Florida has announced the establishment of the Office of Ocean Economy at Florida Atlantic University. This office will develop the state's blue economy sectors, including maritime industries, aquaculture, and tourism, with a strong emphasis on expanding and improving the recreational dive industry.
Various regions are home to species such as the green, leatherback, and loggerhead turtles. Due to their endangered or threatened statuses, these species are protected by law in most countries, which mandates specific conservation actions and monitoring.
Sea turtles face numerous threats, including habitat loss, human interference, and climate changes, jeopardising their survival and reproductive success.
Dive Rite has been outfitting underwater explorers since 1984. What started as a small workshop producing thirteen tools for cave exploration has evolved into a global brand with recreational and technical equipment lines that include over 200 products.
Dive Rite developed the canister light, backplate, and Classic wing, entering the rebreather market in 2004 with the O2ptima CCR that has evolved into the more travel-friendly O2ptima CM.
Maritime historians and archaeologists, following years of meticulous research and underwater exploration, have confirmed the identity of the HMS Tyger. The ship, originally launched in 1741, played a pivotal role in British naval operations before succumbing to a fiery end in 1742.
Federal wildlife authorities are re-evaluating the classification of manatees, a move prompted by mounting issues, most notably the devastating loss of seagrass, a critical food source for these gentle marine creatures.
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service recently announced its intention to revisit the categorization of manatees, contemplating a return from “threatened” to “endangered.” This potential reversal would overturn the 2017 decision to reclassify manatees.
Florida's coral reefs, a vital marine ecosystem, have been under severe threat due to extreme ocean temperatures this summer. The coral reefs, besides being biodiversity hotspots, also serve as a protective barrier against coastal erosion and are a significant source of revenue through tourism.
Efforts to protect and restore these reefs have been ongoing for decades. Coral restoration, which involves planting coral fragments, has been a primary method employed by scientists.
Loggerhead Marinelife Center (LMC) is a non-profit education and ocean conservation facility located on the Atlantic Ocean in Palm Beach County, Florida.
The research team at LMC monitors a 9,5-mile stretch of beach from Juno Beach up to Jupiter Island between March and October. Juno Beach is one of the world's most densely nested sea turtle beaches in the world!
As of the end of July, the research team documented record-breaking nesting numbers, now totalling 22,469 nests to date this season on local beaches.
In the face of daunting challenges to our planet's coral reefs, a glimmer of hope emerges from Florida's coastal waters.
Scientists from Ohio State University discovered that the endangered elkhorn coral population in the Dry Tortugas National Park in Florida were highly resilient in its ability to adapt and thrive, despite adverse factors like climate change, pollution and disease outbreaks.
Professor Joseph Dituri from the University of South Florida broke a previous Guinness World Record when he surfaced after living underwater for 100 days.
A retired U.S. Navy Diving Officer and aquanaut, the 55-year-old Dituri embarked on the project in an effort to learn about the effects of hyperbaric pressure on the human body.
He hypothesises that increased pressure has the potential to help humans live longer and prevent diseases associated with ageing.
