MARATHON, Florida (6 Oct 2006) -- A young aquarium fish-trade industry executive is presumed dead after he disappeared while collecting fish to sell to aquariums. Heath Jens Laetari, 28, acquisition manager and vice president of dive operations for Dynasty Marine Associates, was diving on a reef off the Florida Keys when he went missing on September 14. Laetari was free diving when the accident happened and may have been a victim of "shallow water blackout", a condition that occurs when divers purposely hyperventilate in order to stay down longer. Another diver said he saw Laetari ascending but that he never reached the surface. The U.S. Coast Guard launched a search for the missing diver, but found nothing and called off the search after three days. Born in Wichita Kansas, Laetari was a PADI divemaster and marine biologist who drifted into the lucrative but controversial live fish aquarium trade in 2001. "From US to International Public Aquariums, Pet Stores and Chain Restaurants, Dynasty Marine provides the highest quality aquatic specimens." | | Heath Jens Laetari, 28, is presumed drowned after he disappeared while collecting live fish from a reef off the Florida Keys to sell to aquariums. As a vice president and partner in Dynasty Marine Associates, Laetari was involved in capturing sharks, rays, and other marine wildlife to be sold to aquariums, pet stores and restaurants. © CDNN - CYBER DIVER NEWS NETWORKCDNN Related NewsFLORIDA - Wildlife officials to limit aquarium trade divers HAWAII - Unregulated aquarium collectors strip-mining Hawaii's reefs SCUBA FORUMDISCUSS THIS TOPIC - Dive in and have your say at Scuba Forum |
