Samba and Shallow Water Blackouts

Erez Beatus – Free diving coach and former world record holder explaining the risk of Samba & (Shallow Water) Blackout while free diving. Thanks to NSUC & USFA

Samba is a loss of motor control. It is a partial loss of physical or mental integrity and generally occurs up to 15 seconds after reaching the surface, normally during your first breath after a dive. It happens due to not having enough oxygen in your brain.

A Blackout in freediving is often called Shallow Water Blackout (SWB) as it most often occurs while ascending the last few metres of water. It happens due to lack of oxygen due to rapid changes in pressure.

Very briefly, it is thought that Hyperventilation is the leading cause of blackout as it lowers the amount of CO2 in your body which lessens the urge to breathe. The Shallow Water Blackout Wiki explains this all in much more detail: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shallow_water_blackout

Mulloway Submissions for DPI

Guys below is a link where you can read about current views on salvaging the Mulloway fishery and the ability to have your say on the Mulloway. The document mentions to us that they are seriously considering having a bag limit of one over 70cm. That is not on for spearfishers (not me anyway). I personally think 2 over 75cm would be good. Once over 75cm there is a very good chance the fish has spawned at least once.
Anyway great if you could read the views and have a comment, it is informative reading for you and on the bottom of the document there is a link where you can complete an online submission, mark your interest as spearfishing ; )

Frequently-asked-questions-and-options-for-management-changes.doc

Online Submission Form

Good hunting!
Simon Trippe

This Is Your Last Chance To Stop The Lock Up!

 Sorry to have to get all political again here guys, but recreational fishermen are about to get locked out of massive areas of Australian waters. And all this while the federal Government has given the green light to a super trawler so it can plunder our waters! What’s happening here is just plain wrong, and we need to all get together to stop it. Marine reserves should be implemented with proper scientific planning and processes, and that is just not happening. In just a few days on September 10, we’ll be locked out of huge areas of Australian waters unless we stand up and say no. The only way to try and stop this is to take 60 seconds and make a very quick submission through the Keep Australia Fishing website to lodge your protest. People power is the only way to make the politicians take notice here. Please share this link on all your own Facebook pages, and spread the word!

http://www.keepaustraliafishing.com.au/index.php/take-action/campaigns/campaign-1-don-t-lock-us-out

Simon Trippe

 

An update 11th Sept 2012: Environment Minister Tony Burke accused of trashing marine science after slapping a ban on super trawler Abel Tasman

Read more: http://www.news.com.au/business/labor-to-ban-super-trawler-abel-tasman-from-australian-waters/story-e6frfm1i-1226471683034#ixzz268tHatxT

Alliman Shield – 9th Sept 2012 – Long Reef with OzHarvest in attendance

Long ReefThe next Alliman Shield will be held at Long Reef on the second Sunday (9th) in September as Fathers Day is on the first.

OzHarvest is a non-denominational charity that rescues excess food which would otherwise be discarded. OzHarvest will gladly accept any donated fish and often put on a BBQ as thanks for all of us as we finish our dive at weigh-in.

Unfortunately due to bad weather this comp was cancelled.

SpearOZ – Divers Beware!!!

This week another boat incident was mentioned in a post on SpearOZ.org called Divers Beware!!!. The incident was at Malabar and luckily the boat only managed to catch the float line and rip the gun out of the divers hand. See more from the link above.

This rekindled the discussion on changing the Dive Flag we spear fishermen currently use on our floats. We are generally in agreement that the international diver down flag (red with white diagonal line) is better due to its increased visibility on the water. Efforts are being made by various people to make this change for our safety.

Special note: The blue and white Alpha flag is required to be flown on a boat when you have a diver in the water. This is required by the International Rules for Prevention of Collisions at Sea (IRPCS) Rule 27 (e).

For your own safety, always dive with a float and flag. Probably the most dangerous part of our sport is boat traffic so making an effort to be seen is in everyone’s best interest.

Continue reading SpearOZ – Divers Beware!!!

Port Botany Container Terminal Expansion Project

Sydney Ports has been working with users to further improve the operation of this state of the art facility. Based on user feedback, the southern pontoon will be relocated to the outer edge of the ramp to include all four lanes between the pontoons. This will increase the clear width of the ramp between the pontoons to improve the turning area for larger vessels on launching.
Construction works on the pontoon relocation are expected to commence in early July 2012 and scheduled to be completed by September 2012.
Port Botany Boat Ramp will remain open throughout the works. The available launch space between the two pontoons will be reduced to undertake these improvements.
Public access to the breakwater to the south of the boat ramp will be restricted during this time. Continue reading Port Botany Container Terminal Expansion Project

Keep Australia Fishing organisation launched

Fishing Legend Rex Hunt Spearheads National Organisation To Fight For Angler Rights & Protect Our Fishing Heritage
Keep Australia Fishing (KAF), a national lobbying and advocacy organisation representing Australia’s five million recreational anglers, will fight against politically motivated antifishing campaigns while highlighting environmental issues threatening our waterways and fish stocks.

To be launched on June 30 and supported by a national advertising campaign, KAF will
initially campaign against Minister Burke’s proposed federal Marine Parks network. These
marine parks plans threaten to lock Australian anglers and their families out of vast areas of ocean in northern and south-western Australia. Continue reading Keep Australia Fishing organisation launched