Recent News

13 International Sea Cadets Visit Bermuda
Thursday, July 10, 2014

The Bermuda Sea Cadet Corps is once again hosting its annual International Exchange programme, welcoming a group of senior cadets and their escort officers from the United Kingdom, Canada, and the United States.


Reef Watch survey reveals lack of marine predators
Wednesday, July 09, 2014

While Bermuda’s coral reefs are relatively healthy, there are concerns about a lack of fish such as grouper and snapper.


Making the case for parrot fish — and those plucky Costa Ricans
Wednesday, July 09, 2014

On Saturday I stepped back in time when I was taken to the Bermuda Aquarium Museum & Zoo by two of my children.


Island delights visiting students
Friday, July 04, 2014

The Atlantic Conservation Partnership (ACP) and the Bermuda Aquarium, Museum, and Zoo (BAMZ) recently hosted 12 students and two professors from a Florida college as part of their Coastal Environmental Science major study abroad course


Reef Watch 2014 Hailed A Marine Success
Thursday, July 03, 2014

On Saturday, June 28, the Bermuda Zoological Society [BZS], along with lead sponsor Hiscox, hosted the second annual Reef Watch Citizen Science initiative, which supports the work of the Bermuda Reef Ecosystem Analysis and Monitoring [BREAM] programme, led by chief scientist Dr. Thaddeus Murdoch.



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Dr Burnie given fitting ocean sendoff
Royal Gazette
Sunday, November 16, 2014

By Sarah Lagan
Published Nov 16, 2014 at 1:25 pm (Updated Nov 17, 2014 at 12:06 am)

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Dr Neil Burnie's funeral at Western Blue Cut (Photo by Sarah Lagan)

Dr Neil Burnie has been laid to rest, with his body placed in the water 600 fathoms deep at Western Blue Cut yesterday afternoon.

More than 100 boats gathered too see the much loved veterinarian and ocean activist “return to the sea”.

A plane circled the sea burial, dropping streams of flowers into the water as mourners threw wreaths and bouquets of flowers overboard.

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The Burnie funeral procession to Dockyard (Photo by Sarah Lagan)

Boat horns sounded in celebration of his life and his friends from the Ocean Vet team hurled his trusted harmonica into the sea to great applause.

Taking off from Albuoys Point just after 10am, the procession made its way to Grays Bridge for a ceremony. Opening with bagpipes by Davey Armstrong, Dr Burnie’s brother, Jonathan, took to the microphone aboard The Explorer where the coffin lay.

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Burnie’s boat with shark logo and Ocean Vet team (Photo by Sarah Lagan)

He described their family life and Dr Burnie’s love of animals from a very early age, leading him into a prestigious career as a veterinarian. He described his brother as a master fisherman, a musician, an actor, doctor and motorbike enthusiast. “That’s where his need for speed came from,” he said.

Dr Burnie’s son, Oscar Deuss, spoke of Neil as “a father, role model, mentor, best friend and my hero”.

He said the time they spent filming the Ocean Vet series with Dr Burnie at the helm was the one of the best experiences of his life.

Graham Pewter, a band member with Bones, for whom Dr Burnie sang and played saxophone, recalled how Dr Burnie once told him he was difficult to live with. But Mr Pewter said: “It will be more difficult to live without him.”

He described Dr Burnie’s best characteristics. “He was brutally honest, fearless, demanding, abrasive, an irresistible force,” he said. “Bye bye, my blues brother.”

Dr Burnie’s sister, Judith Sweetman, was officiating for her brother and recalled his mischievous nature and love of nature.

The procession made its way to Western Blue Cut, a favourite snorkel spot for the family, then a plane flew overhead and rained down flowers on the burial site.

Dr Neil Burnie leaves his wife Katrin, children Oscar and Kim and siblings Jonathan and Judith.