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Sad Day for Smooth Handfish in Australia

Smooth Handfish Extinction Marks a Sad Milestone



For centuries humans believed the ocean was so vast that it was impossible to do it measurable harm. But we now know human activities can destroy critical marine habitats, dangerously pollute seawater and make sea environments more acidic. Overharvesting has disrupted food chains and directly pushed many ocean species into the critically endangered category—and has driven some animals, including Steller's sea cow, into total extinction. This past March the smooth handfish officially became the first modern-day marine fish to be declared extinct.

Handfish are a family of 14 unusual bottom-dwelling species related to deep-sea anglerfish. Unlike most other fishes, they do not have a larval phase and do not move around very much as adults; these traits make them sensitive to environmental changes, according to Graham Edgar, a marine ecologist at the University of Tasmania. “They spend most of their time sitting on the seabed, with an occasional flap for a few meters if they're disturbed,” Edgar says. “As they lack a larval stage, they are unable to disperse to new locations—and consequently, handfish populations are very localized and vulnerable to threats.” In 1996, he adds, another species called the spotted handfish was the first marine fish listed as critically endangered on the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List.



The smooth handfish was once common enough to be one of the first fish species described by European explorers in Australia. Now none has been reported in well over a century, despite frequent scientific sampling in its known range (including by Edgar and his colleagues). Red List guidelines officially define “extinct” as meaning “there is no reasonable doubt that the last individual has died.” Edgar and the members of Australia's National Handfish Recovery Team were forced to that conclusion earlier this year, and the Red List placed it in the extinct category. Scientists are unsure exactly what finished off the species, but others in the region are threatened by trawl fishing, pollution and climate change.

Article courtesy of Scientific American ( scientificamerican.com )

Spirit of Freedom Liveaboard - Trip Report

"Hi Greg,
 
The trip back in September was great, fantastic crew and nice boat. The only downside: the fact that it was a 3+4 day trip, with most passengers changing in the middle of the trip, meant that it attracted a lot of “light” (inexperienced) divers. For example, most divers did not use nitrox, making it hard for me to find a buddy (on the typical Aggressor boat, most everyone dives nitrox)."
 
"I will work with you again for future dive trips. Thanks again for the help."

Daniel G. - San Diego, CA USA

Spirit of Freedom Liveaboard - Carins, Australia

Spirit of Freedom Liveaboard - Carins, Australia

The Spirit of Freedom offers the best in liveaboard dive cruising to Australia’s Great Barrier Reef and remote Coral Sea reefs. Scuba Dive Tours of 3, 4 and 7 day duration depart our of Cairns to iconic dive sites such as the Cod Hole, Ribbon Reefs and North Horn, Osprey Reef. Shark dives, Potato Cod feeding, sheer walls laced with massive soft corals, manta-rays, minke whales, and abundant healthy tropical reefs, rich with marine biodiversity are just some of the high-lights you'll experience with Spirit of Freedom diving tours. Our packages include:

  • Transfers to/from your Cairns city hotel
  • Opportunity for up to 26 dives
  • En-suite cabin with daily service
  • Chef prepared gourmet meals - Australian style
  • Australian wines and soft drinks with evening meals

Cabin choices include ocean view deluxe, ocean view standard, stateroom, twin/double, and quad share accommodations. Pricing for the 7 night Cod Hole and Coral Sea trips: Quad share $3315 AU ($3075 USD), Twin $3890 AU ($3610 USD), Ocean View Standard $4540 AU ($4215 USD). All pricing is per person and in AU dollars and USD, and includes all fees. 

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