Shark tagging with Aimia

By Megan Piechowski, RJD Intern 11/2/12 My excitement for this trip grew all weekend through my 3 back to back trips Friday, Saturday and Sunday. I knew this Sunday trip would sadly be my last for the semester, and planned to make the best of it. It was a RJD packed weekend, including attending a […]

Longlining: A destructive fishing technique

by Megan Piechowski, RJD Intern There is widespread knowledge and documentation of the problems shark species face in commercial fishing industries such as shark finning and longlining. Longlining is a fishing practice that uses a main line that is dozens of miles long with thousands of hooks deployed along the line. Along with the plights […]

Shark Tagging With UM Alumni and Friends

by Kyra Hartog, RJD Intern Saturday was a bittersweet day for me. While I was very excited to have one more shark tagging trip before finals, I started to realize that it was my last trip until August 2013, as I will be studying abroad in the spring. I was determined to enjoy the day […]

Conservation of the Critically Endangered Hawaiian Monk Seals

by Laurel Zaima, RJD Intern Education is always the first step towards the conservation and recovery of a species. The endangered species list intends to bring awareness and education to the public about species that are on the brink of extinction. There are several different classifications that explain the population status of species: least concern, […]

The positive impacts of reef balls

By Jon Dorsey, RJD Intern It is evident that the ocean’s conditions are changing at alarming rates due to natural disasters and man’s activities. Pressures such as global warming, hurricanes and boat groundings all increase the environmental and physical stresses on delicate coral reefs. As a consequence of these increases pressured, coral reefs are rapidly […]

Shark tagging with the American Heritage school

by Becca Shelton, RJD Intern 11/17/12 I was really excited for the RJD shark trip with American Heritage for three reasons. First, this was my last trip of the year with the RJD crew and Captain Curt. While it was a sad thought, the anticipation of the trip was more exhilarating because it was going […]