Welcome To The New RTSea Blog!

As you can see, the RTSea Blog has been revamped, offering more features and information. You'll notice that I transferred all of the past postings from the old blog, so feel free to peruse past postings. I hope you all enjoy the new look and feel free to comment or submit postings. The more communication we can develop regarding environmental and conservation issues, the better. Let's help "Make the Message Matter." - Richard Theiss/RTSea

National Aquarium hosts Island of the Great White Shark screening

On June 17th & 18th, I was the guest of the National Aquarium in Baltimore for a screening and lecture of Island of the Great White Shark. Like many of the aquariums I have visited, this is a marvelous, proactive organization with a very dedicated staff. I had the opportunity to swap stories with Chuck Eicholtz, the Aquarium's dive safety officer, and Alan Henningsen, fish research specialist and resident shark expert.

Suzanne Ebbert and Polly Yanick of the membership department kept my itinerary full and I had a marvelous opportunity to tour the Center of Marine Biotechnology (COMB) to witness first hand the progress they are making in replenishing the regional Blue Crab population through aquaculture. A mainstay of the Chesapeake Bay, the blue crab population has diminished by as much as 80% through over-fishing. The efforts of COMB to rebuild the breeding population hold great promise.

On Tuesday, the 17th, I had the opportunity to be interviewed by the FOX 45 Morning Show to promote the Wednesday night screening. Click on this Fox 45 news link.
The screening was well-attended and the Aquarium has a fantastic theater - great picture and incredible sound. The audience included Aquarium board members (many thanks to Lee Riley for the introduction), Aquarium staff, volunteers, and members, and the "just curious." For some, I think the film and follow-up discussion helped to dispel a few myths. For others, it stoked the fire in their engine for shark conservation. The best compliment I received was relayed to me by Suzanne Ebbert, Director of Membership, who told me people approached her saying, “This is why we joined the aquarium as members, for programs like this.”

My thanks to the Marjorie Lynn Bank Lecture Series for supporting this event.
Upcoming screening: July 17th @ Harvard Museum of Natural History w/Dr. John Mandelman

Energy alternatives require a restructuring of priorities

On 06/07/08, RTSea wrote: In the June 9th issue of TIME magazine there is a great article, “We Need a Power Surge”, about the need to focus some of the same energy and commitment we harnessed to put a man on the moon and direct it towards the issue of alternative energy. As the author, Jeffrey Sachs, says, we citizens and consumers can all do our part but changing to fluorescent light bulbs and driving less won’t do it all. Government needs to show true leadership and initiative.

Priorities are askew – supporting short-term goals and status quo business models. As an example, according to the International Energy Agency, in 2006 the U.S. spent $3.2 billion for all energy research – including nuclear, wind, coal, solar and biofuels. The Pentagon spends that much in about 40 hours.

We need to make changes in our daily lives and we need to exercise our ability to influence our leaders to move this nation, citizens, government, and business, in the right direction. Act by example, vote by choice, influence by action.

Upcoming screenings of Island of the Great White Shark:
June 18th – National Aquarium, Baltimore, MD w/Richard Theiss
July 17th – Harvard Museum of Natural History, Cambridge, MA w/Dr. John Mandelman

Mexican government questions eco-tourism at Isla Guadalupe . . . again

On 05/20/08, RTSea wrote: The government agency in Mexico that regulates the issuing of permits to eco-tourism operators is debating the entire issue of allowing any boats at Isla Guadalupe for this fall. Their concerns are based on allegations of questionable behavior on the part of the shark diving boats and potential negative impact on the sharks, the resident pinnipeds, and the island as a whole. These are all important issues worth considering, however the allegations made against the eco-tourism boats are pretty far-fetched and outrageous.

You can read the latest government position and eco-tourism response at http://www.mexidata.info/id1836.html.

If any operators were behaving in a manner that demonstrably affected the health and well-being of Isla Guadalupe's white shark population, I would be the first to recommend denying that operator the necessary permit. But, unfortunately, there is a political and personality clash component going on here in the background and that could result in ALL boats being banned and, despite any assurances from the Mexican government, the great white sharks would be at risk, having lost the best available ongoing protectors and watchdogs - the eco-tourism boats themselves.

Growth of oxygen-poor zones in the Pacific Ocean

On 05/18/08, RTSea wrote: Interesting but disturbing article in the Los Angeles Times regarding the growth of oxygen-poor zones (http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/unleashed/2008/05/threatening-mar.html). Noting the expansion of the Pacific's zone along Mexico/Central America/South America, these zones are typically deep water but have been increasing in size, extending further north and south and becoming more shallow. These zones are different from equally dangerous "dead zones" caused by fertilizer-fed algae blooms, but have the same effect on sealife, pushing fish populations into different regions or oceanic stratas that can impact their health or expose them to a greater potential for over-fishing as their numbers increase in shallower waters.

The culprit behind this expansion, according to scientists from Germany to California, is global warming. As ocean temperatures increase due to the accumulation of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, the water's ability to retain oxygen is compromised. One more domino effect that we must address and that proves that the health of the oceans is undeniably linked to our actions on the land.

New England Aquarium hosts Island of the Great White Shark screening

On 05/07/08, RTSea wrote: Richard Theiss just returned from Boston, MA where a successful screening of "Island of the Great White Shark" was held at the New England Aquarium. Accompanying him was Mauricio Hoyos, the shark researcher featured in the film. Both Mauricio and Richard were interviewed on 5/05/08 by WGBH (Nova) for the Greater Boston series, hosted by Emily Rooney.

The New England Aquarium was a most generous host and has a wonderful staff of committed marine conservationists (my thanks to Vickie Cataldo, Dr. John Mandelman, Dr. Greg Stone, and Tony LaCasse). And the people of Boston have a great fascination and interest in sharks, in no small part due to the fact that Boston was the home of the late Peter Benchley who became quite a shark advocate in the years following the success of "Jaws." Peter's original writings reflected the attitudes of the times and as his popularity put him in the limelight and in continual contact with developing science, he came to be a very prolific writer on behalf of sharks.

This is what new research findings and media presentations like "Island of the Great White Shark" hope to accomplish - to sway public opinion in favor of realizing the important role these animals (indeed, many marine animals) play in maintaining a healthy ocean, and the need to protect them. We all grew up a little afraid of sharks, but now fear must give way to appreciation and respect.

The event was sponsored by the Aquarium's Lowell Lecture Series.

Richard Theiss responds to San Diego shark incident on CBS News

On 04/28/08, RTSea wrote: From Richard Theiss, filmmaker Island of the Great White Shark, regarding the recent San Diego shark incident:

On Friday, 4/25, the news hit of a man fatally bitten by a white shark off Solana Beach, near San Diego, CA. I was asked by CBS and KCAL news to comment (http://www.cbs2.com/video/?id=65566@kcbs.dayport.com).

It's always a tragic event when someone is attacked by an animal and my heart goes out to the victim's family and friends. Judging by the news reports that filtered in over the course of the day, it would appear that the attack was a classic case of mistaken identity with the shark mistaking the swimmer for a possible seal. Apparently, the swimmer was slightly apart from a group of other swimmers 150 yards off shore, with some of the swimmers wearing dark wetsuits or swimsuits. The shark approached in the manner typical of a seal hunting behavior.

It has been many years since there has been a shark attack in Southern California and the news organizations have made quite a fuss, as the southland was preparing for a sunny and warm weekend. Without minimizing the loss of a popular local resident, let's hope level heads prevail so as to not generate 70's-style "Jaws" hysteria

Island of the Great White Shark: Upcoming screenings

On 03/09/08, RTSea wrote: "Island of the Great White Shark" - RTSea's recently completed documentary chronicling the great white sharks of Isla Guadalupe, Baja and the ongoing shark research taking place there - can be seen at upcoming screenings/lectures at the following aquariums:

March 30th - Aquarium of the Pacific "Divers Day", Long Beach, CA
May 5th - New England Aquarium, Boston, MA
June 18th - National Aquarium, Baltimore, MD

Stay tuned, more aquarium screenings are being scheduled and the film will be available on DVD shortly.

"A primal scene of unearthly beauty. Excitement and information pepper this film." - David McGuire, Sea Stewards
"Richard Theiss has a unique ability to communicate science, conservation and entertainment." - Ania Budziak, PADI Project Aware Foundation

Island of the Great White Shark premieres at Aquarium of the Pacific

On 02/13/08, RTSea wrote: Island of the Great White Shark - the latest documentary from RTSea Productions had a series of exclusive premiere screenings at the Aquarium of the Pacific in Long Beach, CA. The audience response was very enthusiastic and during the Q&A that followed the screening, it was clear that the audience now saw the sharks in a different light and were concerned about conserving and protecting these amazing animals.

A screening is scheduled for May 5th at the New England Aquarium and more screenings at leading aquariums are being arranged. Stay tuned - DVD availability is in the works.

"I think you have created a remarkable film." - Dr. Jerry Schubel, President/CEO, Aquarium of the Pacific
"Beautiful videography, good graphics and information." - Dr. Bob Hueter, Director, Mote Marine Shark Research
"We absolutely loved the film." - Liz and Kevin Sullivan, Pacific Explorers Dive Club

A News Year's resolution for 2008

On 01/01/08, RTSea wrote: First, let me wish you all a meaningful New Year - one full of optimism and progress for future generations! That being said, we all have our work cut out for us. In the U.S., it will be a year full of important political decisions. Our nation's poor performance and lack of foresight at the recent environment/global warming conference in Bali means we need to find new leaders with the fortitude to make the important decisions that need to be made if there is to be any hope in stemming the tide of global warming. And we need to not let up in our efforts to protect threatened marine species worldwide. Those are New Year's resolutions we can't afford to break.