Gatortailale January 17, 2006 Share January 17, 2006 The Winter Meeting of The Washington Area Marine Aquarist Society (WAMAS) will be on Saturday February 25, 2006 from 2:00-5:00 p.m. Kilmer Middle School, 8100 Wolftrap Road, Vienna, Virginia 22182 (immediately outside Washington, DC)Our featured special guest speaker is Jorge A. Gomezjurado. Jorge will be giving a presentation on "Seahorses." Jorge is the president of Draco Marine Aquaculture LLC. He also is a well know speaker and has given several presentations worldwide on seahorse. Draco Marine will be donating 10 captive bred seahorses to the raffle.Along with Jorge's seahorses - Certificates for 3 pairs donated to raffle, lots of frag swapping, and a great raffle, this is sure to be a meeting NOT to miss!For further information on WAMAS and the Winter Meeting, visit our web site http://www.wamas.org/Who: W.A.M.A.S. (Washington Area Marine Aquarium Society)When: February 25, 2006 (Saturday)Time: 2:00 P.M. - 5:00 P.M. (EST)Where: Kilmer Middle School8100 Wolftrap RoadVienna, Virginia 22182Cost: Members - Free / Non-members - $6.00[Annual Membership = $20 - Individual; $35 - Family]Agenda2:00 - 2:30 Sign in and Socializing2:30 - 2:45 Election results & State of the Club Address by President Steve Howard2:45 - 3:00 break3:00 - 4:30 Jorge A. Gomezjurado- "Seahorses"4:30 - 5:00 Raffle5:00 AdjournSpecial guests- Jorge A. GomezjuradoMiscellaneous- Light refreshments and snacks will be provided.- Raffle prizes: 3 pairs captive bred seahorses from Draco Marine; coral frags; gift certificates & more to come!- 2 $25 Gift Certificates from Blue Ribbon Koi http://www.blueribbonkoi.com/- Instant Ocean Salt Bucket from Blue Ribbon Koi- 25 certificates for four free peppermint shrimp with a purchase of $25 or more from Fins and Feathers http://www.finsandfeathersstore.com/- 2 certificates for a discount of 40% on a purchase of $75 or more from Fins and FeathersDirections:From 495- Exit 47B (Rt. 7 West toward Tysons / Leesburg)- Left on Gallows Road- Follow Gallows South to school at intersection of Gallows and Wolftrap Rd.Kilmer Middle School8100 Wolftrap RoadVienna, Virginia 22182Here's a map from MapquestThe map linkSnow CancellationIf the meeting needs to be cancelled due to the weather, the meeting will be rescheduled for the following weekend as long as the meeting hall and speaker are available. PLEASE check wamas website & BB forum page for latest news.Craig KuhnWAMAS Membership DirectorAbstract:Seahorses are known by aquarium enthusiasts for being problematic and are considered one of the most difficult species of marine ornamental fish to keep in home aquariums. The commercial culture of seahorses for the global ornamental aquarium trade industry is relatively new; however, it is increasing at an accelerated rate.In May 2004 all species of seahorses became protected under Appendix II of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Flora and Fauna (CITES). This new regulation has reduced the importation of wild collected seahorses. Seahorses are now reared in the U.S.A. and are also cultured overseas and imported to the country by wholesalers and transshipers. Advances in aquarium technology, application of new aquaculture methodologies, sharing of technical information through list servers, and consulting has incremented the number of successful seahorse breeders globally.Draco Marine Aquaculture, LLC (DMA) is a Maryland based seahorse aquaculture entity dedicated to the sustainable aquaculture of seahorses offering a new line of domesticated and disease free animals. They are robust, have beautiful colors and skin patterns, available year round and are delivered in less than 24 hours. All these features make DMA�s animals the best available captive breed seahorses in the global aquarium market.Bio:Jorge is a native of Ecuador, born on the coast of the Santa Elena Peninsula, were he grew up just a few feet away from the beach. Instantly, he was drawn to marine life and has loved it ever since. At a very young age, he learned to catch and observe marine creatures from the pools and tidal areas close to his home. Jorge was always fascinated with animals like crabs, spiders, lizards and butterflies and would bring them to his parent�s home, keeping his own collection in his room.As a teenager, he explored a little deeper and began snorkeling off the shore reefs were he would catch lobsters, octopus and fish, and enjoy them for lunch. Later, at age 15, he became SCUBA certified and explored his interests even further. After earning a degree in Fisheries Sciences and Technology, Jorge was hired as a research associate at the Charles Darwin Research Station (CDRS) in the Galapagos Islands were he spent a total of three years. At the CDRS, Jorge would assist the Director and crew of the marine laboratory in research with ecology of benthic communities, and reproductive biology. He was also in charge of dive operations and laboratory vessels. While in Galapagos, Jorge had the time of his life, so far, diving sometimes three to four times a day. He would fish for Tuna and Wahoo, and have opportunities to go deep diving aboard the Johnson Sea Link Submersible from Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institution. Galapagos is where Jorge met his wife, Diane, and after enjoying time on the island together, they moved to San Francisco, CA. There, Jorge joined the California Academy of Sciences Steinhart Aquarium as a Senior Aquatic Biologist.During his stay with Steinhart, Jorge proposed, developed and managed a Pacific Giant Seahorse, Hippocampus ingens, breeding program, while maintaining and breeding other seahorse species. In 1999, he joined the National Aquarium in Baltimore (NAIB) staff, where he is currently the Manager of Fish Breeding Programs. He was instrumental in developing the world famous seahorse exhibit; Seahorses: Beyond Imagination. At the same time, he developed and managed the NAIB�s seahorse breeding laboratory at the Center of Marine Biotechnology.Jorge has consulted in seahorse aquaculture and aquarium public exhibitions in Italy, Ireland, Spain, Peru, and Ecuador, as well as several institutions in the USA. Jorge now owns Draco Marine Aquaculture LLC, a seahorse breeding company dedicated to producing seahorses using sustainable approaches. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gatortailale January 27, 2006 Author Share January 27, 2006 Election time - see member section for details. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gatortailale February 8, 2006 Author Share February 8, 2006 Dr. Mac will be sending his son Zak to the meeting with the usual corals - small colonies, frags .... Special order items available with FREE Shipping / Delivery at meeting. Great way to get nice live rock hand picked by Mac with free shipping. Dr. Mac's Pacific East Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gatortailale February 22, 2006 Author Share February 22, 2006 Fins and Feathers will be at the meeting with two 20g tanks with some livestock to sell & few gift certs. for raffle Thanks for your support! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gatortailale February 22, 2006 Author Share February 22, 2006 Johnny at Blue Ribbon Koi/Marine is sponsoring the water testing table (donating the test kits) Thanks for your support Johnny! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dbartco February 22, 2006 Share February 22, 2006 Updated a few raffle items Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mogurnda February 24, 2006 Share February 24, 2006 Note that the raffle will be for certificates and not live seahorses. That will save everybody a lot of hassle. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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