Marine Life with Brenda

Many people have given up on meat due to its impact on the environment. Although years ago being a pescatarian appeared to be a sustainable alternative, the damaging impact that industrial fishing has caused to several marine ecosystems has raised the awareness of individuals, research organisations and several environmental activist groups which resulted in the reduction in consumption of a marine based diet. As a consequence one could easily come to the conclusion that fishing is bad, should be banned and meat consumption should completely cease.  However, indigenous  people have a vary varied diet that includes the consumption of met and fish, and they hunt and fish without harming the ecosystem in which they live in. Natives from Mussulo for example, live in perfectly equilibrium with the environment while having a diet that includes meet and fish. Perhaps, this is the sort of life that someone  extremely concerned about the environment sho...

Mangroves are small trees which grow in coastal saline or brackish water. Having grown in a tropical peninsula by the sea I have developed a deep passion for mangroves not only for its beauty but more importantly because of its role in biodiversity. I love seeing colourful carbs growing up there, marine snakes, and all sorts of tropical fishes.  Considering the place were I am from there would be no hope for me but to love mangroves. These trees are just wonderful and perfect in every aspect. By the way this photograph was taken at Barra do Kwanza in Angola. Mangroves are evergreen forests found extensively in estuarine regions where the mud flats are wide and gently sloping. In addition to estuaries, they also live in intertidal regions of shallow bays and creeks where the environment is favourable to the growth of mangroves. Mangroves are a complete ecosystem, a conglomeration of many species of flora and fauna  in the area and their interactions with each ...

Lemon Shark  The lemon shark ( Negaprion brevirostris ) is a shark species of the Carcharhinidae family. Lemon sharks can grow to lengths of 3.4 metres. They are often found in subtropical shallow waters, and are known to inhabit and return for breeding to specific nursery sites.  In English they are called lemon sharks due to the yellow-brown colour of their skin (well they just look grey to me but I might be colour blind , who knows?!) which serves a means of camouflage with the sand. In order to hunt, they swim quite rapidly towards the prey, stopping abruptly before making contact, g rabbing the victim closely around his head and repeatedly turning it until bits of skin can be ripped off (savage!).  Author: Brenda Moita 

Nurse Shark   The Ginglymostoma cirratum  a.k.a the nurse shark is an elasmobranch species within the Ginglymostomatidae family. The nurse shark's conservation status is evaluated internationally as data deficient in the IUCN Threatened Species List. In the warm, shallow waters of the western Atlantic and eastern Pacific oceans you will find them. P.S. you might be able to find me as well. They break and eat shellfish and even coral with their strong jaws, but tend to dine on fish, shrimp, and squid. These are grey-brown marine creatures have characteristic tail fins which can have a total length of up to one-fourth. Nurses are smooth to the touch contrary to most other sharks.They are really cool, just don't try to pose with them for likes on Instagram, it upsets them and they might bite you like the that model.  Author: Brenda Moita 

Southern stingrays  The sharks and skates are related to the southern stingrays. This stingray belongs to the Dasyatidae Family which includes 70 stingray species. Also nine other species, including the red stingray and roughtail stingray, are in the same genus. Southern rays can be found in the west Atlantic Ocean, Caribbean and Gulf of Mexico's tropical and subtropical seas, down the coast of southeastern Brazil. They make their home up to a depth of 180 feet in shallow coastal waters, and favour lagoon or coral reef environments where sandy bottoms and seagrass beds are located.  Author: Brenda Moita 

Spotted eagle ray  The spotted eagle ray ( Aetobatus narinari ) is an eagle ray from a family of cartilaginous fish, Myliobatidae. Spotted eagle rays enjoy swimming in seas at a temperature of 24 to 27 ° C, and are more active in high tides. They are timid creatures who usually avoid humans, but they were seen jumping on boats and falling on people from the sea. Searching for their food, they dig their snouts into the sand on the seabeds. Groups of them consist of about 6 participants swimming at exactly the same speed in the same direction. Author: Brenda Moita 

Blue tang  Famous for Finding Dory, this super star took the spot of Nemo and grabbed all the attention to herself, what a Narcissist!  The blue tang ( Paracanthurus hepatus ) is a genus of Surgeonfish from Indo-Pacific. It is the only member of the genus Paracanthurus, and a very common fish in marine aquariums all over the world. One can find the regal blue tang throughout the Indo-Pacific. The blue tang is seen in the coasts of Australia's Great Barrier Reef, the Philippines, Thailand, Japan, New Caledonia, Fiji, East Africa, and Sri Lanka.  The aim of both movies was to make people aware of the damaging effects to the ocean and its creatures that keeping fish as pets have. However, it just got the wrong effect on the public and sales for both the clownfish and the blue tang skyrocketed  after the films were released.  Author: Brenda Moita