ABC of Diving News Feed

Mississippi Net Fisherman Arrested

A month-long investigation by the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources' Marine Resources Division recently resulted in the arrest of a Mississippi man on numerous gill-net fishing and related charges.

Marine Resources' Conservation Enforcement Officer John Knapp arrested Larry Ryan Jr., a resident of Moss Point, on charges of illegally netting in Alabama waters. Ryan was arrested in the waters of Grand Bay.

Ryan was charged with using a commercial-length gill net without a license (non-resident), possessing mullet without a Roe Mullet Endorsement (non-resident), using an unmarked gill net, using a gill net with an illegal mesh size, operating a vessel without proper registration, and operating a vessel without a throwable device.

Ryan was transported to the Mobile County Metro Jail. Marine Resources officers also confiscated a 20-foot boat, approximately 1,200 feet of gill net and several pounds of fish.

The Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources promotes wise stewardship, management and enjoyment of Alabama's natural resources through five divisions: Marine Police, Marine Resources, State Parks, State Lands, and Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries. To learn more about ADCNR visit www.outdooralabama.com.

Alabama's Free Fishing Day

"Free Fishing Day" for Alabama is scheduled for Saturday, June 6, 2009, during National Fishing and Boating Week. Approved by the Alabama Legislature, the law allows an annual free day of fishing when residents and non-residents may fish without a fishing license. The specific date is set each year by the Commissioner of the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources.

"We have many partners that want to encourage people to fish. We try to set the Alabama Free Fishing Day early so our partners can plan their events," states Commissioner M. Barnett Lawley.

"Fishing is a gateway activity to allow kids to be a part of nature. Fishing events will be scheduled throughout Alabama to bring families together," added Stan Cook, Fisheries Section Chief with the Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries Division.

Marine Resources Division Director R. Vernon Minton noted that many anglers do not get a chance to fish each year. "Free Fishing Day is a time to remind anglers to take some time to relax with family and friends."

The exemption of the usual fishing license requirement on Free Fishing Day does not affect some lakes that may still require fees and permits. Fishing in a private pond requires the pond owner's permission. National Fishing and Boating Week is June 6-14, 2009.

The Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (ADCNR) promotes wise stewardship, management and enjoyment of Alabama's natural resources through five divisions: Marine Police, Marine Resources, State Parks, State Lands, and Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries. To learn more about ADCNR, visit www.OutdoorAlabama.com.

2009 Youth Fish Art Contest Announced

Young artists in grades 4 through 12 are invited to enter the 11th Annual State-Fish Art contest. The Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources and Wildlife Forever team up each year to hold a contest for students to draw a state fish. State winners are chosen in grades 4-6, grades 7-9, and grades 10-12 for the national contest. Entries must be postmarked by March 31, 2009.

Wildlife Forever handles the details of the contest and awards scholarships, art supplies and fishing gear prizes. Young artists may draw Alabama's state fish, either a largemouth bass or a "fighting" tarpon, or they may illustrate a state fish from another state. Youth incorporate science into their entry when they write a required composition on the behavior, habitat and conservation of their chosen fish.

Details of the contest are found at www.statefishart.com. Past winners are shown at www.OutdoorAlabama.com by searching "state fish art." Winners are announced May 1 of each year. Alabama's Connery Carson won "Best of Show" for the Nation in 2005.

Wildlife Forever is a multi-species non-profit conservation organization that works to preserve America's wildlife heritage through conservation education, preservation of habitat and scientific management of fish and wildlife species. Working at the grassroots level, Wildlife Forever has funded conservation projects in all 50 states, committing millions of dollars to "on the ground" conservation efforts. To learn more or to donate, please visit www.wildlifeforever.org.

The Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (ADCNR) promotes wise stewardship, management and enjoyment of Alabama's natural resources through five divisions: Marine Police, Marine Resources, State Parks, State Lands, and Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries. To learn more about ADCNR, visit www.OutdoorAlabama.com.

Alabama Aquatic Nuisance Species Management Plan

The Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources Division of Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries requests assistance in preventing the invasion and spread of aquatic nuisance species in Alabama. Aquatic nuisance species are organisms introduced outside their native ranges that can have harmful effects on Alabama's economy, human health and aquatic ecological health.

On behalf of the Alabama Aquatic Nuisance Species Task Force, the Division requests public comment on the draft "Alabama Aquatic Nuisance Species Management Plan." The plan can be accessed and downloaded from the ADCNR Web site at www.outdooralabama.com/ansplan.

Only written comments or those submitted by email will be accepted. Written comments are due by 5 p.m., January 28, 2009, and should be mailed to Mr. Steven Rider, Alabama Division of Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries, 64 N. Union Street, Suite 551, Montgomery, AL, 36130. Comments via email are due by 5 p.m., January 28, 2009, and can be submitted to Steve.Rider@dcnr.alabama.gov.

Once comments from the public are addressed, a final draft of the Plan will be presented to Governor Bob Riley and the National Aquatic Species Task Force for approval. An approved plan will allow the State of Alabama to access federal funds to combat aquatic nuisance species. However, most importantly, an approved plan will allow coordinated efforts to prevent, control, and manage aquatic nuisance species in Alabama.

The Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (ADCNR) promotes wise stewardship, management and enjoyment of Alabama's natural resources through five divisions: Marine Police, Marine Resources, State Parks, State Lands, and Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries. To learn more about ADCNR, visit www.outdooralabama.com.

Oxyg�ne Opens Dive Center on The Manta Resort

Oxyg�ne Diving opened its first dive center in the Indian Ocean on 1st August 2008, on Pemba Island in the Zanzibar archipelago, Tanzania. The dive center will be the first PADI five star IDC facility on the island, and is located next to The Manta Resort. Pemba is the northernmost of the three Spice Islands, and stand out from the others with a richer wildlife and vibrant sea life.

"Pemba has been famous for its fantastic diving for a long time, so it is extremely inspiring to open up the possibility for more people to experience Pemba and its untouched coral reefs. I dived here myself the first time 12 years ago. Pemba has had a special place in my heart since then," says Henrik Almers, CEO and founder of Oxyg�ne Diving.

"One of The Manta Resort's missions is to give its guests the possibility to discover Africa's untouched nature above and below the surface. Together with Oxyg�ne Diving, we now can supply our guests with an even better and safer underwater experience," says Matthew Saus, CEO of Monsoon Empires that run The Manta Resort.

Oxyg�ne Pemba supplies day trips and live-aboard programs. The dive center offers all PADI courses from beginner to instructor level. The dive center is equipped with a filling station and rental equipment of highest quality.

For more information, contact:

Oxygene International AB
Henrik Almers, +46 709 15 39 00, Stationsv�gen 4, S-430 63 Hind�s, Sweden
Monsoon Empires
Matthew Saus, +46 704 92 66 18, matt@monsoonempires.com

Oxyg�ne Diving - With its roots in Scandinavia, an area of the world known for high quality products and service, Oxyg�ne has grown into an international chain of dive retail stores and resorts around the world. The Oxyg�ne Diving core values Caring, Competent, and Fun are measured up with the high standards in customer service that divers receive at all of its dive centers. Oxyg�ne dive centers are found in Sweden, �land, England, Malta, Egypt, the Philippines, Pemba, Croatia, Estonia, Canada, and Tenerife.

Monsoon Empires - A Swedish hotel management company focused on exclusive and nature orientated smaller hotel and residences, and develop and implement creative hotel concepts in and around the Indian Ocean. Monsoon Empires has offices in Stone town Zanzibar, Nicosia Cyprus, and in V�ster�s Sweden. The company is partially owned by Resort Investors that invest in exclusive hotel estates on emerging markets.

The Manta Resort - is positioned on the northernmost tip of Pemba Island in the Zanzibar archipelago, Tanzania. The Manta Resort is managed by Monsoon Empires, and has together with local authorities successfully strive to conserve Pemba's unique environment.

Source:
www.xray-mag.com