Gone Spawning...

We often admire the one large ulua aukea (white ulua) that lives in the HIMB shark lagoon. These fish can grow to over 5 feet in length and 140 lbs. But if it wasn't living with are sharks, what would its life really be like?

Carl Meyer of HIMB is quoted in a recent article from Hana Hou Magazine talking about how far (or not) huge ulua move in the wild. Turns out that adult ulua are stay-at-home nellies, with a home range of only about 3 miles. Day in and day out, they stay within their core areas.

Until summer - then one day they all just up and leave on an extended trip. To the same place because . . .

It is the Summer of Love on the Spawning Grounds (actually the Summer of "Urge" would be more accurate here - we are talking about fish).

Turns out that ulua will travel many miles to various summer spawning grounds before returning to their home areas.

Interesting, a secret world that they have - something for us to protect.

Aloha,

Mark

Puffer Update

Please keep an eye out for distressed Stripebelly puffers at HIMB or surrounding waters. We send off specimens to Thierry M. Work, Wildlife Disease Specialist, at USGS-NWHC-HFS. He continues to investigate. Still no obvious cause of death although microscopic lesions mainly in the gills and liver are one possible area of investigation.

See Friday's Star Advertiser article for more: "The Fish Are Dying..."

Marine Corps Base Helicopter Squadron Expansion

The Marine Corps base is planning to do an Environmental Impact Statement on their upcoming expansion for new helicopter squadrons. Public input is planned. See: http://www.mcbh.usmc.mil/mv22h1eis/

Aloha,

Mark

Scoping Meetings - Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary

Help the HIHNMS plan for the coming years. See: http://hawaiihumpbackwhale.noaa.gov/news/press/710scopingmtgs.html for a list of meeting sites and dates.

Aloha,

Mark

Aloha all!

Mark and Sal are both back in the office!

Please check the schedule, we have some empty slots that need filled for up-coming tours.

For new blog posts, check below and-

The ship from the upcoming movie "The Pirates of the Caribbean" has been docked at He 'iea pier. If you get a chance stop by and check it out. You may run into cast and crew, as well as take lots of good photos. We hear they may be leaving as early as this weekend, so don't wait if you want to check it out!

Don't forget to check the schedule and have a great weekend!

Mahalo,

Sarah (The Summer Intern)

OCEANIA Website change

Aloha,

Did you know that there is a local chapter of the National Marine Educator's Association here in Hawai'i? Did you know that their website just changed?

See: http://maui.hawaii.edu/oceania for the local site. For the Facebook see: http://www.facebook.com/OceaniaMarineEducators

For the national, see: http://www.marine-ed.org/

Mark

Teacher at Sea Cruise!

Approximately once a month, C-MORE and the Hawaii Ocean Time Series (HOT) program operate a four-day research cruise. K-12 teachers are invited to apply for the opportunity to join a C-MORE Scientist-Educator on selected cruises. Teachers will be able to participate in every aspect of sampling aboard the ship, and will be working alongside other teachers and scientists. Activities range from hands-on deck board sampling, processing and analysis of samples in the lab, as well as classroom exercises and lectures. Although teachers will learn about all aspects of oceanography during these cruises, particular emphasis will be placed on the exciting and emerging field of microbial oceanography!

“It’s the best experience I’ve had in a long time, professionally and personally.”

For more information, please email stars@soest.hawaii.edu (please note new address). If you are interested in applying, please download