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| Photo Courtesy of B. Altmeier FKNMS |
On June 23rd, 2011, Florida Keys National Marine Sancutary Staff along with NOAA divers Lauri MacLaughlin and Brenda Altmeier coordinated a project to document the biological characteristics of the 1733 shipwreck site of the El Infante. The team of NOAA and State staff included Altmeier from the FKNMS Maritime Heritage Program; Hank Becker, the State of Florida Marine Services Supervisor from the Mooring Buoy Team and Lauri MacLaughlin, Resource Management Specialist from the Damage Assessment and Restoration Team. The site was divided into four sections using two base lines. Resource Specialist and sanctuary Biologist Lauri MacLaughlin performed the biological characterization survey while Altmeier recorded changes/alterations to site features, photographed species and recorded sea life. The two base lines divided the site South to North for 218 feet and East to West for 126 feet. Surveys were completed successfully the species list and characterization will be available for baseline data future projects and site monitoring. http://1733shipwreck.shutterfly.com/monitoring
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| NOAA Diver Lauri MacLauglin Photo Courtesy of B. Altmeier FKNMS |
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| Photo Courtesy of B. Altmeier FKNMS |
The wreck known as Marker 39 was documented in 2009 through a joint project with the State of Florida Bureau of Archaeological Research. The 150 foot shipwreck rests in 15 - 20 feet of water off shore of Key Largo consists of the remnants of a lower hull of a heavily built vessel that has collapsed and eroded on the seafloor. The exposed width is around 20 feet with a line of iron bolts upright in the timbers. Vessels like the Marker 39 may have been used in the construction of the Overseas Railroad. The structure provides an ideal home for the invasive fish.
While monitoring the site the NOAA divers discovered Lionfish interspersed among the shipwreck structure. The NOAA divers were trained by the REEF for the proper way in which to approach and collect the invasive species. Lionfish have venomous dorsal, ventral and anal spines and must be properly handled. A special collection kit has been put together and distributed for use in Lionfish capture.
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| NOAA Diver Brenda Altmeier capturing Indo-Pacific lionfish (Pterois-volitans) during the routine monitoring of a historical site in the FKNMS Northern Region. |
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| Photo courtesy of Brenda Altmeier |
The NOAA Center for Coastal Fisheries and Habitat Research states that Lionfish are cpapble of permanently impacting native reef fish communinties across multiple trophic levels. FKNMS Staff and local organiztions such as the Reef Enviromental Eduacation Foundation (REEF) have executed an eradication campaign to aid in slowing down the Lionfish population.
How to report, capture, fillet, cook Lionfish
http://www.reef.org/programs/exotic/lionfish/resources
