cdiver2
Contributor
On Channel 9 news Sat 30th 11am (a little late in puting the news out)
Under the sea
Saturday, July 30, 2005
Bay area scientists are going under the sea to clean up some man-made helpers.
They said artificial reefs usually do a lot of good for undersea life, but they're not getting the attention they need and it's causing problems.
Divers are swimming their way towards dozens of artificial reefs, which are scattered across the Bay area. They're finding old barges, army tanks and concrete culverts. They're also finding trash and beer cans.
"We've had dolphins that actually get tangled up in a monofilament lining," Mote Marine scientist Brett Ramey Blackburn said. "They almost lost one of their fins. It's become an issue we needed to address."
That's why Mote Marine laboratory scientists and divers are raking over the reefs.
The Mote Marine scientists are hoping more divers will jump on board and help clean the artificial reefs. They're starting a program similar to adopt a highway, calling it adopt a reef.
"When you see that garbage you have to do something about it,'' diver Damien Buck said. "It's important to just not let that go by."
Especially since the reefs provide shelter for sea animals.
If you're interested in helping preserve the artificial reefs, Mote Marine Laboratory is holding a cleanup and treasure hunt this weekend. The cleanup will focus on nine reefs in Sarasota Bay ranging from 45 to 60 feet deep. Divers have the chance to win prizes, including fins, snorkels, a regulator and a dive computer.
For more information call Mote Marine at (941) 388-4441.
Under the sea
Saturday, July 30, 2005
Bay area scientists are going under the sea to clean up some man-made helpers.
They said artificial reefs usually do a lot of good for undersea life, but they're not getting the attention they need and it's causing problems.
Divers are swimming their way towards dozens of artificial reefs, which are scattered across the Bay area. They're finding old barges, army tanks and concrete culverts. They're also finding trash and beer cans.
"We've had dolphins that actually get tangled up in a monofilament lining," Mote Marine scientist Brett Ramey Blackburn said. "They almost lost one of their fins. It's become an issue we needed to address."
That's why Mote Marine laboratory scientists and divers are raking over the reefs.
The Mote Marine scientists are hoping more divers will jump on board and help clean the artificial reefs. They're starting a program similar to adopt a highway, calling it adopt a reef.
"When you see that garbage you have to do something about it,'' diver Damien Buck said. "It's important to just not let that go by."
Especially since the reefs provide shelter for sea animals.
If you're interested in helping preserve the artificial reefs, Mote Marine Laboratory is holding a cleanup and treasure hunt this weekend. The cleanup will focus on nine reefs in Sarasota Bay ranging from 45 to 60 feet deep. Divers have the chance to win prizes, including fins, snorkels, a regulator and a dive computer.
For more information call Mote Marine at (941) 388-4441.
