Bermuda BREAM

Royal Gazette: September 15. 2009 01:56PM Residents are being advised not to panic over the numbers of dead fish that have washed up on Bermuda’s shores in recent weeks. Hundreds of e-mails have been circulated by persons concerned about the die-off, with many warning against eating local fish. Government is to hold a press conference today, however Environmental Protection director Fred Ming told The Royal Gazette: “I think it would be wise not to eat any fish that looks like it is lethargic [unresponsive] or has lesions or any signs on the body of damage. Do not eat them because we don't know what's involved.” Dr. Ming said people should be cautious, but there is no need to panic. At this point, he doesn't discourage anyone from swimming or fishing. “We don’t know what is causing this and what we have done is assign a team of scientists, technicians and so forth representing the department, conservation services and BIOS. We have been out on one outing and we will send pe...

Rob Fisher setting up a transect line on Bermuda's forereef terrace A fundamental impediment to marine resource management in Bermuda is the lack of critical baseline data of the benthic and fish populations present across fore-reef habitats, and within current marine protected areas of the Bermuda Platform. These reef habitats are large, covering over 300 sq. km., and of global significance as preliminary surveys indicate that the Bermuda fore-reef contains some of the healthiest coral and herbivorous fish assemblages remaining in the Western Atlantic. As part of the BREAM mandate, and with the BZS research vessel "Endurance" and with financial assistance from the Department of Conservation Services ( link ), the Atlantic Conservation Partnership, and the Overseas Territories Environment Programme ( link ), w e are going to undertake a comprehensive assessment of the entire fore-reef habitat at 10-m depth intervals across 3 depth zones, and of all spatially-bounde...

Prior BREAM research intern Matt Strong is hosting a Lionfish Tournament next weekend: SHOW SOME REEFSPECT AND "EAT'UM TO BEAT'UM" Host: GROUNDSWELL Price: $15 per individual & $30 per boat Date: Sunday, August 23, 2009 Time: 7:00am - 3:00pm Location: Pier 41 Marina - Dockyard Phone: 7047413OR3314440 Lion Fish Tournament Aug 23rd JUNGLE RULES APPLY Safely catch as many Lion fish as you can; spear them, hook them, net them. Basically get them how ever you can legally and safely. All Lion Fish Catches accepted - no size or number limits Tournament time: Sun-up to 3 p.m. SET ON AFTER at PIER 41 MARINA IN DOCKYARD From 3 p.m. until 7 p.m. Weigh-in and Awards/Prize Giving Lion Fish- Handling, Preparation and Tasting Big Tune by Harrington Sound... THESE FISH ARE DANGEROUS TO HANDLE. THEY HAVE VENOMOUS SPINES. EDUCATE YOURSELF BEFORE HANDLING. ENTER TOURNAMENT AT YOUR OWN RISK. We will have two information sessions and lion fish collection permit cou...

Mid Ocean News link here Published: July 31. 2009 12:00AM How our wetlands have shrunk over past 200 years By Alex Scrymgeour B ERMUDA has lost 57 per cent of its wetland areas in the last 200 years. With continued coastal development and people continuing to dump trash illegally at marshes and other wetland environments the problem is only getting worse. undefined Click Here to Visit our Sponsor Last night, Jessie Hallett, a researcher with the Bermuda Zoological Society (BZS), gave a lecture in the main hall of the Bermuda Aquarium Museum and Zoo (BAMZ), discussing how marine and wetland habitats of Bermuda have changed in the past two centuries. By comparing a 200-year-old detailed map of our reef and wetland ar...

Not Monday - TUESDAY!!!! FREE: Public Welcome Date: Tuesday, July 28, 2009 Time: 7:00pm - 8:00pm Location: Bermuda Aquarium Museum and Zoo - Classroom Flatts Village, Bermuda Phone: 2932727 Email: tjmurdoch@gov.bm Come hear Jessie Hallett, BREAM researcher, describe how she used the 200 year old Hurd Map of Bermuda to determine how marine and wetland habitats of Bermuda have been changed in the past 2 centuries

BREAM supported research graduate student Matt Ajemian, in part funded by the Eric Clee Environmental Fund at the Bermuda Zoological Society, was in the news today! Link to Bermuda Sun article from Wednesday July 8th Bermuda holds secrets to the elusive Eagle Ray Sarah Lagan Writer/Sub-editor Wednesday, July 08, 2009 Research:  Scientist Matt Ajemian (right) is assisted in the weighing of the captured Eagle Ray which is seen below being netted in to the boat. *Photos by Sarah Lagan The Eagle Ray is a species of fish shrouded in mystery and it is one man's mission to unearth the many secrets of these enigmatic creatures from our own island. PHD student Matthew Ajemian is visiting Bermuda from the University of South Alabama seeking an insight into the ray's movements and behavioural patterns. He is returning to complete the next phase of his research focusing on the ray's interaction with Bermuda's Calico Clam, now scarce here but once seen in their droves. Harrington ...