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Thanks to all who participated in the Bill Poole Memorial Angling Tournament on July 10 and 11, it was a tremendous success raising nearly $50,000 for Hubbs-SeaWorld Research Institute.

The tournament, formerly known as the White Seabass Benefit Tournament, was renamed this year to honor long-range fishing pioneer and sportsman, Bill Poole, who passed away last November.

The fishing began on Saturday with lines in at 12:01 a.m. and lines out at 6 p.m. As the score sheets began to arrive, it was clear that the anglers enjoyed a great day of fishing. The first, second and third spots in the private boat division were won by anglers with white seabass, and the top fish caught by a kayaker was a yellowtail. The high sportboat spot was won with a 26 pound bluefin.

•    High Private Boat, first place Peter Vasiliov, 50-pound white seabass
•    High Private Boat, second place Rod Melchert, 37.9-pound white seabass
•    High Private Boat, third place Paul Gomez, 34.7-pound white seabass
•    High Kayak: Kurt Hoffman, 31-pound yellowtail
•    High Sportboat Robert Fletcher, 26-pound bluefin
•    High Tournament: Peter Vasiliov, 50 pounds total
 
The Awards Barbecue on Sunday, July 11 took place on the bayside patio of Hubbs-SeaWorld Research Institute’s (HSWRI) Mission Bay laboratory. The event was open to all and the nearly 300 guests who attended were delighted to discover that it was not your average barbecue fare. Chefs from the Chefs de Cuisine Association prepared a gourmet feast that included California sushi rolls, abalone, seaweed salad and delicious cultured-fish tacos, grilled on-site. In addition, the guests enjoyed tours of the Institute’s hatchery operations, a terrific assortment of opportunity drawing and silent auction prizes and visits from some of SeaWorld’s most adorable animal ambassadors including a river otter, a baby alligator, Penny the penguin and more. The event raised awareness of the Institute’s programs and close to $50,000 in support of its research efforts.

Many thanks go out to our major sponsors, SeaWorld, Ingrid Poole/EXCEL, The Tuna Club of Avalon, AFTCO Manufacturing Company, David Wirth and Chefs de Cuisine Association.

Missed the Bill Poole Memorial Angling Tournament?  Don't fret!  This year we have a new and exciting way to participate in our Bill Poole Memorial Angling Tournament.   We have created a Virtual Fishing Tournament (VFT) where you can start your own team, join an existing team or simply donate to the event .  You can then easily tell your family and friends about this event by using our "Tell a Friend" e-mail--and then inspire your friends to do the same.  This way, people from all over the country can participate in our tournament even after it is over.  

To begin, go to:  www.bill-poole-tournament.com and start a Virtual Fishing Team in your name by making any size contribution.  Then use the "Tell a Friend" e-mail function to connect people in your social and business circles to the VFT.  If you help spread the word, well you know what happens, 10 people get 10 people to get 10 people, and who knows how much we could raise in support of Hubbs-SeaWorld Research Institute.  Even $1 and $5 donations will add up.  
 
All of you have friends you have supported over the years, right?   Here’s your chance to ask them to help you.  Please help us raise money for this great organization.  The top five Team Captains will win this very cool Bill Poole Memorial Angling Tournament T-shirt.  

 
Don’t wait.  Start your team today!   Happy Virtual Fishing! Questions, call 619-226-3881

There's still time to join the physical tournament as well.  You can find everything you need to know about the event by clicking here: Bill Poole Memorial Angling Tournament! 

Check out the latest tracking update from Dr. Brent Stewart on Diablo, the Guadalupe fur seal, who was outfitted with a satellite transmitter and then released into the wild on June 10. The transmitter is used to monitor her travels to obtain scientific information on where and how long she spends foraging for food in the... open ocean. If you recall, SeaWorld rescued her near death more than three months ago and nursed her back to health. She continues to do very well on her own in the wild and is currently west of the Jasper Seamount, which is a subsurface oceanic volcano. In less than 2 weeks, Diablo has traveled more than 350 miles. What do you think about the progress of this amazing animal?

The LA Times ran a great story on Dr. Brent Stewart's 31-year study of elephant seals on the California Channel Islands, which includes some terrific photos and video footage.

 Click here to read:  The Secret Life of Seals 

Come celebrate International Biodiversity Year 2010 with the Hubbs-Science Series!!  Click here for calendar.

Day to day, most San Diegans are unaware of the natural treasures our area has to offer.  Scientists describe our region as a biodiversity ‘hotspot’, meaning that it has a large number and variety of species including many that are endemic (found nowhere else on earth).  To qualify as a biodiversity hotspot, a region must meet two strict criteria: it must contain at least 0.5% or 1,500 species of vascular plants as endemics and must have lost at least 70% of its primary vegetation. With the Madrean pine-oak woodlands of the Southeastern U.S., the California Floristic Province is one of only two hotspots in North America.  San Diego has more biodiversity than any other county in North America.  Along with the rest of California, it is among the top 10 biodiversity regions.  Just across the border is the Gulf of California, including 244 islands and coastal areas, which UNESCO has listed as a World Heritage site.   

Our region and state are also a hot spot for humans – California’s population has risen to 33 million and growing.  Most of us live in cities along the coast and a tenth live in San Diego County.  Because nature knows no borders, the county’s biodiversity is also influenced by populations to the south in Mexico and in other U.S. states to the east.  Due to the myriad human activities that support such a large population, California’s wetlands, riparian forests, and coastal sage scrublands have been reduced to 10 percent of their original area, and native grasslands and vernal pool habitats to 1 percent.  More of California's plant and animal species, 250, are protected under the U.S. Endangered Species Act than in any other state, and 180 more are proposed for listing.  

HSWRI has long been a part of maintaining the health of refuges for these communities such as the Camp Pendleton and Miramar Marine Corps bases.  Our science programs have a 47-year history of research to help reconcile the needs of humans and wild life.  Today, there is a new commitment to sustainability and living in harmony with nature.  To raise awareness of the plight of the wild life around us, the United Nations has declared 2010 as the International Biodiversity Year.  HSWRI is doing its part to raise awareness by dedicating its 2010 Hubbs-Science Lecture Series to issues of biodiversity in our region and the world’s oceans.  

Come help us celebrate the wonder and diversity of life!  Click here to check out our 2010 Hubbs-Science Lecture Series today.