them

from reproducing, and the aggressive
fishing of the largest known aggregation
of Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) in the
waters off Greenland beginning in the
1950s, wild populations of these fish are
now virtually non-existent and none are
commercially fished. The story of the
Pacific salmon in the genus Oncorhynchus
is decidedly different. These fish birth
and spawn in the rivers and tributaries
of the American Pacific northwest and
Russia, and spend most of their lives in
the Bering Sea. Increasingly sparse runs
of these fish still occur from California
xxxxxxxxxxxx
Pollutants are not the only problem

facing farmed salmons. Recent
studies have found contamination
with radioactive waste and there are
concerns about the use of malachite
green to kill parasites and infections.
arming of carnivorous
farm one of the most predatory animals
Atlantic Tuna (ICCAT), and every year
fish
presents
in the ocean. As such, the feed conversion
these same catch limits are dramatically
many problems. Salmon
species
for bluefin tuna is incredibly high at 20:1,
broken because there are few ways to
are
commonly
meaning that it requires 20 kilograms of
enforce the laws governing the take of
farmed in open ocean
most
food to produce 1 kilogram of tuna. This
seafood from the open ocean. If we are
netted pens where they
may sound like a financially suicidal
to save these fish without imposing a
are in close contact with wild populations
investment, but the desire for this fish
worldwide moratorium on the catching of
of salmon. This is a serious issue because
only seems to be increasing along with its
bluefins, we must radically decrease our
many farmed populations of salmon
scarcity.
consumption of these amazing creatures.
harbour parasites such as sea lice due
Dining on a 230 kilo bluefin tuna is the
to unnaturally high stocking density, and
This insatiable drive to catch every last
seafood equivalent of driving a Hummer,
as wild fish swim near the pens, they
bluefin can only be illustrated by the
says Paul Greenberg, author of Four Fish,
become infected too. This is particularly
following: a single tuna weighing 220
and should be avoided entirely.
detrimental to young wild salmon and
kilograms was sold in Japans infamous
they often perish. Antibiotics are also
Tsukiji fish market for 1.8 million dollars
Eating one kilo of bluefin tuna is roughly
used to control disease and these are
last year. Considering that breeding adult
the same as eating 200 kilos of less
then released directly into the ocean.
bluefins can weigh over 680 kilograms, this
resource demanding seafood such as
There are usually dead zones, areas of
was a small fish, and yet it commanded a
tilapia, sardines, or shellfish. While it
low oxygen where life cannot survive,
mind-boggling price of almost $8,108 per
is favourable to consume sea creatures
beneath these fish pens as a result of
kilo. The breeding stock of these animals
that are lower on the food chain in place
large amounts of animal waste and
is being decimated at an alarming rate and
of eating our oceans top predators, this
uneaten pellet food being degraded via
it is estimated that there could be as few
will not necessarily solve our problems.
decomposition, a process that consumes
as 9,000 giant spawners left in the western
Shrimp is a prime example of this paradox.
oxygen. There is also the issue of large
stock of the North Atlantic. As explained
Trawling is still the most common method
percentages of farmed salmon escaping
by Charles Clover in his book The End of
used to capture shrimp in the wild, a
and competing with wild salmon for
the Line, The eastern Atlantic bluefin is
practice that is responsible for levelling
food. Farming salmon is currently not
now listed as an endangered species and
seascapes and wiping out entire species.
an environmentally friendly alternative
estimated to be equivalent to the giant
Wild shrimp have one of the highest
to catching wild fish, but perhaps the
panda in its closeness to extinction. The
bycatch rates of anything in the ocean,
near future will bring us a land-based
western Atlantic bluefin stock is in even
with 1014 kilograms of unwanted bycatch
polyculture system of fish, algae, and
worse shape and is officially described
for every kilograms of shrimp produced.
filter feeders that reduces waste while
as critically endangered. That puts it in
It is estimated that up to 22 billion pounds
minimizing the environmental impact of
the same bracket as the black rhino.
of seafood may be discarded annually as
eating a predator.
These incredible animals that can travel
bycatch, including not just fish but sea
at speeds topping 64 kilometres per
turtles, marine mammals, and sea birds
A fish that should never be farmed is
hour and accelerate faster than most
as well. According to a 2009 marine policy
bluefin tuna, yet this is an idea being
European sports cars, have been fished to
study, All modern forms of commercial
promoted as a solution to our great
the brink of extinction, making them the
fishing produce bycatch, but shrimp
dilemma with this animal. It is not so
most threatened wildlife that we are still
trawling is by far the most destructive:
much farming; it is really just fattening.
allowed by law to eat.
it is responsible for a third of the world's
This unfortunate practice involves netting
bycatch, while producing only 2 percent
shoals of young bluefins, keeping them in
The
sea cages, and feeding them huge amounts
difficult
bluefin
their
overfishing of all species, annual catches
of wild caught forage fish until they are fat
habitat falls into the category of the
of shrimp are decreasing together with
enough to sell. This method is intensely
high seas, a part of the ocean that is
their average size.
flawed because not only is it doing
essentially unmanageable. Catch limits
nothing to reduce the fishing pressure
are set each year by the International
on these animals, but it is attempting to
Commission for the Conservation of
to
fishery
manage
is
particularly
because
of all seafood. As is typical with the
20 KILOGRAMS
1KILOGRAM OF TUNA.
IT REQUIRES
OF FOOD TO PRODUCE
Essay
arming of shrimp
Examining the poor condition of four of
so the fish that are left have somewhere
is a valid option,
our oceans most iconic seafood species
safe to spawn and grow, while pressuring
but
way
can be rather disheartening as it seems
governments to limit subsidies that
coastal
as though we may have already pushed
encourage unsustainable fishing practices.
shrimp farming
our fragile marine ecosystems beyond
We need to regulate and monitor fishing
is conducted is
the point of recovery (in some instances
to reduce the amount of illegal catch,
detrimental
to
this might indeed be the case). If global
while simultaneously modulating our
shoreline
overfishing continues at its present rate,
global demand for seafood by choosing
habitats. The organic wastes, antibiotics,
most of our worlds fisheries will collapse
sustainable options in our daily lives. It
and chemicals associated with raising
by the year 2050. We are harvesting
is also important not to underestimate
these marine animals in large densities
seafood at a much faster rate than it can
the power of conscious consumerism,
often wind up polluting ground water and
be naturally replaced; 80 percent of our
and programs such as Seafood Watch,
estuarine wetlands. As stated by the World
worlds fish stocks are already either fully
Fish Watch, and Right Bite have created
Wildlife Fund, In some cases, ecologically-
exploited or in decline. Pavan Sukhdev of
seafood guides to help us all make
sensitive habitat has been cleared to
the UN Environmental Programme said
better choices.
create ponds for shrimp production. Also,
that, We are in the situation where 40
some aquifers that supply water to farms
years down the line we, effectively, are
If left unchecked, (overfishing) will
have been contaminated with salt water.
out of fish.
destroy
the
most
our
the
marine
ecosystem
and
jeopardize the food security of more
Some forms of shrimp farming have had

a devastating effect on mangroves around
The good thing about knowing these
than a billion people for whom fish are a
the world. These mangroves are vital for
statistics, however discouraging they may
primary source of protein. The Food and
wildlife and coastal fisheries, and serve as
be, is that we still have time to change our
Agricultural Organization confirmed that,
buffers to the effects of storms. Their loss
future. Much of the damage that has been
One in five people on this planet depends
has destabilized entire coastal zones, with
done is at least reversible to some extent
on fish as the primary source of protein.
negative effects on coastal communities.
if we are able to accurately measure and
Shrimp farming has the potential to be
effectively manage remaining fish stocks,
Overfishing is ultimately robbing future
both sustainable and highly profitable, but
modify and minimize destructive fishing
generations of their food supply for the
it must be conducted in environmentally
methods, protect vulnerable ecosystems,
temporary profitability of companies
friendly ways that do not contribute to
and change our eating habits. We must
today and must be stopped before there is
pollution and habitat destruction.
establish more Marine Protected Areas
no chance of recovery. So, what are you

having for dinner?
THE GOOD THING ABOUT KNOWING,

however discouraging they may be, is that
WE STILL HAVE TIME TO CHANGE OUR FUTURE.

18
You are
INVITED
to a Benchmark Expedition that redefines
Art, EXPLORATION &

the CONSERVATION of our planet.
Join the principal team comprising of Dr Sylvia
Earle, David Doubilet, Jennifer Hayes, Ernie
Brooks, Michael AW, Amos Nachoum, Wyland,
Gran Ehlm, and Leandro Blanco in August
2015, on a mission to capture the sights, sounds and
splendour of the enthralling Arctic, in an exquisite
book, a film and exhibitions across eight major
cities.
The expedition will start from Longyearbyen to
North Spitsbergen, North and East Greenland and
end in Iceland. Besides panoramas of glaciers,
icebergs and snowy mountains, the expedition will
focus on polar bears, walruses, belugas, narwals,
Arctic foxes, auks, snowy owls, muskoxen, Arctic
hares, fin and blue whales.
If you are a naturalist, scientist, photographer,

fine art artist or musician, consider securing
YOUR LEGACY in this expedition by using your
INSPIRING GREATER
APPRECIATION AND LOVE FOR
THE ARCTIC AND A GREATER
AWARENESS OF THE IMPACT OF
CLIMATE CHANGE.
talent towards
For an application form and more information:

expeditions@OGSociety.org
ELYSIUMEPIC.org : OceanGeographic.org
BLU E
A Global CONVERGENCE of
the Ocean Arts & Sciences
Top : H
umpback whales
Bottom : Weddell Seal, Terre Adelie Antarctic
Courtesy Disneynature's Oceans
ringing
together a diverse ecosystem of ocean
all-stars, industry professionals and the
general public, the BLUE Ocean Film
Festival & Conservation Summit (BLUE)
goes beyond showcasing the worlds best
ocean films. These hundreds of films are
merely the tip of the iceberg, just one
facet of BLUEs multi-disciplinary
platform for collaboration, creative
expression and discussion of complex
issues. It has become the premier watering
hole for governments, scientists, artists,
explorers, actors, and ocean enterprises,
providing a springboard for individual
empowerment and stewardship to help
save Earths blue life support system.
Launched in 2009 in Savannah, Georgia,
the festival combines the international
ocean film festival with a world-class
conservation summit and film-making
industry conference. Recognised as a
platform for synergy, BLUE has become
the most magnetic event in the global
ocean community where intriguing
people meet, exchange ideas, and solve
problems together.
Dr. Sylvia Earle described BLUE as more
than films, more than a celebration of
all things wet, the BLUE Ocean Film
Festival & Conservation Summit brings
Stingray and clouds
Capt Don Walsh presenting at Blue Ocean Film Festival
together a potent mix of artists, scientists,

conservationists,
decision
makers,
industry leaders, inquisitive teachers,
lively kids and more. Come to be in the
company of kindred spirits. Come to
be entertained, inspired, informed and
make useful contacts. Come to have a
good time whatever strums your blue
heartstring, but just come!
BLUE attracts people working to save our
ocean, which undeniably needs each one
of us being innovative and collaborative.
Events have included a blue whos who
of luminaries including James Cameron,
HSH Prince Albert II, Daryl Hannah, Jean
Michel Cousteau and other celebrities
who are in the spotlight, along with the
oceans greatest advocates working
behind the scenes.
The BLUE Ocean Film Festival
competition honours excellence in
filmmaking and the visual media. BLUEs
Conservation Summit and industry and
conservation programs play a role in
facilitating innovation and professional
development and in helping to get
projects afloat.
BLUEs co-founders, Deborah and Charlie
Kinder, launched the concept of BLUE

five years ago to meet the need for public
engagement around an ocean in need.
Film and photography are powerful
tools for reaching broad audiences about
complicated issues in ways that people
can understand and relate to, said
Charlie. We understand how challenging
even the best film ideas can be to get off
the ground and wanted to help in that
process by bringing the right people
together.
In 2013, an announcement was made that
BLUE, the Prince Albert II Foundation and
the Oceanographic Museum of Monaco
would team up to host the summit on
alternate years, between Monaco and
the St. Petersburg/Tampa Bay area. The
strategic partnership with Monaco allows
the festival to further its international
reach and collaborations.
During the official announcement of
the partnerships, HSH Prince Albert
II emphasised the need to increase
environmental consciousness and the
important role BLUE plays in bringing
ocean conservation to the forefront. This
event uses the power of film, photography,
entertainment and science to educate,
empower and inspire ocean stewardship
around the globe, he said. To awaken
consciousness toward environmental
protection more effectively, our best
weapons are those that win over hearts
and minds.
David Doubilet
OG Issue 29 : 07/2014
21
Watch
Ocean
S
ave Our Seas Fund
BLUE has also leveraged its extensive film

archive library to create BLUE On Tour,
an international educational outreach
program; this travelling show provides
global and domestic opportunities to
host mini BLUE events with select films
and speakers to address issues relevant
to the audience. Unfortunately, most
people know very little about our ocean
or why they should be concerned about
its health, said Charlie. We are thrilled
by how effective this outreach has been.
BLUE On Tour has already been presented
in Mexico, Australia, New Zealand, China
and Auburn University in the US.
BLUE is dedicated to a healthy ocean,
healthy planet and healthy humanity.
Deborah Kinder shared her vision for
co-creating BLUE as a multi-disciplinary
event. I knew I wanted to be involved
in ocean conservation, but there are so
many issues that I didnt want to choose
just one problem to devote my time to
because they are all so interconnected,
she explained. Visual media is the
most powerful tool we have for raising
awareness and inspiring action. Its
how we can reach a global audience in
a short span of time and in a way that
helps everyone to understand some very
complicated issues.
The health of the ocean is not only about
protecting marine life but the health of
humanity. Not in the future, but right
now. It is not something that can be fixed
through crisis management. The goal of
BLUE is to address the major oceanic
issues and engage the public in a fun
and interactive way. The BLUE festival
can let the world know what is going
on beneath the waves, and then create
enough momentum to solve problems.
Whether a member of the general public
or a seasoned professional, everyone
22
B LU E A Global CONVERGENCE of the Ocean Arts & Sciences
Ocean Explorers Sylvia Earle, Don Walsh,

Phil Nyutten, Anatoly Sagevitch, James
Cameron, Emory Kristof
can find something of interest. It is easy

to get swept up in the BLUE wave that is
a captivating mix of arts, science, ocean
lovers and environmental all-stars. Ecoconscious companies participate as
corporate sponsors and are afforded the
opportunity to directly showcase their
sustainability to an influential audience.
James Cameron and Capt Don Walsh receiving
their Blue Ocean Film Festival award
BLUE 2014 is bigger than ever, featuring

more than 150 award-winning ocean
films and more than 40 thoughtprovoking conservation discussions,
and technology exhibits that include
manned submersibles and the latest
in ocean innovations.
For the first
time, Ocean Geographic

will attend BLUE 2014, from
3 9 November in St.
Petersburg, Tampa Bay, Florida.
Blueoceanfilmfestival.org
Save Our Seas Foundation is the conservation unit of

OceanNEnvironment, an NGO with charity status
registered with Environment Australia.
Current Projects
Asia-Pacific Ocean Health Report: Ongoing

Assessment & Conservation Initiatives of Marine
Protected Areas
Shark Conservation: Say No to Shark Fins Campaign in
East Asia, from 2001 present
Coral Reefs: supporting initiatives led by some
of the worlds leading conservation scientists.
SOS contributes to projects that monitor marine
protected areas, status of endangered and threatened
species in the Asia Pacific.
Visual Index: database of species, habitats,
climate change images for education and
research assessment.
Ocean Watch: updates and reports by associates
and correspondents
To support SOS as partners or donors,
email: one@OceanNEnvironment.org
SOS Ocean Watch Partners
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A legend among divers watches is reborn; this year Rolex
brings back a brand new updated version of the Oyster
Perpetual Sea-Dweller, a model created in 1967. This
new 40 mm technical divers watch is the latest in Rolex
innovation: Cerachrom bezel insert in ceramic, long-lasting
Chromalight luminescence, paramagnetic blue Parachrom
hairspring, Oysterlock safety clasp and Rolex Glidelock
bracelet extension system. Originally designed for the
pioneers of professional deep-sea diving, the Sea-Dweller
4000 is equipped with one of the inventions that contributed
to its stature: the helium escape valve, patented by Rolex in
1967. This ingenious safety valve releases helium from the
watch case as the gas expands during the decompression
phases of deep water saturation dives, while preserving the
waterproofness of the watch.
The Sea-Dweller 4000s Oyster case, guaranteed
waterproof to a depth of 1,220 metres is a paragon of
robustness and reliability. The characteristically shaped
middle case is crafted from a solid block of particularly
corrosion-resistant 904L steel. The fluted case back is
hermetically screwed down with a special tool exclusive
to Rolex watchmakers. The winding crown, fitted with the
patented Triplock triple waterproofness system, screws
down securely against the case, offering watertight security
akin to a submarines hatch. It is protected by a crown guard
that is an integral part of the middle case. The crystal is
made of virtually scratchproof sapphire. The waterproof
case of the Sea-Dweller 4000, housing its high precision
movement, ensures optimal protection from water, dust,
pressure and shocks. Without doubt the new Sea-Dweller
4000 is a watch for diving legends.
Peter
Scoones
A Pioneer of Blue Planet
Tribute by Gillian McDonald
Photos by Georgette Douwma, Jane Morgan, Anna Kochergina
PETER SCOONES S
LONG STANDING ILLUSTRIOUS INVOLVEMENT WITH THE BBC

included Reefwatch, The Trials of Life, Sea Trek, Life in the Freezer,
The Blue Planet and Planet Earth
There is little, if anything, that Peter
did not know about underwater image
making. A BAFTA and two Emmys,
surrounded
by
numerous
other
awards were testament to his creative
achievements. But it was Peters dual
expertise in both artistic cinematography
and technical wizardry which made him
unique and extraordinarily accomplished
in this challenging field. His creative
talent took him many times around the
world for a string of unrivalled wildlife
documentaries, many for the BBC Natural
History Unit in the company of perhaps
the greatest and most distinguished
wildlife presenter ever known, Sir
David Attenborough. However, he also
designed, built and maintained all his
own equipment, remaining at the cutting
edge of his field right up to the end of his
life, with an underwater career spanning
nearly five decades.
Peter was a maverick of the most
productive kind; he did everything his own
way, and that was invariably far superior
to anyone elses way. After leaving
school as a qualified naval architect, his
eyesight prevented him from training as
an officer. With National Service looming,
he quickly joined the RAF to learn
something useful, which turned out to
be photography ironic considering his
poor eyesight. A keen sailor, he caught
a glimpse of the captivating underwater
world while cleaning the bottom of his
dinghy in Singapore. He then persuaded
the Navy to teach his group the basics
of diving, and they formed a diving club.
However, due to limited equipment, they
became highly adept at snorkelling and
learned to hold their breath. I could hold
my breath underwater for 3-4 minutes,
Peter said in a recent interview. You
cant film while breathing; it disturbs you,
makes you wobble.
In an attempt to resolve the issue of limited
equipment, Peter built a couple of aqua

lungs using RAF machine shops, recycled
aircraft oxygen tanks and various hoses.
Demand valves are fairly simple things
he said, with typical understatement
and modesty. It was not long before his
passion for image-making, diving and
nature came together. There was no such
thing as an underwater housing back then
so Peter had to build his own and in this,
he was truly a pioneer. He would scavenge
discarded aircraft windows, return them
to stores and claim a replacement, thus
acquiring pristine sheets of Perspex
to model housings from. He made
cement from Perspex chips dissolved in
chloroform, controls from used hydraulic
linkages and created waterproof shafts
this was before O-rings were widely
available. There was the Rolleimarin
designed by Hass but that was way
outside our budget, Nikonos which
evolved out of Cousteaus Calypsophot
didnt emerge until 1963, necessity is the
mother of invention if it doesnt exist,
build it. That basically described Peters
entire life in one sentence.
In 1967, Peter formed the British Society
of Underwater Photographers (BSoUP),
together with Colin Doeg. Despite being
seriously ill at the time, he still regularly
attended monthly meetings in London,
right up until the end of 2013. Colin said of
Peter, Being a superb camera mechanic
as well as accomplished photographer
helped Peter handle with aplomb, the
most dreaded event in any underwater
photographers life... a flood. It was an
unforgettable experience to see him
calmly pour pints of sea water out of his
custom-made camera housing and begin
to salvage his expensive video camera
anywhere on land or sea. Surrounded
by an awe-struck audience and often an
ashen producer or client - he could strip
his camera down to its carcass, wash

and sun-dry all the vital electronic circuit
boards and have it working again in as
little as a couple of hours.
At the end of his nine year stint, he left
the RAF and joined a colour laboratory
in London. For the next few years,
he learnt as much about underwater
filming as possible. To supplement his
strong technical background and optical
knowledge he thoroughly researched
and read everything ever written on
the subject, teaching himself. As his
reputation grew, there came a knock on
the door of his workshop in Richmond,
just outside London. It was David
Attenborough (who subsequently became
Sir David) and a colleague from the BBC
Natural History Unit who wanted to film
a live coelacanth in low-light conditions
- something that had never been done
before. Attenborough was heading to the
Comores islands as part of the BBCs Life
on Earth series to follow up on reports
of local fishermen hauling coelacanths up
from the deep. He had heard about Peters
latest low-light camera and wanted to
hire it. Peter seized his opportunity. Not
only had he read about the coelacanth in
school and long harboured an ambition to
film it, but he also knew his camera was
a unique and innovative asset and he was
not about to hand it over for someone
else to use. He recalled, I told them they
could have my equipment for free as long
as they paid for me to go with them and
operate it.
Thus began Peters long standing
involvement with the BBC including
Reefwatch, The Trials of Life, Sea
Trek, Life in the Freezer, The Blue
Planet and Planet Earth which was the
first broadcast in high definition. These
OG Issue 29 : 07/2014
25
Essay
productions brought the underwater
world into the living rooms of the world.
It is certain that they have inspired many
of todays divers to take the plunge.
During Sea Trek, Peter enhanced the
polecam which he had originally invented
for filming killer whales in Norway for
an Australian broadcaster. The whales
would not approach if there was a diver
in the water so Peter put the camera on
a pole over the bow of an inflatable boat
and drove right up to the creatures. The
resulting film, Wolves of the Sea, included
the first recording of whales carousel
feeding, herding herring into balls near
the surface then using their tails to stun
them before scooping them up. The film
went on to win the annual Wildscreen
Festival. For Sea Trek, Peter used the
polecam to film dolphins in the Bahamas
coming towards the boat rather than going
away, and this was yet another first.
Peters most recent, major involvement
was with yet another BBC/ Attenborough
landmark documentary, Planet Earth,
which was the forefront of technological

advancement,using
High
Definition
(HD) technology for the first time. The
chances are, each time you take a camera
underwater, you are using some form of
technology or technique which originated
from Peters mind. It would be forgivable
if this uniquely talented man had had a
sense of arrogance or conceit about his
many achievements. However, this was
not so. Peter was more than happy to share
his knowledge and discuss any topic with
openness and generosity. Im just a chap
who is learning how to take excellent
pictures underwater. he told me during
that recent interview. It sounded falsely
modest, but he really meant it.
Peter Scoones, the legendary and
pioneering underwater imagery genius,
passed away peacefully in his sleep at
the age of 76 early on Sunday 20 April
2014, surrounded by his family. Peter,
from London, had been battling illness
for a number of years. Despite finally
succumbing, Peter fought long and hard
against his condition and it was that

strong-willed, single-minded refusal to
give in that shaped much of Peters long
and illustrious career in the underwater
world. It was a great privilege to have
spent a couple of months with Peter in
the Red Sea during the last few years of
his life. He was creative and innovative
right to the end, still building bespoke
housings in his well-stocked workshop
and testing them in the field using his
unique blend of vision and technology to
the utmost. He was a very special man
and his family, friends and the entire
the underwater world will be much
worse off with his passing. Peter is
survived by his wife Georgette Douwma,
a highly accomplished underwater
photographer in her own right, and his
two children Fiona and Robin from an
earlier marriage.
Peter Scoones at
Celebrate the Sea
Festival 2009, Manila
Filming sea lions with pole camDyer Island, South Africa
26
B LU E A Global CONVERGENCE of the Ocean Arts & Sciences
Killing
Ourselves Quickly
(Plights of Our Ocean)
Report by Ocean Geographic

Photographs by Michael AW
Essay
ur ocean is the Earth's
for conservation. However, in the last 100
Our ocean sustains all life on earth and
life-support
system.
years, our population has grown from
yet we continue to neglect it, harming
It provides food and
1.8 billion in 1914 to 7.2 billion (ANU);
innumerable marine life, and polluting
oxygen,
our
coupled with industrial development,
one of our most important resources.
coastal environments,
the use of fossil fuel and a consumerism
In the battle for the preservation of our
and
economy, we have placed immeasurable
environment, the health of our oceans
climate. Through the ages, mankind has
stress on our worlds ocean. The ocean
should be our number one priority. Here,
relied on the ocean and its seemingly
is getting warmer faster than predicted,
we would like to shed some light on the
immense resources with little concern
creating havoc to the worlds climate.
plight of our ocean, and how we are killing
and
regulates
our
shapes
atmosphere
ourselves rapidly in the process.
Overpopulation
28
Killing Ourselves Quickly
Ocean Acidification
Ocean acidity has increased by 30 percent
having trouble coping. Increased acidity
globally during the last 200 years. The
in the ocean would lead to a shortage of
changing acidity of our ocean threatens
carbonate, a key building block some
to throw off the delicate chemical
animals (and plants) need to build their
balance upon which marine life depend
shells and skeletons; these animals
for survival. The basic science behind
include shellfish like clams, oysters,
acidification is that the ocean absorbs
crabs, lobsters and corals. Corals are
carbon dioxide through natural processes,
the framework builders of reefs, by
but at the rate at which we are pumping it
far the most diverse ecosystem in our
into the atmosphere through burning fossil
ocean. The effects of acidification will
fuels, the ocean's pH balance is dropping
not stop with coral reefs; corals are
to a point where life within the ocean is
simply the first piece in a domino effect

with sweeping impact that will be felt
throughout the ocean.
Coral bleaching
OG Issue 29 : 07/2014
29
Essay
Overfishing
We have been sucking all life out of the

ocean as though resources are infinite.
In truth, we are already scraping the
bottom of the barrel. Many marine
scientists consider overfishing to be the
worst impact humans are causing on
the ocean. The Food and Agriculture
Organization estimates that over 70
percent of the worlds fish species are
either exploited or depleted. By capturing
fish faster than they can reproduce, we
are disrupting entire ecosystems that
interact with those species, from the food
they eat to the predators that eat them.
These losses make the ecosystems even
more vulnerable to other disturbances,
such as pollution. A complete overhaul
of fishing policies is needed to create
a sustainable system, and this requires
global cooperation.
Irresponsible
Fish Farming
Aquaculture, or fish farming, is the

growing response to rapidly depleting
fish stock in ocean. While it sounds like
a good idea, it unfortunately has many
negative consequences due to poorly
managed operations. The main problem
with aquaculture is efficiency: 5 to 20 fish
are needed as feed to produce one fish.
Nutrient and chemical pollution can occur
easily in open-ocean operations when
fish feed, excrement and medication are
released into the environment. Farmed
fish may accidentally be released into the
wild, with destructive effects such as loss
of native stocks, disease transmission,
and
damaging
changes
in
habitat.
Unfortunately, the biggest hindrance to

overcoming the challenges of an industry
that supplies nearly 50 percent of the
worlds fish food supply is that it currently
remains relatively unregulated.
30
Ghost fishing caused by

discarded fishing nets
Ghost Fishing
Ghost fishing occurs when discarded fishing nets or lines continue to catch fish and
other marine life. Often, the traps trigger a chain-reaction when larger predators come
to eat the smaller ones that have been ensnared, only to get themselves entangled in
the mess. The issue of ghost fishing is most common with passive gear that has been
abandoned, especially with the long liners.
OG Issue 29 : 07/2014
31
Essay
Removal of key species such

as sharks and dolphins
Loss of Sentinel Species

Decimation of the oceans most important
When finned, the sharks are thrown back
regulate. Despite the 1986 moratorium on
predators has significant consequences
into the water, often still alive and left
many types of whaling, it still continues
that ripple down the food chain. About 50
to bleed to death. Unfortunately, sharks
to be a problem, with some nations like
to 100 million sharks are killed each year,
reproduce fairly slowly and do not have
Japan looking for loopholes and lobbying
either as bycatch from fishing vessels or
a large number of offspring, so these
for lax regulations.
directly hunted for their dorsal fins, used
actions have long-lasting repercussions
in an expensive soup popular across Asia.
on the delicate ecosystems they help
Loss of
Coral Reefs
Keeping the coral reefs healthy is another

major issue right now. A focus on how
to protect the coral reefs is important,
considering coral reefs support a huge
amount of small sea life, which in turn
supports both larger sea life and us, not
only for immediate food needs but also
economically. Global warming is the
primary cause of coral bleaching, but
there are other causes as well. Science is
working on ways, but it also is a matter of
setting aside marine conservation areas.
Figuring out ways to protect this "life
support system" is a must for the overall
health of our ocean.
Coral reefs are the "life
support system" of our ocean.
32
Offshore
Drilling
Offshore drilling continues to be a debate,
but it is clear that greater oil production
would only exacerbate the dilemmas of
our oceans. The use of fossil fuels is the
reason our oceans have been heating up
and becoming more acidic, but offshore
drilling takes the risks even further. When
oil is extracted from the ocean floor,
other chemicals like mercury, arsenic,
and lead come up with it. In addition,
the seismic waves used to find oil harm
aquatic mammals and disorient whales. In
2008, 100 whales had beached themselves
as a result of ExxonMobil exploring for
oil with these techniques. Furthermore,
the infrastructure transporting oil often
erodes the coastline, creating more
problems.
Offshore oil and

gas mining
Mercury
Pollution
Scientists report that mercury levels in
our ocean have risen over 30 percent
in the last 20 years, and will continue
increase another 50 percent in the next
few decades. Emissions from coal power
plants are the primary culprit, dispensing
poisonous mercury that works its way up
the food chain, eventually coming to us
through the fish we eat. This neurotoxin
affects the development of the brain in
foetuses and has been linked to learning
disabilities.
Dead Zones
Dead zones are areas of the sea floor
with little or no dissolved oxygen. These
areas are often found at the mouths of
large rivers, and are caused primarily by
fertilizers carried in runoff. This lack of
oxygen kills many creatures and destroys
Dead zones
entire habitats. At our current rate, dead

zones will increase by 50 percent before
the end of this century.
OG Issue 29 : 07/2014
33
Essay
Garbage field found at

2.5 kilometres below the
Sulu Sea
Garbage
The ocean is among our biggest resources for life on earth,

but it is also our biggest dumping ground. It is astounding how
much of our trash finds its way into the ocean. Animals become
entangled and trapped in our garbage, delicate sea life like
coral and sponges are destroyed, sea turtles and dolphins often
choke on plastic bags (mistaking them for jellyfish or squid),
plastic bits also clog up the digestive system of birds and other
marine mammals causing them to starve to death. If that is not
bad enough, hopefully the bigger-than-Texas trash vortex in the
Pacific Ocean and its smaller cousin in the Atlantic will help
serve as a wake-up call.
The dinosaurs did not see the meteors coming.
What is our excuse?

34
Nautilus's
Window
Manatee, Florida
Have you got my good side
Nikon D800E 16mm fisheye

F4 @ 1/160
No strobe
Faces of the
Ocean
I got up and took a good look at the enemy. The dugong also known as the
halicore is very much like a manatee, or lamantine. Its body is terminated

by a long tail, and its lateral fins by fingers. The difference between the
dugong and manatee consists in the former being armed with two long
pointed teeth in the upper jaw, which form a defence for each siteNed
Land, his body thrown back a little, brandished his harpoon. Suddenly a
hissing noise was heard and the dugong disappeared.
20,000 Leagues Under the Sea, Jules Verne, circa 1850
Nautilus's
Window
Jayne Jenkins Faces of the Ocean portfolio
Coming face-to-face with a great white
you, and if you are calm in the water, Mum
are so unique and each is so different.
shark has to have been one of the most
will let you be with her calf and that is
My local dive site in Sydney is home to
exciting and memorable dives of my life.
a feeling of pure joy. Another favourite
many seahorses and I feel so privileged
The black motionless eye pierces your
of mine is the manatee. It is so ugly, it is
I have the opportunity to see them on a
soul, tugs at your heart strings and your
beautiful; some would say only its mother
regular basis. Other marine residents at
protective instinct kicks in. You just want
could love it. My fascination with them
this local dive site include the adorable
to keep returning to meet them again and
is addictive and I stayed in the water for
and amazing frogfishes. It never ceases to
again, and show the world their beauty.
hours just enjoying their company.
amaze me, how they can open their mouth
But coming face-to-face with a humpback
so wide and swallow food almost twice
whale (especially a calf), is completely
Seeing the very majestic and fragile
their body size. I love showing someone
different. It is curious, playful and shows
seahorse was like a fairy-tale coming true
for the first time all these special marine
you all the new tricks it learnt from Mum.
as these little creatures look like they
life and seeing their expressions. It always
The eye of the humpback also follows
should only exist in Disney movies. They
guarantees a smile.
actively involved in many facets of the
funding and awareness to protect these
diving industry and has been for over
creatures for future generations.
three decades. Jayne has organised
Jayne is currently a resident photographer
numerous diving expeditions throughout
/consultant with the Catlin Seaview
the Asia-Pacific region, leading her to
survey. This is fast becoming a game-
work as a safety diver and researcher for
changing creative scientific project. Using
various underwater films, television and
specially designed technology, the Catlin
photographic expeditions, including the
Seaview Survey will record and reveal the
cave diving spectacular, Sanctum. It is
world's oceans and reefs like never before,
Jayne's passion and skill for underwater
in high-resolution, 360-degree panoramic
photography for which she is known best.
vision. Jayne is also Vice President and
Always willing to donate her images to
Board of Director member to the Our
ocean conservation projects and good
World Underwater Scholarship Society
causes, and with a love for many of the
(OWUSS) - a scholarship sponsored by
ocean's
Jayne
started diving in
the chilly waters along the rugged Welsh

coastline before moving to Australia in
1973. An avid diver and distinguished
underwater
photographer,
Jayne
is
inhabitants
Rolex for young underwater enthusiasts.
such as sharks, whales and seahorses,
most
threatened
Due to her work, Jayne has been honoured
Jayne hopes her images will help to raise
by being inducted into the prestigious

Woman Divers Hall of Fame and was
awarded the OZTeK Industry Recognition
Award to acknowledge people who have
made a significant contribution to the
development and advancement of diving
within the Asia-Pacific region. Jayne's
drive and enthusiasm for the ocean is
admirable and she has inspired countless
individuals to take up diving and to
appreciate the oceans.
36
Faces of the Ocean
Potato cod at Cod Hole, Australia

Open Wide
Nikon D300 Tokina 1017mm

F14 @ 1/160
twin Ikeleite DS125's
OG Issue 29 : 07/2014
37
Nautilus's
Window
Humpback Whale, Tonga

Inquisitive calf
Nikon D300 Tokina 1017mm

F9 @ 1/160
No strobes
38
Faces of the Ocean
Ornate Cow Fish, South Australia

Ready for the party
Nikon D200 60mm macro

F14 @ 1/125
twin Ikelite DS125 strobes
Nautilus's
Window
Painted Frog Fish, Sydney

Nikon D800E 60mm macro
F14 @ 1/250
Twin Ikelite DS160 strobes
40
Faces of the Ocean
Australian Fur Seal, South Australia

Who is that in there?
Nikon D800 16-35mm

F8 @ 1/160
Twin ikelite DS160
Nautilus's
Window
Great White Shark, South Australia

Natures Dental Floss
Nikon D800E 1635mm

F8 @ 1/160
twin Ikelite DS160 strobes
42
Faces of the Ocean
Weedy Sea Dragon, SYDNEY

Dragons of the underworld

F20 @ 1/160
Single DS125 strobe
Nautilus's
Window
Leafy Sea Dragon, south AustraliA (Top)

F16 @ 1/160
Single DS125 strobe
Pygmy Seahorse, Raja Ampat (Right)

F16 @ 1/320
Single Ikelite DS125 strobe
44
Faces of the Ocean
ueen
Q
Gardens of the
the
the Ultimate Underwater Paradise

Pristine Reefs protected since 1960 : Sharks
Galore Silkies, Caribbean in big numbers :
American Saltwater Crocodiles
Giant Goliath groupers : Tarpons in school :
Pristine mangrove forest
cubandivingcenters.com
mail : info@cubandivngcenters.com
CUBA@AWTIMATE.com
Ocean Geographic Cuba Gardens of the Queen expedition
find out more at OceanGeographic.org
CUBA
The
that
Rebuilt an
Essay & Photographs by Steve De Neef
Island
November 8, 2013
is a day that
will never be forgotten by the Filipinos. Super Typhoon Haiyan,

locally known as Yolanda, passed over the Philippines that day
and proved to be the strongest typhoon to ever make landfall.
Yolanda left thousands dead and millions homeless, changing
lives forever. Since then, many of the affected people have been
struggling to resume their lives and continue their livelihood.
The support from the rest of the world has been enormous but
even with all this help, it has been very hard for some to recover,
especially in terms of livelihood.
Essay
ne
place
managed
that
to
r e c u p e r a t e
relatively
is
an
quickly
Malapascua,
idyllic
island
located just north
of Cebu, where the eye of Yolanda passed.

Miraculously, there were no casualties on the
island but most houses and boats turned into
rubble after this super typhoon passed. One
of the main reasons that Malapascua has done
well in recovering so swiftly is be found at
about nine kilometres offshore, at a submerged
seamount called Monad Shoal.
Monad Shoal is unique; every morning, many
divers descend into the deep blue waters
surrounding this seamount, just to observe a
special spectacle. At dawn, pelagic thresher
sharks (Alopias pelagicus), locally known
as Lawihan come up to the shallower parts
(2432 metres) of this seamount. Seeing these
gracious sharks appearing from the deep is a
cherished experience. In the early morning
light from afar, they are no more than a faint
silhouette with that distinctive tail whipping
rhythmically from side to side.
Kids playing around the typhoon wreckage,

Malapascua
48
The Shark that Rebuild an Island
A rainbow of hope comes

after every storm
New homes being built on

Malapascua
OG Issue 29 : 07/2014
49
As they come closer, these silhouettes
Fortunately for Malapascua, the cleaning
compared to before the typhoon. Tourists
suddenly turn into one of the most elegant
stations at Monad Shoal, and its thresher
are still coming to see the pelagic thresher
sharks in the ocean. None of the divers
sharks were spared from the wrath of
sharks and this is good for the islands
are afraid; sharks are nothing like the
Yolanda. In a matter of days after Yolanda,
economy about 80 percent the income
man-eating creatures some media portray
Malapascua had already received huge
on Malapascua is directly related to the
them to be. They are in fact, not nearly
support from the local dive industry and
dive industry. Some resort owners have
as interested in us as we are in them,
previous tourists who fell in love with
even taken it further and started their own
and we can count ourselves lucky if they
the island and their Lawihan. Local dive
NGO. Rebuild Malapascua is one of them;
do come near. These nocturnal oceanic
resorts and resorts from different islands
they provide livelihood programs for the
sharks come here for one reason only
all contributed food, money, building
locals and are currently building a modern
to get cleaned by cleaner fishes like the
materials,
more.
medical centre (something the island
cleaner and moon wrasses (Labriodes
Six months after the typhoon passed,
currently lacks). Another dive resort on
dimidiatus and Thalassoma lunare)
almost everyone who had lost his or her
the island even went as far as buying land
that inhabit the multiple cleaning stations
home managed to rebuild and continue
to build 35 new homes for their employees;
found at Monad Shoal. Nowhere else in
with their livelihood. Some locals even
the houses were all built using funds
the world can you see thresher sharks on
say they have better homes now than
collected from donations worldwide.
a daily basis and observe them up-close.

It is this unique phenomenon that makes
Malapascua famous.
Shark tourism at Monad Shoal,

Malapascua
boats,
labour
and
NOWHERE ELSE IN THE WORLD

CAN YOU SEE THRESHER SHARKS
ON A DAILY BASIS
and observe them up-close. It is this unique phenomenon

that makes Malapascua famous.
Many locals on Malapascua rely on
by many of the islanders. The people
marine park fees do not trickle down to
divers visiting the island as some sort
of Malapascua truly love Lawihan. The
all fishermen who use these places as
of livelihood, even most fishermen are
distinctive figure of the pelagic thresher
their fishing grounds. Some fishermen
happy with the dive industry since this
shark can be found all over the island;
have little choice but to continue to fish
allows them to sell fish directly to the
from the numerous souvenir stalls to the
there. On top of that, thresher sharks
resorts for a good price without having
basketball court, pictures of thresher
are still directly targeted and caught as
to leave the island. If it was up to Felimar
sharks are everywhere. And why would
by-catch on a regular basis. In May 2014,
Malagase, a local dive guide, these
anyone not love this shark that brings
pictures of thresher sharks being cut up
sharks would be protected nationwide
fortune to the island?
on the beach in Talisay, Cebu, a place
as the income derived from tourism far
relatively near Malapascua, made the
outweighs the one-time sale of a thresher
It is not all good news though. In 2002,
news. It is sad that these sharks are both
shark at a market. He insists that if
both Monad Shoal and Gato Island
adored and killed in the same province.
there were no thresher sharks around
(another island known more for its
Technically, within the province of Cebu,
Malapascua, tourism would not be what
reef sharks) were declared as marine
thresher sharks enjoy protection but in
it is today. Before there was any tourism,
reserves by the local government of
reality, this law is often not enforced.
he had to rely on fishing as a livelihood;
Daanbantayan. While this was a step in
In other areas, like Donsol in the Bicol
working as a dive guide is far more
the right direction, it has not been able to
region, it is common to see thresher shark
profitable and reliable. He also believes
stop illegal fishing. Both places still fall
meat at the local market and in all sorts
many of the donations given by people
victim to destructive fishing methods like
of dishes; their fins however, never make
after the typhoon are directly related
dynamite and longline fishing. The income
it to the market as they are sold for much
to the thresher sharks a belief shared
derived from tourism and the associated
higher prices right off the boat.
ccording
the
sell for around Php8,000 (US$180). The
tourism on Malapascua survives, broader
Thresher
to
Shark
meat sells for Php90150 (US$23.50)
protection is necessary. Currently the
Research
and
per kilogram while the fins can go for as
only shark that is protected nationwide
Conservation project
much as Php1000 (US$22) per kilogram.
is the whale shark. All thresher sharks
(an NGO based on
Currently, all three species of thresher
are prone to unsustainable fisheries and
Malapascua)
the
sharks (bigeye, common and pelagic) are
by-catch and with their low fecundity
value of one live thresher shark at Monad
listed as vulnerable on IUCNs Redlist.
(2-4 pups) and long gestation period,
Shoal can be in excess of Php6,000,000
This means if no active measures are
population can decline quickly. In most
(around US$135,000) per year. This same
taken to protect them, they can quickly
places thresher shark populations are
shark at a local fish market would only
fall into the endangered category or
already down by more than 75 percent
worse, become extinct something that is
compared to the 1980s.
likely to happen since they are among the

more demanded shark species for global
For now, there is hope for Monad Shoal.
fisheries. As these sharks are pelagic in
Since April 2014, the local dive shops
nature, protecting them in just one place
have come together and are sending out
is a good start but it will not do much
a boat at night to patrol and ward off
in the long run since they can still be
illegal fishing activities. Oscar and Alvin
caught while travelling out of protected
are two of the locals who patrol Monad at
waters. To make sure thresher sharks and
night; however, without any real authority

or resources, they say it is very hard to
stop people from fishing here and it can
be dangerous to try. They can only ask
fishermen to leave, and sometimes they
do, sometimes they do not. Both of them
agree these sharks should be protected and
their importance for the island should be
acknowledged. They said that in late April
Thresher shark,
Alopias pelagicus
Protectors of the thresher

sharks of Monad Shoal
2014, they found a discarded fishing net
sharks being caught are happening
that estimates global shark ecotourism
near the shoal with a dead thresher shark
more often. However, the real challenge
brings in US$314 million annually and are
caught inside (other dive shops reported
is getting fishermen to tap into the
expected to more than double in the next
the net had two thresher sharks and a
shark tourism economy, as without an
20 years. If that is the case, then it would
turtle, all dead). In May, they encountered
alternative income, it is hard to stop
exceed the current profit made by shark
four fishermen using dynamite, some
the fishing. It is not entirely impossible
fisheries. In order for this to happen, we
compressor fishermen and long liners.
though, many of the boatmen and even
have to choose to protect these beautiful
They know more enforcement is needed
dive guides in Malapascua used to be
fish just like the people of Malapascua do.
to protect this unique place but in the
fishermen.
And once you have seen one, it is not a

hard decision to make.
meantime; they will do what they can to

protect and preserve Monad Shoal.
Tourism on the island is developing well

and the threshers popularity is growing
It does seem like things are moving in the
and providing jobs. With the right attitude,
right direction in the Philippines. People
some help from the tourism industry,
are slowly becoming aware of the fact
government agencies and NGOs, these
that sharks are essential in maintaining
top predators might still stand a chance.
healthy ocean ecosystems and are worth
Researchers from the University of British
more alive than dead, outcries on social
Columbia published a paper in 2013
network sites and newspapers about
*Editor's Note:
With the assistance of our associate, Jovic
Santos of Splash Photography, Ocean
Geographic and Michael AW donated proceeds
from the sale of Heart of the Ocean to
purchase chainsaws to help rebuild the island.
Jovic Santos also sent 1 x 20FCL of brand
new clothes for affected areas for Malapascua,
Leyte and Cebu. The power saw is still being
used on the island and is under the care of
Gary Cases, owner of Dive Link.
About the author

Steve De Neef is a photojournalist who specializes in conservation, documentary and underwater
photography. His main focus is covering environmental issues in the Coral Triangle region and
he uses his images and stories to encourage conservation of our blue planet. Hes the chief
photographer of the Large Marine Vertebrate Project in the Philippines and a member of the
prestigious Ocean Artist Society. He regularly works with Greenpeace and other NGOs.
Steve De Neef
OG Issue 29 : 07/2014
53
The Finest Beach & Dive Resort

in Anilao, Philippines
Image of the Edition Winner,
Benjamin Magana
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In this picture, the sunbeam penetrated at noon, making it a
magical diving experience.
This picture was captured at Uitsan, close to Merida city,
Yucatan, Mexico.
CONGRATULATIONS TO Benjamin Magana. You will receive
the Image of Edition award consisting of a Merit of Excellence
certificate and an A$200 OG expedition voucher.
Get YOUR PICTURE Published in Ocean Geographic.
Your images must be submitted as JPEGs, saved at the quality setting 10 in
Photoshop, and must be 1920 pixels on the longest dimension. Please name
each file using your name and the subject, for example: JessicaTigershark.
Each photo must be accompanied by a 60-word short story. Email your
pictures and stories to: yourpics@OGSociety.org. Your submission may win
you the Image of the Edition award a Merit of Excellence certificate and
a A$200 cash voucher which may be used to purchase Ocean Geographic
merchandise or offset payment for any OG expedition. Submission of your
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cean Insider
The VIZL EFFECT
There is something undeniably powerful and

timeless about black and white pictures. Black and
white images evoke moods, highlight details that are
usually ambiguous in colour, and it is a technique
we can employ to tell compelling stories through
imagery. In this first edition of Ocean Insider, we
share with you the black and white post-production
technique embraced by OG's new photographer-inresidence, Christian Vizl MacGregor. We now fondly
call his artistic passion, The VIZL EFFECT.
OG Issue 29 : 07/2014
55
hotography
the single most important aspect when it

comes to creating appealing, inspiring and
touching images. Far beyond technical
issues, what is most important is how to
apply and manipulate the available light
in order to create pictures with dramatic
effect, carrying depths of emotion, using
contrast and tonalities as a means to
emphasise form and structure. I focus on
the emotional impact of the final shot that
will connect on a deeper level, with the
people who look at these photographs.
Just as a poet uses words to create poetry,
a photographer uses light to create
images. So when I am underwater taking
pictures, one of my goals is to create
poetic images through the use of light.
And this is why I love black and white;
by eliminating the distraction of colours,
I can explore more deeply, the emotional
impact of my images. To create them, it
is important to "see" the scene in black
and white, looking for contrasts that will
emphasise the form. Also important, is
exposing what you want to achieve in
terms of your grey scale and planning
for whatever you have in mind for that
particular image.
There are a number of "correct exposures"
for the blue of the ocean, but a high
exposure will render a light blue that will
turn into a light grey; on the other hand, a
low exposure will render a dark blue that
will turn into a dark grey. Because of the
The VIZL EFFECT
colour. This is one of the most important
information, it is best to capture the image
steps in the process and it involves a lot
in colour, then convert it to black and
of creativity. Here is where I decide if a
white. Once I have converted my images,
light grey is to be taken up to be an almost
I like to give them as much contrast as
complete white or a dark grey into black.
possible.
Currently, I am working on a very high

contrast series of images, so I am taking
is all about light, and in my opinion, it is
56
way the digital camera sensor obtains its
For that, I adjust the luminance of each
it to the max. If necessary, I go back to
primary colour. For example, if I have a
the tone curves to adjust the highlights
very dark grey tone of the ocean, since
and the shadows. During this process, it
its primary colour is blue, I reduce the
is important to activate the highlights and
luminosity of the blue, taking that dark
shadows clipping function in the upper
grey into a complete black. I do not think
corners of the histogram to avoid over or
every image is suited for black and white,
underexposed areas.
but when it does, there is nothing like it!

Finally, I adjust the sharpening, noise
For post-production, I use Lightroom 5;
reduction
in the 'develop' tab I start with the basic
needed. I even add some grain to some of
adjustments like white balance, contrast,
my images. I love the feeling of intimacy
clarity and spot removal. Then I convert it
and profoundness it gives to them. Always
to Black and White. Then I take a moment
keep in mind that there are no fixed rules
to observe the image and try to find out
on how to use all these adjustments. They
what the image needs to bring out the
are all just tools that are available to us
best of it. How can I improve it in all
for use in the creative process, applying
possible ways paying special attention
each adjustment individually, depending
to the emotional impact that it conveys.
on your mood and your artistic view.
Then I scroll down to the black and white

mix, and start adjusting each individual
and
profile
correction
if
An Absolute Essential for
Digital Underwater
Photographers
HERE IS YOUR OPPORTUNITY TO LEARN FROM THE PROS, THE

MASTERS OF PHOTOGRAPHIC CRAFTSMANSHIP, to create beautiful
images of our Ocean Planet in todays world of digital photography Michael Aw and Mathieu
Meur have become the Essential Mentors to thousands of underwater photographers, and
here is your opportunity to reach new heights with in underwater photography with this
fast track to success book!
Ernie Brooks
Review by Gillian McDonald
ESSENTIAL DIGITAL UNDERWATER PHOTOGRAPHY MASTERCLASS is

another excellent book in Michael AWs popular Essential series.
Mathieu Meur, have an extremely rich and deep

history in all aspects of the art of underwater
Module
oth Michael and his regular collaborator,
photography, which they have shared in this

informative book. This is a truly essential guide;
lightweight and portable, yet containing a wealth of practical

information, which will serve photographers at virtually any
level.
Readers will find the modular structure of the book easy to
follow. In module one, the basics of digital photography are
broken down to a basic level, addressed in clear language with
ample diagrams and examples. Topics such as understanding
Digital Essentials
Compact, DSLM (mirrorless) and DSLR cameras.
1/1 Digital Evolution

Until the advent of digital cameras, the most frustrating thing for a new
underwater photographer was the preposterously low success rate. It was
not uncommon for a beginner to return with his first 10 rolls of film, only
to find 90% of the pictures either over or underexposed. The successful
10% were, at best, images of perhaps half a fish tail or out of focus pictures
of their buddy. Underwater photography was but a cruel joke for most.
Digital photography provided sudden advantages over traditional film for
the underwater photographer.
Advantages:
1
2
3
4
5
Immediate review of images. Underexposed? Shoot again and vary

the composition, then shoot another 10, if you need to.
Understanding Digital Photographic Language

In order to get the most out of your digital camera, it is important to first
understand a few technical terms.
Aperture: The aperture can be thought of like the iris of the eye. The larger
the aperture, the more light gets into the camera, and vice versa. Aperture
values are typically represented in f-stops (e.g. f2.0, f2.8, f4, f5.6, etc.). The
greater the number, the smaller the aperture is. The aperture you set on
your camera also has an impact on the depth-of-field. If all other parameters
are constant, the smaller the aperture, the greater the depth-of-field is and
vice versa.
By using a large storage media such as a 16GB or even up to a 128GB

memory card, you can just about shoot endlessly.
Another result of digital is the tremendous saving on consumables and
incidentals there is now no need to buy film, and pay for processing
loads of shots which have a high probability of ending up in the bin.
Since it is not necessary to spend much money on storage media, you
can afford to be trigger happy, shoot more to hone your skills without
risking spending a small fortune. The learning curve can be as steep as
you like without making a hole in your wallet.
Another advantage of digital technology is the tremendous flexibility
that this medium can afford. Whether at home or while on holidays, you
can email pictures to your friends and family to share, post them on the
web, review them on your computer and create slideshows.
exposure, shutter speeds and resolution will provide beginners,

who are just embarking on their underwater photographic
f2.8
f5.6
f11
Depth-of-Field (DOF): Depth-of-field refers to the area of the photograph in

front and behind the main focus point which appears sharp. A large depthof-field means a greater portion of the picture is in focus. Conversely, in
order to emphasise a certain feature or area of the picture, you may use a
shallower depth-of-field, which will result in a blurred background.
ESSENTIAL DIGITAL UNDERWATER PHOTOGRAPHY MASTERCLASS
Module 1: Digital Essential
module 1_3rd ED.indd 8-9
8/6/14 5:41 am
journey, with the building blocks to make sense of the
Module
underwater specifics covered in the rest of the book.
Module two moves on to the science and practicalities of

shooting underwater as opposed to land, and also introduces
Shooting Digital
Underwater
2 / 1 Seeing Colour & Light Underwater
Horizontal distance also reduces

light. If you are three metres deep
and three metres from the subject,
the water between you and the
subject absorbs red and orange
light as though you were about
six metres deep. Compounding
the two factors, photographs
captured at beyond 10 metres
are mostly blue and green. The ocean absorbs the long wavelength light
(the red end of spectrum) first. Short wavelength light (the blue end of
spectrum) is absorbed last.
41
Lighting conditions underwater differs significantly to those on land.

Mastering the use and control of light is the essence of successful
photography.
different lighting approaches. There are plenty of relevant

photos throughout the book, providing a visual context for the
3 metres red is gone.

5 metres orange is gone.
10 metres yellow is gone.
18 metres green is gone.
25 metres blue green is gone.
30 metres only blue remains.
techniques being explained.

Colour and Light Underwater
As a scuba diver you would have learnt that colour diminishes with depth;
water particles interact with light by absorbing respective wavelengths
(see diagram above). First the reds and oranges disappear, followed by
yellows, greens and lastly only blue remains. The loss of the colour red is
dramatic as it is already noticeable at just one metre depth. Another factor
that challenges an underwater photographer is that light also diminishes
with depth. The density of water being 800 times greater than air at sea
level reduces sunlight penetration.
Module 2: Shooting Digital Underwater
Shot at 15m natural

light note the blue
tinge lost of red,
orange, yellow
HINTS
1. Natural light photography at six metres or more will have a bluish tinge.
2. The use of a UR-PRO or Magic Filter can be used to artificially restore
some of the colour, at the sacrifice of one f-stop. But in bright day light
the UR-PRO filter will cause a strong orange tinge when used in water
shallower than six metres.
3. Alternative light sources such as underwater strobes are absolutely
essential to capture the true colour of marine animals.
Module
module2_3rd ED.indd 40-41
Aside from necessary technical information, the book also

covers the aesthetic aspects of photography in module three
composition and artistic approach. From the machinery of
the tools to the magic of the results, the art is as critical as the
mechanics in achieving success in this field.
8/6/14 5:43 am
3 The Art of
Underwater Photography
3/1 The Aesthetics of Composition

I remember one evening in 1989 when I was heading out for a night dive
during a photo shoot-out in Flores. Walking past a member of the jury,
Gerald Soury from France, he beckoned my attention and told me I hope
you will make many good pictures. This stopped me to ponder he did
not use the word shoot nor photograph but instead wished me to make
good pictures.
Through the years, I have practised following his wisdom. After learning
how to play with the camera, there comes a point where you will be thinking
about making a nice picture. I have learnt to appreciate photography as a
form of fine art; our canvas is of course film and in the case of digital, it is
the sensor; the camera and lenses are the paint brushes and the medium
in which we work is light.
Treat a photograph like a picture it is a bunch of little details put together
to make the whole. So plan the details, the focus, the statement, pick the
big or small details to be part of your finished picture. We need to spend
time working on understanding what it takes to make a photograph, not
just the technical aspects but more importantly the artistic approach that
must be included to get the end result. Approaching photography from this
perspective, the science though essential is secondary, the artist in you is
controlling the photographic process.
Module 3: The Art of Underwater Photography
58
An Absolute Essential for Digital Under water Photographers
65
Tomato clownfish
Nikon D4, single Ikelite DS161,
1/4 power, f22, 1/125s,
60mm f2.8 lens
Taking a picture is really simple my two-year old can do it just as well as

you and I. Place the camera in a stable position and push the shutter to shoot
the picture that is all it takes! But placing the camera in the right position
is a very artistic kind of thing it entails our perception, our point of view.
Ask three photographers to shoot at the same subject and you may end up
with three picture of the same subject but with three different emphases,
three different perspectives. Each picture reflects the photographers point
of view, and most often we will find one that is more appealing than the
other two.
In composition we will learn about the lines, the horizon line, putting
emphasis on the foreground, placed low you are placing importance on
the upper part of the scene and we of course we need to pay attention
to the intersections, where lines cross, where tones blend together and
become one.
9/6/14 12:41 am
Module
4 Darkroom
The Digital
4/1 Picture Management

Just like in film photography, the digital photographic process continues
after a trip. Previously, the continuation required processing film, reviewing
and culling images, cataloguing and storing them for various uses. It is
essential that you follow the same discipline. However, instead of good old
fashioned film, you will be working with the digital medium.
As a digital photographer, the following software are essential to manage
your pictures.
1. Adobe Photoshop with Bridge (essential)
2. Photo Mechanic camerabits.com (optional)
3. Lightroom adobe.com (optional)
Processing and Managing Pictures
Create subfolders and name according to the day or sites of your trip.
Also create a new subfolder name it for instance La Paz hi res tiff
this is where you store processed pictures.
83
Though the world has moved on from the days

of film, post-production processing is still as valid
and necessary as it was when we consigned our
3
4
5
precious films to a professional development lab.
Transfer images from your portable storage device or storage

media to respective folders. You should rename all images using
the trip location and your name, retaining the original filename (e.g.
DSC_1888 to LaPaz_MichaelAW). Renaming using Adobe Bridge
is a fast and easy process. Open up the folder revealling all the
pictures in Adobe Bridge. On Windows, use Control A, and on Mac,
Command A then click Tools > Batch Rename.
The difference however, is that the darkroom

is now in our own hands. Thus, it is vital to
Review images with Adobe Bridge. Rate and select those with potential.
In Bridge, assign 1 to 5 stars by pressing Control 1 to Control 5 on PC
(Command 1 to Command 5 on Mac). Delete those that are not worth
keeping.
understand how to approach picture management
First process Raw images in Bridge; open in Camera Raw pick the
white balance tool and click on a point in the picture you think is white
or neutral. Make other adjustments such as exposure, clarity and
brightness. Save the processed image as TIFF 300dpi in your hi res tiff
folder.
and the digital workflow. This is all covered

in module four with some really useful tips on
HINTS
Set up a dedicated desktop PC or Mac as your digital workstation.
Essentially the faster the CPU, the better. It is also best to have an extra
hard drive dedicated to storing images. Again, get the biggest capacity that
your budget allows. USB 3.0 or FireWire is essential for speedy download.
A high definition monitor is highly reccomended the monitors of choice
for discerning professionals are the Eizo CG series. (Eizo.com)
getting the best from the raw material stored on

your memory cards after a productive dive.
How to Manage Digital Stock?

In the assigned hard drive, create a new folder, naming it after
the location you have just been to (e.g. La Paz_2013).
Module 3: The Digital Darkroom
Module
9/6/14 12:47 am
Finally, module five provides more advanced
Beyond the Basic
105
MASTERCLASS
techniques and much food for thought, including

shooting with models, using continuous light and
even entering competitions.
5/1 Painting With Lights

Light is everything in photography
we are essentially painting with light. Light breathes life, depth and
emotion into our picture. Of course, our choice of subject, composition and
background are all critical but the way we use light can take our image to
whole new level. This is particularly so underwater - less light can be more.
Time your photographic ventures sensibly and ensure illumination enhances
rather than overpowers.
To create spectacular pictures underwater, you must to be able to
appreciate natural light. Seeing light in the underwater realm begins with
an understanding of how water is affected by light, be it from the sun or
your strobe. Most underwater photo images are illuminated in some way by
strobes, which bring out the vibrant colours so often associated with marine
animals. However, it would be fair to say that all our masters are experts
with use of ambient light and most began their career by experimenting
with natural light. Seascape imagery lends itself to the use of natural light
and most wide-angle images rely on the background blue being illuminated
by the sun.
Good use of the suns position has a critical effect on the result you will
achieve when shooting with natural light. If the suns light is coming from
your back, your subject will be well illuminated and appear light against a
dark deep blue background. The idea is to get as close as possible to your
subject to prevent any shades of blue (or green) from merging with those
of the background.
Be aware though, as harsh, bright overhead midday sun will sap colour
from the picture, making it washed out, overpowering shadows and details.
Another dramatic art form of underwater photography is silhouetted images.
Module 5: Beyond the Basics MASTERCLASS
to read, informal style. In some ways, the most

valuable parts of the book are the comprehensive
Essential TIPS
1 Take your exposure reading from the brightest part of the scene to
produce a true silhouette, play with a range of different exposures. Use

manual mode and bracket with shutter speed. Capturing the perfect is
subjective it is all about capturing moods and emotions
2 Shoot into the sun when it is low in the sky: morning between 9am to
11am and afternoon between 3pm to 5pm are the best times to shoot.
These are the magic hours.
3 Catch the light in the eyes of your subject = remember the eye have it
all. Focus to capture the life-giving catch-lights in animals eyes these

can give portraits that distinctive sparkle.
4 Experiment with camera angles, especially with large subjects. This
often adds extra dimension to the subject.

5 Experiment with single and twin strobes. More, however, is not
necessarily better. Some of the most iconic underwater images are

illuminated with just one small strobe.
8/6/14 5:45 am
hints sections sprinkled throughout. If you only

read these useful little nuggets, you would be well
prepared to get in the water and start shooting.
However, I highly recommend you read the
whole book and I guarantee it will expand your
knowledge bank and bring your underwater
photography skills to a whole new level.
This accomplished guide is written in an easy

This is achieved when a subject is placed in front of the sun. The subjects
black form is then silhouetted against a pleasant blue (or green) background
or sunburst. With careful execution, dramatic cathedral lights can be easily
achieved with digital cameras.
A definitive work packed with readily absorbed INFORMATION, tips and techniques
that have made his underwater images admired around the world, Michael Aws, Essential
Underwater Photography Masterclass will undoubtedly come to be regarded as a classic
of its kind.
David Strike Editor, Nektonix/ Organiser, OZTeK
*you can order your author autographed copy now. Ocean Geographic Member Special: $26
postage included (International) or $23 postage included for residents in Australia and Singapore.
Email: fish@michaelaw.com or purchase at MichaelAW.com
OG Issue 29 : 07/2014
59
cean Insider
V.I.B. (Very Important Bags)

OGs Honorary & Associates Reveal their Secrets
Doug Perrine professional: Ocean Geographic Honorary Editor

Camera bag of choice:
I have various bags and cases. I choose the bag
and the equipment according to the job I'm
doing. The one I use most often is a 20 yearsold plus Lowepro photo backpack. It doesn't
show a model name or number on it and I
don't remember, but I'm sure they still make
something similar.
Why is this your favourite bag?

It holds a lot of stuff, has padded dividers
and a cushioned back, is water-resistant, and
has padded shoulder straps & waist strap,
plus a chest strap, to stabilize the load and
make it comfortable on extended hikes.
What do you put in the bag?

Again, it depends totally on what I'm shooting.
My current camera of choice is the Nikon
D800E. Lenses will depend upon the subject
matter, but might include the Nikkor 80-400mm,
Nikkor 17-35mm, Nikkor micro 60mm or
100mm, and/or Sigma 15mm fisheye, or others.
Essential inclusions are microfiber cloth (for
lenses), flash cards, water bottle, lightweight
rain poncho, plus plastic garbage bag to cover
pack in case of downpour.
If the picture in your mind is one

you've already seen then there
is little reason for you to try to
take that picture it's already
been done! If you can envision an
image that you have not yet ever
seen, and start thinking about
how to create it, then you are
being creative.
Your thoughts on underwater

photography:
Foo Poo Wen
serious shooter: Ocean Geographic Photographer-in-Residence

I always carry two bags, Think Tank Airport
Accelerator Backpack & Crumpler Seven
Million Dollar Home (think tank lightning fast
attachment)
Think Tank Airport Accelerator Backpack:
1 x MDX-5D3 housing : 1 X optical 7.5"
dome port, 1 x 4" Mini dome port :
2 x YS250pro strobes & chargers: 1 x Patima
Gopro 2 housing : 1 x Extension Port :
2 x Focus Gears : 2 x Dome Diffusers : 2 x
sync Cords : miscellaneous: attachments/
ball joint adapters/Allen Keys
Crumpler Seven Million Dollar Home:
2 x 5D MK3 body, 1 35mm F2.8L II USM,
1 x 8-15mm F4L Fisheye USM: 1 x 70200mm f2.8L IS II USM, 1 x EX-580 Flash,
1 x Gopro Hero2
60
V. I. B. ( v e r y i m p o r t a n t b a g s ) O G s H o n o r a r y & A s s o c i a t e s Re v e a l t h e i r S e c r e t s

Think
Tank
Accelerator
Minimalist look, maximum CarryOn capacity, huge range of included
paddings, thick carry strap cushions
for maximum comfort. help further
reduce scrutiny by hanging a
plushie! Crumpler Seven Million
Dollar It fits my required Range
of camera gears, thick pads, most
importantly, it's a gift from my wife.
Your thoughts on underwater
photography:
Every photo you take

depicts your state of
mind at that point
in time.
Michelle Westmorland
professional: founding member of ILCP (International League of Conservation Photographers)

Lowepro Pro Roller x 200 AW and also the
Rolling Trekker (no longer made) but the
replacement is the Pro Runner x 450 AW.
All my delicate camera bodies and lenses
along with flashes, computer, hard drives.
Sometimes I pack my Seacam housing
and delicate fisheye dome port with my
carry on.
Lowepro has always been my bag of
choice. I never have issues of early wear
and tear they last a very long time. I
can rest assured that the dimensions
are designed for carry on for delicate
items. In addition, I use a very simple
Igloo (Isky) rolling cooler for much of my
underwater equipment such as strobes,
arms, accessories and sometimes include
the housing. Its simple and for use as
check-in, I never worry about it screaming
Hey, I have expensive camera equipment
inside.
Your
thoughts
photography:
on
underwater
I have had the privilege

of
photographing
marine
life since 1984. Each dive
gave me new and dramatic
experiences. From the tiny
creatures that hide in the
coral to magnificent marine
mammals that give our world
balance, it is an environment
where new discoveries are
made every day. I believe in the
power of imagery to motivate
stewardship and protection of
the fragile underwater world.
It is equally important to
connect with the indigenous
peoples of the world man is,
in fact, a part of nature.
Jayne Jenkins:
Serious Shooter: Ocean Geographic Associate Photographer

Lowepro for cameras as carry on. I have
two - smaller one for just doing topside
and roller one if taking all gear. I also use
a Pelican case as check-in baggage.
Two x D800, 16-35mm lens, 16mm
Fisheye, 60mm Macro lens, 105mm Macro
lens. Depends on where I am going
sometimes, 80-400mm Nikon zoom lens,
cleaning cloths, compact flash cards,
chargers.

The bag is comfortable to carry and has enough space
for what I require. It is also strong and durable.
Your thoughts of underwater photography:
I never dive without one of my cameras.

You never know what you might miss.
I f you leave it in the backpack, you could
miss out on an amazing opportunity.
Mathieu Meur
Professional, Author: Editor for Ocean Geographic

Naneu K4L
I typically put one or two DSLR bodies
along with lenses and a land flash, a dome
port, laptop and iPad, a bag full of chargers
for all my gadgets, dive computers, a
toiletry bag and medicine pack, my travel
documents, and a bunch of other things.
My main concern when choosing a
camera bag is to ensure that I can fit
all my stuff into it, in a safe and secure
manner. The zippers should be of strong

build, as I subject them to severe tests
of endurance. The bag should also be
waterproof, or come with a splash-proof
cover. This is essential when working
around water bodies most of the time.
The Naneu K4L ticks all the boxes in
this respect. The compartments are
arranged ingeniously, the bag is spacious,
and yet, it fits nicely into the overhead
compartment in planes.
Your thoughts about underwater
photography:
I dont fish, and I don't eat

fish. I prefer to capture them
with my camera.
OG Issue 29 : 07/2014
61
Jane Morgan
Professional : Ocean Geographic Photographer

Your bag of Choice: My trusty companion
is a Lowepro Pro Runner 450. I use it
for camera bodies and lenses both at
home and on location. As I'm quite small
framed I found that lots of camera bags
were too large and put a strain on my
back. However, this little number fits me
perfectly and I can spend all day hiking
in rough terrain and hardly notice that
its there. The only downside is often not
being able to fit enough in, so on travel
overseas I put on an extra photo jacket
for extra lenses.
Your
thoughts
Photography:
on
Underwater
Shooting underwater has

always been a form of
meditation for me, once my
head is underwater its as
if nothing else exists, just
my camera and me. Wildlife
photography will help you to
live in the moment as your
entire being is concentrating
and waiting for that perfect
shot!
Ellen Cuylaerts
Serious Shooter: Premier member of Ocean Geographic

What is your camera bag of choice?
ThinkTank 'Logistic Manager 30' as check
in bag, National geographic rollaboard
as hand luggage with laptop x D800 and
Olympus EPL-2 in its housing as spare
underwater solution in case the checked
in luggage doesn't arrive.

Filled with my 'basics' this Think Tank
bag hold about 22-23kg, the maximum
weight allowed by most airlines.

Housing NA-D800, Dome Zen 230,
Strobes: Sea & sea YS-250PRO, Macro
port for 60mm. Nikkor 60 mm, fibre optic
strobe cables with spares, diffusers, arms
and clamps, extra batteries, 7 x CF 500
32 GB memory cards, 4 x CF 1000 32 GB
memory cards, chargers forD800, for YS250 strobes, for EPL-2, Extra O-rings, duct
tape, fibre cloth, strips, grease, Sola 1200
& 2000.

I try to capture not the
encounters I have with
marine life but the feelings
I experience being there at
that time. Past, present and
future come together in the
healing process of life. The
oceans give me so much,
I want to give back with
images that touch people's
hearts so they will care,
educate and preserve.
Your
thoughts
photography:
on
underwater
Michael AW
Professional, contributing underwater photographers. Senior Fellow, ILCP

Lowepro Pro Trekker AW 400, Lowepro
Prorunner 350 AW
Seacam housing, one mini-dome, S45
viewfinder, two x Ikelite DS161, three
DSLR, one topside flash, one mini,
lenses required for the assignment or
expeditions, chargers, one dive computer,
laptop, duct tape, spare O rings,
media cards, sync chord, fibre cloth,
marker. Other housings, ports etc. are
checked-in.
It has my name on it! But seriously,
LOWEPRO is innovative and they make
62
V. I. B. ( v e r y i m p o r t a n t b a g s ) O G s H o n o r a r y & A s s o c i a t e s Re v e a l t h e i r S e c r e t s
the toughest bags that simply last and

last. And last. The zips are waterproof
and come with their own rain poncho
most importantly, the brand has strong
environmental policies.
Your
thoughts
photography:
on
underwater
Underwater photographers
are ambassadors of the
ocean. Our ocean is in
trouble. It is essential that
we use our pictures to bring
greater appreciation and
preservation of the ocean.
Shoot with passion. Be
original, be the first.
The Greatest Show

Beneath the Seas
Africas Big Animals Specialist
Beyond
the Ordinary
Adventures
AfricanWatersports.com
watersports@icon.co.za
Founder of African Watersports, Walter Bernardis, has

devoted a lifetime of research and work to Tiger sharks,
Great Whites, and the most exciting marine animal interaction
on our planet the Sardine Run. Discerning underwater
photographic experts such as Michael AW, Amos Nachoum
and Franco Banfi choose to shoot exclusively with Walter.
You too can go with the best!
BLU
E
A Global CONVERGENCE of the
Ocean Arts & Sciences
Garden of the
Gods
Art Serving Nature
(An Ocean Geographic Save Our Seas Project)
Report by Charlie Fasano

Cassandra Dragon
Photographs by Emily Chan
Shiva, the main figure of the Garden of Gods

adopted by Ocean Geographic Society.
Left: Each statue is

meticulously crafted by skilled masons
with the detail and symmetry of fine
calibre art
Above: "Planting" a garden of statues
underwater is no easy task
The state of the worlds coral reefs

indicate strong signs of anthropogenic
damage; in some places, more than
others. Pemuteran, Bali, is no exception,
with heavy scars in the reef to remind
the villagers of a time when dynamite
and cyanide were used to extract coral
and fish. Even though this is no longer
practised, the scars remain.
While coral reefs around the world
have shown their ability to rebuild after
physical damage, we have found several
ways to help them along. The Pemuteran
Bio Rock Electric Reef initiated by Tom
Goreau, PhD, and the Underwater Temple
Garden installed by Chris Brown and his
team at Reef Seen Divers Resort, are
examples of how artificial reefs have
been able to successfully restore natures
underwater splendour.
Garden of the Gods was an idea
conceived some three years ago. Inspired
by the Christ of the Abyss statue in
Florida, Cassandra Dragon shared her
concept with Chris Brown after diving the
Underwater Temple Garden. As with all
successful projects, the meeting happened
over a couple of beers, formalised with a
handshake, and the Garden of the Gods
project was spawned.

As the name suggests, Garden of the Gods

is an underwater garden with statues
expressing the Balinese culture by giving
reverence to the local folklore and beliefs.
The word garden is appropriate for the
project as it is an artistic garden installed
to grow corals for all of nature to thrive.
Indeed, garden projects are important
both above and below water, to help
nature rebuild. It is also essential that this
project benefits the local stakeholders,
and respects local religious culture as
well as village authorities.
With over 40 almost life-size
statues, the Garden of the
Gods is one of the largest and
most ambitious man-made
underwater art attractions
undertaken in Asia-Pacific.
This underwater site is in
Pemuteran Bay, about 400
metres in front of the beach
at Reef Seen. Inspired by the
Balinese legend of Dewata
Nawa Sanga, the statues of
eight Balinese Gods (Brahma,
Rudra, Mahadeva, Sangkara,
Vishnu, Sambhu, Iswara, and
Mahesora), are set in a circle
Bleganjur, musician of the Gods
each positioned according to one of the

eight directions of the wind. Shiva, the
chief God, is positioned in the centre,
sitting on a large turtle (this is in honour
of a turtle conservation project in
Pemuteran), Ganesha is at Shivas left
side, together with Balinese musicians
and dancers depicting the performance
of Bedawang Taksu the spirit of
the turtle dance, created locally and
inspired by Reef Seen Turtle Hatchery
and Balinese Dance projects. The four
species of turtles found in the area are
also represented in the garden, along
with stone lamps, fountains and
benches.
These statues demonstrate
that
the
interaction
between man-made art and
environmental science forms
a complex reef structure
over time for marine life to
colonize, inhabit and increase
biomass on a grand scale.
These eventual underwater
living sculptures will offer
divers a mystical underwater
experience of another world
where art intertwines and
develops from the effects of
nature with the efforts of man.
One of the greatest benefits of an
OG Issue 29 : 07/2014
65
Watch
Ocean
S
ave Our Seas Fund
artificial reef is that it will reduce marine

tourism pressure on existing natural coral
reefs, allowing repair, regeneration and
recovery from human impact.
Garden of the Gods touches all aspects
of culture, community and the concept of
art serving nature. It is what makes art
important for man and nature. The statues
are an honourable representation of the
local beliefs; local villagers can relate to
the garden as it is a part of their cultural
heritage. The art is shared with everyone
in the community and with anyone visiting.
The ocean-loving people of Pemuteran
can view their gods and share it with the
many tourists who come here to dive.
The aesthetics and craftsmanship of
the statues is excellent. Each one is
meticulously crafted by skilled masons
with the detail and symmetry of fine
calibre art. These structures not only help
regrow corals, they provide protection
and a place for fishes and invertebrates to
flourish. This project drives home the point
that art can be used to drive conservation.
From a cultural perspective, the Garden
becomes a piece of art that gives back to
the people through nature and reverence.
Besides the deployment of the statues, it

was crucial to get the local community
involved and educated on protecting the
reef in the surrounding water along with
an emphasis on employing and educating
the local villagers. This meant that the
local villagers would benefit and profit
from their hard work and patience in
protecting, repairing and maintaining
their marine assets. They would have to
be responsible for monitoring the existing
bio-rock installations, as well as assisting
in the construction and maintenance of
Garden of the Gods.
It is important that the local villagers
are the main beneficiaries. Foreign and
domestic owned businesses coming into
the area must ensure that a large majority
of their staff are from the village, and help
locally-owned businesses to operate in
a manner that will ensure economy and
conservation of the area can develop, not
just for tourism, but also for education
and sustenance. Only then will the
Garden of the Gods be able to serve
as an example for other villages
to follow.
Over the last few years, 20 locals in
Pemuteran have been trained as Reef
Gardeners. This is a team of young

people recruited from the various fishing
organizations trained to maintain and
protect the reefs of Pemuteran Bay. They
are taught methods of protecting the reefs
of the area by removing the crown-ofthorns starfish and the Drupella shell. At
the same time, they also learnt to repair
broken corals that have been damaged,
either by careless boat anchoring, nets,
divers or by natural causes. Between
1996 and 1998, over 75,000 crown-ofthorns starfish were removed from the
Pemuteran Reefs coupled with the repair
of broken corals, effectively hundreds
of years of coral growth was saved.
Much like gardeners on land, the Reef
Gardeners attend to their underwater
gardens. The Reef Gardeners are now
responsible for the maintenance of the
Garden of the Gods.
With the fanfare of religious ceremonies,
the statues were deployed from the 23
to 29 of May this year. It is the aim of the
founders and sponsors of Garden of the
Gods to inspire conservation of our seas
and communities in Bali and beyond. The
reef restoration projects in Pemuteran
have provided the younger generation
with education and new skills for job
placements in the tourism industry.
How you can ADOPT
A GOD
Your sponsorship helps preserve the future of the environment in

Pemuteran, along with the development of the existing positive
initiatives that allow the community to manage the destination
for the benefit and enjoyment of future generations. One hundred
percent of the funds donated go directly to the project. Your
contribution helps support the recruitment and training of new
Reef Gardeners to maintain existing and future projects.
OceanNEnvironment is proud to adopt the Garden of the
Gods into the Ocean Geographic Save Our Seas program.
You can help by sponsoring one of the statues in the garden
and/or make a donation to help train new Reef Gardeners.
Email: info@OGSociety.org or dive@reefseenbali.com
Statue Sponsors
Chris Brown : Paul Brown : Michael AW : Emily Chan :

Datuk Dr Saw Huat Seong
Wyland: Sven Fautz : Cassandra Dragon : Luisa Sacerdote :
Tracey Jennings : Georginne Bradley : Jay Ireland : Larry McKenna :
Paul Turley : Keiron Keene : Amanda & Adrian : Paul Tanner :
Siva Shanker : Tommy & Carla Hughes
Ocean Geographic Society : Ocean Artists Society : Sea Gods Wetsuit
66
T h e G a r d e n o f t h e G o d s A r t S e r v i n g N a t u re
Dr. Hanny Batuna
A Man of the Ocean
What we do for ourselves dies with us. What we do for others

and the world remains and is immortal.
Albert Pines
Essay
I've learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but
PEOPLE WILL NEVER FORGET HOW YOU MADE THEM FEEL.

Maya Angelou
DR. HANNY BATUNA WAS AN

EXTRAORDINARY GENTLEMAN;
a
Hero of North Sulawesi, a Hero of the Sea.
He was an adventurer; always curious,
intrinsically drawn to the ocean and
what it holds; he was happy going where
no one else had gone before. The joy of
exploration drove him to venture beyond
whatever risks and dangers
there may be.
1978, in a YMCA open water course while

he was on post-doctorate study in New
Orleans.
Determined to share his piece of heaven
with expat friends; Dr. Batuna started
NDC, the first dive centre in North
Sulawesi in 1981. Unfortunately, he was
He was a visionary who saw

the prospect and potential of
Manado training new divers,
sharing the splendour of
Bunaken Marine Park which
he has helped protect and
share with the world, not as a
business but as an avenue for
people to enjoy the gifts of the
sea.
He was a healer, who tended
to the sick throughout the
day and night. He was a
courageous professional he
was instrumental in bringing
in a decompression chamber
to Manado, not just for
decompression sickness but
for treatment of other illnesses
as well. Dr. Batuna was a quiet
achiever, an honest gentleman
who enjoyed pursuing causes
he believed in rather than for
glamour or expectation of any
recognition.
I remembered Dr. Batuna took

me for my first dive at Bunaken
Marine Park. He showed me
the abyssal wall of Lekuan One;
that wall was adorned with over
hanging soft corals and golden sea
fans. In just a couple of days, he
introduced me to an underwater
paradise so lush and bountiful,
with reef fishes and sea turtles,
that I thought it was a heaven on
earth.
Dr. Batuna and Michael AW at Murex circa 1996
Dr. Batuna first scuba dived

in the early 1970s; with a curious mind
and buddies of pearl divers, he explored
Manado Bay in search of pearls. The
equipment they received from the local
traders was comprised of double hose
regulators, harness and tanks with
J valves. There was no buoyancy device
(BCD), no depth gauge, pressure gauge
or wet suits. Fins only came much later.
After several hundred dives, Dr. Batuna
finally got to use a horse collar BCD in
68
Dr Hanny Batuna, A Man of the Ocean
I am blessed to have met Dr. Batuna

in 1988 in Chumphon we were both
candidates at a NAUI diving instructor
program. We hit it off instantly and it was
then that Ineke and Dr. Batuna invited
me to Manado. However, as a high-flying
advertising professional, I had absolutely
no idea where Manado was. In 1992,
after retiring from the world
of advertising, I finally visited
Dr. Batuna at Murex Dive Resort,
and my life was changed forever.
ripped off by his local partner. Undeterred,

he opened up Murex Dive Resort in
November 1987, setting the course for
Bunaken to become one of the top diving
destinations on our planet. It was in those
early years that Dr. Gerry Allen, PhD, an
ichthyologist, came and dived with Dr.
Batuna. After being introduced to the
diversity of Manado Bay and Bunaken,
Gerry promoted the area in scientific
circles and would return many times.
I was then only an unqualified

novice underwater photographer.
With tenuous confidence, I
asked if I could stay to make
more pictures for a book about
Bunaken. Of course, at that time
I had no idea how to write or
produce a book, but it seemed
like a good idea, not to mention
a great excuse to remain in
paradise. Dr. Batuna and his wife
Ineke were generous, welcoming
me with open arms and sort of
adopted me into the family.
I ended up staying for eight months in the
loft of the dining area at Murex Resort.
Beneath Bunaken was finally published
in 1993. The Governor of North Sulawesi
and Mayor of Manado bought thousands
of copies. The Minister of Tourism,
Joop Ave, used Beneath Bunaken in
his trade mission around the world and
also as a Gift of State at the Asia-Pacific
Economic Co-operation Conference of

1994. Silk Air bought hundreds of copies,
and started direct flights from Singapore
to Manado in 1994. In plain words, my
career was launched all because of
Dr Batunas faith in me, and the rest
is history.
I remember going out on the maiden
voyage of the MV Serenade, the first
live-aboard in North Sulawesi built by
Dr. Batuna, in 1992. Our journey was to
the Togean Islands in Central Sulawesi.
There were several chickens on the back
deck of the vessel. As we returned from a
dive each evening, I noticed there would
be one bird less on the deck. When I
asked Dr. Batuna what happened, he told
me that it had gone to chicken heaven. In
the years to come, we made several more
exploratory expeditions on the Serenade
to Sangie and Talaud, Halmerhera and
we returned to the Togean a few times.
He showed me several amazing reefs he
had previously discovered, underwater
volcanoes and wrecks, and we also
explored many new ones.
Dr. Batuna was an adventurer. In my first
trip to Manado, together we salvaged the
telegraph off the Molas wreck. In 1993,
he brought me to explore Lembeh Strait
- that was way before it became world
famous. We found loads of nudibranchs,
and other strange critters we had never
seen before. Then Kungkungan Bay
Resort was established in 1994 and again,
history was made.
Dr. Batuna was also a dedicated healer.
With a small boat, he often visited remote
villages in outlying islands, moving from
village to village to promote healthy living
and give free medication. His daughter,
Angelique, has said that although he
owned a private practice, he was not
Batunai damselfish (Amblyglyphidodon batunai)

named after Dr. Batuna by Dr. Gerry Allen, PhD
a good businessman; he would accept

payment with bananas and other crops,
sometimes none. Ibu Batuna was the one
that kept the business going. In his gentle
demeanour, he demonstrated a quiet
authority over his staff and crew, and I
admired his kindness towards the local
villagers we visited in our travels.
I feel honoured and privileged to have
known and spent time with Dr. Batuna.
He has taught me well. I am glad that
he had been recognised with the Ocean
Geographic Hero of the Sea award in 2011,
a well-deserved recognition for a modest
visionary who ignited the spark that has
made Manado a premier dive destination
worldwide.
Dr. Batuna, your legacy remains and

you live on through many of us. You live
on in our ocean; I will smile each time I
see you through colonies of Acropora
batunai, a very beautiful staghorn coral
named after you by Dr. Carden Wallace.
You were there when we first discovered
the species in the Togean Island in 1997.
Each time I return to the sea, I shall also
look forward to swim among swarms of
Batunai damselfish (Amblyglyphidodon
batunai), the damselfish named after
you by Dr. Gerry Allen, PhD. From the
depth of the ocean and the bottom of my
heart, I thank you for inspiring love for
our ocean, our families and friends.
Michael AW
DR. BATUNA WAS A VISIONARY WHO SAW THE

PROSPECT OF BUNAKEN sharing the splendour of the
marine park which he has lobbied to protect with the world, as

a destination for people to enjoy the gifts of the sea.
MY Serenade first live-aboard dive vessel in

North Sulawesi built by Dr. Batuna
OG Issue 29 : 07/2014
69
Essay
Acropora batunai, a very beautiful staghorn coral

named after Dr. Batuna by Dr. Carden Walllace,
PhD. Pic by Paul Muir.
The fact that Hanny a highly educated doctor of medicine - was willing to also change the oil
on the engine or haul up dive gear on to the beach was something that quietly impressed his staff
in a way no other "boss" had ever done. IF ONLY OUR CURRENT WORLD LEADERS
SHOWED THE SAME DEGREE OF HUMILITY, GENEROSITY AND RESPECT FOR

ALL, OUR PLANET WOULD BE A VERY DIFFERENT PLACE.
first met Hanny Batuna in

1993, as a graduate student
coming to North Sulawesi
to
investigate
climate
change signals in long-lived
coral skeletons. Though
our main area of work was
to be the Sangihe-Talaud
Archipelago,
MUREX
served as a comfortable base at the start
and end of the 3-week expedition, and
my strongest memories of the trip were
of the generosity and warmth of Hanny
and Ineke. I had spent the past two years
of my PhD work living in the relative
austerity of a small fishing village island in
South Sulawesi. The verdant paradise of
the MUREX estate, with excellent homecooking and family aura engendered by
the Batunas, immediately made me want
to uproot myself and relocate to Manado.
The ongoing push to conserve the
stunning reefs of Bunaken National Park,
inspired by Hanny's dedicated efforts of
more than a decade at that point, was an
eye-opener to me; my experience with reef
management in Indonesia then consisted
only of watching my Makassarese
neighbours spreading their sea charts on
a table and planning their next 13 month
bomb-and-cyanide fishing voyage!
Four years later, I made that move. In
1997, my wife Arnaz and I, spent the
latter half of our honeymoon at MUREX,
and began preparing to move over to
Bunaken Island. I eagerly listened to
Hanny and Ineke speak of the history of
Bunaken and the challenges facing it, and
70
Dr Hanny Batuna, A Man of the Ocean
their opinions on important next steps

for conservation work and managing
marine tourism in Bunaken. Those talks
(and many subsequent ones with their
daughter Angelique and son in law Danny)
served largely as my initial schooling in
marine conservation, and I've drawn on
those lessons and perspectives ever since,
applying them also to my work in Raja
Ampat and the Bird's Head Seascape over
the past decade.
Over the next seven years, we lived
in North Sulawesi. Hanny and Ineke
welcomed us like family into the extended
Batuna clan. When Arnaz was pregnant
with our first two children, they insisted
that we spend the last few weeks of both
of her pregnancies at MUREX whilst
awaiting labour, and our kids have long
looked at the Batunas as their Indonesian
family. Indeed, my fondest memories of
North Sulawesi are of attending Batuna
clan get-togethers - weddings, birthdays,
Christmas parties and visits to Hanny's
farm in Wowontulap. Always the humble
and soft-spoken gentleman, Hanny
nonetheless commanded the utmost
respect and adoration of the younger
Batunas (children, nephews, nieces,
grandchildren and in-laws). Paired with
the flair and sophistication (but nononsense pragmatic leadership) of Ineke,
they were a model couple presiding over
a storybook-like extended family whose
closeness was unlike anything I had ever
experienced in the U.S. Though I doubt I
will ever be half as successful, I resolved
to try to create in my own family, that
same tight-knit atmosphere of warmth and
respect that Hanny and Ineke engendered

in their family.
The other aspect of Hanny's character
that left a lasting impression on me was
his quiet and confident style of leadership.
His staff, of which there were many
(from farm hands to dive guides to boat
drivers and cooks), unanimously had
an enormous amount of respect for Dr.
Batuna and showed a dedication to and
trust in him that was without parallel in
my experience. Over the years of watching
their interactions, it became clear to me
that he commanded such respect from
them precisely because of the generosity
and respect he showed to all, and his
willingness to take on any task. I am quite
sure that for many of his staff, the fact
that Hanny - a highly educated and worldtravelled doctor of medicine - was willing
to also change the oil on the engine or
haul up dive gear on to the beach was
something that quietly impressed them
in a way no other "boss" had ever done.
If only our current world leaders showed
the same degree of humility, generosity
and respect for all, our planet would be a
very different place.
Indonesia, and indeed our Ocean Planet,
has truly lost a "Hero of the Sea". Hanny
will be greatly missed, but as Michael Aw
eloquently notes in his eulogy, his spirit
and teachings live on in his children,
grandchildren, and the many, many lives
he touched during a long and remarkable
life. Farewell, Dr Batuna.
Mark Erhmann PhD
I truly believe that a legacy

of this generosity is a joyful
and caring attitude to the
ocean that WE SHOULD
STRIVE TO MAINTAIN IN
HIS MEMORY.
I first met Dr Hanny and Mrs Ineke Butuna in

1994, the second year of what was to become
a 20-year enchantment with Indonesian
coral reefs. Introduced by Michael Aw, I
was astonished to make the acquaintance
of such an erudite and respected medical
practitioner, who had also quite clearly
devoted his life to the sport and science
of diving! More than this, Hanny and Mrs
Batuna held nightly court with a diverse
assemblage of divers from around the world,
in their tranquil and beautiful dive resort
MUREX; they even ran their own live-aboard
theirs was a life deeply connected with the
ocean.
Dr Batuna was described to me as one of the
pioneers of diving in Indonesia. I believe that
he was paramount in setting standards for
dive safety and dive medicine and protocols
for the operation of dive teams, while at the
same time setting an environmental ethic that
has had a strong and continuing influence
on the dive industry throughout Indonesia.
His generous spirit has been remarked upon
by many, and I truly believe that a legacy of
this generosity is a joyful and caring attitude
to the marine environment that we should
strive to maintain in his memory.
I look back in gratitude at the wonderful
underwater sights revealed to me under
Dr Batunas guidance ash slopes and
underwater volcanos in Sangihe-Talaud,
unique coral faunas of the mysterious
Togian Islands, wash-pool headlands in
the North Sulawesi peninsula, miniature
jewel-creatures in the Lembeh Straits and
the magnificent coral walls of Bunaken.
Many of these contributed names to new
species of staghorn corals, but the gorgeous
Togian Islands table-coral Acropora batunai
will always remind me of wonderful trips
on the MV Serenade, nights spent in the
fine company of the MUREX mob and an
exemplary and much treasured Indonesian
citizen and man of the sea, Dr Hanny Batuna.
I reminisced about the thrill, my sister and I did not

feel scared nor did we panic it was as if
WITH OUR FATHER HOLDING OUR

HANDS, WE WERE INVINCIBLE.
What made my father a great man? It

was his acts of kindness, his integrity,
his genuine care for others, his passion
for the environment, and his love to
his family. He was a man of few words,
yet meaningfully communicative. His
departure left a profound sadness, his
presence deeply missed. My father had
always been my role model, my rock and
my hero. I learned generosity, kindness, a
love for nature and the outdoors from this
wonderful man.
A medical doctor by training, my father
was a general practitioner who specialized
in the treatment of tuberculosis. His
encounters with many coastal people
fuelled a desire to help cure them of
this disease. He had a private practice
established at the front part of our modest
family home in Manado. Some of his
patients were farmers and fishermen from
remote villages with little means. They
would bring their harvest as payments
for medicine and consultation, and would
travel the great distances with sacks of
bananas, sometimes cassavas, and filled
his waiting room with anticipation and
hope. He gave them the same attentive
care and respect, listened closely to
their troubles and treated their illnesses.
On my travels to these tiny villages
years later, I would come across people
that had received his kindness and it
always touched me how fondly he was
remembered. So true, the quote from the
author Maya Angelou, I've learned that
people will forget what you said, people
will forget what you did, but people will
never forget how you made them feel.
His work for the health department often
took him to remote places to distribute
medicine to the government clinics. With
his interest in nature and the underwater
life, he would happily do these trips and
took his family along with him. Some of
these trips were journeys by boats or by
four-wheel drive jeeps on damaged roads,

crossing rivers with washed out bridges.
This way, he fostered the love of nature
and adventure early on in our childhood.
My fathers zest for adventure and marine
exploration led him to be a pioneer scuba
diver in North Sulawesi. When he founded
Murex Dive Resort with my mother,
my siblings and I went through SCUBA
certification and were hooked on the
sport as well. One dive I did together with
my father and my sister Angelique, was at
Rons Point at Bunaken. This dive spot is
notorious for strong currents. The dive
started off with a gentle current along the
wall but then the current became stronger,
changed directions and swept us off the
wall. Suddenly we were in the middle of
a downward spiral current. I remember
seeing my depth gauge fall from 18 to 30
metres within seconds. My sister, dad and
I held hands and started finning furiously
toward the surface. We held on to each
other with my father right there keeping
us calm and assured until we surfaced.
We talked about that dive later and still
reminisce about the thrill, my sister and
I did not feel scared nor did we panic it was as if with our father holding our
hands, we were invincible.
My parents shared a spiritual bond and
were in love with each other till the
very end. My father loved to surprise my
mother with presents; my siblings and
I quickly learned to recognize his giddy
smile when he was hiding something
special. He overflowed with love for my
mother and his family and we were ever
so blessed because of him. My fathers
tender smile is what I remember most.
He left too soon, but I know he lives on in
me, in my children, in the ocean he helped
protect, and in the many people whose
lives he helped change for the better. I
love you, Papa.
Arlene Batuna
Carden Wallace PhD

OG Issue 29 : 07/2014
71
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Visit our website : www.aiyanar.com
in Lembeh
Essay & Photographs by Mike Scotland
Michael AW
Essay
DARWIN HAD ALWAYS REGARDED WALLACE

AS THE CO-AUTHOR OF EVOLUTION.
He used Wallaces collections and field notes for much of his
research. THESE LEGENDS OF SCIENCE HAD
ENORMOUS ENTHUSIASM, AND POSSESSED

POWERS OF OBSERVATION AND DEDUCTION
THAT WERE SECOND TO NONE. If SCUBA had been
available then, Darwins HMS Beagle would be full of fish
tanks; Wallaces famous collection of eighty thousand beetles
would be thirty thousand gobies, and the British Museum would be
full of South East Asias marine critters.
harles Darwin
and snorkelling was rare in 1855. Can you
wrasse are a perfect example of adaptive
and
imagine what they would have written
radiation.
Alfred
W a l l a c e
about if SCUBA had existed then?
were two of
the
Today, there are millions of well-informed
greatest
I can only imagine what it would be like
naturalists who love the sea. SCUBA
minds of the
if they were alive today and enrolled in
is a great example of new technology
nineteenth
a scuba diving course. They would most
opening the door to new discoveries. The
century. I feel
likely be chattering away in excited voices
growth of knowledge that we are all a
for them because they missed the best
after their first dive: What about the rays
part of is inspiring. In the last forty years,
of the Galapagos and South East Asia
and sharks? I wonder if they have a
our knowledge of the sea has exploded
beneath the waves. Unfortunately
common ancestor. Those eight species of
exponentially.
for
them, SCUBA had not been invented then
THE NEW AGE OF EXPLORATION
74
Darwin and Wallace were heroes in the
the
the
in Sydney, just a few kilometres from
great age of exploration; twenty-first
Australasian landmasses. However, there
my home. I had delighted in discovering
century naturalists are all players in the
is no true Wallace line under the sea. This
these beauties in Lembeh just weeks
exploration of the worlds underwater
geographical barrier is irrelevant for most
before.
wilderness. It gives us hope that all
sea creatures. I marvel at the species of
divers can raise the consciousness of the
fish and sea slugs from Lembeh that are
I regard Lembeh Strait as natures Noahs
human race and save the seas for future
not uncommon in Australian waters.
Ark. All manner of marine life reside
generations to enjoy.
The list includes cornetfish, frogfish,
here in a condensed version of the best
aeolid sea slugs, coral banded shrimps
that South East Asia has to offer; an
Lembeh Strait is right on the Wallace
and many more. Recently, we have been
underwater zoo filled with an incredible
line. This deep-water boundary separates
photographing convict gobies right here
biodiversity of marine life.
Malaysian
archipelago
and
The sunsets burnt orange and mauve

hues created a mellow feel as we geared
up. We head down to the dark volcanic
sand sea floor just seven metres below. It
appeared barren for a brief moment and
then, I spotted a beautiful mimic octopus.
The excitement had begun! I followed
John down to 15 metres and within a few
minutes, we had a stunning one metre
Bobbit worm. Its head was 20 centimetres
out of its burrow waiting in ambush for
its dinner. I photographed it left, right and
close up, fascinated by its terrifying jaws
and shimmering body. I could imagine the
excruciating pain if the worm decided to
bite me.
John found a baitfish and steered it
towards the Bobbit worm with his metre
long reef stick. The Bobbit worm took the
scent. I pre-focussed, making sure that I
had the baitfish in focus and room for the
Bobbit worm to enter the viewfinder.
The monster struck with lightning speed!
I pressed the shutter as soon as I could.
I had missed it completely! The worm
had caught the fish and dragged it into
Bobbit worm (Eunice
aphroditois) feeding.
Lembeh St. North Sulawesi
its burrow within a few hundredths of a

second. My reflexes operate only within
Michael AW
mere tenths of a second. I was out of

my league in the lightning-fast game
LETHAL CARNIVOROUS
BOBBIT WORMS
of survival in the sea. All I managed to

photograph was a cloud of sand.
We tried again on another night. John
One of the most dramatic critters that I
my dive guide, John, if we could find
steered a larger fish toward the Bobbit
encountered in Lembeh Strait was the
the Bobbit worm and maybe even feed
worm. It opened its deadly jaws wider
Bobbit worm (Eunice aphroditis). They
it. John is an excellent dive guide with
and struck with the same lightning speed.
are, without a doubt, the most efficient
intricate knowledge of the seventy dive
This time, the worm had to strike several
predator
sites in Lembeh, making him an invaluable
times to catch its dinner so I could take
asset for divers.
a few shots. It was a gruesome display of
of
the
segmented
worms.
Annelids have two main classes. The first
predatory power. The Bobbit worm is one
includes earthworms and leeches. The

other consists of polychaetes or bristle
He replies, No promises, we will try a
of the most efficient killers I have ever
worms. Bobbit worms are the biggest and
dive site called Retak Larry tonight. We
seen; the double clamp jaw of the worm is
most ferocious of the polychaetes.
motor off from Dabirahe Resort into the
an adaptation suited to its killer lifestyle.
sunset, heading north for Retak village.
Watching this ferocious predator in action
They are highly photogenic with their
This dive site was named in honour of
is a brilliant example of natural selection.
iridescent shiny bodies and fearsome
Larry Smith, an American critter finder
jaws. During my stay at Lembeh, I asked
who was famously known as King of the

Critter Hunters before he died.
OG Issue 29 : 07/2014
75
Essay
Crab with eggs
NATURAL SELECTION IN SHRIMPS

OVERCOMING THE ODDS.
Crustaceans are a great case in point
During
that
segment from the front; males release
to illustrate natural selection. It seems
everything was breeding; every crab and
sperm from the eighth segment. The
crustaceans are in the middle of every
shrimp had loads of eggs. Lembeh was
male will place a sperm packet inside the
food chain in the sea. They are a major
like an underwater maternity hospital. I
females vulva, and she will then use it to
food source for most carnivores
spent a lot of time exploring soft coral
fertilise her eggs over the next few weeks.
everything eats them!
trees. With Johns help, I photographed
I spotted hundreds of shrimp eggs under
cowries, soft coral crabs, porcelain crabs,
her tail. Crabs devote a lot of energy to
alpheid shrimps and gobies on these
reproduction. The female crab not only
Dendronepthya corals.
carries the fertilized eggs, she regularly
Predators,
small
and
large,
gorge
themselves on crustaceans all day, every
my
stay,
it
seemed
day. Just how do crustaceans survive
76
fans them with fresh oxygenated water
against these incredible odds? The answer
Prawns, shrimp, lobsters and crabs are
of course, is via mass reproduction.
decapods
Make more babies! is the war cry of the
Alpheid shrimps, like all of the decapods
crustaceans.
have ovaries with vulvas on the sixth
i.e.
ten-legged
crustaceans.
to help their development.
Zebra crab
THE STRUGGLE FOR SURVIVAL

IN ZEBRA CRABS
Zebra crabs can be found on the toxic and
Under the flap, females have five pairs
ovulates, she releases a pheromone into
elusive sea urchins. They have adopted
of hairy appendages. She glues her
the water. Males detect this perfume
the same cryptic colouration as their host,
eggs to these appendages, protecting
and come running to her side. She, of
giving them the perfect camouflage. One
them with her broad flap. Males on the
course, cannot mate until she moults.
sea urchin had three large zebra crabs on
other hand, have only two pairs of these
Mother Nature has given female crabs
it. Both females were heavily pregnant
appendages as the other three pairs
the ability to synchronise egg fertility and
I could see her broad female abdominal
have completely degenerated. These two
moulting. Males have special claspers to
flap protecting hundreds of eggs.
remaining appendages are the equivalent
restrain the females. They can be seen
of crab penises and have been modified to
coupled together for up to two days until
Crabs have tiny abdomens, probably
transfer a sperm packet into the female
her old shell is shed. During this time,
making up only two percent of their total
crabs vulva.
she is vulnerable to predators. Males will
body mass (they are all chest and head).
protect her and defend her from predators
Female crabs have broad abdominal flaps
Crustaceans have a sense of smell that
while those in males are very narrow.
rival that of sharks. When the female
for a few days until her shell hardens.
OG Issue 29 : 07/2014
77
Essay
MANTIS SHRIMPS AND THE

WHEEL OF KARMA
emale mantis shrimps use
them until they hatch to increase their
their
chances of survival.
to
front
carry
appendages
thousands
of
eggs in a ball, where she
The wheel of karma however, turns the
protects them until they
tide once these mantis shrimps grow into
hatch. Their eggs and larvae are highly
adults. They turn into one of the most
prized by predators, all of which devour
ferocious predators on the reefs eating
eggs by the millions few eggs actually
everything from lionfish to puffer fish
survive to adult hood. A mother mantis
and even the deadly blue ring octopus,
shrimp knows that her eggs will be eaten
by literally punching (or slashing) their
immediately once she lets them go, so
lights out.
she must remain vigilant and hold on to

Mantis shrimp
CARDINAL FISH
New Born
he next dive,
progeny. They were guarding the breeding
a photograph of the eggs being expelled
male, presumably prepared to sacrifice
from its mouth, hatching larval fish. It was
their lives to protect him!
all over within seconds the large mass
noticed
group
six
of
cardinal
of eggs was expelled. I would have missed
fish. A single
On a night dive, my dive guide John
this very rare event twice over except
male,
with
became very excited. He urged me to
for the persistence of my excellent dive
enlarged
photograph a small cardinal fish. I took
guide. I did feel a little silly!
jaws, had eggs
a fleeting photo and was about to move
in its mouth.
on. John made it very clear that I had to
My buddy on this dive was Godlife, an
the
As I tried to
look again. It was a male with eggs in its
excellent local underwater photographer.
get some photographs, I quickly realized
mouth. I photographed the eggs and again
He said he had been waiting for this
that the other five were females and only
was about to move on.
opportunity for many years and had never
the male had the enlarged jaw, specially
78
seen it. His camera was playing up and
adapted for mouth brooding of eggs. The
John was gesticulating excitedly. So I
he was so distraught that he was joking
females were preventing me from getting a
turned back to take a closer look at the
about being in tears. I realized I had just
clear shot. I was observing a group of fish
cardinal fish again. I could not believe
had a golden moment. Right time, right
cooperating to ensure the safety of their
it! The eggs in its mouth were actually
place, right camera lens. Sometimes you
hatching. I quickly settled in to coordinate
can be lucky!
FLAMBOYANT
CUTTLEFISH
HATCHLINGS
We found a single flamboyant cuttlefish

egg in a bivalve shell. By a stroke of luck,
John was able to get it to hatch right
before my camera! I had my 105 mm
macro lens with a close-up wet lens on
perfect for photographing the birth of
this flamboyant cuttlefish. The shots were
satisfactory, but I knew I could do better!
A few days later, John found another shell
with thirteen ripe eggs! We had a golden
opportunity. I could see fully developed
six millimetre flamboyant cuttlefish
moving inside the eggs. When the eggs
were gently touched, the juvenile used its
tail spike to puncture a hole in the egg,
squeezed out half way and then seemed to
give up and stopped. Then with a sudden
surge of energy, popped out and swam
off. Its first reaction was to adopt the
attack posture and flash its bright colours
at me. Beautiful!
The world expert on cephalopods,

Dr. Mark Norman from Australia, has
confirmed that flamboyant cuttlefish
possess a powerful toxin. It is not
tetrodotoxin like the blue ring octopus
but a completely new, equally powerful
toxin. The flesh of this sepia is inedible. At
one second after birth, they were making
bright displays to warn off predators.
These toxic hatchlings can therefore
survive in open water.
This is a brilliant example of an adaptation
to survive the extreme environmental
pressure of predation. Survival of the
fittest here means the hatchlings have the
protection of toxins and they also have
fully functioning chromatophores from
birth.
We observed an adult flambuoyant

cuttlefish (Metasepia pfefferi) feeding.
They have eight legs and two hectocotylus
tentacles, which are twice as long and
these are used for feeding and mating.
First, they extend their long feeding
tentacles towards their prey. Seemingly
taking aim and judging the distance of
the strike. Next, the hectocotylus is fully
retracted. Then, they strike with full
speed. The prey fish (they like fish) is
grasped in a split second and delivered
into the beak of the cuttlefish. Cuttlefish
usually use the beak to cut the fish just
behind its head to sever their spinal cord
in a single bite. Like all molluscs, the fish
is shredded using the flesh-rasping tooth
known as the radula, before swallowing
smaller pieces of fish.
Flamboyant cuttlefish
OG Issue 29 : 07/2014
79
Essay
RHINOPIAS
SCORPIONFISH
I had to wait until the 11th day of my
trip to find a Rhinopias scorpionfish.
These fish specialize in mimicking the
colour and texture of the leather coral,
Sarcophyton. I took plenty of photos of
my Rhinopias from every angle. However,
I was thinking about the other nights dive
with the Bobbit worm. As soon as I got
The Rhinopias struck with lightning
back in the boat, I said to my dive guide,
speed and gulped down half the fish. It
John, I think that Rhinopias is hungry.
took a moment to rest then gulped down

some more. At the end, a huge bulge in
prey was the same size as the frogfish. The
Rhinopias often stay put for days. That
the stomach could be seen. It was in the
frogfish might look cute but it is one of the
night, we managed to relocate the lethal
shape of a fish! A large fish tail was poking
most lethal killers in the ocean. It ate the
predator by looking at the depth contour
out of its mouth for minutes.
fish although it took a few minutes to get it
near our prime site.
all in. Both predators have an expandable
John brought a
fusilier close to the Rhinopias. The prey
We repeated the same feeding technique
stomach a necessary adaptation for
was two-thirds the size of the predator.
with a frogfish one night. This time, the
gorging on enormous meals.
Rhinopias eyeing its next

meal.
80
CRYPTIC CAMOUFLAGE AND

WARNING COLOURS
I would like to think that many divers
mimicking
leatherjackets
Wallace was the first to explain the
are wellversed (or at least have an
(filefish) mimicking Valentines puffer
significance of bright colours to warn
interest) in marine biology and evolution.
fish and even hybridization of species
birds not to eat toxic caterpillars. Warning
We regularly see the effects of natural
of angelfish. The sea is a paradise for
colouration is far more common in the
selection when sharks clean up sick,
students of evolution and Lembeh is a
sea. Lionfish show off their bright colours
injured fish. We see the bright colouration
special Garden of Eden where divers can
to warn preditors about their toxic spines.
of flatworms and nudibranchs warning fish
see real magic in the waters.
flatworms,
that they are toxic. We see nudibranchs
Bright colours in
marine animals like the
nudibranch and pygmy
seahorse warn predators
of thir toxicity
OG Issue 29 : 07/2014
81
Essay
WALLACE WROTE ABOUT HIS CONCERN

WITH WHAT HE REGARDED THEN AS THE
IMPENDING CALAMITY ON OUR PLANET:
deforestation and its damaging effects. These days,
it has become an even greater threat to the planet.
My view about ANTHROPOGENIC CLIMATE
CHANGE IS THAT DEFORESTATION IS

THE ELEPHANT IN THE CUPBOARD THAT
IS EQUAL TO CARBON DIOXIDE OUTPUT.
We all need to go and plant a tree every week. The two

culprits are the chainsaw and the internal combustion
machine.
I make no bones about it. I am a fan of
When we venture underwater, we can
about the variety of butterfly fish derived
Wallace. He wrote books on the distribution
see the marvels of adaptive radiation that
from a common ancestor. Darwin was
of animals across continents, and is
so captivated Darwin in the Galapagos
only 22 years old when he sailed on the
considered the father of Zoogeography,
Islands. Darwins finches are the textbook
Beagle for his five-year round-the-world
the geographical distribution of life. He
example used to teach millions about how
trip. Wallace was in his late twenties; he
observed geographical boundaries and
finches adapted to survive in ecological
did fourteen years of field research.
the effect of isolation on species. He
niches in differing environments by
speculated on pressures that created
developing anatomically different beaks.
If Darwin and Wallace were alive today,
change in species. The basic premise
This meant that finches could survive
they would surely be avid scuba divers,
of evolution is that species change over
on different diets and not compete with
possibly your buddy on the dive boat. You
time.
Wallace developed the idea of
each other for the same food source.
could tell them about your underwater
natural selection independently and did
Each species developed a niche in which
adventures and discuss the survival of the
many more years of field research than
it could survive and proliferate, avoiding
hairy sea hare and its cryptic camouflage.
Darwin did. Darwin regarded Wallace as
competition.
They would delight in seeing your
one of the foremost thinkers on evolution
collection of underwater photographs
of the nineteenth century. They were co
We see many examples of this grand idea
and marine discoveries. After each dive,
authors of these concepts.
at Lembeh that clearly illustrate this point.
you would be engrossed in a sparkling
Darwins lecture could well have been
conversation involving some of the

greatest scientific ideas of all time.
About the author

Mike Scotland learned to dive in 1976 and became a Padi Instructor in 1982.
After having taught actively for many years, he developed the Marine Biology
for Scuba Divers course twenty years ago. He loves to teach the anatomy of
marine life. He is a BSc in Maths and Zoology. His first underwater camera
was a Nikonos II but he is currently using a Nikon D200 in a Nexus Housing
with two Inon strobes.
Mike Scotland
www.mikescotlandscuba.com
82
Lionel Unch
(Harvard University Summer School 2013)
Essay by Nancy Merridew
Essay
OU ARE ABOUT
TO
MEET
A
SERIAL KILLER
in the cross hairs. His eyes scan for the

shadows of octopuses, fish and seals
CAROLYN MANNINGS FLIP

FLOPS CLICKED ACROSS
THE PLAZA FLAGSTONES
Lionel Unch. A quick,
who could snap him right up. Encased
at the Harvard Summer Farmers Market.
clean kill is not his style;
in an olive polychrome armour, streaked
Her toenail polish gleamed scarlet, uniting
instead, he dismembers
orange, teal and maroon, with matching
the colour theme of her cotton singlet and
victims and devours them alive. However,
gargantuan claws, Lionels exoskeleton
the procession of lobsters that decorated
Lionel is not depraved and his struggle
has saved him more than once. But his
her white sandal straps. Each of those flip
to survive reflects the ordeal of all living
shell has no defence against parasites
flop lobsters was around an inch long
beings. Not so long ago, Lionel was the
and bacteria. If lobsters could talk,
the same size Lionel had been when he
guest of honour at a neighbourhood feast.
Lionel would probably agree that life
first swam out of the plankton. Of course,
Claws snapping away like castanets, he
is precarious, and that only one thing is
back then, he was not scarlet.
jigged his eight other legs in delight and
certain, as the Fight Club adage goes, on
scuttled through an entrance tunnel.
a large enough timeline, the survival rate
Behind Carolyns right shoulder, pastry
Lionels long antennae whipped through
for everyone drops to zero.
seller Ben Van Meter reflected how, at
the royal blue netting rope as he tore flesh

from the corpse.
another time, Lionels status might have

been different. In Americas pioneering
he is a lobster of the North American
CHRIS MANNINGS SHOULDERS

BULGED AS HE HAULED THE
TRAP ONTO THE DECK. Sorting
Atlantic, Homarus americanus. Lionel
the catch, he was careful to avoid the
But with overfishing came scarcity, he
never knew his father; his mother left
lobster handshake years ago one
said, and lobster became the food of the
straight after Lionel hatched from the
had got him right in the webbing of
rich.
safety of her tails wide crook. Around
his thumb and forefinger, and he never
seven years ago, as a metanauplius larva,
forgot the introduction. Manning was a
It was coming up to Fourth of July a big
he entered the harrowing Planktonic
Massachusetts lobsterman; since he was
time of year for cookouts and lobster was
Development Club. Predators ate most
a boy he had loved Hull, loved being on
popular. On Carolyns stall table, right next
of Lionels several thousand siblings but
the water and loved lobster. That fine
to a whopping dried claw, shell crackers
he survived the next few larval cycles,
white 42-foot boat, the Carolyn M, was
sold for US$3. Stainless steel scales
metamorphosed to his current scorpion-
named after his wife. When they married,
gleamed on the red-and-white checkered
like form, then descended to a new life
his business became a family affair C&C
tablecloth, ready to be crowned with
on the sea floor. So far he had beaten the
Manning Lobster and Fish. Carolyn knew
crustaceans. Lionel had weighed in on
odds.
it inside out. So did CJ, their youngest of
another set at 1.5 pounds a long way off
four kids. At 10 years old, CJ wanted to
the titanic 44-pound lobster world record.
Lionels shorter antennae seek out meals
grow up like his dad, with his own 12-foot
Carolyn had sold two of her steamed
for his versatile palate. Breakfast might
boat to play on, and his very own little
lobsters that day, shrouded in foil, at
be a starfish ambushed as she slides
lobster trap on board.
US$10 each. Other customers preferred
Our killer is well-understood by ecologists
along a crevice, using his cutter claw to

amputate her arms then shred them into
days, lobsters were everywhere, like a

plague of insects from the bottom of the
ocean, shunned by all but the very poor.
to steam their own but welcomed cooking

advice.
morsels. Supper might be a sea urchin
LIONEL SPENT HIS LAST NIGHT
their needled patches fall away, like a
with other lobsters suspended in a yellow
Beaming, Carolyn shared her recipe: Boil
Mohawk being scalped, when his crusher
wire crate off the dock, behind the
4 inches of water, toss in live lobsters
claw flexes. Crack! A mussels death throe
Manning family home where his gills were
(they do not need to be covered with
pings through the Atlantic; next stop,
flushed fresh by Hulls tide.
water), bring it back to the boil then
Lionels gullet. Lionel could likely have
cook for 14 minutes. When the scarlet
eaten another lobster or two in his time

too.
84
Lionel slaughters freely but is always
Lionel Unch
metamorphosis occurs, serve with melted
butter and corn on the cob. No seasoning, no garnish.

Van Meter spiced it up. Lobsters are not so passive
when it is their turn to play prey, he said. They have
been known to kick off the lid and jump out of the
pot. It is more than a little off-putting when lobsters
scream while they cook but that sound, he reassured,
is just steam escaping the shell.
LIONEL WAS IN THE DARK. Stacked alongside

nine companions in the cooler, in relative tranquillity
under a damp hessian sack, rubberbands bound their
claws. A couple of other lobsters had left earlier and
not returned. Lionel might have been wondering what
was so good out there, when the lid lifted, light invaded
the cooler and a hand plucked Mr L. Unch away.
MichaelAW.com
North American Atlantic lobster, Homarus americanus.
About the author
Nancy holds three bachelor degrees in Arts (History),

Science
(Marine
Biology;
Human
Physiology),
and
Medicine, from Australian universities. In 2013, she

completed an intensive Journalism short course at Harvard
University, and a Diploma of Tropical Medicine and
Hygiene in England. Currently working in Australia as a
medical doctor, Nancy refuses to let go of her other interests
and is thrilled to join the team at Ocean Geographic! Nancy
loves nature and geology on all scales microscopic and
colossal especially fossils, phytoplankton and seaweed. Her
favourite topic is the Galpagos Islands. Sir Charles Darwin
epitome of creativity, genius, scientific rigour, humility and
endeavour is her idol. Writing on nature, ecology, history,
patient experiences, public health, infectious diseases and
medical education, Nancy reflects on her global travels,
Nancy Merridew
education, work and social life which deliver extraordinary

encounters.
OG Issue 29 : 07/2014
85
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Protecting
a Phenomenon
The Whale Sharks of Cenderawasih Bay
Essay and Photographs by Michael AW
Sojourn
here are several
Located on the Eastern fringe of the
Like most that came, it was our passion for
places in the world where whale sharks
Indonesian Archipelago, Cenderawasih
sharks that lured us to this remote outpost,
congregate:
Red
Bay is as remote as the Baliem Valley
Sea, Galpagos, Belize, the Seychelles,
on the Eastern half of the island of
to document and protect one of our oceans
Western Australias Ningaloo reefs, and
New Guinea. The bay itself harbours
Donsol in the Philippines. At each of
substantial secrets to the geological
these locations however, the sharks are
history and tectonic evolution of the
when I had all but an eight-day window
only resident for a period of one to three
region. Geologists established that until
before my next presentation; from London.
months before moving away. Nothing
recent times, the bay was geologically
I flew to Singapore then Jakarta, and several
else in this world compares to the recent
isolated from the flow of the Pacific tides.
domestic flights later, I finally met up with
discovery of the massive congregation of
This isolation has somewhat consecrated
whale sharks (Rhincodon typus) around
Cenderawasih to be an ancient sea with a
my team in Nabire. It was like going back
fishing platforms (bagans) in the southern
high percentage of endemic fish and coral
part of Cenderawasih Bay Marine Park,
species that are found nowhere else on
in West Papua, Indonesia. Documented
the planet. Conservation Internationals
washing lines and dilapidated shacks,
by the fishermen near Kwatisore village,
senior consultant, Dr. Gerald Allen,
complete with dogs running out to greet
whale sharks can be found simply
an ichthyologist, proclaimed the bay
our aircraft on landing! Our fixer on the
hanging around their fishing platforms
"the Galpagos of the East based on
ground, Ronny Rengkung, happened to
throughout the year! This is the only place
documented findings of an "evolutionary
in the world where you do not have to
cauldron" of new and unique corals,
know the local chief of police, so the latter
swim after the sharks position yourself
shrimps and fish species. Extensive
beneath a bagan and you could have up to
surveys documented 995 species of fish
12 sharks swimming right up to your face.
and over 500 species of corals - about
At the break of dawn the next day, our
Legendary filmmaker and conservationist,
10 times more than the entire Caribbean
convoy of two small fibreglass boats laden
Valerie Taylor (affectionately known as
combined!
with camera equipment and dive gear sped
Christmas
Island,
exploratory trip) was in November of 2010,
in time; from multi-million-dollar airport

terminals to a short airstrip peppered with
picked us up from the airport and made all

ground arrangements for our brief sojourn.
the Queen of Sharks), referred to this
across the calm waters of the bay to look
phenomenon as the new 8th natural
for the fishing bagans two-and-a-half hours
wonder of our planet.

88
most threatened giants. Our first (the
Pr o t e c t i n g a P h e n o m e n o n T h e W h a l e S h a r k s o f C e n d e r a w a s i h B a y
north of Nabire.
One of the many fishing platforms

(or bagans as the locals call them)
scattered around Cenderawasih Bay.
Cenderawasih Bay is the only place on earth where you

do not have to swim after the sharks position yourself
beneath the fishing platform and you could have
12 SHARKS SWIMMING
RIGHT UP TO YOUR FACE.
OG Issue 29 : 07/2014
89
Sojourn
CENDERAWASIH BAY IS THE

FIRST site IN THE WORLD
TO WITNESS
whale sharks feeding from a fishing net.
Whale shark hanging vertically, sucking on

one of the fishing nets beneath a bagan.
90
It was only in 2009 that we first learnt

of the presence of whale sharks in
Cenderawasih Bay, and that their
fascination for the fishing platforms
(bagans) is much like that of bees
to honey. About 23 of these semimobile platforms are located in the
vicinity of Kwatisore village at the
southern end of the marine park.
At dusk, massive nets are lowered
beneath these platforms to about 18
metres. Floodlights illuminate the
water from the surface to attract
millions of ikan puri (three-inch
baitfish). In the morning, the nets
are raised, bringing up tons of ikan
puri. Some are collected to be used
as bait for bonitos and any excess
would be left in the net hanging just
beneath the platform. The whale
sharks in the bay have learnt to suck
these small fishes from the net. Out
of amusement or companionship, the
fishermen decided to feed buckets of
ikan puri to the sharks.
The first time we approached a
bagan, the fishermen told us there
was a shark below. In a flash, we
were in the water and found a
juvenile about 3 metres in length.
We were not satisfied one small
shark was not good enough! We
bounced back into the boat and
headed to the next bagan. There,
we were told, there were many "big
fish". We jumped in to find seven
whale sharks. They were swimming
placidly around under the platform,
occasionally rising up to the bottom
of the nets filled with small fishes.
They hung vertically in the water as
they sucked, completely oblivious to
our presence, moving on only for a
breather or after being bumped off
by another shark. The congregation
of the seven animals ranged from 3
metres to 13 metres; big, powerful
and much more gregarious than any
other whale sharks I had ever seen
before. I knew immediately that this
was a very special place.
Within an hour or so, we had over 12 sharks

around us sharks outnumbering humans!
With fishing nets that were brimming with
MY GRIN WAS AS WIDE

AS THE SHARKS!
It was a moment to die for.
juicy tidbits, they hung around, completely

at ease with our company, even curious.
Not being a predatory animal, their eyes
are tiny relative to their body size, with
soft surrounding skin that wrinkled up
and closed over the eyes as they ate. They
would swim right past us, avoiding contact
with the exception of the occasional gentle
push to get us out of the way of their feast.
They seemed aware of our presence; apart
from the odd gentle sideswipe, they nearly
always managed to keep their enormous
tails from hitting us. After the three-day
recce, we confirmed that whale sharks are
opportunistic feeders, able to associate
human
companionship
with
food.
Cenderawasih Bay is the first location in

the world to witness such behaviour.
A sloppy and rather undignified moment with

large, fleshy, colossal mouths all around me.
Whale sharks are opportunistic feeders

able to associate human companionship
with food.
OG Issue 29 : 07/2014
91
Sojourn
Whale sharks outnumbered divers.
Cenderawasih Bay lit the flame of
FERVOUR TO PRESERVE AND

PROTECT this magical place.
n September of 2011, Ocean

Geographic
organised
two 10-day expeditions;
over twenty days, we
documented 35 individuals
beneath five bagans. We
began our observation each
day at first light, though
sometimes we would start before sunrise
to find up to six sharks feeding in the
dark. However, typical of sharks, lions
and humans, prime feeding times are in
the mornings and evenings before sunset.
92
At 7 am, we would usually have two to

three juveniles placidly feeding from the
net but by 10 am, there would be about
ten animals, ranging from 2 metres to 12
metres, congregating to feed off the net or
receive handouts from the fishermen on
the platform. Noon is the lull period with
only a couple of juveniles still hanging
around, hoping for more handouts. At
about 4 pm when crepuscular rays radiate
through the water like a dinner bell, the
sharks seems to shed all inhibitions and
frantically rush in with mouths agape,
climbing on top one another with great

urgency, taking in as much food as
possible before nightfall. Throughout the
four days, all members of our expedition
were able to approach the sharks up close
and make eye contact both on snorkel and
scuba. Once again, they were gentle and
swayed their powerful tails in a manner
to avoid hurting their human friends!
Seemingly unopposed to our presence,
some rose vertically alongside to pose
with their clumsy bubble-blowing tactile
friend.
At one point, I was composing a shot of
three sharks confronting fishermen on top
of the bagan for more food; unknowingly
two bigger sharks approached the bagan
from behind me. I felt a push and the next
moment I felt like ham between bread,
sandwiched between five animals, each
weighing about 15 tons! Albeit a sloppy
and rather undignified moment with large,
fleshy, colossal mouths all around me,
the sharks were gentle and I managed to
Conservation Internationals senior consultant, Dr. Gerald Allen, calls
CENDERAWASIH BAY THE GALPAGOS OF THE EAST

based on documented findings of an evolutionary cauldron of new and
unique corals and fish species
escape from beneath them. Flabbergasted

but my grin was as wide as the sharks. It
was a moment to die for; a whale of a tale
(pun intended) that I shall talk about for
the rest of my life.
Besides the fact that whale sharks rise to
the surface of sea to feed on plankton and
small fishes, very little is known about the
Rhincodon typus. We do know that they
are cold-blooded, breathe through gills
and they are the biggest fish in the ocean.
This year-round congregation and feeding
off the fishing bagans in Cenderawasih
Bay is the first of its kind known. To further
understand the range of these sharks, in
December of 2012, Dr. Mark Erdmann led
a Conservation International expedition
and successfully tagged five sharks. With
the tags, the five whale sharks actively

collected data of their daily diving and
ranging behaviours. The tags used were
pop-up archival satellite-linked tags; once
attached to the shark, they remained there
for around 200 days. At a programmed
release date, the tag detaches from the
anchored tether, floats to the surface, and
begins transmitting the data recorded
(depth, water temperature and roaming
range) to earth-orbiting satellites in the
Argos system. The tagging exercise was
a significant effort in a far-flung place to
learn more about these incredible animals
and hopefully, unravel the mystery
surrounding them where and how
they mate, how they spend their early
years. The tags may or may not provide
some answers but our primary concern
should be to protect their well-being and

habitat for future generations. We now
know that the sharks in the bay traverse
great distances into the Pacific Ocean
a few of them have been documented to
return to feed in the bay. Though data is
still insufficient to determine the number
of whale sharks that frequent the bay, we
do know if the shark fins merchants move
in, all the animals in the bay could be
harvested in just a few weeks!
Whale sharks are already listed as
Vulnerable in the IUCN Redlist. But
the population at Cenderawasih faces
imminent danger as they are the prime
target of ruthless shark fin merchants.
Known as the king of sharks, whale shark
fins are considered the most valuable
OG Issue 29 : 07/2014
93
Sojourn
and therefore in greatest demand in
Hong Kong. Our observations confirm
that sharks unintentionally entangled or
accidentally caught in the fishing nets
are astonishingly frequent; for now, the
fishermen release the animals voluntarily.
Since the publication of a story in National
Geographic in 2011, the phenomenon
of Cenderawasih Bay gained worldwide
attention. Besides the incursions of liveaboard diving vessels, scientists from
WWF and Conservation International
also visited to document, research and
promote conservation of these animals.
Many lobbied for complete protection of
the species in Indonesia. Finally, in late
2013, the Indonesian government issued
a ministerial decree on shark protection

status. The regulation gave whale sharks
full protection status; this means that
killing a whale shark for any reason is
strictly prohibited.
Cenderawasih Bay is an ancient sea with
endemic fishes, a fairyland of soft and
hard coral reefs. Together with its yearround congregation of feeding whale
sharks, it is the beauty of natures creation
personified, lighting the flame of fervour
in us to preserve and protect this magical
place. Cenderawasih Bay is a global
treasure. Ocean celebrity, Valarie Taylor,
has a better description: the 8th natural
wonder of our world.
*Since
2010,
Ocean
Geographic
has been conducting annual whale
shark photographic expeditions to
Cenderawasih Bay on the MSY Seahorse.
All divers interacting with whale sharks
now contribute a fee of USD30 per person
to the Kwatisore village; additionally, the
fishing bagans contracted to allow divers
to interact with whale sharks beneath their
platform receive a fee of USD 300 to 500
per day. Such arrangements encourage
the local stakeholders to accord greater
protection of the sharks. To participate in
OCEAN GEOGRAPHIC ANNUAL WHALE
SHARK photographic EXPEDITION
TO CENDERAWASIH BAY in September/
October, email:info@OGSociety.org or
check out www.OceanGeographic.org
Quick Facts about the
Biggest Fish in the Ocean

Scientific Name: Rhincodon typus
Life span :
Estimated to live 70100
years
Mouth:
Up to 2m wide and can
contain more than 4,000
tiny teeth.
Maturity and size: After an early growth spurt
, whale sharks grow slowly, reaching maturity
around an estimated 2530 years of age. The
smallest free-swimming whale shark measured
just over a 30 centimetres and was captured in
the Philippines.
Culture: M ost cultures where whale sharks are

found have special names for them, typically
relating to their size and characteristic spots.
In Madagascar they are named marokintana
meaning many stars and Mexicans call them
domino like the game.
Conservation: Whale sharks are listed as
Vulnerable to Extinction by the International
Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN)
and listed on Appendix II of the Convention
on the International Trade in Endangered
Species of Flora and Fauna (CITES), which
helps to regulate their trade. Whale sharks
are protected in several countries worldwide
Whale sharks becoming unintentionally

tangled or accidentally caught in fishing
nets are astonishingly frequent.
94
including Belize, Mexico, Honduras, the

Maldives, Australia, Indonesia, the Seychelles,
India, and the Philippines. However, the highly
lucrative shark fin trade and the growing megaaquarium trade continue to put pressure on
their population. Fishing also poses a serious
threat to their survival; these animals can get
entangled in purse, drift and gill nets, and risk
being struck by ships while they bask or feed
at the waters surface. They are targeted by
artisanal fisheries and occasionally by purse
seine netters, primarily in the Indo-Pacific
region. Although the meat is rarely consumed
outside of eastern Asia, whale sharks are
increasingly captured for their liver oil (used
to waterproof boats) and for their fins (used as
shop signs and status symbols).
Pictures
f the Year
You are invited to share your experiences and

special moments in the sea. YOUR PICTURES
ARE IMPERATIVE TO PROMOTING THE
CONSERVATION OF OUR OCEAN.
competition
As your work will influence change, we acknowledge

its importance by awarding you with prestigious
Awards for Outstanding Achievement, Merit of
Excellence and Special commendations.
The Ocean Geographic Pictures of the Year Awards
are named in honour of some of THE MOST
CELEBRATED IMAGE-MAKERS OF OUR
OCEAN
Plus cash & holiday prizes
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2013 Winner: Amos Nachoum

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Outstanding Achievement
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Award for Novice Photographer
THE OCEAN GEOGRAPHIC
PHOTOJOURNALIST AWARD
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the overall Winner
ONE competition: 15 Categories

38 Prestigious Awards
Pictures are a powerful medium for

conservation. Images reveal untold stories,
stir emotions and change hearts.
Ocean Geographic
encourages the use of images to
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Ocean Geographic Issue 29 2014

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Australia $10.95, Singapore $10.95, Malaysia RM20, USA $10, Brunei $11.

80, UK 6, Europe 8, Hong Kong $50, Others US$11

plights of our ocean

The Sustainable Edition

ISSUE 29:7/ 2014

OCEAN GEOGRAPHIC Almanac of Our Seas

Find an Authorized Ikelite Dealer at ikelite.com.

ONE-Year membership to Ocean Geographic Society

OG Resorts and Live-aboard Partners

Minahasa Lagoon Resort

Scuba Seraya Resort

Aiyanar Beach and

Avalon Cuban Diving

The Sustainable Edition

This editions cover received the most votes from OGs

Fish: To eat or not to eat

Killing ourselves quickly

Garden of the Gods

Faces of the Ocean

Dr. Hanny Batuna

Michael AW, Dr. Mark Erhmann,

The Vizl Effect

The British Society of

MissionBlue Sylvia Earle Alliance

Natures capacity for survival is evident. Take Ta Prohm, one of

Patricia Pei Voon Lee

THE MOMENTS THAT TAKE OUR

Bahamas: Feb / March

Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by

Great Hammerheads: Tiger Sharks

Cuba Jardines de la Reina: March

Silkies & Reef sharks, Goliath Groupers and American

Sharks, Mantas and Rainbow Reefs

Indonesia Cenderawasih Bay: September

South Africa Sardine Runs: June

Expedition leaders & Photo Pro

Christian Vizl, Mathieu Meur and Michael AW

Dolphins, Bronze Whalers, Dusky Sharks, Brydes

The Editorial Board

Michaels saturated colour imageries have earn him more

Carden Wallace PhD Honorary Editor & & Board Member

Cardens research has focused on biogeography and

Jennifer Hayes Honorary Editor

Jen is an aquatic ecologist who has collected a couple of

David is the worlds most ce le brate d unde r wate r

Emory Kristof Honorary Editor

Emorys photography has discovered the unexplored worlds

This is a production from the

Stan Waterman Honorary Editor

Stan has been at the forefront of scuba diving since

Doug Perrine Honorary Editor

Doug is widely regarded as one of the worlds foremost

Gerald Allen PhD Honorary Editor

Gerald is an internationally renowned authority on the

The Editorial Board

Howard and Michele Hall Honorary Editors

Christopher Lee Editor Emeritus

Christopher was the co-founder of Asian Geographic and the managing

Laurent Ballesta Honorary Editor

Laurent is a marine scientist, photo journalist and documentary maker

Cabell Davis PhD Oceanographic in Residence

Cabell is a Senior Scientist at Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution

Evonne Ong CHIEF EDITOR

research & publisher assistant

ONE-Year membership to Ocean Geographic Society

Dr. Hanny Batuna

Michael AW, Dr. Mark Erhmann,