Latest news with #AlexFogg
Yahoo
21-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Okaloosa County's Lionfish Tournament removes over 20,000 invasive species
OKALOOSA COUNTY, Fla. (WMBB) – The annual Emerald Coast Open and Lionfish Festival in Destin-Fort Walton Beach successfully removed more than 20,000 invasive lionfish. According to a news release, the annual event has officially removed over 100,000 invasive fish since 2019. Utilizing and inspired by the catch, the festival team created plenty of lion-fish inspired dishes, music, and informational booths for the public for this 2025 event. This was a two-day tournament, including a pre-tournament, where divers from across the country came to participate. The lionfish harvested by divers were measured and weighed behind AJ's Seafood and Oyster Bar before heading to the Lionfish Festival hosted by HarborWalk Village. ZooWorld Zoological Park welcomes rare aardwolf pups after 40 years 'This event has brought a lot of awareness to the invasive lionfish species and created a festive atmosphere for the enjoyment of our visitors and residents, while fostering prosperity for our local businesses,' Okaloosa County Board Chairman Paul Mixon said. The divers for this event competed to win nearly $175,000 in cash and gear prizes for categories like smallest lionfish, largest lionfish and most lionfish caught. 'While this event continues to flourish, the opposite is happening for this invasive species,' Natural Resources Chief Alex Fogg explained. The lionfish are an invasive species where hook and line fishing is ineffective. They have few known predators in the Gulf, so events like this with divers armed with spears are more productive. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
NBC News
04-04-2025
- General
- NBC News
Historic ocean liner off Florida's Gulf Coast will soon be the world's largest artificial reef
A historic ocean liner will become the world's largest artificial reef once it reaches its final resting place off Florida's Gulf Coast. Competing diving businesses are vying for the massive ship to be scuttled closer to them, while one group is suing to stop the ship from being sunk at all. The SS United States, a nearly 1,000-foot vessel that shattered the trans-Atlantic speed record on its maiden voyage in 1952, is going through a monthslong scouring at the Port of Mobile in Alabama. Workers will empty and clean all 120 fuel tanks, as well as remove chemicals, wiring, plastic and glass. 'There's a lot of nasties on vessels that were built back in the '50s,' Okaloosa County coastal resource manager Alex Fogg said. 'Basically, when it's ready to be deployed, it will be a steel and aluminum structure.' The SS United States is set to join Okaloosa County's more than 500 artificial reefs, which include a dozen smaller ship wrecks. Officials hope to draw tourists and generate millions of dollars annually for scuba shops, charter fishing boats and hotels, as well as provide habitat for critical fish species and other sea life. 'The goal here is to be the dive capital of the state of Florida,' Fogg said. 'We're even trying to surpass the Florida Keys.' Fogg said they expect to have the SS United States sunk by the end of the year at one of three permitted locations, all just over 20 nautical miles from Destin, Florida. All three locations are the same depth, about 180 feet of water to the sand, but the vessel is so tall that the top decks will be about 60 feet from the surface. 'That's very much within the beginner diver profile, and those deeper depths will be certainly attractive to those technical and advanced divers,' Fogg said. Bay County officials have agreed to offer $3 million to Okaloosa County to sink the SS United States closer to Panama City Beach. Visit Panama City Beach President and CEO Dan Rowe said his area has one of the largest dive boat fleets along the northern Gulf Coast. Bay County has a long history of developing technology used in underwater exploration and the U.S. Navy's dive school is located at Naval Support Activity Panama City. 'Diving is part of our DNA,' Rowe said.
The Independent
04-04-2025
- The Independent
The SS United States is a piece of maritime history. Now it's becoming an artificial reef
A piece of maritime history, the SS United States, is set to become the world's largest artificial reef, destined for the depths of Florida 's Gulf Coast. However, the ocean liner's final resting place is contested, with competing diving businesses vying for its proximity. Meanwhile, there have been legal challenges to halt the sinking entirely. Currently undergoing a meticulous month-long cleaning at the Port of Mobile, Alabama, the nearly 1,000-foot vessel is being prepared for its transformation. Workers are painstakingly emptying and cleaning all 120 fuel tanks, removing chemicals, wiring, plastic, and glass to mitigate any potential environmental impact. The ship, which shattered the trans-Atlantic speed record on its maiden voyage in 1952, is now at the centre of a tug-of-war, its future hanging in the balance. While some envision the ship as a vibrant underwater attraction, others raise concerns about the ecological consequences of such a massive undertaking. 'There's a lot of nasties on vessels that were built back in the '50s," Okaloosa County coastal resource manager Alex Fogg said. 'Basically, when it's ready to be deployed, it will be a steel and aluminum structure." The SS United States is set to join Okaloosa County's more than 500 artificial reefs, which include a dozen smaller ship wrecks. Officials hope to draw tourists and generate millions of dollars annually for scuba shops, charter fishing boats and hotels, as well as provide habitat for critical fish species and other sea life. 'The goal here is to be the dive capital of the state of Florida,' Fogg said. 'We're even trying to surpass the Florida Keys.' Fogg said they expect to have the SS United States sunk by the end of the year at one of three permitted locations, all just over 20 nautical miles (37 kilometers) from Destin, Florida. All three locations are the same depth, about 180 feet (55 meters) of water to the sand, but the vessel is so tall that the top decks will be about 60 feet (18 meters) from the surface. 'That's very much within the beginner diver profile, and those deeper depths will be certainly attractive to those technical and advanced divers,' Fogg said. Bay County officials have agreed to offer $3 million to Okaloosa County to sink the SS United States closer to Panama City Beach. Visit Panama City Beach President and CEO Dan Rowe said his area has one of the largest dive boat fleets along the northern Gulf Coast. Bay County has a long history of developing technology used in underwater exploration and the U.S. Navy's dive school is located at Naval Support Activity Panama City. ' Diving is part of our DNA,' Rowe said. Escambia County officials are offering only $1 million to sink the ship closer to Pensacola, but Visit Pensacola President and CEO Darien Schaefer said the western location is just 12 nautical miles (22 kilometers) away from to the USS Oriskany, another popular dive site sunk in 2006. He said divers would be able to visit both wrecks in a single day. 'We just think it would be a legendary dive site to have those two wrecks within close proximity,' Schaefer said. The SS United States arrived in Alabama at the beginning of March following a 12-day tow from Philadelphia's Delaware River, where it has spent nearly three decades. Okaloosa County was able to take ownership of the vessel after a years-old rent dispute was resolved in October between the conservancy that oversees the ship and its landlord. Various groups have attempted to restore the SS United States over the years, but all plans were eventually abandoned because of the steep cost. Recently, increased media attention has generated more calls to preserve the ship, and a group called the New York Coalition has even filed a lawsuit in Pensacola federal court asking a judge to halt sinking such a historically significant vessel. But preventing the SS United States from becoming a reef would only send it to the scrapyard, Fogg said. Also, the county's $10.1 million plan to purchase, move, clean and sink the ship includes $1 million toward a landside museum to promote the ship's history. 'Once the vessel is deployed as an artificial reef, there are going to be more people visiting it in the first month of it underwater than have visited it in the last 30 years," Fogg said. The SS United States, more than 100 feet (30 meters) longer than the RMS Titanic, was once considered a beacon of American engineering, doubling as a military vessel that could carry thousands of troops. Its maiden voyage broke the trans-Atlantic speed record in both directions when it reached an average speed of 36 knots, or just over 41 mph (66 kph), The Associated Press reported from aboard the ship. The ship crossed the Atlantic Ocean in three days, 10 hours and 40 minutes, besting the RMS Queen Mary's time by 10 hours. To this day, the SS United States holds the trans-Atlantic speed record for an ocean liner.
Yahoo
04-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Historic ocean liner off Florida's Gulf Coast will soon be the world's largest artificial reef
A historic ocean liner will become the world's largest artificial reef once it reaches its final resting place off Florida's Gulf Coast. Competing diving businesses are vying for the massive ship to be scuttled closer to them, while one group is suing to stop the ship from being sunk at all. The SS United States, a nearly 1,000-foot (305-meter) vessel that shattered the trans-Atlantic speed record on its maiden voyage in 1952, is going through a monthslong scouring at the Port of Mobile in Alabama. Workers will empty and clean all 120 fuel tanks, as well as remove chemicals, wiring, plastic and glass. 'There's a lot of nasties on vessels that were built back in the '50s," Okaloosa County coastal resource manager Alex Fogg said. 'Basically, when it's ready to be deployed, it will be a steel and aluminum structure." The SS United States is set to join Okaloosa County's more than 500 artificial reefs, which include a dozen smaller ship wrecks. Officials hope to draw tourists and generate millions of dollars annually for scuba shops, charter fishing boats and hotels, as well as provide habitat for critical fish species and other sea life. 'The goal here is to be the dive capital of the state of Florida,' Fogg said. 'We're even trying to surpass the Florida Keys.' Fogg said they expect to have the SS United States sunk by the end of the year at one of three permitted locations, all just over 20 nautical miles (37 kilometers) from Destin, Florida. All three locations are the same depth, about 180 feet (55 meters) of water to the sand, but the vessel is so tall that the top decks will be about 60 feet (18 meters) from the surface. 'That's very much within the beginner diver profile, and those deeper depths will be certainly attractive to those technical and advanced divers,' Fogg said. Bay County officials have agreed to offer $3 million to Okaloosa County to sink the SS United States closer to Panama City Beach. Visit Panama City Beach President and CEO Dan Rowe said his area has one of the largest dive boat fleets along the northern Gulf Coast. Bay County has a long history of developing technology used in underwater exploration and the U.S. Navy's dive school is located at Naval Support Activity Panama City. 'Diving is part of our DNA,' Rowe said. Escambia County officials are offering only $1 million to sink the ship closer to Pensacola, but Visit Pensacola President and CEO Darien Schaefer said the western location is just 12 nautical miles (22 kilometers) away from to the USS Oriskany, another popular dive site sunk in 2006. He said divers would be able to visit both wrecks in a single day. 'We just think it would be a legendary dive site to have those two wrecks within close proximity,' Schaefer said. The SS United States arrived in Alabama at the beginning of March following a 12-day tow from Philadelphia's Delaware River, where it has spent nearly three decades. Okaloosa County was able to take ownership of the vessel after a years-old rent dispute was resolved in October between the conservancy that oversees the ship and its landlord. Various groups have attempted to restore the SS United States over the years, but all plans were eventually abandoned because of the steep cost. Recently, increased media attention has generated more calls to preserve the ship, and a group called the New York Coalition has even filed a lawsuit in Pensacola federal court asking a judge to halt sinking such a historically significant vessel. But preventing the SS United States from becoming a reef would only send it to the scrapyard, Fogg said. Also, the county's $10.1 million plan to purchase, move, clean and sink the ship includes $1 million toward a landside museum to promote the ship's history. 'Once the vessel is deployed as an artificial reef, there are going to be more people visiting it in the first month of it underwater than have visited it in the last 30 years," Fogg said. The SS United States, more than 100 feet (30 meters) longer than the RMS Titanic, was once considered a beacon of American engineering, doubling as a military vessel that could carry thousands of troops. Its maiden voyage broke the trans-Atlantic speed record in both directions when it reached an average speed of 36 knots, or just over 41 mph (66 kph), The Associated Press reported from aboard the ship. The ship crossed the Atlantic Ocean in three days, 10 hours and 40 minutes, besting the RMS Queen Mary's time by 10 hours. To this day, the SS United States holds the trans-Atlantic speed record for an ocean liner.
The Independent
04-04-2025
- Business
- The Independent
Historic ocean liner off Florida's Gulf Coast will soon be the world's largest artificial reef
A historic ocean liner will become the world's largest artificial reef once it reaches its final resting place off Florida's Gulf Coast. Competing diving businesses are vying for the massive ship to be scuttled closer to them, while one group is suing to stop the ship from being sunk at all. The SS United States, a nearly 1,000-foot (305-meter) vessel that shattered the trans- Atlantic speed record on its maiden voyage in 1952, is going through a monthslong scouring at the Port of Mobile in Alabama. Workers will empty and clean all 120 fuel tanks, as well as remove chemicals, wiring, plastic and glass. 'There's a lot of nasties on vessels that were built back in the '50s," Okaloosa County coastal resource manager Alex Fogg said. 'Basically, when it's ready to be deployed, it will be a steel and aluminum structure." The SS United States is set to join Okaloosa County's more than 500 artificial reefs, which include a dozen smaller ship wrecks. Officials hope to draw tourists and generate millions of dollars annually for scuba shops, charter fishing boats and hotels, as well as provide habitat for critical fish species and other sea life. 'The goal here is to be the dive capital of the state of Florida,' Fogg said. 'We're even trying to surpass the Florida Keys.' Fogg said they expect to have the SS United States sunk by the end of the year at one of three permitted locations, all just over 20 nautical miles (37 kilometers) from Destin, Florida. All three locations are the same depth, about 180 feet (55 meters) of water to the sand, but the vessel is so tall that the top decks will be about 60 feet (18 meters) from the surface. 'That's very much within the beginner diver profile, and those deeper depths will be certainly attractive to those technical and advanced divers,' Fogg said. Bay County officials have agreed to offer $3 million to Okaloosa County to sink the SS United States closer to Panama City Beach. Visit Panama City Beach President and CEO Dan Rowe said his area has one of the largest dive boat fleets along the northern Gulf Coast. Bay County has a long history of developing technology used in underwater exploration and the U.S. Navy's dive school is located at Naval Support Activity Panama City. ' Diving is part of our DNA,' Rowe said. Escambia County officials are offering only $1 million to sink the ship closer to Pensacola, but Visit Pensacola President and CEO Darien Schaefer said the western location is just 12 nautical miles (22 kilometers) away from to the USS Oriskany, another popular dive site sunk in 2006. He said divers would be able to visit both wrecks in a single day. 'We just think it would be a legendary dive site to have those two wrecks within close proximity,' Schaefer said. The SS United States arrived in Alabama at the beginning of March following a 12-day tow from Philadelphia's Delaware River, where it has spent nearly three decades. Okaloosa County was able to take ownership of the vessel after a years-old rent dispute was resolved in October between the conservancy that oversees the ship and its landlord. Various groups have attempted to restore the SS United States over the years, but all plans were eventually abandoned because of the steep cost. Recently, increased media attention has generated more calls to preserve the ship, and a group called the New York Coalition has even filed a lawsuit in Pensacola federal court asking a judge to halt sinking such a historically significant vessel. But preventing the SS United States from becoming a reef would only send it to the scrapyard, Fogg said. Also, the county's $10.1 million plan to purchase, move, clean and sink the ship includes $1 million toward a landside museum to promote the ship's history. 'Once the vessel is deployed as an artificial reef, there are going to be more people visiting it in the first month of it underwater than have visited it in the last 30 years," Fogg said. The SS United States, more than 100 feet (30 meters) longer than the RMS Titanic, was once considered a beacon of American engineering, doubling as a military vessel that could carry thousands of troops. Its maiden voyage broke the trans-Atlantic speed record in both directions when it reached an average speed of 36 knots, or just over 41 mph (66 kph), The Associated Press reported from aboard the ship. The ship crossed the Atlantic Ocean in three days, 10 hours and 40 minutes, besting the RMS Queen Mary's time by 10 hours. To this day, the SS United States holds the trans-Atlantic speed record for an ocean liner.
