Posts Tagged ‘conservation’
Responsible scuba diving
Updated May 11th, 2011
Obviously as divers, we don’t want to be the undoing of the beautiful oceans we love so much. Unfortunately, some popular dive spots have become ruined over time because of poor management and/or irresponsible divers. Scuba divers are a privileged group as we have real life access to a world that others can only dream of . We also have a responsibility to the oceans. Responsible diving is a part of the overall effort to protect the oceans as diving brings people in contact with marine life and as a result, divers become spokespeople for the ocean environment. Read the rest of this entry »
End shark finning – how you can get involved
Updated March 18th, 2011
We are angered, outraged and saddened by shark finning. It’s a cruel and utterly wasteful industry that is decimating shark populations everywhere.
But recent developments have given us hope. A bill banning the sale, possession and distribution of shark fins was passed in Guam last month. And there are proposals going forward in the legislatures of the Marshall Islands, Chile and the state of California. Perhaps the message is finally getting through that plundering the seas has serious consequences for marine life, economies and the ecosystem at large.
But it would be wrong to become complacent. Shark fin is still a highly desirable item in Asia and shops and restaurants continue to do a roaring trade in this dubious status symbol. Even in the affluent cities and towns of North America and Europe, shark fin fans continue feasting away, oblivious to the realities of environmental destruction and animal cruelty.
A report by International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) scientists reported that of 64 species of sharks and rays 32% are threatened with extinction, mainly as the result of overfishing. In addition, 24% were near threatened. However, only THREE species have protection under CITES. Read the rest of this entry »
CITES and the fate of the shark
What is CITES and why is it important?
The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) is a treaty between 175 governments that protects around 33,000 species to some extent. Read the rest of this entry »
