CEI Researchers attend the Gulf and Caribbean Fisheries Institute Conference

November 20, 2013 ceiblogger

CEI’s Dr Jocelyn Curtis-Quick and Skylar Millar attended the 66^thGulf and Caribbean Fisheries Institute conference in Corpus Christi Texas last week.

Jocelyn presented the research that her team and Island School class have been working on over the last two semesters – investigating the interactions between the Caribbean Spiny Lobster, Panulirus argus, and the invasive lionfish, Pterois volitans. This work is of great importance as the potential displacement of lobster in condos could have large negative socioeconomic and ecological consequences for The Bahamas, and the greater Caribbean. Jocelyn also attended a special workshop that brought together scientists, restaurant affiliates and members from various commercial sectors to talk about getting lionfish in the market place. Lots of great ideas and discussion took place! Continue reading →

Flats, Outreach, Research Programs, Student Research

Intern Bio: Kylie Bloodsworth

November 18, 2013 ceiblogger

Kylie grew up in Minneapolis, Minnesota. She received in a Bachelor’s of Arts in French Language Studies and a Bachelor’s of Science in Biology from the University of St. Thomas in St. Paul, MN. More recently, she earned a Master’s of Science degree in Marine Science from the University of New England in Maine. Her research examined how river plume dynamics influence larval transport and more specifically the distribution of crab and mussel larvae. Beyond educational institutions, Kylie has gained experience working for State agencies such as the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, interning at aquariums, and teaching science and math in K-12 public schools and college-level courses in the Caribbean. In the future, she hopes to pursue a career in marine resource management and is particularly interested in science communication, K-12 education and outreach, and conducting applicable research. Continue reading →

Educational Programs, Lionfish, Outreach

Outreach at local Wemyss Bight Primary School

November 15, 2013 ceiblogger

Sixth grade students listen to a presentation on lionfish.

Tiffany Gray, the Lead Outdoor Educator at CEI and Franchesca Bethell, a lionfish intern at CEI and a former BESS Island School alumni, recently had the opportunity to teach the awesome sixth grade class at Wemyss Bight Primary School about lionfish awareness. The students first followed along with the lionfish presentation which gave them insight into the invasive species in the western region of the world. They listened attentively and weren’t afraid to ask LOTS of questions during the presentation! Continue reading →

Flats

Call for abstracts- Mangroves Symposium in Mexico

November 7, 2013 ceiblogger

Mazatlan, Mexico
April 7 – 12, 2014

ABSTRACT SUBMISSION IS NOW OPEN!

For online abstract submission and registration information, go to:www.wdmeeting2014.wordpress.com/abstracts/

For general information on the symposium, go to: www.fishconserve.org

For information on becoming a sponsor, e-mail Sponsorship Contact

Questions? E-mail us at info@fishconserve.org

This symposium is being held in conjunction with the
Annual Meeting of the Western Division of the
American Fisheries Society

Flats, Visiting Scientists

Bonefish Tagging in Andros South

November 7, 2013 ceiblogger

Bonefish tagging has been taking place on a large scale in the south of Andros this week. Zack Jud from the Bonefish and Tarpon Trust and Stacey Dorman and Carl Treyz from the Cape Eleuthera Institute with the support of Andros South aim to tag, measure and release as many bonefish as possible within a four day period. This tagging study is part of a Bahamian wide project that is investigating the movements and growth rates of bonefish. In addition, clients and guides from Andros South (i.e., Deneki Outdoors) and fishing lodges throughout the country will contribute to this study by re-capturing tagged bonefish in the future..

Before lunch time on the first day, Stacey and Carl had helped tag over 200 bonefish, with the total reaching around 600 by the end of the second day. The largest bonefish caught to date is just over 24 inches or 610 millimeters. Between netting bonefish, dodging storms, sighting turtles and dolphins and kicking back at the fishing lodge, Stacey and Carl are having a great time exploring the ecosystems on Andros. By the end of this research excursion we hope to tag over 1,000 bonefish, stay tuned!

Zack Jud (BTT) showing Deneki guide Sparkles how to tag a bonefish.

Conch, Educational Programs, Lionfish, Outreach, Plastics, Sharks, Student Research

Update on recent visiting programs!

November 4, 2013 ceiblogger

Fall is off to a fantastic start in Educational Programs! CEI jumped back into the academic year with two amazing weeks of programming. Along for the ride were our students from Round Square, a collaborative group of 17 young adults from Canada and Massachusetts, followed by Palm Beach Day Academy of Florida.

The Round Square group dropping the Medusa

Round Square ambassadors spent time on Eleuthera before heading to the annual Round Square conference. Students focused on their “IDEALS of learning: Internationalism, Democracy, Environment, Adventure, Leadership and Service” while at CEI, and investigated the concept of what it means to live and travel well. Round Square students had the once in a lifetime opportunity of launching the Medusa with the Shark Research team, along with dissecting a lionfish, conducting shuttle box experiments, and surveying the local beaches for marine debris.

Round Square group playing with kids at the resource center.

To emphasize the international element of the program, CEI organized and launched a Round Square-DCMS Plastics Seminar! The day began by pairing each Round Square student with a DCMS student, and quickly launched into round table discussions on plastics pollution and its impact on environment and our bodies. All DCMS and the Round Square students were insightful and reflective on plastics in daily life, and each left with recycled plastic jewelry to remind them to keep continue thinking about plastic’s role in our world. Continue reading →

Educational Programs, SCUBA

Final update on Gap Year Students

October 31, 2013 ceiblogger

The idea of a Gap Year is to take a step back to view the big picture. To take a step back to look at where you’ve come from, where you’ve gone and see where you’d like to go. To take a step back so you can take the right steps forward.

The program here came to an end last week, culminating in the students Demonstration of Learning and Graduation ceremony. Over the past nine weeks Eryn, Ryan and Jordan have made profound change in their own lives and of those surrounding them.

Continue reading →

Aquaponics, Sea turtles

Update from CEI Apprentice Whitney Knowles

October 23, 2013 ceiblogger 1 Comment

Whitney Knowles is a sophomore at The College of The Bahamas, majoring in Small Island Sustainability with a focus in Marine Science. Initially, Whitney worked at CEI as an Aquaculture and Aquaponics intern, followed by a stint as an Educational Programs Apprentice from February to August, but now she has taken on the role of Aquaculture and Turtles Research Apprentice.

Her current duties include grading tilapia, organizing feeding rates and schedules, collecting fry, getting involved in outreach with DCMS, setting BRUVS for turtle research, tagging and releasing turtl,es and habitat mapping. Whitney’s future goal is to leave CEI with all the knowledge and experience that she has gained, and apply it to her daily life, and to inspire others to do the same. Next summer she is planning on resuming her education at the College of The Bahamas, then moving on to attend Dalhousie University in Nova Scotia, Canada to study Marine Biology and fisheries conservation. Good luck to her in the future, and we are lucky to have her talents a work right now at CEI!

Outreach, Plastics, Sustainable Systems

CEI Research Team conducts beach plastic surveys

October 21, 2013 ceiblogger

With every researcher at CEI always on the go, managing their own research projects, they hardly have time to get a feel for other projects going on at the institute. Luckily this is changing, as once a month all researchers will come together and take part in a different research project. The goal is for each CEI researcher to have a good understanding of all of the great research being done at CEI.

This past week the team assisted fellow researcher Kristal Ambrose with her beach plastic project. The team managed to survey two beaches for the long term project; Kristal aims to determine how plastic moves over time in between beaches here in South Eleuthera. The CEI team helped contribute to Kristal’s growing dataset, learning new survey methods, and getting firsthand exposure to the plastic pollution that threatens the beauty and health of the island. A good time was had by all. Stay tuned for the research team’s next adventure!

Educational Programs, Outreach, Sustainable Fisheries, Sustainable Systems

CEI Outreach at schools in North Eleuthera

October 16, 2013 ceiblogger

Miss Kristal Ambrose, CEI’s Marine Plastic Pollution Specialist, and Tiffany Gray, CEI’s Lead Outdoor Educator, made a visit to 4th, 5th, and 6th grade students at North Eleuthera Primary to talk about Pollution and Plastics. Students had a blast learning about some of the threats to their marine resources, as well as acting out the North Pacific garbage patch! Kristal and Tiffany also had the opportunity to speak with the 2nd grade class briefly before heading out to Spanish Wells.

Spanish Wells was a successful visit as our team checked in with the 12 grade geography class to assist them with a comparative coral reef study that they will be conducting for the Bahamas General Certificate Secondary Examination, a national exam for local high schools. CEI will be continuing on with outreach efforts in North Eleuthera on Oct 17 where students from both schools will get to visit mangroves and coral reefs.