January 2012:

SSF commends Dr. David Kerstetter, Research Scientist and Adjunct Professor NOVA Southeastern University. His work with fishermen in the Gulf of Mexico on commercial gear modification will reduce by-catch and enhance targeted fishing.  

http://www.nova.edu/ocean/overview/faculty-staff-profiles/david_kerstetter.html 

 ~~~~~

 November 2011: Washington DC 

SSF joins THE SHARK ALLIANCE along with Pew Environment Group, Ocean Conservancy, the Shark Research Institute and many other non-governmental organizations dedicated to shark preservation worldwide.   

http://www.sharkalliance.org/content.asp?did=35240

~~~~~

July 2011: Florida Keys

Dr. Armbruster dives the Florida Keys, researching current conditions on the world's 3rd largest reef system. He reports significant decline in the coral's health and in the variety and numbers of fish species over the past 10 years.  

He is also writing his next book. More to come.

~~~~~ 

May 2011: Washington, DC   BLUE VISION SUMMIT

Close to 500 ocean advocates, NOGs, film makers, scientists, journalists and authors attended this year's BVS, doubling attendance for 2009. The agenda included the Gulf of Mexico's BP oil spill, over-exploited commerical fish stocks, ocean acidification, MPAs, offshore energy and coastal ecosystem restoration and President Obama's National Ocean Policy.  The event concluded with a Day on the Hill.

During the summit SSF was proud to sponsor an informal gathering on 'The Future of the Western Atlantic Bluefin Tuna.' Timing was important since NOAA announced just days before that they would not recommend the Bluefin for endangered species listing but would revisit the issue in 2013. 

Some 30 representatives from Mission Blue, The Guy Harvey Ocean Foundation, New York Harbor School, Blue Ocean Sciences, Ocean Conservation Research, The Center for Biological Diversity's Ocean Program, Sea Shepherd and Surfrider came together. The group concluded that a media blitz-volume counts-letter-writing campaign to NOAA's Jane Lubchenco would begin on June 8, World Ocean Day. SSF agreed to post a sample letter on this site.     

~~~~~ 

January 2011: New York, NY

SSF is pleased to announce that Marisa A. Corvisiero, literary agent and founder of The Corvisiero Law Practice, P. C. now represents Dr. Thomas Armbruster's The Swordfish Hunters. 

~~~~~ 

Two swordfishermen

July 2010: Cape Ann, MA

SSF founder Thomas Armbruster and swordboat captain and NYTimes Best Selling author Linda Greenlaw

While they don't agree on the current status of the North Atlantic swordfishery, Dr. Armbruster, once a longline swordfisherman himself, does agree with Greenlaw's assessment of the fish. In SEAWORTHY, her latest book, she calls the swordfish the "Braveheart of the ocean." 

Sea Turtle Rescue Program

September 2009  Charleston, SC

 

Staff Veterinarian Shane Boylan, Dr. Armbruster and Kelly Thorvalson, program director, discuss Pirate's prognosis.

  

 

After a thirty-minute ordeal to pry open Pirate's mouth for a tube feeding, we turned our attention to a feisty 25 lb Kemps Ridley turtle for an xray on a fractured limb. Hospitalized sea turtles receive IV fluids, antibiotics, vitamins, ultrasounds, endoscopies and medication for a variety of problems including infections, shock from exposure to cold temperatures and wounds from boat strikes or sharks. 

  

Blue Frontier Campaign

March 2009    BLUE VISION SUMMIT  Washington DC     

Philippe Cousteau, son of Jan and Philippe Cousteau Sr., and the grandson of Captain Jacques-Yves Cousteau, discusses environmental goals of EarthEcho International http://www.earthecho.org with members of SSF Catherine Armbruster, Mary Hamilton and Thomas Armbruster, MD

Roz Savage, solo ocean rower and environmentalist, with Dr. Armbruster at the Smithsonian's Ocean Hall exhibit.

http://www.rozsavage.com

For more photographs and complete coverage of BlueVisionSummit visit:

http://www.bluefront.org/news/  

Caribbean Reef shark dive

November 2008

    The SSF team recently returned from Carribean Reef shark diving off Freeport, Bahamas. The dive team was lead by SSF founder Thomas Armbruster, west coast board member Kyle Murdoch and an expert dive crew native to the area. The main dive sites were located two miles NNW from Bell Channel Inlet and included both deepwater wrecks (Theo's wreck and Seastar wreck at one-hundred feet) as well as several shallower reef dives in the sixty foot depths. The Reef sharks encountered ranged from six to seven feet in length. The high number and visible health of the sharks was encouraging, as was the state of the coral reefs, which appeared vibrant and free of bleaching.

     SSF strongly encourages all active divers to participate in Project Aware, designed to assess the declining state of worldwide coral reefs. Go to: www.projectaware.org

 PUBLICATIONS

 Dr. Armbruster's forthcoming book, The Swordfish Hunters, explores commercial fishing with respect to conservation. Early reviews from the marine science community are positive. Please contact our literary agent, Marisa Corvisiero, for information. 

http://www.corvisierolaw.com/contactus.html 

The Swordfish Hunters will also be translated to film with project partner and noted actor, author and conservationist Peter Coyote.  

~

White Shark Chronicles - Thomas Armbruster, MD

in collaboration with Mary M Hamilton

Describes the underwater feeding behaviors and communications of great white sharks off the Mexican coast. Featured in "Biology Digest." 

Recommended reading - U N Atlas of the Oceans