The Greener way to a Cleaner Boat

With colder waters moving in many are preparing their boats for hibernation during the winter months. It is suggested that each year boaters power wash and repaint their boats to reduce the amount of algae, barnacles, and other marine life that settle on the bottom of the vessel causing a reduction in fuel efficiency. Although this yearly duty is necessary, it is extremely harmful to the environment. Power-washing a boat not only removes the barnacles and algae, it also removes the old anti-fouling paint, which contains heavy metals including copper that are highly toxic to marine life. The water that drains from the boat during the power-washing process often drains into waterways and other properties. To help reduce the toxic drainage caused from this necessary process, one Wilmington based company has created a system to treat the wastewater and remove the heavy metals.

Clean Marine Solutions developed the Vanish 300 Marina Power Wash Wastewater Treatment and Recycle System, which helps reduce the amount of toxic materials being drained into our waterways and other bodies of water. The company began producing this machine after they received an $84,600 North Carolina Green Business Fund grant. The machine can be purchased by marinas and businesses in the area where boaters bring their vessels to be cleaned.

Currently, Specialty Boat Works in Wilmington is one of the only companies to own the Vanish 300. The business collects the wastewater on a pad and then pumps it into the Vanish 300. The chemicals in the machine break away the heavy metals, which sink to the bottom of the tank and are removed and sent to the landfill. Water that is polluted with copper from power washing is 69,000 times higher than what the federal Clean Water Act allows, with the Vanish 300 this number is reduced down to normally levels. So next time you go to clean your boat, make the green choice!

The Return of Trick or Treat Under the Sea

Looking for somewhere to have a spppooo-tacular time for Halloween? Search no further, the North Carolina Aquarium at Fort Fisher has just the event for you! The Aquarium will be hosting their most popular event of the year, Trick or Treat Under the Sea on Wednesday, October 27 and Thursday, October 28 from 5:30pm - 8pm.

Trick or Treat Under the Sea offers fun for the whole family! Dress up in costume (no masks for adults, please), rake in the candy and play games with prizes. Enjoy face painting, story-telling, two magic shows per night entitled “Pirates Have Problems” by No Sleeves Magic Camp and haunted gardens. Spooky divers will be haunting the big tank throughout the night!

This year the classrooms will be submarine/deep ocean themed. Visitors can join the Fresh Water Wonders “crew” to play games and win prizes before they dive deep into the ocean. Glow-in-the-dark jellies and other deep sea creatures will be there to hand out treats. This family-friendly room offers a few special tricks and a chance to visit the deep blue sea!

At the end of your experience you will be offered the chance to take the path of ‘scaredom’ through the Haunted Gardens where creatures of the night are waiting to frighten you one last time. An alternative route is also available for families who choose not to take the haunted path.

Tickets are $6 each and 2 and under are free. Tickets can be purchased in advance by calling 910-458-8257 ext. 238 or at the door the night of the event. Umbrella strollers only. Children 16 and under must be accompanied by an adult. Be green and bring your own trick-or-treat bag!

Conserving Coral

Coral reefs are one of the many beauties of the Earth, yet they have been drastically depleted over the years in order to create coral based jewelry and home décor. Coral, which provides homes for fishes as well as provides medicinal compounds that are lifesaving, are fighting to remain healthy and plentiful. A long-term survival campaign has been created by a group of scientists, jewelers, and ocean conservationists who are dedicated to protecting coral. SeaWeb, an ocean-conservation group has created “Too Precious to Wear”, a campaign theme devoted to decreasing the coral trade. Environmental advocate and filmmaker Celine Cousteau places her focus and voice on promoting the benefits of conserving these precious animals. Jewelers such as, Temple St. Clair and Michael Kowalski abide by a “no coral” policy when it comes to their jewelry making. Scientists are working to find ways for coral to thrive and grow with global climate change and our growing ecological footprint. All of these people are fighting to save coral because our oceans are so valuable and we must help sustain the web of life that occurs within it.

A Moment to Share

For Linda Kuharcik making art has been a lifelong journey. Since she was a child, Linda has always had the urge to draw and a love for art. Her devotion to the craft is now on display in the NC Aquarium at Fort Fisher’s Spadefish Gallery, and will be featured until November.

Linda’s work is mainly representational and showcases various forms of media. Her work features illustrations of buildings and scenes, as well as animals. Her adoration of nature is shown through her photography, which captures wildlife and the environment in its most rare state.

Linda says, “There is beauty everywhere. Photography, as in art captures the feeling of that one moment in time that I experienced, through photography I can share that wonder with someone else.”

Linda believes art is more than photography because she can alter a photograph to match her personal perception. She has recently delved into combined media, where she mixes photography, watercolor, and tissue paper. This process, she says, has allowed her to be freer in the creative process. Linda also uses glass in her art and loves the feeling it brings to the finished product.

Linda says, “I feel great joy when creating something out of what appears to some to be nothing. That’s art.”

The Spadefish Gallery at the NC Aquarium at Fort Fisher showcases local artists throughout the year. Artwork that coincides with the Aquarium’s mission of “Inspiring Appreciation and Conservation of North Carolina’s Aquatic Environment” is located on the second floor, near the auditorium. Artwork is available for purchase by contacting the artist.

It’s Camp Time!

Need something to do with the kids while on their fall break? Sign them up for the NC Aquarium at Fort Fisher’s Reptiles and Amphibians AquaCamp! AquaCamp is a day long, fun-filled camp where children can interactively learn about aquatic animals and the environment.

During the Reptiles and Amphibians AquaCamp campers will learn about the similarities and differences between these two types of animals. Campers will get an up close look at reptiles and amphibians including, turtles, salamanders, and alligators. Live animal presentations and more are all part of this exciting program.

Reptiles and Amphibians AquaCamp will be held Thursday, October 14 from 8:30AM - 3:00PM.

This year the Aquarium is offering limited transportation from the Monkey Junction area to and from AquaCamp. Each camp will provide children with a snack. Campers will need to bring a bag lunch. Camp fee is $40.00 per participant. Pre-registration is required. For more information visit our website at www.ncaqauriums.com/fortfisher.

Freaky Friends Are BACK in Town

Get ready for the spookiest time of the year with the NC Aquarium at Fort Fisher! The Aquarium’s popular educational Outreach program entitled “Freaky Friends” has returned this year. Meet North Carolina natives, such as snakes and sea urchins, whose costumes and acting skills help them survive the wild. Get up close and personal with a glass lizard and a soft-shelled turtle, which are always a sight to see! Participants will learn about these silly and sometimes spooky creatures through a variety of activities and hands-on experiences.

The Freaky Friends program is available throughout the month of October. The cost for a small group presentation is $100. Outreach programs are perfect for schools, day cares, civic groups, churches and festivals. Each interactive program is designed specifically to fit your needs based on age, size, and focus of your group.

For more information or to book an Outreach visit www.ncaquariums.com/fortfisher/outreach or call the Outreach Coordinator at 910-458-8257 ext. 236.

The Adventures of the Odyssey

The Gulf Coast oil spill has widely affected the ocean’s ecosystem. Numerous organizations are working to clean up the aftermath as well as study the animals and plants that inhabit the waters and surrounding land. Ocean Alliance has been studying the effects of the oil spill on whales and other ocean life. The group has been conducting an ongoing research expedition in the Gulf of Mexico aboard the Odyssey, where a team of scientists have made their way down the east coast from Portland to the Gulf. The team has been collecting biopsy samples from whales to test for ocean contaminants, such as oil and dispersants. The team will remain on the Odyssey for five weeks continuing to collect samples and plan to return in the spring as well as the next several years to collect more to research the contaminants that may work its way through the ecosystem and may not be evident currently.

Ocean Alliance recently created a new website that hosts information about the organization, research they conduct, as well as a blog, which focuses on their current expedition. The blogs are written by their science director, crew members onboard the Odyssey, and a graduate student helping with the program. The blog is an excellent way to stay updated on the team’s efforts and their findings.

Ocean Alliance is a non-profit organization that was founded in 1971. The organization collects data on whales and ocean life, with a special focus on toxicology, behavior, bioacoustics, and genetics. The group works with their scientific partners to inform educators and policy makers on ways to help keep our oceans beautiful. Ocean’s Alliance is concerned with the conservation of whales and all sea life, as well as human impacts on the marine environment. The group believes that conservation should be a ‘State of mind’ and that keeping society informed and active is a prerequisite for positive change involving keeping the oceans clean.

To learn more about Ocean Alliance or to read the Odyssey’s blog visit: http://www.oceanalliance.org/.