Balloons, plastic bags, recreational fishing line and food wrappers are killing thousands of marine animals as they eat plastic items that later perforate internal organs, or they become entangled and drown.
A sea turtle hatchling swims very close to discarded balloons. Dr. Blair Witherington FLORIDA FISH AND WILDLIFE CONSERVATION COMMISSION
Choked, strangled and drowned. How balloons and plastic bags are killing marine animals
FL Keys News
With holiday lighted boat parades just around the corner, BoatUS reminds us that brightly lighted vessels are for navigating only in a properly sanctioned parade, not for normal night time boating.
Photo Caption: Decorative lights can present navigation challenges for other boaters. BoatUS offers two installation tips. Credit: Shannon Carrithers
Photo Caption: Decorative lights can negatively affect a boat operator’s night vision. Credit: Rodney Webster
Don’t Make Your Boat Look Like a Christmas Tree
BoatUS advises boaters about unsafe decorative lighting when navigating
SPRINGFIELD, Va., Nov. 18, 2020 – Boaters looking to buy themselves a Christmas gift may be thinking about adding some “bling” to the boat – multicolored decorative LED deck and space lighting. Just don’t light your boat up like a Christmas tree, says the BoatUS Foundation for Boating Safety and Clean Water. Extra lights installed in the wrong place could cause other boaters to misinterpret your boat’s navigation lights and present a safety hazard.
“Today’s decorative lighting options, from ropes to underwater lighting, allow DIYers to personalize their boats,” said BoatUS Foundation for Boating Safety and Clean Water President Chris Edmonston. “The challenge comes when the boat is underway. Decorative lights installed in the wrong location may cause others to misinterpret your vessel’s red, green and white navigation lighting. Bright lights of many colors can also reduce your night vision and hamper your ability to safely navigate.”
The BoatUS Foundation has two tips when shopping for and installing decorative boat lights:
1. When underway, avoid displaying any light that could be confused as a navigation light or another type of vessel. When installing decorative LED lighting, running wiring to a single master switch allows you to easily turn off all nonessential lights before heading out. Remember, flashing blue lights are reserved for law enforcement – at a distance, wave action combined with the steady rocking of high-intensity blue lights below the waterline can give the appearance of a police vessel.
2. Don’t install decorative lights that prevent the operator from maintaining a good lookout. When running between sunset and sunrise, it’s critical that those behind the wheel maintain their night vision, so the number-one goal is to keep light out of the operator’s eyes. Glare from aesthetic lighting such as LED rope lights wrapped around a helm station can hinder night vision.
Topside Marinas, A CRUISERS NET SPONSOR, is a company invested in their team and customers creating lifelong memories, relaxing, enjoying life, and being healthy.
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Scientists estimate that along the coast of Florida, where degradation is most severe, perhaps as little as 2% of original coral cover remains.
A parrotfish is swims over a dead coral reef in the Florida Keys national marine sanctuary near Key West, Florida. Photograph: Wilfredo Lee/AP
‘Dire outlook’: scientists say Florida reefs have lost nearly 98% of coral
The Guardian
Safety Harbor Marina is in the northwest corner of Old Tampa Bay, north of St. Petersburg and the Howard Franklin Bridge. Our thanks to Larry Pritchett for this alert.
Destroyed ATON G9 Safety Harbor Marina Channel
Day mark G9 in the Safety Harbor Marina Channel was destroyed by Storm ETA. Piling is below the water at high tide.
Iota is forecast to be at or near Category 5 hurricane strength when it makes a potentially catastrophic landfall along the coast of northeastern Nicaragua or eastern Honduras Monday night. As of noon Monday, Iota was moving west with winds of 160 mph!
Iota now ‘strongest hurricane of 2020 Atlantic season’ with 155 mph winds
SunSentinel
You could have corrected that…right?
Intra or Inter? New signs at Daytona bridge get a quick spelling correction
Daytona Beach News-Journal
Our thanks to Ted Arisaka for sharing this link from Georgia Public Broadcasting.
Will Georgia’s Fledgling Oyster Industry Sink Before It Swims?
GPB
Slate feeds marine creatures underwater, and the interaction enables divers to see large marine animals up close.
Bahamas Chatter is produced by Explorer Chartbooks, A CRUISERS NET PARTNER, which has long been the standard navigational supplement for enjoyable, informative, and safe cruising through the beautiful Bahamian waters and island visits.
Bahamas Chatter: Update COVID Exuma
Posted: 13 Nov 2020 06:46 AM PST
PRIME MINISTER STATEMENT ON EXUMA: INTRODUCED MEASURES TO REDUCE SPREAD OF COVID-19 IN EXUMA Prime Minister, Dr. Hubert Minnis announced the following restrictive measures for Exuma, effective Thursday, November 12:
1. There will be a 24-hour weekend curfew from 6pm Friday until 5am Mondays; businesses will not be allowed to operate during this time;
2. Weekday curfew will be from 6pm to 5am;
3. Commercial activity can continue through the week can continue save for fish frys, bars, and restaurants connected to bars;
4. Funerals are allowed at the graveside only and can have 10 people excluding the officiant; the same number of people is applicable to weddings – there will also be no repasts or receptions;
5. Church services are to be held virtually;6. Schools must be held virtually;
7. Effective tomorrow, domestic travel by air or sea is prohibited into and out of Exuma except in the case of emergency;
8. Anyone travelling from Exuma to any other island, must have a negative RT-PCR COVID-19 test;
9. No public or social gatherings are allowed.Dr. Minnis said these measures do not apply to the Exuma Cays.“I know this is short notice but this is essential after seeing what has happened on several past occasions,” he said.
The prime minister further explained that Exuma has recorded over 30 new cases in the past week.There are 79 positive cases from the island of Exuma – 28 are active, two are hospitalized and there has been one COVID-19 related death, according to Dr. Minnis. The prime minister also announced that the number of health care professionals on the island have been “boosted.”
“The measures on New Providence and Abaco have helped to decrease the spread of the virus on these islands,” the prime minister said earlier. “I assure you that we can continue to make progress if we continue to work together and wear our masks and avoid large gatherings.”He also said all positive cases are in isolation in Eleuthera and all contacts are being monitored.
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