Shark alliance update 104
9
FOR SHARK ALLIANCE MEMBER GROUPS PLEASE DO NOT UPLOAD THIS DOCUMENT TO YOUR WEBSITES Contents 1. Two Things to Do Now 2. Shark Alliance News and Activities 3. News from Member Groups 4. Calendar 5. New Members 1 Two things to do Spread the word about debates in the European Parliament on the EU finning ban so elected representatives know we are following their deliberations EU groups, help handover the results of European Shark Week to your minister 2 Shark Alliance News and Activities 2.1 EU Shark Finning Regulation Debated in European Parliament Shark Alliance representatives were on hand last week as the European Parliament Fisheries Committee considered and debated for the first time the European Commission’s proposal to close major loopholes in the EU ban on shark finning. The Commission has proposed ending special permits that allow fishermen to cut off shark fins at sea and land them separately from the bodies, under a derogation to the overall EU requirement for landing sharks with their fins still naturally attached. Portugal and Spain are the only EU Member States still issuing these special permits, a fact that was clearly reflected in the afternoon’s debate. Maria do Céu Patrão Neves Member of European Parliament (MEP) from Portugal started the discussion in her role as Committee Rapporteur. Despite insisting that she had an open mind on the matter and was listening to all sides, all of Patrão Neves’ arguments were based on those offered by the Portuguese and Spanish long-distance freezer vessels, which make up the EU’s largest shark fishing fleet. With little supporting documentation or specifics, she cited concerns about economic hardship, safety, hygiene, and storage to argue against the proposed “fins naturally attached” policy, and called instead for delay of the regulation and compromise measures. She questioned the Commission on why they were moving forward with the proposal, apparently forgetting Update 104 March 2012
-
Upload
adng-diving -
Category
Education
-
view
371 -
download
1
description
Shark Alliance - Updates (Portugal, Espanha)
Transcript of Shark alliance update 104
FOR SHARK ALLIANCE MEMBER GROUPS
PLEASE DO NOT UPLOAD THIS DOCUMENT TO YOUR WEBSITES
Contents
1 Two Things to Do Now 2 Shark Alliance News and Activities 3 News from Member Groups
4 Calendar 5 New Members
1 Two things to do Spread the word about debates in the European Parliament on the EU finning ban so
elected representatives know we are following their deliberations EU groups help handover the results of European Shark Week to your minister
2 Shark Alliance News and Activities
21 EU Shark Finning Regulation Debated in European Parliament Shark Alliance representatives were on hand last week as the European Parliament
Fisheries Committee considered and debated for the first time the European Commissionrsquos proposal to close major loopholes in the EU ban on shark finning The
Commission has proposed ending special permits that allow fishermen to cut off shark fins at sea and land them separately from the bodies under a derogation to the overall EU requirement for landing sharks with their fins still naturally attached Portugal and
Spain are the only EU Member States still issuing these special permits a fact that was clearly reflected in the afternoonrsquos debate
Maria do Ceacuteu Patratildeo Neves Member of European Parliament (MEP) from Portugal started the discussion in her role as Committee Rapporteur Despite insisting that she had an
open mind on the matter and was listening to all sides all of Patratildeo Nevesrsquo arguments were based on those offered by the Portuguese and Spanish long-distance freezer
vessels which make up the EUrsquos largest shark fishing fleet With little supporting documentation or specifics she cited concerns about economic hardship safety hygiene and storage to argue against the proposed ldquofins naturally attachedrdquo policy and
called instead for delay of the regulation and compromise measures She questioned the Commission on why they were moving forward with the proposal apparently forgetting
Update 104 March 2012
For Shark Alliance member groups Please do not upload this document to your website
2
that she was among the 423 MEPs to sign in 2010 the Written Declaration urging the Commission to propose a complete ban on removing shark fins on board vessels Patratildeo
Neves was vigorously supported by MEP Carmen Fraga from Spain who argued also without specific figures against imposing this ldquocostly measurerdquo that would have ldquomajor
repercussionsrdquo in the future Other MEPs from the UK Spain and Greece argued adeptly in favor of the Commissionrsquos
proposal casting great doubt on industryrsquos arguments based on examples from other countries while highlighting the great number of vessels with special permits the
biological vulnerability of sharks and the need for the EU to lead rather than lag behind a growing number of countries effectively imposing fins-attached policies
A representative from the European Commission reviewed the loopholes associated with the current regulation stressed that there were practical solutions to all concerns raised
and refuted the assertion that their proposal which has been years in the making was ldquohastyrdquo Patratildeo Neves however was ldquoextremely disappointedrdquo with his response asserted that MEPs were there to ldquodefend the fishing industry of Europerdquo and reiterated
her opposition to the proposal
Earlier in the day the European Parliamentrsquos Environment Committee discussed the same issue beginning with a draft opinion report from MEP Andrea Zanoni from Italy
that strongly supported the Commissionrsquos proposal Zanonirsquos report received enthusiastic endorsements from all MEPs taking the floor
The process to amend the EU finning ban will continue to heat up throughout the spring Stay tuned to the Shark Alliance website for updates on this critical process and ways
that you can help us achieve a strong and enforceable EU shark finning ban More information Read the full report here and share on your websites and through
your email lists Watch a video of the fisheries committee debate here (needs Internet Explorer to access interpretation) Our press release welcoming Mr Zanonirsquos report is
available in English and Italian
22 Briefing paper on the EU Finning Regulation
Prepared to support MEPs and EU national officials in their debates our latest briefing document summarizes the background to moves to close the loopholes in the EU finning ban and sets out the Shark Alliancersquos support for the proposal for all sharks to be landed
with lsquofins naturally attachedrsquo Available in English Dutch French Italian Polish Portuguese and Spanish
23 Science on ratios and why they donrsquot work for enforcing finning bans
Two scientific articles to be published in the Journal of Fish Biology look at the variability of fin-to-carcass ratios and the impact this has for enforcing finning bans
lsquoBlue shark Prionace glauca fin-to-carcass-mass ratios in Spain and implications for finning ban enforcementrsquo by Julia Santana-Garcon (who many of you will know from her
For Shark Alliance member groups Please do not upload this document to your website
3
previous work with the Shark Alliance in Spain) Sonja Fordham (Shark Advocates International and advisor to the Alliance in the EU) and Sarah Fowler (who many of you
will also know) The paper examines the processing of fins from blue sharks caught by the Spanish longline fleet and landed in Vigo Spain and implications of these practices
for enforcing the EU ban on shark finning which relies on a maximum fin-to-carcass-mass ratio ldquoThe significant differences in fin-to-carcass-mass ratios between fin sets or cutting procedure demonstrates that the ratio limit is problematic and conclusively in
order to facilitate proper enforcement fishermen should be required to land all sharks with the fins still naturally attached to the bodiesrdquo
lsquoA global review of species-specific shark-fin-to-body-mass ratios and relevant legislationrsquo by L Biery and D Pauly reviews ratios for 50 species with existing shark
fishery legislation Results suggest that currently regulated ratios may not be appropriate for all species and fin-cutting practices and regulations based on generalized
ratios for all sharks may be inadequate Alternative policies may be necessary for the effective management of global shark fisheries
24 Dr Shelley Clarke talks to the Alliance about her research on the fin trade
Shelley Clarke a fisheries scientist based in Japan received her doctorate in quantitative fisheries science from Imperial College London in 2003 for her ground-breaking study of the shark fin trade She explains how many sharks are traded for their fins how this
information was gathered the role of EU fleets (particularly Spain) and trends in the market She concludes by explaining the impact of finning bans and the best methods for
enforcing them Watch the short film here
25 Key EU shark and ray protections maintained for 2012
At their December 2011 meeting the EU Council of Fisheries Ministers accepted the European Commissionrsquos science-based proposals to maintain Total Allowable Catch (TAC) limits for porbeagle and spurdog sharks at zero The decision came despite pressure
from the fishing industry to once again allow landings from these Critically Endangered populations
The Shark Alliance also welcomed ministersrsquo agreement to continue existing prohibitions on take of several other Threatened species such as the common skate and undulate
ray The Council lowered catch limits for other species of skates and rays in some areas but reductions were less precautionary than those proposed by the Commission While
generally pleased with the outcomes from the December Council meeting the Shark Alliance regretted that their calls to extend protections for Threatened common skate
undulate ray guitarfish and white skate to the Mediterranean have yet to be heeded
26 Spain protects more shark and ray species in the Mediterranean
In January this year Spain announced the inclusion of nine shark and ray species in the
List of Wild Species under Special Protection Inclusion in the list delivers on commitments made by Spain as a party to the Protocol concerning Specially Protected
Areas and Biological Diversity in the Mediterranean
For Shark Alliance member groups Please do not upload this document to your website
4
In February 2011 several shark and ray species were included for the first time in the
List which prohibits the capture injury trade import and export of these species and requires periodic evaluations of their conservation status
The Shark Alliance has campaigned for such protection in Spain and welcomed this positive move for the protection of threatened shark and ray species in the Spanish
Mediterranean waters while calling for action to ensure the fisheries sector is given the necessary information to guarantee that none of the species included are caught or
landed and for the Spanish Government to broaden the list of shark and ray species protected
More information with the list of protected species here in English and Spanish
27 What does your country have to do with sharks
All 27 EU member states through their MEPs and ministers have a role in establishing sound conservation policies for sharks Beyond the political connections you may have
known that the smoked belly flaps of spurdog (known as Schillerlocken) are particularly popular in German fish markets and beer gardens but did you know that the thornback ray a species found in the Black Sea was featured on a Bulgarian stamp in the 1960s
(and is increasingly showing up in Bulgarian fishing reports today) Or that Poland has yielded some of the worlds oldest fossils of early sharks from the Jurassic and
Cretaceous periods including the earliest reported evidence of the ancestors of angel sharks and porbeagles
We are preparing on-line profiles of all EU countries with such fascinating facts as well as an analysis of shark and ray catches imports and exports and their progress on shark
conservation Profiles have been published for Bulgaria Denmark France Germany Greece Italy Netherlands Poland Portugal Spain and the United Kingdom with others
to follow
28 European Shark Week Showing fisheries ministers the concern for better shark conservation policies
Since we updated you on the results of ESW in the last Update we have been busy
collecting and collating the petition signatures and photos you generated Wersquore still counting but have gathered over 175000 thousand signatures with some from all 27 EU
member states and many other countries outside the EU with hundreds more photos and videos and examples of media coverage
We want to show all EU Fisheries Ministers the level of interest across Europe for better shark conservation measures We are preparing large ldquophoto booksrdquo with a sample of
pictures and the results of the petition to present to each national minister
We can just send directly with a covering letter But it would be much better if you arranged to deliver it personally We can support you with a copy of the book and a template press release for your use
For Shark Alliance member groups Please do not upload this document to your website
5
This could be a quick photo-call with the minister or high ranking official in his or her
office Perhaps followed by a meeting where you can explain whatrsquos needed for better conservation in your country (we can help with talking points) Or perhaps an event in
an aquarium that will attract media attention Or an underwater round-table discussion with an official in a wetsuit (ok the books arenrsquot waterproof but you can be as imaginative or practical as you want)
If you are in France Germany Italy the Netherlands Spain and the UK this is being
coordinated through your national country coordinator For those of you in other countries Let Martin Clark know if you want to discuss coordinating something
3 News from Member Groups Thank you to Shark Savers WildAid Humane Society International Project AWARE Sea First
Foundation vzw Sharkmanrsquos World Organization Hong Kong Shark Foundation Pew Environment
Group SandyHook SeaLife Foundation Ondine Escape and DEEPWAVE for contributing to this
Shark Alliance Update
NB Activities of Shark Alliance member groups carried out in their own names donrsquot necessarily
reflect the positions of the Alliance as a whole
31 Shark Savers and WildAid New Report on Manta and Mobula Rays
Shark Savers and WildAid released a new report lsquoManta Ray of Hope The Global Threat to Manta and Mobula Raysrsquo The two Alliance member groups describe how the report provides the most far-reaching research ever conducted into both the intensive overfishing of mantas and mobulas as well as the trade in their gill rakers that are driving mantas and mobulas to the point of population collapse The destruction of ray populations is the result of demand for their gill rakers with an estimated market value of $11 million annually This value is a fraction of the value of manta and mobula ray tourism which is estimated at over $100 million per year globally The gill rakers are being used by some practitioners of Traditional Chinese Medicine for an unproven health tonic Click here to read more or download the report
32 Project AWARE Shark Conservation Diver Specialty Course
PADI Scuba Diving Instructors can help give sharks a fighting chance by teaching the NEW AWARE Shark Conservation specialty course to
their student divers The goals of the AWARE Shark Conservation Diver course are to inform
students of the value of sharks to marine ecosystems and economies to educate them about the causes of declining shark populations
to build an understanding of what is missing in current shark fisheries management to dispel
misperceptions that may block them from taking action and to inspire them to help sharks by
For Shark Alliance member groups Please do not upload this document to your website
6
taking action PADI Instructors are encouraged to use the AWARE Shark Conservation Diver course to turn their students into informed and passionate shark defenders who
take action to protect sharks The course is open to divers and non-divers
The Instructor Guide is available in English French German Italian Spanish and Arabic (and soon in Chinese)
33 Humane Society International Fin-Free Lunar New Year Campaign
In late December 2011 more than a dozen Chinese NGOs participated in a media event to urge the public to adopt a lsquo2012 Fin-Free Lunar New Year Celebrationrsquo and the government to modify regulations to ban the sale of shark fins at government-certified lsquogreenrsquo hotels During the event co-sponsored by Humane Society International the organizers gave out lsquoShark Guardianrsquo awards to hotelsrestaurants that took shark fin soup off their menu and to public figures who support the fin-free campaign Tencent one of the largest news portals in China is the media sponsor of the campaign HSI launched a No Shark Fin pledge drive last 23 January before the Lunar New Year celebration kicked off to support the efforts of its partners and advocates in Asia
34 Sea First Foundation Educational Shark Project 2012 Starting March 31 high school students in Belgium will be invited by the Sea First Foundation (SFF) to join a shark competition either individually or in teams The challenge will be to design and execute a team project that will inform their neighborhood of the plight of sharks Teachers are also encouraged to get involved in the project by giving lessons using the information package provided to them by helping their students prepare a team project or by inviting an SFF teacher to give free lessons on sharks The grand prize for the winning team is a one-week marine study trip to Florida the highlight of which is a one-day academic shark study excursion with the RJ Dunlap Marine Conservation Program of the University of Miami to tag sharks Once back home the students will be able to track the sharks on the Internet for a year
With this project SFF aims to raise awareness and interest for the shark cause in Belgium and hope to positively influence Belgian MEPs and the fisheries minister More information can be obtained from Katrien Vandevelde
35 HK Shark Foundation Petition Wedding Competition Shark-Fin Free Companies amp Documentary
The HK Shark Foundation (HKSF) is continuing its petition to request the Hong Kong Government to stop consuming shark products at official functions The strategy is to get
For Shark Alliance member groups Please do not upload this document to your website
7
a quick win that will open the discussion about a full trade ban whilst also setting a positive message to the Hong Kong public Please help by signing and sharing the petition (non-US users can select the non-US option but still need to enter a postcode so they can put 0000 if they dont have one)
Sharkfin-free wedding competition HKSF has also developed an exclusive Hong Kong edition of the Happy Hearts Love Sharks wedding contest that was originally created by
Shark Truth in Canada Twelve couples already signed up preventing over 3500 bowls of shark fin soup from being served at their weddings and HKSF is trying to get 90 more couples to join in The winners will be selected by a public vote in May 2012 In the
meantime if you are interested in running Happy Hearts Love Sharks in their city or country please contact wedding-contestsharktruthcom See contest promo here
Sharkfin-free companies HKSF was able to sign-up the Bank of China (Hong Kong) Limited a leading listed commercial banking group in Hong Kong to WWF-Hong Kongs
Say No To Shark Fin corporate pledge setting an example of positive environmental action to other Hong Kong companies
Documentary The short film ldquoThe Tide is Turningrdquo highlights how nations cities and people around the globe are saying No to shark fin It should remind viewers of the early
80s and a similar movement that swept the globe- the call to ban the ivory trade
36 Pew Environment Group Sanctuary The Last Stand for Sharks screening
On the evening of 30 January the Pew Environment Group and the Coral Reef Alliance (CORAL) held a screening of Sanctuary The Last Stand for Sharks in San Francisco The film portrays the underwater world of sharks and paints a global picture of the threats they face worldwide Globally shark populations are declining but there is growing momentum to protect sharks Many locations are recognizing that sharks are worth more alive than dead contributing both to the economy and the stability of crucial marine ecosystems like coral reefs Some countries have even established shark sanctuaries throughout the entirety of their waters Following the film there was a question and answer panel with Matt Rand (Director of Global Shark Conservation Pew Environment Group) Rick MacPherson (Conservation Programs Director CORAL) Jason Vasques (Assistant Director of Conservation Programs CORAL) and Dr Michael Webster (Executive Director CORAL)
37 SandyHook SeaLife The Swordfish Hunters Film Project Responding to recent polls that indicate Americans lack a deep understanding of and involvement in issues affecting the ocean SandyHook SeaLife (SHSL) Foundation will begin a public awareness initiative through the power of film lsquoThe Swordfish Huntersrsquo written by SHSL Foundationrsquos founder a movie in the planning stage will take global
For Shark Alliance member groups Please do not upload this document to your website
8
audiences to sea to experience the raw reality of what fishermen and mariners encounter - the devastating changes wrought by humans on this ecosystem
SHSL Foundation invites like-minded organisations to join them in this film project and advance their own mission SHSL Foundation welcomes partners who can help
provide funding talent and expertise For more information on lsquoThe Swordfish Huntersrsquo please visit SHSL Foundationrsquos website or contact Mary Hamilton SHSL Foundationrsquos
Executive Director
38 Ondine Escape Upcoming Data Collection Projects in Mallorca Ondine Escape has recently created its own conservation department and is planning to
set-up two new elasmobranch programs in Mallorca The first is a small data collection program for the common stingray Dasyatis pastinica This is a volunteer-based program working with local divers Ondine Escape will be working with Gabriel Morey IUCN Shark
Specialist Group member and a former department of fisheries biologist and a local shark expert to monitor over a 12-month period two areas within the Bay of Palma with
the view to Gabriel writing a report on the migrations of this species The second project also a data collection program aims to increasing the data base of MEDLEM (The Mediterranean Large Elasmobranchs Monitoring Program) Both programs are in the
early stages of planning Watch this space for more details
39 DEEPWAVE Dr Gross Speaks at the Sealife Aquarium Timmendorf On the 22nd of January Dr Onno Gross from DEEPWAVE gave a speech about shark
threats and conservation at the Sealife Aquarium Timmendorf Germany It was a good opportunity to get the audience interested in learning more about the big EU shark fishing fleet and its intense activities in the international shark fin trade
310 New Sharkmanrsquos World Organization Website
The new Sharkmanrsquos World Organization website is now up and running The new url is wwwsharkmans-worldeu Please update your links If you wish Sharkmanrsquos World
Organization to link to your website please contact Alex Sharkman Buttigieg
For Shark Alliance member groups Please do not upload this document to your website
9
4 Calendar
NB There is a more detailed calendar relating to the EU process for strengthening the finning ban that we can share with all those who are interested
March 15-20 CITES 26th Meeting of the Animals Committee Geneva Switzerland
March 14-21 Palau Shark Week
March 26-30 Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission (WCPFC) Session Guam
April week of 22nd Project AWARErsquos Big Shark Shout Out 2012
June 8 World Oceans Day
June 11-15 ICCAT Sharks Meeting (Ecological Risk Analysis) Portugal
June 20-22 Rio +20 (United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development) Rio de Janeiro Brazil
June 25-29 IATTC La Jolla California
July 9-13 30th Session of FAO Committee on Fisheries (COFI) Rome Italy
July 12 CITES 62nd Meeting of the Standing Committee Geneva Switzerland
September Debris Month of Action
September 6-8 10th International Seafood Summit Kowloon Shangri-La Hong Kong
September 6-15 IUCN World Conservation Congress Jeju Korea
November 12-19 ICCAT Special Meeting of the Commission Agadir Morocco
Please let us know of other upcoming events and key dates
5 Shark Alliance Member Groups
The Shark Alliance now has 122 member groups Welcome to our newest members
1 Tiny Island Conservation (Maldives)
2 Danishark Elasmobranch Research (Italy)
The full list of member groups can be found on the website Member Groups
For help regarding Shark Alliance administration please contact Ronna Mercado at rmercadopewtrustsorg
For Shark Alliance member groups Please do not upload this document to your website
2
that she was among the 423 MEPs to sign in 2010 the Written Declaration urging the Commission to propose a complete ban on removing shark fins on board vessels Patratildeo
Neves was vigorously supported by MEP Carmen Fraga from Spain who argued also without specific figures against imposing this ldquocostly measurerdquo that would have ldquomajor
repercussionsrdquo in the future Other MEPs from the UK Spain and Greece argued adeptly in favor of the Commissionrsquos
proposal casting great doubt on industryrsquos arguments based on examples from other countries while highlighting the great number of vessels with special permits the
biological vulnerability of sharks and the need for the EU to lead rather than lag behind a growing number of countries effectively imposing fins-attached policies
A representative from the European Commission reviewed the loopholes associated with the current regulation stressed that there were practical solutions to all concerns raised
and refuted the assertion that their proposal which has been years in the making was ldquohastyrdquo Patratildeo Neves however was ldquoextremely disappointedrdquo with his response asserted that MEPs were there to ldquodefend the fishing industry of Europerdquo and reiterated
her opposition to the proposal
Earlier in the day the European Parliamentrsquos Environment Committee discussed the same issue beginning with a draft opinion report from MEP Andrea Zanoni from Italy
that strongly supported the Commissionrsquos proposal Zanonirsquos report received enthusiastic endorsements from all MEPs taking the floor
The process to amend the EU finning ban will continue to heat up throughout the spring Stay tuned to the Shark Alliance website for updates on this critical process and ways
that you can help us achieve a strong and enforceable EU shark finning ban More information Read the full report here and share on your websites and through
your email lists Watch a video of the fisheries committee debate here (needs Internet Explorer to access interpretation) Our press release welcoming Mr Zanonirsquos report is
available in English and Italian
22 Briefing paper on the EU Finning Regulation
Prepared to support MEPs and EU national officials in their debates our latest briefing document summarizes the background to moves to close the loopholes in the EU finning ban and sets out the Shark Alliancersquos support for the proposal for all sharks to be landed
with lsquofins naturally attachedrsquo Available in English Dutch French Italian Polish Portuguese and Spanish
23 Science on ratios and why they donrsquot work for enforcing finning bans
Two scientific articles to be published in the Journal of Fish Biology look at the variability of fin-to-carcass ratios and the impact this has for enforcing finning bans
lsquoBlue shark Prionace glauca fin-to-carcass-mass ratios in Spain and implications for finning ban enforcementrsquo by Julia Santana-Garcon (who many of you will know from her
For Shark Alliance member groups Please do not upload this document to your website
3
previous work with the Shark Alliance in Spain) Sonja Fordham (Shark Advocates International and advisor to the Alliance in the EU) and Sarah Fowler (who many of you
will also know) The paper examines the processing of fins from blue sharks caught by the Spanish longline fleet and landed in Vigo Spain and implications of these practices
for enforcing the EU ban on shark finning which relies on a maximum fin-to-carcass-mass ratio ldquoThe significant differences in fin-to-carcass-mass ratios between fin sets or cutting procedure demonstrates that the ratio limit is problematic and conclusively in
order to facilitate proper enforcement fishermen should be required to land all sharks with the fins still naturally attached to the bodiesrdquo
lsquoA global review of species-specific shark-fin-to-body-mass ratios and relevant legislationrsquo by L Biery and D Pauly reviews ratios for 50 species with existing shark
fishery legislation Results suggest that currently regulated ratios may not be appropriate for all species and fin-cutting practices and regulations based on generalized
ratios for all sharks may be inadequate Alternative policies may be necessary for the effective management of global shark fisheries
24 Dr Shelley Clarke talks to the Alliance about her research on the fin trade
Shelley Clarke a fisheries scientist based in Japan received her doctorate in quantitative fisheries science from Imperial College London in 2003 for her ground-breaking study of the shark fin trade She explains how many sharks are traded for their fins how this
information was gathered the role of EU fleets (particularly Spain) and trends in the market She concludes by explaining the impact of finning bans and the best methods for
enforcing them Watch the short film here
25 Key EU shark and ray protections maintained for 2012
At their December 2011 meeting the EU Council of Fisheries Ministers accepted the European Commissionrsquos science-based proposals to maintain Total Allowable Catch (TAC) limits for porbeagle and spurdog sharks at zero The decision came despite pressure
from the fishing industry to once again allow landings from these Critically Endangered populations
The Shark Alliance also welcomed ministersrsquo agreement to continue existing prohibitions on take of several other Threatened species such as the common skate and undulate
ray The Council lowered catch limits for other species of skates and rays in some areas but reductions were less precautionary than those proposed by the Commission While
generally pleased with the outcomes from the December Council meeting the Shark Alliance regretted that their calls to extend protections for Threatened common skate
undulate ray guitarfish and white skate to the Mediterranean have yet to be heeded
26 Spain protects more shark and ray species in the Mediterranean
In January this year Spain announced the inclusion of nine shark and ray species in the
List of Wild Species under Special Protection Inclusion in the list delivers on commitments made by Spain as a party to the Protocol concerning Specially Protected
Areas and Biological Diversity in the Mediterranean
For Shark Alliance member groups Please do not upload this document to your website
4
In February 2011 several shark and ray species were included for the first time in the
List which prohibits the capture injury trade import and export of these species and requires periodic evaluations of their conservation status
The Shark Alliance has campaigned for such protection in Spain and welcomed this positive move for the protection of threatened shark and ray species in the Spanish
Mediterranean waters while calling for action to ensure the fisheries sector is given the necessary information to guarantee that none of the species included are caught or
landed and for the Spanish Government to broaden the list of shark and ray species protected
More information with the list of protected species here in English and Spanish
27 What does your country have to do with sharks
All 27 EU member states through their MEPs and ministers have a role in establishing sound conservation policies for sharks Beyond the political connections you may have
known that the smoked belly flaps of spurdog (known as Schillerlocken) are particularly popular in German fish markets and beer gardens but did you know that the thornback ray a species found in the Black Sea was featured on a Bulgarian stamp in the 1960s
(and is increasingly showing up in Bulgarian fishing reports today) Or that Poland has yielded some of the worlds oldest fossils of early sharks from the Jurassic and
Cretaceous periods including the earliest reported evidence of the ancestors of angel sharks and porbeagles
We are preparing on-line profiles of all EU countries with such fascinating facts as well as an analysis of shark and ray catches imports and exports and their progress on shark
conservation Profiles have been published for Bulgaria Denmark France Germany Greece Italy Netherlands Poland Portugal Spain and the United Kingdom with others
to follow
28 European Shark Week Showing fisheries ministers the concern for better shark conservation policies
Since we updated you on the results of ESW in the last Update we have been busy
collecting and collating the petition signatures and photos you generated Wersquore still counting but have gathered over 175000 thousand signatures with some from all 27 EU
member states and many other countries outside the EU with hundreds more photos and videos and examples of media coverage
We want to show all EU Fisheries Ministers the level of interest across Europe for better shark conservation measures We are preparing large ldquophoto booksrdquo with a sample of
pictures and the results of the petition to present to each national minister
We can just send directly with a covering letter But it would be much better if you arranged to deliver it personally We can support you with a copy of the book and a template press release for your use
For Shark Alliance member groups Please do not upload this document to your website
5
This could be a quick photo-call with the minister or high ranking official in his or her
office Perhaps followed by a meeting where you can explain whatrsquos needed for better conservation in your country (we can help with talking points) Or perhaps an event in
an aquarium that will attract media attention Or an underwater round-table discussion with an official in a wetsuit (ok the books arenrsquot waterproof but you can be as imaginative or practical as you want)
If you are in France Germany Italy the Netherlands Spain and the UK this is being
coordinated through your national country coordinator For those of you in other countries Let Martin Clark know if you want to discuss coordinating something
3 News from Member Groups Thank you to Shark Savers WildAid Humane Society International Project AWARE Sea First
Foundation vzw Sharkmanrsquos World Organization Hong Kong Shark Foundation Pew Environment
Group SandyHook SeaLife Foundation Ondine Escape and DEEPWAVE for contributing to this
Shark Alliance Update
NB Activities of Shark Alliance member groups carried out in their own names donrsquot necessarily
reflect the positions of the Alliance as a whole
31 Shark Savers and WildAid New Report on Manta and Mobula Rays
Shark Savers and WildAid released a new report lsquoManta Ray of Hope The Global Threat to Manta and Mobula Raysrsquo The two Alliance member groups describe how the report provides the most far-reaching research ever conducted into both the intensive overfishing of mantas and mobulas as well as the trade in their gill rakers that are driving mantas and mobulas to the point of population collapse The destruction of ray populations is the result of demand for their gill rakers with an estimated market value of $11 million annually This value is a fraction of the value of manta and mobula ray tourism which is estimated at over $100 million per year globally The gill rakers are being used by some practitioners of Traditional Chinese Medicine for an unproven health tonic Click here to read more or download the report
32 Project AWARE Shark Conservation Diver Specialty Course
PADI Scuba Diving Instructors can help give sharks a fighting chance by teaching the NEW AWARE Shark Conservation specialty course to
their student divers The goals of the AWARE Shark Conservation Diver course are to inform
students of the value of sharks to marine ecosystems and economies to educate them about the causes of declining shark populations
to build an understanding of what is missing in current shark fisheries management to dispel
misperceptions that may block them from taking action and to inspire them to help sharks by
For Shark Alliance member groups Please do not upload this document to your website
6
taking action PADI Instructors are encouraged to use the AWARE Shark Conservation Diver course to turn their students into informed and passionate shark defenders who
take action to protect sharks The course is open to divers and non-divers
The Instructor Guide is available in English French German Italian Spanish and Arabic (and soon in Chinese)
33 Humane Society International Fin-Free Lunar New Year Campaign
In late December 2011 more than a dozen Chinese NGOs participated in a media event to urge the public to adopt a lsquo2012 Fin-Free Lunar New Year Celebrationrsquo and the government to modify regulations to ban the sale of shark fins at government-certified lsquogreenrsquo hotels During the event co-sponsored by Humane Society International the organizers gave out lsquoShark Guardianrsquo awards to hotelsrestaurants that took shark fin soup off their menu and to public figures who support the fin-free campaign Tencent one of the largest news portals in China is the media sponsor of the campaign HSI launched a No Shark Fin pledge drive last 23 January before the Lunar New Year celebration kicked off to support the efforts of its partners and advocates in Asia
34 Sea First Foundation Educational Shark Project 2012 Starting March 31 high school students in Belgium will be invited by the Sea First Foundation (SFF) to join a shark competition either individually or in teams The challenge will be to design and execute a team project that will inform their neighborhood of the plight of sharks Teachers are also encouraged to get involved in the project by giving lessons using the information package provided to them by helping their students prepare a team project or by inviting an SFF teacher to give free lessons on sharks The grand prize for the winning team is a one-week marine study trip to Florida the highlight of which is a one-day academic shark study excursion with the RJ Dunlap Marine Conservation Program of the University of Miami to tag sharks Once back home the students will be able to track the sharks on the Internet for a year
With this project SFF aims to raise awareness and interest for the shark cause in Belgium and hope to positively influence Belgian MEPs and the fisheries minister More information can be obtained from Katrien Vandevelde
35 HK Shark Foundation Petition Wedding Competition Shark-Fin Free Companies amp Documentary
The HK Shark Foundation (HKSF) is continuing its petition to request the Hong Kong Government to stop consuming shark products at official functions The strategy is to get
For Shark Alliance member groups Please do not upload this document to your website
7
a quick win that will open the discussion about a full trade ban whilst also setting a positive message to the Hong Kong public Please help by signing and sharing the petition (non-US users can select the non-US option but still need to enter a postcode so they can put 0000 if they dont have one)
Sharkfin-free wedding competition HKSF has also developed an exclusive Hong Kong edition of the Happy Hearts Love Sharks wedding contest that was originally created by
Shark Truth in Canada Twelve couples already signed up preventing over 3500 bowls of shark fin soup from being served at their weddings and HKSF is trying to get 90 more couples to join in The winners will be selected by a public vote in May 2012 In the
meantime if you are interested in running Happy Hearts Love Sharks in their city or country please contact wedding-contestsharktruthcom See contest promo here
Sharkfin-free companies HKSF was able to sign-up the Bank of China (Hong Kong) Limited a leading listed commercial banking group in Hong Kong to WWF-Hong Kongs
Say No To Shark Fin corporate pledge setting an example of positive environmental action to other Hong Kong companies
Documentary The short film ldquoThe Tide is Turningrdquo highlights how nations cities and people around the globe are saying No to shark fin It should remind viewers of the early
80s and a similar movement that swept the globe- the call to ban the ivory trade
36 Pew Environment Group Sanctuary The Last Stand for Sharks screening
On the evening of 30 January the Pew Environment Group and the Coral Reef Alliance (CORAL) held a screening of Sanctuary The Last Stand for Sharks in San Francisco The film portrays the underwater world of sharks and paints a global picture of the threats they face worldwide Globally shark populations are declining but there is growing momentum to protect sharks Many locations are recognizing that sharks are worth more alive than dead contributing both to the economy and the stability of crucial marine ecosystems like coral reefs Some countries have even established shark sanctuaries throughout the entirety of their waters Following the film there was a question and answer panel with Matt Rand (Director of Global Shark Conservation Pew Environment Group) Rick MacPherson (Conservation Programs Director CORAL) Jason Vasques (Assistant Director of Conservation Programs CORAL) and Dr Michael Webster (Executive Director CORAL)
37 SandyHook SeaLife The Swordfish Hunters Film Project Responding to recent polls that indicate Americans lack a deep understanding of and involvement in issues affecting the ocean SandyHook SeaLife (SHSL) Foundation will begin a public awareness initiative through the power of film lsquoThe Swordfish Huntersrsquo written by SHSL Foundationrsquos founder a movie in the planning stage will take global
For Shark Alliance member groups Please do not upload this document to your website
8
audiences to sea to experience the raw reality of what fishermen and mariners encounter - the devastating changes wrought by humans on this ecosystem
SHSL Foundation invites like-minded organisations to join them in this film project and advance their own mission SHSL Foundation welcomes partners who can help
provide funding talent and expertise For more information on lsquoThe Swordfish Huntersrsquo please visit SHSL Foundationrsquos website or contact Mary Hamilton SHSL Foundationrsquos
Executive Director
38 Ondine Escape Upcoming Data Collection Projects in Mallorca Ondine Escape has recently created its own conservation department and is planning to
set-up two new elasmobranch programs in Mallorca The first is a small data collection program for the common stingray Dasyatis pastinica This is a volunteer-based program working with local divers Ondine Escape will be working with Gabriel Morey IUCN Shark
Specialist Group member and a former department of fisheries biologist and a local shark expert to monitor over a 12-month period two areas within the Bay of Palma with
the view to Gabriel writing a report on the migrations of this species The second project also a data collection program aims to increasing the data base of MEDLEM (The Mediterranean Large Elasmobranchs Monitoring Program) Both programs are in the
early stages of planning Watch this space for more details
39 DEEPWAVE Dr Gross Speaks at the Sealife Aquarium Timmendorf On the 22nd of January Dr Onno Gross from DEEPWAVE gave a speech about shark
threats and conservation at the Sealife Aquarium Timmendorf Germany It was a good opportunity to get the audience interested in learning more about the big EU shark fishing fleet and its intense activities in the international shark fin trade
310 New Sharkmanrsquos World Organization Website
The new Sharkmanrsquos World Organization website is now up and running The new url is wwwsharkmans-worldeu Please update your links If you wish Sharkmanrsquos World
Organization to link to your website please contact Alex Sharkman Buttigieg
For Shark Alliance member groups Please do not upload this document to your website
9
4 Calendar
NB There is a more detailed calendar relating to the EU process for strengthening the finning ban that we can share with all those who are interested
March 15-20 CITES 26th Meeting of the Animals Committee Geneva Switzerland
March 14-21 Palau Shark Week
March 26-30 Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission (WCPFC) Session Guam
April week of 22nd Project AWARErsquos Big Shark Shout Out 2012
June 8 World Oceans Day
June 11-15 ICCAT Sharks Meeting (Ecological Risk Analysis) Portugal
June 20-22 Rio +20 (United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development) Rio de Janeiro Brazil
June 25-29 IATTC La Jolla California
July 9-13 30th Session of FAO Committee on Fisheries (COFI) Rome Italy
July 12 CITES 62nd Meeting of the Standing Committee Geneva Switzerland
September Debris Month of Action
September 6-8 10th International Seafood Summit Kowloon Shangri-La Hong Kong
September 6-15 IUCN World Conservation Congress Jeju Korea
November 12-19 ICCAT Special Meeting of the Commission Agadir Morocco
Please let us know of other upcoming events and key dates
5 Shark Alliance Member Groups
The Shark Alliance now has 122 member groups Welcome to our newest members
1 Tiny Island Conservation (Maldives)
2 Danishark Elasmobranch Research (Italy)
The full list of member groups can be found on the website Member Groups
For help regarding Shark Alliance administration please contact Ronna Mercado at rmercadopewtrustsorg
For Shark Alliance member groups Please do not upload this document to your website
3
previous work with the Shark Alliance in Spain) Sonja Fordham (Shark Advocates International and advisor to the Alliance in the EU) and Sarah Fowler (who many of you
will also know) The paper examines the processing of fins from blue sharks caught by the Spanish longline fleet and landed in Vigo Spain and implications of these practices
for enforcing the EU ban on shark finning which relies on a maximum fin-to-carcass-mass ratio ldquoThe significant differences in fin-to-carcass-mass ratios between fin sets or cutting procedure demonstrates that the ratio limit is problematic and conclusively in
order to facilitate proper enforcement fishermen should be required to land all sharks with the fins still naturally attached to the bodiesrdquo
lsquoA global review of species-specific shark-fin-to-body-mass ratios and relevant legislationrsquo by L Biery and D Pauly reviews ratios for 50 species with existing shark
fishery legislation Results suggest that currently regulated ratios may not be appropriate for all species and fin-cutting practices and regulations based on generalized
ratios for all sharks may be inadequate Alternative policies may be necessary for the effective management of global shark fisheries
24 Dr Shelley Clarke talks to the Alliance about her research on the fin trade
Shelley Clarke a fisheries scientist based in Japan received her doctorate in quantitative fisheries science from Imperial College London in 2003 for her ground-breaking study of the shark fin trade She explains how many sharks are traded for their fins how this
information was gathered the role of EU fleets (particularly Spain) and trends in the market She concludes by explaining the impact of finning bans and the best methods for
enforcing them Watch the short film here
25 Key EU shark and ray protections maintained for 2012
At their December 2011 meeting the EU Council of Fisheries Ministers accepted the European Commissionrsquos science-based proposals to maintain Total Allowable Catch (TAC) limits for porbeagle and spurdog sharks at zero The decision came despite pressure
from the fishing industry to once again allow landings from these Critically Endangered populations
The Shark Alliance also welcomed ministersrsquo agreement to continue existing prohibitions on take of several other Threatened species such as the common skate and undulate
ray The Council lowered catch limits for other species of skates and rays in some areas but reductions were less precautionary than those proposed by the Commission While
generally pleased with the outcomes from the December Council meeting the Shark Alliance regretted that their calls to extend protections for Threatened common skate
undulate ray guitarfish and white skate to the Mediterranean have yet to be heeded
26 Spain protects more shark and ray species in the Mediterranean
In January this year Spain announced the inclusion of nine shark and ray species in the
List of Wild Species under Special Protection Inclusion in the list delivers on commitments made by Spain as a party to the Protocol concerning Specially Protected
Areas and Biological Diversity in the Mediterranean
For Shark Alliance member groups Please do not upload this document to your website
4
In February 2011 several shark and ray species were included for the first time in the
List which prohibits the capture injury trade import and export of these species and requires periodic evaluations of their conservation status
The Shark Alliance has campaigned for such protection in Spain and welcomed this positive move for the protection of threatened shark and ray species in the Spanish
Mediterranean waters while calling for action to ensure the fisheries sector is given the necessary information to guarantee that none of the species included are caught or
landed and for the Spanish Government to broaden the list of shark and ray species protected
More information with the list of protected species here in English and Spanish
27 What does your country have to do with sharks
All 27 EU member states through their MEPs and ministers have a role in establishing sound conservation policies for sharks Beyond the political connections you may have
known that the smoked belly flaps of spurdog (known as Schillerlocken) are particularly popular in German fish markets and beer gardens but did you know that the thornback ray a species found in the Black Sea was featured on a Bulgarian stamp in the 1960s
(and is increasingly showing up in Bulgarian fishing reports today) Or that Poland has yielded some of the worlds oldest fossils of early sharks from the Jurassic and
Cretaceous periods including the earliest reported evidence of the ancestors of angel sharks and porbeagles
We are preparing on-line profiles of all EU countries with such fascinating facts as well as an analysis of shark and ray catches imports and exports and their progress on shark
conservation Profiles have been published for Bulgaria Denmark France Germany Greece Italy Netherlands Poland Portugal Spain and the United Kingdom with others
to follow
28 European Shark Week Showing fisheries ministers the concern for better shark conservation policies
Since we updated you on the results of ESW in the last Update we have been busy
collecting and collating the petition signatures and photos you generated Wersquore still counting but have gathered over 175000 thousand signatures with some from all 27 EU
member states and many other countries outside the EU with hundreds more photos and videos and examples of media coverage
We want to show all EU Fisheries Ministers the level of interest across Europe for better shark conservation measures We are preparing large ldquophoto booksrdquo with a sample of
pictures and the results of the petition to present to each national minister
We can just send directly with a covering letter But it would be much better if you arranged to deliver it personally We can support you with a copy of the book and a template press release for your use
For Shark Alliance member groups Please do not upload this document to your website
5
This could be a quick photo-call with the minister or high ranking official in his or her
office Perhaps followed by a meeting where you can explain whatrsquos needed for better conservation in your country (we can help with talking points) Or perhaps an event in
an aquarium that will attract media attention Or an underwater round-table discussion with an official in a wetsuit (ok the books arenrsquot waterproof but you can be as imaginative or practical as you want)
If you are in France Germany Italy the Netherlands Spain and the UK this is being
coordinated through your national country coordinator For those of you in other countries Let Martin Clark know if you want to discuss coordinating something
3 News from Member Groups Thank you to Shark Savers WildAid Humane Society International Project AWARE Sea First
Foundation vzw Sharkmanrsquos World Organization Hong Kong Shark Foundation Pew Environment
Group SandyHook SeaLife Foundation Ondine Escape and DEEPWAVE for contributing to this
Shark Alliance Update
NB Activities of Shark Alliance member groups carried out in their own names donrsquot necessarily
reflect the positions of the Alliance as a whole
31 Shark Savers and WildAid New Report on Manta and Mobula Rays
Shark Savers and WildAid released a new report lsquoManta Ray of Hope The Global Threat to Manta and Mobula Raysrsquo The two Alliance member groups describe how the report provides the most far-reaching research ever conducted into both the intensive overfishing of mantas and mobulas as well as the trade in their gill rakers that are driving mantas and mobulas to the point of population collapse The destruction of ray populations is the result of demand for their gill rakers with an estimated market value of $11 million annually This value is a fraction of the value of manta and mobula ray tourism which is estimated at over $100 million per year globally The gill rakers are being used by some practitioners of Traditional Chinese Medicine for an unproven health tonic Click here to read more or download the report
32 Project AWARE Shark Conservation Diver Specialty Course
PADI Scuba Diving Instructors can help give sharks a fighting chance by teaching the NEW AWARE Shark Conservation specialty course to
their student divers The goals of the AWARE Shark Conservation Diver course are to inform
students of the value of sharks to marine ecosystems and economies to educate them about the causes of declining shark populations
to build an understanding of what is missing in current shark fisheries management to dispel
misperceptions that may block them from taking action and to inspire them to help sharks by
For Shark Alliance member groups Please do not upload this document to your website
6
taking action PADI Instructors are encouraged to use the AWARE Shark Conservation Diver course to turn their students into informed and passionate shark defenders who
take action to protect sharks The course is open to divers and non-divers
The Instructor Guide is available in English French German Italian Spanish and Arabic (and soon in Chinese)
33 Humane Society International Fin-Free Lunar New Year Campaign
In late December 2011 more than a dozen Chinese NGOs participated in a media event to urge the public to adopt a lsquo2012 Fin-Free Lunar New Year Celebrationrsquo and the government to modify regulations to ban the sale of shark fins at government-certified lsquogreenrsquo hotels During the event co-sponsored by Humane Society International the organizers gave out lsquoShark Guardianrsquo awards to hotelsrestaurants that took shark fin soup off their menu and to public figures who support the fin-free campaign Tencent one of the largest news portals in China is the media sponsor of the campaign HSI launched a No Shark Fin pledge drive last 23 January before the Lunar New Year celebration kicked off to support the efforts of its partners and advocates in Asia
34 Sea First Foundation Educational Shark Project 2012 Starting March 31 high school students in Belgium will be invited by the Sea First Foundation (SFF) to join a shark competition either individually or in teams The challenge will be to design and execute a team project that will inform their neighborhood of the plight of sharks Teachers are also encouraged to get involved in the project by giving lessons using the information package provided to them by helping their students prepare a team project or by inviting an SFF teacher to give free lessons on sharks The grand prize for the winning team is a one-week marine study trip to Florida the highlight of which is a one-day academic shark study excursion with the RJ Dunlap Marine Conservation Program of the University of Miami to tag sharks Once back home the students will be able to track the sharks on the Internet for a year
With this project SFF aims to raise awareness and interest for the shark cause in Belgium and hope to positively influence Belgian MEPs and the fisheries minister More information can be obtained from Katrien Vandevelde
35 HK Shark Foundation Petition Wedding Competition Shark-Fin Free Companies amp Documentary
The HK Shark Foundation (HKSF) is continuing its petition to request the Hong Kong Government to stop consuming shark products at official functions The strategy is to get
For Shark Alliance member groups Please do not upload this document to your website
7
a quick win that will open the discussion about a full trade ban whilst also setting a positive message to the Hong Kong public Please help by signing and sharing the petition (non-US users can select the non-US option but still need to enter a postcode so they can put 0000 if they dont have one)
Sharkfin-free wedding competition HKSF has also developed an exclusive Hong Kong edition of the Happy Hearts Love Sharks wedding contest that was originally created by
Shark Truth in Canada Twelve couples already signed up preventing over 3500 bowls of shark fin soup from being served at their weddings and HKSF is trying to get 90 more couples to join in The winners will be selected by a public vote in May 2012 In the
meantime if you are interested in running Happy Hearts Love Sharks in their city or country please contact wedding-contestsharktruthcom See contest promo here
Sharkfin-free companies HKSF was able to sign-up the Bank of China (Hong Kong) Limited a leading listed commercial banking group in Hong Kong to WWF-Hong Kongs
Say No To Shark Fin corporate pledge setting an example of positive environmental action to other Hong Kong companies
Documentary The short film ldquoThe Tide is Turningrdquo highlights how nations cities and people around the globe are saying No to shark fin It should remind viewers of the early
80s and a similar movement that swept the globe- the call to ban the ivory trade
36 Pew Environment Group Sanctuary The Last Stand for Sharks screening
On the evening of 30 January the Pew Environment Group and the Coral Reef Alliance (CORAL) held a screening of Sanctuary The Last Stand for Sharks in San Francisco The film portrays the underwater world of sharks and paints a global picture of the threats they face worldwide Globally shark populations are declining but there is growing momentum to protect sharks Many locations are recognizing that sharks are worth more alive than dead contributing both to the economy and the stability of crucial marine ecosystems like coral reefs Some countries have even established shark sanctuaries throughout the entirety of their waters Following the film there was a question and answer panel with Matt Rand (Director of Global Shark Conservation Pew Environment Group) Rick MacPherson (Conservation Programs Director CORAL) Jason Vasques (Assistant Director of Conservation Programs CORAL) and Dr Michael Webster (Executive Director CORAL)
37 SandyHook SeaLife The Swordfish Hunters Film Project Responding to recent polls that indicate Americans lack a deep understanding of and involvement in issues affecting the ocean SandyHook SeaLife (SHSL) Foundation will begin a public awareness initiative through the power of film lsquoThe Swordfish Huntersrsquo written by SHSL Foundationrsquos founder a movie in the planning stage will take global
For Shark Alliance member groups Please do not upload this document to your website
8
audiences to sea to experience the raw reality of what fishermen and mariners encounter - the devastating changes wrought by humans on this ecosystem
SHSL Foundation invites like-minded organisations to join them in this film project and advance their own mission SHSL Foundation welcomes partners who can help
provide funding talent and expertise For more information on lsquoThe Swordfish Huntersrsquo please visit SHSL Foundationrsquos website or contact Mary Hamilton SHSL Foundationrsquos
Executive Director
38 Ondine Escape Upcoming Data Collection Projects in Mallorca Ondine Escape has recently created its own conservation department and is planning to
set-up two new elasmobranch programs in Mallorca The first is a small data collection program for the common stingray Dasyatis pastinica This is a volunteer-based program working with local divers Ondine Escape will be working with Gabriel Morey IUCN Shark
Specialist Group member and a former department of fisheries biologist and a local shark expert to monitor over a 12-month period two areas within the Bay of Palma with
the view to Gabriel writing a report on the migrations of this species The second project also a data collection program aims to increasing the data base of MEDLEM (The Mediterranean Large Elasmobranchs Monitoring Program) Both programs are in the
early stages of planning Watch this space for more details
39 DEEPWAVE Dr Gross Speaks at the Sealife Aquarium Timmendorf On the 22nd of January Dr Onno Gross from DEEPWAVE gave a speech about shark
threats and conservation at the Sealife Aquarium Timmendorf Germany It was a good opportunity to get the audience interested in learning more about the big EU shark fishing fleet and its intense activities in the international shark fin trade
310 New Sharkmanrsquos World Organization Website
The new Sharkmanrsquos World Organization website is now up and running The new url is wwwsharkmans-worldeu Please update your links If you wish Sharkmanrsquos World
Organization to link to your website please contact Alex Sharkman Buttigieg
For Shark Alliance member groups Please do not upload this document to your website
9
4 Calendar
NB There is a more detailed calendar relating to the EU process for strengthening the finning ban that we can share with all those who are interested
March 15-20 CITES 26th Meeting of the Animals Committee Geneva Switzerland
March 14-21 Palau Shark Week
March 26-30 Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission (WCPFC) Session Guam
April week of 22nd Project AWARErsquos Big Shark Shout Out 2012
June 8 World Oceans Day
June 11-15 ICCAT Sharks Meeting (Ecological Risk Analysis) Portugal
June 20-22 Rio +20 (United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development) Rio de Janeiro Brazil
June 25-29 IATTC La Jolla California
July 9-13 30th Session of FAO Committee on Fisheries (COFI) Rome Italy
July 12 CITES 62nd Meeting of the Standing Committee Geneva Switzerland
September Debris Month of Action
September 6-8 10th International Seafood Summit Kowloon Shangri-La Hong Kong
September 6-15 IUCN World Conservation Congress Jeju Korea
November 12-19 ICCAT Special Meeting of the Commission Agadir Morocco
Please let us know of other upcoming events and key dates
5 Shark Alliance Member Groups
The Shark Alliance now has 122 member groups Welcome to our newest members
1 Tiny Island Conservation (Maldives)
2 Danishark Elasmobranch Research (Italy)
The full list of member groups can be found on the website Member Groups
For help regarding Shark Alliance administration please contact Ronna Mercado at rmercadopewtrustsorg
For Shark Alliance member groups Please do not upload this document to your website
4
In February 2011 several shark and ray species were included for the first time in the
List which prohibits the capture injury trade import and export of these species and requires periodic evaluations of their conservation status
The Shark Alliance has campaigned for such protection in Spain and welcomed this positive move for the protection of threatened shark and ray species in the Spanish
Mediterranean waters while calling for action to ensure the fisheries sector is given the necessary information to guarantee that none of the species included are caught or
landed and for the Spanish Government to broaden the list of shark and ray species protected
More information with the list of protected species here in English and Spanish
27 What does your country have to do with sharks
All 27 EU member states through their MEPs and ministers have a role in establishing sound conservation policies for sharks Beyond the political connections you may have
known that the smoked belly flaps of spurdog (known as Schillerlocken) are particularly popular in German fish markets and beer gardens but did you know that the thornback ray a species found in the Black Sea was featured on a Bulgarian stamp in the 1960s
(and is increasingly showing up in Bulgarian fishing reports today) Or that Poland has yielded some of the worlds oldest fossils of early sharks from the Jurassic and
Cretaceous periods including the earliest reported evidence of the ancestors of angel sharks and porbeagles
We are preparing on-line profiles of all EU countries with such fascinating facts as well as an analysis of shark and ray catches imports and exports and their progress on shark
conservation Profiles have been published for Bulgaria Denmark France Germany Greece Italy Netherlands Poland Portugal Spain and the United Kingdom with others
to follow
28 European Shark Week Showing fisheries ministers the concern for better shark conservation policies
Since we updated you on the results of ESW in the last Update we have been busy
collecting and collating the petition signatures and photos you generated Wersquore still counting but have gathered over 175000 thousand signatures with some from all 27 EU
member states and many other countries outside the EU with hundreds more photos and videos and examples of media coverage
We want to show all EU Fisheries Ministers the level of interest across Europe for better shark conservation measures We are preparing large ldquophoto booksrdquo with a sample of
pictures and the results of the petition to present to each national minister
We can just send directly with a covering letter But it would be much better if you arranged to deliver it personally We can support you with a copy of the book and a template press release for your use
For Shark Alliance member groups Please do not upload this document to your website
5
This could be a quick photo-call with the minister or high ranking official in his or her
office Perhaps followed by a meeting where you can explain whatrsquos needed for better conservation in your country (we can help with talking points) Or perhaps an event in
an aquarium that will attract media attention Or an underwater round-table discussion with an official in a wetsuit (ok the books arenrsquot waterproof but you can be as imaginative or practical as you want)
If you are in France Germany Italy the Netherlands Spain and the UK this is being
coordinated through your national country coordinator For those of you in other countries Let Martin Clark know if you want to discuss coordinating something
3 News from Member Groups Thank you to Shark Savers WildAid Humane Society International Project AWARE Sea First
Foundation vzw Sharkmanrsquos World Organization Hong Kong Shark Foundation Pew Environment
Group SandyHook SeaLife Foundation Ondine Escape and DEEPWAVE for contributing to this
Shark Alliance Update
NB Activities of Shark Alliance member groups carried out in their own names donrsquot necessarily
reflect the positions of the Alliance as a whole
31 Shark Savers and WildAid New Report on Manta and Mobula Rays
Shark Savers and WildAid released a new report lsquoManta Ray of Hope The Global Threat to Manta and Mobula Raysrsquo The two Alliance member groups describe how the report provides the most far-reaching research ever conducted into both the intensive overfishing of mantas and mobulas as well as the trade in their gill rakers that are driving mantas and mobulas to the point of population collapse The destruction of ray populations is the result of demand for their gill rakers with an estimated market value of $11 million annually This value is a fraction of the value of manta and mobula ray tourism which is estimated at over $100 million per year globally The gill rakers are being used by some practitioners of Traditional Chinese Medicine for an unproven health tonic Click here to read more or download the report
32 Project AWARE Shark Conservation Diver Specialty Course
PADI Scuba Diving Instructors can help give sharks a fighting chance by teaching the NEW AWARE Shark Conservation specialty course to
their student divers The goals of the AWARE Shark Conservation Diver course are to inform
students of the value of sharks to marine ecosystems and economies to educate them about the causes of declining shark populations
to build an understanding of what is missing in current shark fisheries management to dispel
misperceptions that may block them from taking action and to inspire them to help sharks by
For Shark Alliance member groups Please do not upload this document to your website
6
taking action PADI Instructors are encouraged to use the AWARE Shark Conservation Diver course to turn their students into informed and passionate shark defenders who
take action to protect sharks The course is open to divers and non-divers
The Instructor Guide is available in English French German Italian Spanish and Arabic (and soon in Chinese)
33 Humane Society International Fin-Free Lunar New Year Campaign
In late December 2011 more than a dozen Chinese NGOs participated in a media event to urge the public to adopt a lsquo2012 Fin-Free Lunar New Year Celebrationrsquo and the government to modify regulations to ban the sale of shark fins at government-certified lsquogreenrsquo hotels During the event co-sponsored by Humane Society International the organizers gave out lsquoShark Guardianrsquo awards to hotelsrestaurants that took shark fin soup off their menu and to public figures who support the fin-free campaign Tencent one of the largest news portals in China is the media sponsor of the campaign HSI launched a No Shark Fin pledge drive last 23 January before the Lunar New Year celebration kicked off to support the efforts of its partners and advocates in Asia
34 Sea First Foundation Educational Shark Project 2012 Starting March 31 high school students in Belgium will be invited by the Sea First Foundation (SFF) to join a shark competition either individually or in teams The challenge will be to design and execute a team project that will inform their neighborhood of the plight of sharks Teachers are also encouraged to get involved in the project by giving lessons using the information package provided to them by helping their students prepare a team project or by inviting an SFF teacher to give free lessons on sharks The grand prize for the winning team is a one-week marine study trip to Florida the highlight of which is a one-day academic shark study excursion with the RJ Dunlap Marine Conservation Program of the University of Miami to tag sharks Once back home the students will be able to track the sharks on the Internet for a year
With this project SFF aims to raise awareness and interest for the shark cause in Belgium and hope to positively influence Belgian MEPs and the fisheries minister More information can be obtained from Katrien Vandevelde
35 HK Shark Foundation Petition Wedding Competition Shark-Fin Free Companies amp Documentary
The HK Shark Foundation (HKSF) is continuing its petition to request the Hong Kong Government to stop consuming shark products at official functions The strategy is to get
For Shark Alliance member groups Please do not upload this document to your website
7
a quick win that will open the discussion about a full trade ban whilst also setting a positive message to the Hong Kong public Please help by signing and sharing the petition (non-US users can select the non-US option but still need to enter a postcode so they can put 0000 if they dont have one)
Sharkfin-free wedding competition HKSF has also developed an exclusive Hong Kong edition of the Happy Hearts Love Sharks wedding contest that was originally created by
Shark Truth in Canada Twelve couples already signed up preventing over 3500 bowls of shark fin soup from being served at their weddings and HKSF is trying to get 90 more couples to join in The winners will be selected by a public vote in May 2012 In the
meantime if you are interested in running Happy Hearts Love Sharks in their city or country please contact wedding-contestsharktruthcom See contest promo here
Sharkfin-free companies HKSF was able to sign-up the Bank of China (Hong Kong) Limited a leading listed commercial banking group in Hong Kong to WWF-Hong Kongs
Say No To Shark Fin corporate pledge setting an example of positive environmental action to other Hong Kong companies
Documentary The short film ldquoThe Tide is Turningrdquo highlights how nations cities and people around the globe are saying No to shark fin It should remind viewers of the early
80s and a similar movement that swept the globe- the call to ban the ivory trade
36 Pew Environment Group Sanctuary The Last Stand for Sharks screening
On the evening of 30 January the Pew Environment Group and the Coral Reef Alliance (CORAL) held a screening of Sanctuary The Last Stand for Sharks in San Francisco The film portrays the underwater world of sharks and paints a global picture of the threats they face worldwide Globally shark populations are declining but there is growing momentum to protect sharks Many locations are recognizing that sharks are worth more alive than dead contributing both to the economy and the stability of crucial marine ecosystems like coral reefs Some countries have even established shark sanctuaries throughout the entirety of their waters Following the film there was a question and answer panel with Matt Rand (Director of Global Shark Conservation Pew Environment Group) Rick MacPherson (Conservation Programs Director CORAL) Jason Vasques (Assistant Director of Conservation Programs CORAL) and Dr Michael Webster (Executive Director CORAL)
37 SandyHook SeaLife The Swordfish Hunters Film Project Responding to recent polls that indicate Americans lack a deep understanding of and involvement in issues affecting the ocean SandyHook SeaLife (SHSL) Foundation will begin a public awareness initiative through the power of film lsquoThe Swordfish Huntersrsquo written by SHSL Foundationrsquos founder a movie in the planning stage will take global
For Shark Alliance member groups Please do not upload this document to your website
8
audiences to sea to experience the raw reality of what fishermen and mariners encounter - the devastating changes wrought by humans on this ecosystem
SHSL Foundation invites like-minded organisations to join them in this film project and advance their own mission SHSL Foundation welcomes partners who can help
provide funding talent and expertise For more information on lsquoThe Swordfish Huntersrsquo please visit SHSL Foundationrsquos website or contact Mary Hamilton SHSL Foundationrsquos
Executive Director
38 Ondine Escape Upcoming Data Collection Projects in Mallorca Ondine Escape has recently created its own conservation department and is planning to
set-up two new elasmobranch programs in Mallorca The first is a small data collection program for the common stingray Dasyatis pastinica This is a volunteer-based program working with local divers Ondine Escape will be working with Gabriel Morey IUCN Shark
Specialist Group member and a former department of fisheries biologist and a local shark expert to monitor over a 12-month period two areas within the Bay of Palma with
the view to Gabriel writing a report on the migrations of this species The second project also a data collection program aims to increasing the data base of MEDLEM (The Mediterranean Large Elasmobranchs Monitoring Program) Both programs are in the
early stages of planning Watch this space for more details
39 DEEPWAVE Dr Gross Speaks at the Sealife Aquarium Timmendorf On the 22nd of January Dr Onno Gross from DEEPWAVE gave a speech about shark
threats and conservation at the Sealife Aquarium Timmendorf Germany It was a good opportunity to get the audience interested in learning more about the big EU shark fishing fleet and its intense activities in the international shark fin trade
310 New Sharkmanrsquos World Organization Website
The new Sharkmanrsquos World Organization website is now up and running The new url is wwwsharkmans-worldeu Please update your links If you wish Sharkmanrsquos World
Organization to link to your website please contact Alex Sharkman Buttigieg
For Shark Alliance member groups Please do not upload this document to your website
9
4 Calendar
NB There is a more detailed calendar relating to the EU process for strengthening the finning ban that we can share with all those who are interested
March 15-20 CITES 26th Meeting of the Animals Committee Geneva Switzerland
March 14-21 Palau Shark Week
March 26-30 Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission (WCPFC) Session Guam
April week of 22nd Project AWARErsquos Big Shark Shout Out 2012
June 8 World Oceans Day
June 11-15 ICCAT Sharks Meeting (Ecological Risk Analysis) Portugal
June 20-22 Rio +20 (United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development) Rio de Janeiro Brazil
June 25-29 IATTC La Jolla California
July 9-13 30th Session of FAO Committee on Fisheries (COFI) Rome Italy
July 12 CITES 62nd Meeting of the Standing Committee Geneva Switzerland
September Debris Month of Action
September 6-8 10th International Seafood Summit Kowloon Shangri-La Hong Kong
September 6-15 IUCN World Conservation Congress Jeju Korea
November 12-19 ICCAT Special Meeting of the Commission Agadir Morocco
Please let us know of other upcoming events and key dates
5 Shark Alliance Member Groups
The Shark Alliance now has 122 member groups Welcome to our newest members
1 Tiny Island Conservation (Maldives)
2 Danishark Elasmobranch Research (Italy)
The full list of member groups can be found on the website Member Groups
For help regarding Shark Alliance administration please contact Ronna Mercado at rmercadopewtrustsorg
For Shark Alliance member groups Please do not upload this document to your website
5
This could be a quick photo-call with the minister or high ranking official in his or her
office Perhaps followed by a meeting where you can explain whatrsquos needed for better conservation in your country (we can help with talking points) Or perhaps an event in
an aquarium that will attract media attention Or an underwater round-table discussion with an official in a wetsuit (ok the books arenrsquot waterproof but you can be as imaginative or practical as you want)
If you are in France Germany Italy the Netherlands Spain and the UK this is being
coordinated through your national country coordinator For those of you in other countries Let Martin Clark know if you want to discuss coordinating something
3 News from Member Groups Thank you to Shark Savers WildAid Humane Society International Project AWARE Sea First
Foundation vzw Sharkmanrsquos World Organization Hong Kong Shark Foundation Pew Environment
Group SandyHook SeaLife Foundation Ondine Escape and DEEPWAVE for contributing to this
Shark Alliance Update
NB Activities of Shark Alliance member groups carried out in their own names donrsquot necessarily
reflect the positions of the Alliance as a whole
31 Shark Savers and WildAid New Report on Manta and Mobula Rays
Shark Savers and WildAid released a new report lsquoManta Ray of Hope The Global Threat to Manta and Mobula Raysrsquo The two Alliance member groups describe how the report provides the most far-reaching research ever conducted into both the intensive overfishing of mantas and mobulas as well as the trade in their gill rakers that are driving mantas and mobulas to the point of population collapse The destruction of ray populations is the result of demand for their gill rakers with an estimated market value of $11 million annually This value is a fraction of the value of manta and mobula ray tourism which is estimated at over $100 million per year globally The gill rakers are being used by some practitioners of Traditional Chinese Medicine for an unproven health tonic Click here to read more or download the report
32 Project AWARE Shark Conservation Diver Specialty Course
PADI Scuba Diving Instructors can help give sharks a fighting chance by teaching the NEW AWARE Shark Conservation specialty course to
their student divers The goals of the AWARE Shark Conservation Diver course are to inform
students of the value of sharks to marine ecosystems and economies to educate them about the causes of declining shark populations
to build an understanding of what is missing in current shark fisheries management to dispel
misperceptions that may block them from taking action and to inspire them to help sharks by
For Shark Alliance member groups Please do not upload this document to your website
6
taking action PADI Instructors are encouraged to use the AWARE Shark Conservation Diver course to turn their students into informed and passionate shark defenders who
take action to protect sharks The course is open to divers and non-divers
The Instructor Guide is available in English French German Italian Spanish and Arabic (and soon in Chinese)
33 Humane Society International Fin-Free Lunar New Year Campaign
In late December 2011 more than a dozen Chinese NGOs participated in a media event to urge the public to adopt a lsquo2012 Fin-Free Lunar New Year Celebrationrsquo and the government to modify regulations to ban the sale of shark fins at government-certified lsquogreenrsquo hotels During the event co-sponsored by Humane Society International the organizers gave out lsquoShark Guardianrsquo awards to hotelsrestaurants that took shark fin soup off their menu and to public figures who support the fin-free campaign Tencent one of the largest news portals in China is the media sponsor of the campaign HSI launched a No Shark Fin pledge drive last 23 January before the Lunar New Year celebration kicked off to support the efforts of its partners and advocates in Asia
34 Sea First Foundation Educational Shark Project 2012 Starting March 31 high school students in Belgium will be invited by the Sea First Foundation (SFF) to join a shark competition either individually or in teams The challenge will be to design and execute a team project that will inform their neighborhood of the plight of sharks Teachers are also encouraged to get involved in the project by giving lessons using the information package provided to them by helping their students prepare a team project or by inviting an SFF teacher to give free lessons on sharks The grand prize for the winning team is a one-week marine study trip to Florida the highlight of which is a one-day academic shark study excursion with the RJ Dunlap Marine Conservation Program of the University of Miami to tag sharks Once back home the students will be able to track the sharks on the Internet for a year
With this project SFF aims to raise awareness and interest for the shark cause in Belgium and hope to positively influence Belgian MEPs and the fisheries minister More information can be obtained from Katrien Vandevelde
35 HK Shark Foundation Petition Wedding Competition Shark-Fin Free Companies amp Documentary
The HK Shark Foundation (HKSF) is continuing its petition to request the Hong Kong Government to stop consuming shark products at official functions The strategy is to get
For Shark Alliance member groups Please do not upload this document to your website
7
a quick win that will open the discussion about a full trade ban whilst also setting a positive message to the Hong Kong public Please help by signing and sharing the petition (non-US users can select the non-US option but still need to enter a postcode so they can put 0000 if they dont have one)
Sharkfin-free wedding competition HKSF has also developed an exclusive Hong Kong edition of the Happy Hearts Love Sharks wedding contest that was originally created by
Shark Truth in Canada Twelve couples already signed up preventing over 3500 bowls of shark fin soup from being served at their weddings and HKSF is trying to get 90 more couples to join in The winners will be selected by a public vote in May 2012 In the
meantime if you are interested in running Happy Hearts Love Sharks in their city or country please contact wedding-contestsharktruthcom See contest promo here
Sharkfin-free companies HKSF was able to sign-up the Bank of China (Hong Kong) Limited a leading listed commercial banking group in Hong Kong to WWF-Hong Kongs
Say No To Shark Fin corporate pledge setting an example of positive environmental action to other Hong Kong companies
Documentary The short film ldquoThe Tide is Turningrdquo highlights how nations cities and people around the globe are saying No to shark fin It should remind viewers of the early
80s and a similar movement that swept the globe- the call to ban the ivory trade
36 Pew Environment Group Sanctuary The Last Stand for Sharks screening
On the evening of 30 January the Pew Environment Group and the Coral Reef Alliance (CORAL) held a screening of Sanctuary The Last Stand for Sharks in San Francisco The film portrays the underwater world of sharks and paints a global picture of the threats they face worldwide Globally shark populations are declining but there is growing momentum to protect sharks Many locations are recognizing that sharks are worth more alive than dead contributing both to the economy and the stability of crucial marine ecosystems like coral reefs Some countries have even established shark sanctuaries throughout the entirety of their waters Following the film there was a question and answer panel with Matt Rand (Director of Global Shark Conservation Pew Environment Group) Rick MacPherson (Conservation Programs Director CORAL) Jason Vasques (Assistant Director of Conservation Programs CORAL) and Dr Michael Webster (Executive Director CORAL)
37 SandyHook SeaLife The Swordfish Hunters Film Project Responding to recent polls that indicate Americans lack a deep understanding of and involvement in issues affecting the ocean SandyHook SeaLife (SHSL) Foundation will begin a public awareness initiative through the power of film lsquoThe Swordfish Huntersrsquo written by SHSL Foundationrsquos founder a movie in the planning stage will take global
For Shark Alliance member groups Please do not upload this document to your website
8
audiences to sea to experience the raw reality of what fishermen and mariners encounter - the devastating changes wrought by humans on this ecosystem
SHSL Foundation invites like-minded organisations to join them in this film project and advance their own mission SHSL Foundation welcomes partners who can help
provide funding talent and expertise For more information on lsquoThe Swordfish Huntersrsquo please visit SHSL Foundationrsquos website or contact Mary Hamilton SHSL Foundationrsquos
Executive Director
38 Ondine Escape Upcoming Data Collection Projects in Mallorca Ondine Escape has recently created its own conservation department and is planning to
set-up two new elasmobranch programs in Mallorca The first is a small data collection program for the common stingray Dasyatis pastinica This is a volunteer-based program working with local divers Ondine Escape will be working with Gabriel Morey IUCN Shark
Specialist Group member and a former department of fisheries biologist and a local shark expert to monitor over a 12-month period two areas within the Bay of Palma with
the view to Gabriel writing a report on the migrations of this species The second project also a data collection program aims to increasing the data base of MEDLEM (The Mediterranean Large Elasmobranchs Monitoring Program) Both programs are in the
early stages of planning Watch this space for more details
39 DEEPWAVE Dr Gross Speaks at the Sealife Aquarium Timmendorf On the 22nd of January Dr Onno Gross from DEEPWAVE gave a speech about shark
threats and conservation at the Sealife Aquarium Timmendorf Germany It was a good opportunity to get the audience interested in learning more about the big EU shark fishing fleet and its intense activities in the international shark fin trade
310 New Sharkmanrsquos World Organization Website
The new Sharkmanrsquos World Organization website is now up and running The new url is wwwsharkmans-worldeu Please update your links If you wish Sharkmanrsquos World
Organization to link to your website please contact Alex Sharkman Buttigieg
For Shark Alliance member groups Please do not upload this document to your website
9
4 Calendar
NB There is a more detailed calendar relating to the EU process for strengthening the finning ban that we can share with all those who are interested
March 15-20 CITES 26th Meeting of the Animals Committee Geneva Switzerland
March 14-21 Palau Shark Week
March 26-30 Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission (WCPFC) Session Guam
April week of 22nd Project AWARErsquos Big Shark Shout Out 2012
June 8 World Oceans Day
June 11-15 ICCAT Sharks Meeting (Ecological Risk Analysis) Portugal
June 20-22 Rio +20 (United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development) Rio de Janeiro Brazil
June 25-29 IATTC La Jolla California
July 9-13 30th Session of FAO Committee on Fisheries (COFI) Rome Italy
July 12 CITES 62nd Meeting of the Standing Committee Geneva Switzerland
September Debris Month of Action
September 6-8 10th International Seafood Summit Kowloon Shangri-La Hong Kong
September 6-15 IUCN World Conservation Congress Jeju Korea
November 12-19 ICCAT Special Meeting of the Commission Agadir Morocco
Please let us know of other upcoming events and key dates
5 Shark Alliance Member Groups
The Shark Alliance now has 122 member groups Welcome to our newest members
1 Tiny Island Conservation (Maldives)
2 Danishark Elasmobranch Research (Italy)
The full list of member groups can be found on the website Member Groups
For help regarding Shark Alliance administration please contact Ronna Mercado at rmercadopewtrustsorg
For Shark Alliance member groups Please do not upload this document to your website
6
taking action PADI Instructors are encouraged to use the AWARE Shark Conservation Diver course to turn their students into informed and passionate shark defenders who
take action to protect sharks The course is open to divers and non-divers
The Instructor Guide is available in English French German Italian Spanish and Arabic (and soon in Chinese)
33 Humane Society International Fin-Free Lunar New Year Campaign
In late December 2011 more than a dozen Chinese NGOs participated in a media event to urge the public to adopt a lsquo2012 Fin-Free Lunar New Year Celebrationrsquo and the government to modify regulations to ban the sale of shark fins at government-certified lsquogreenrsquo hotels During the event co-sponsored by Humane Society International the organizers gave out lsquoShark Guardianrsquo awards to hotelsrestaurants that took shark fin soup off their menu and to public figures who support the fin-free campaign Tencent one of the largest news portals in China is the media sponsor of the campaign HSI launched a No Shark Fin pledge drive last 23 January before the Lunar New Year celebration kicked off to support the efforts of its partners and advocates in Asia
34 Sea First Foundation Educational Shark Project 2012 Starting March 31 high school students in Belgium will be invited by the Sea First Foundation (SFF) to join a shark competition either individually or in teams The challenge will be to design and execute a team project that will inform their neighborhood of the plight of sharks Teachers are also encouraged to get involved in the project by giving lessons using the information package provided to them by helping their students prepare a team project or by inviting an SFF teacher to give free lessons on sharks The grand prize for the winning team is a one-week marine study trip to Florida the highlight of which is a one-day academic shark study excursion with the RJ Dunlap Marine Conservation Program of the University of Miami to tag sharks Once back home the students will be able to track the sharks on the Internet for a year
With this project SFF aims to raise awareness and interest for the shark cause in Belgium and hope to positively influence Belgian MEPs and the fisheries minister More information can be obtained from Katrien Vandevelde
35 HK Shark Foundation Petition Wedding Competition Shark-Fin Free Companies amp Documentary
The HK Shark Foundation (HKSF) is continuing its petition to request the Hong Kong Government to stop consuming shark products at official functions The strategy is to get
For Shark Alliance member groups Please do not upload this document to your website
7
a quick win that will open the discussion about a full trade ban whilst also setting a positive message to the Hong Kong public Please help by signing and sharing the petition (non-US users can select the non-US option but still need to enter a postcode so they can put 0000 if they dont have one)
Sharkfin-free wedding competition HKSF has also developed an exclusive Hong Kong edition of the Happy Hearts Love Sharks wedding contest that was originally created by
Shark Truth in Canada Twelve couples already signed up preventing over 3500 bowls of shark fin soup from being served at their weddings and HKSF is trying to get 90 more couples to join in The winners will be selected by a public vote in May 2012 In the
meantime if you are interested in running Happy Hearts Love Sharks in their city or country please contact wedding-contestsharktruthcom See contest promo here
Sharkfin-free companies HKSF was able to sign-up the Bank of China (Hong Kong) Limited a leading listed commercial banking group in Hong Kong to WWF-Hong Kongs
Say No To Shark Fin corporate pledge setting an example of positive environmental action to other Hong Kong companies
Documentary The short film ldquoThe Tide is Turningrdquo highlights how nations cities and people around the globe are saying No to shark fin It should remind viewers of the early
80s and a similar movement that swept the globe- the call to ban the ivory trade
36 Pew Environment Group Sanctuary The Last Stand for Sharks screening
On the evening of 30 January the Pew Environment Group and the Coral Reef Alliance (CORAL) held a screening of Sanctuary The Last Stand for Sharks in San Francisco The film portrays the underwater world of sharks and paints a global picture of the threats they face worldwide Globally shark populations are declining but there is growing momentum to protect sharks Many locations are recognizing that sharks are worth more alive than dead contributing both to the economy and the stability of crucial marine ecosystems like coral reefs Some countries have even established shark sanctuaries throughout the entirety of their waters Following the film there was a question and answer panel with Matt Rand (Director of Global Shark Conservation Pew Environment Group) Rick MacPherson (Conservation Programs Director CORAL) Jason Vasques (Assistant Director of Conservation Programs CORAL) and Dr Michael Webster (Executive Director CORAL)
37 SandyHook SeaLife The Swordfish Hunters Film Project Responding to recent polls that indicate Americans lack a deep understanding of and involvement in issues affecting the ocean SandyHook SeaLife (SHSL) Foundation will begin a public awareness initiative through the power of film lsquoThe Swordfish Huntersrsquo written by SHSL Foundationrsquos founder a movie in the planning stage will take global
For Shark Alliance member groups Please do not upload this document to your website
8
audiences to sea to experience the raw reality of what fishermen and mariners encounter - the devastating changes wrought by humans on this ecosystem
SHSL Foundation invites like-minded organisations to join them in this film project and advance their own mission SHSL Foundation welcomes partners who can help
provide funding talent and expertise For more information on lsquoThe Swordfish Huntersrsquo please visit SHSL Foundationrsquos website or contact Mary Hamilton SHSL Foundationrsquos
Executive Director
38 Ondine Escape Upcoming Data Collection Projects in Mallorca Ondine Escape has recently created its own conservation department and is planning to
set-up two new elasmobranch programs in Mallorca The first is a small data collection program for the common stingray Dasyatis pastinica This is a volunteer-based program working with local divers Ondine Escape will be working with Gabriel Morey IUCN Shark
Specialist Group member and a former department of fisheries biologist and a local shark expert to monitor over a 12-month period two areas within the Bay of Palma with
the view to Gabriel writing a report on the migrations of this species The second project also a data collection program aims to increasing the data base of MEDLEM (The Mediterranean Large Elasmobranchs Monitoring Program) Both programs are in the
early stages of planning Watch this space for more details
39 DEEPWAVE Dr Gross Speaks at the Sealife Aquarium Timmendorf On the 22nd of January Dr Onno Gross from DEEPWAVE gave a speech about shark
threats and conservation at the Sealife Aquarium Timmendorf Germany It was a good opportunity to get the audience interested in learning more about the big EU shark fishing fleet and its intense activities in the international shark fin trade
310 New Sharkmanrsquos World Organization Website
The new Sharkmanrsquos World Organization website is now up and running The new url is wwwsharkmans-worldeu Please update your links If you wish Sharkmanrsquos World
Organization to link to your website please contact Alex Sharkman Buttigieg
For Shark Alliance member groups Please do not upload this document to your website
9
4 Calendar
NB There is a more detailed calendar relating to the EU process for strengthening the finning ban that we can share with all those who are interested
March 15-20 CITES 26th Meeting of the Animals Committee Geneva Switzerland
March 14-21 Palau Shark Week
March 26-30 Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission (WCPFC) Session Guam
April week of 22nd Project AWARErsquos Big Shark Shout Out 2012
June 8 World Oceans Day
June 11-15 ICCAT Sharks Meeting (Ecological Risk Analysis) Portugal
June 20-22 Rio +20 (United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development) Rio de Janeiro Brazil
June 25-29 IATTC La Jolla California
July 9-13 30th Session of FAO Committee on Fisheries (COFI) Rome Italy
July 12 CITES 62nd Meeting of the Standing Committee Geneva Switzerland
September Debris Month of Action
September 6-8 10th International Seafood Summit Kowloon Shangri-La Hong Kong
September 6-15 IUCN World Conservation Congress Jeju Korea
November 12-19 ICCAT Special Meeting of the Commission Agadir Morocco
Please let us know of other upcoming events and key dates
5 Shark Alliance Member Groups
The Shark Alliance now has 122 member groups Welcome to our newest members
1 Tiny Island Conservation (Maldives)
2 Danishark Elasmobranch Research (Italy)
The full list of member groups can be found on the website Member Groups
For help regarding Shark Alliance administration please contact Ronna Mercado at rmercadopewtrustsorg
For Shark Alliance member groups Please do not upload this document to your website
7
a quick win that will open the discussion about a full trade ban whilst also setting a positive message to the Hong Kong public Please help by signing and sharing the petition (non-US users can select the non-US option but still need to enter a postcode so they can put 0000 if they dont have one)
Sharkfin-free wedding competition HKSF has also developed an exclusive Hong Kong edition of the Happy Hearts Love Sharks wedding contest that was originally created by
Shark Truth in Canada Twelve couples already signed up preventing over 3500 bowls of shark fin soup from being served at their weddings and HKSF is trying to get 90 more couples to join in The winners will be selected by a public vote in May 2012 In the
meantime if you are interested in running Happy Hearts Love Sharks in their city or country please contact wedding-contestsharktruthcom See contest promo here
Sharkfin-free companies HKSF was able to sign-up the Bank of China (Hong Kong) Limited a leading listed commercial banking group in Hong Kong to WWF-Hong Kongs
Say No To Shark Fin corporate pledge setting an example of positive environmental action to other Hong Kong companies
Documentary The short film ldquoThe Tide is Turningrdquo highlights how nations cities and people around the globe are saying No to shark fin It should remind viewers of the early
80s and a similar movement that swept the globe- the call to ban the ivory trade
36 Pew Environment Group Sanctuary The Last Stand for Sharks screening
On the evening of 30 January the Pew Environment Group and the Coral Reef Alliance (CORAL) held a screening of Sanctuary The Last Stand for Sharks in San Francisco The film portrays the underwater world of sharks and paints a global picture of the threats they face worldwide Globally shark populations are declining but there is growing momentum to protect sharks Many locations are recognizing that sharks are worth more alive than dead contributing both to the economy and the stability of crucial marine ecosystems like coral reefs Some countries have even established shark sanctuaries throughout the entirety of their waters Following the film there was a question and answer panel with Matt Rand (Director of Global Shark Conservation Pew Environment Group) Rick MacPherson (Conservation Programs Director CORAL) Jason Vasques (Assistant Director of Conservation Programs CORAL) and Dr Michael Webster (Executive Director CORAL)
37 SandyHook SeaLife The Swordfish Hunters Film Project Responding to recent polls that indicate Americans lack a deep understanding of and involvement in issues affecting the ocean SandyHook SeaLife (SHSL) Foundation will begin a public awareness initiative through the power of film lsquoThe Swordfish Huntersrsquo written by SHSL Foundationrsquos founder a movie in the planning stage will take global
For Shark Alliance member groups Please do not upload this document to your website
8
audiences to sea to experience the raw reality of what fishermen and mariners encounter - the devastating changes wrought by humans on this ecosystem
SHSL Foundation invites like-minded organisations to join them in this film project and advance their own mission SHSL Foundation welcomes partners who can help
provide funding talent and expertise For more information on lsquoThe Swordfish Huntersrsquo please visit SHSL Foundationrsquos website or contact Mary Hamilton SHSL Foundationrsquos
Executive Director
38 Ondine Escape Upcoming Data Collection Projects in Mallorca Ondine Escape has recently created its own conservation department and is planning to
set-up two new elasmobranch programs in Mallorca The first is a small data collection program for the common stingray Dasyatis pastinica This is a volunteer-based program working with local divers Ondine Escape will be working with Gabriel Morey IUCN Shark
Specialist Group member and a former department of fisheries biologist and a local shark expert to monitor over a 12-month period two areas within the Bay of Palma with
the view to Gabriel writing a report on the migrations of this species The second project also a data collection program aims to increasing the data base of MEDLEM (The Mediterranean Large Elasmobranchs Monitoring Program) Both programs are in the
early stages of planning Watch this space for more details
39 DEEPWAVE Dr Gross Speaks at the Sealife Aquarium Timmendorf On the 22nd of January Dr Onno Gross from DEEPWAVE gave a speech about shark
threats and conservation at the Sealife Aquarium Timmendorf Germany It was a good opportunity to get the audience interested in learning more about the big EU shark fishing fleet and its intense activities in the international shark fin trade
310 New Sharkmanrsquos World Organization Website
The new Sharkmanrsquos World Organization website is now up and running The new url is wwwsharkmans-worldeu Please update your links If you wish Sharkmanrsquos World
Organization to link to your website please contact Alex Sharkman Buttigieg
For Shark Alliance member groups Please do not upload this document to your website
9
4 Calendar
NB There is a more detailed calendar relating to the EU process for strengthening the finning ban that we can share with all those who are interested
March 15-20 CITES 26th Meeting of the Animals Committee Geneva Switzerland
March 14-21 Palau Shark Week
March 26-30 Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission (WCPFC) Session Guam
April week of 22nd Project AWARErsquos Big Shark Shout Out 2012
June 8 World Oceans Day
June 11-15 ICCAT Sharks Meeting (Ecological Risk Analysis) Portugal
June 20-22 Rio +20 (United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development) Rio de Janeiro Brazil
June 25-29 IATTC La Jolla California
July 9-13 30th Session of FAO Committee on Fisheries (COFI) Rome Italy
July 12 CITES 62nd Meeting of the Standing Committee Geneva Switzerland
September Debris Month of Action
September 6-8 10th International Seafood Summit Kowloon Shangri-La Hong Kong
September 6-15 IUCN World Conservation Congress Jeju Korea
November 12-19 ICCAT Special Meeting of the Commission Agadir Morocco
Please let us know of other upcoming events and key dates
5 Shark Alliance Member Groups
The Shark Alliance now has 122 member groups Welcome to our newest members
1 Tiny Island Conservation (Maldives)
2 Danishark Elasmobranch Research (Italy)
The full list of member groups can be found on the website Member Groups
For help regarding Shark Alliance administration please contact Ronna Mercado at rmercadopewtrustsorg
For Shark Alliance member groups Please do not upload this document to your website
8
audiences to sea to experience the raw reality of what fishermen and mariners encounter - the devastating changes wrought by humans on this ecosystem
SHSL Foundation invites like-minded organisations to join them in this film project and advance their own mission SHSL Foundation welcomes partners who can help
provide funding talent and expertise For more information on lsquoThe Swordfish Huntersrsquo please visit SHSL Foundationrsquos website or contact Mary Hamilton SHSL Foundationrsquos
Executive Director
38 Ondine Escape Upcoming Data Collection Projects in Mallorca Ondine Escape has recently created its own conservation department and is planning to
set-up two new elasmobranch programs in Mallorca The first is a small data collection program for the common stingray Dasyatis pastinica This is a volunteer-based program working with local divers Ondine Escape will be working with Gabriel Morey IUCN Shark
Specialist Group member and a former department of fisheries biologist and a local shark expert to monitor over a 12-month period two areas within the Bay of Palma with
the view to Gabriel writing a report on the migrations of this species The second project also a data collection program aims to increasing the data base of MEDLEM (The Mediterranean Large Elasmobranchs Monitoring Program) Both programs are in the
early stages of planning Watch this space for more details
39 DEEPWAVE Dr Gross Speaks at the Sealife Aquarium Timmendorf On the 22nd of January Dr Onno Gross from DEEPWAVE gave a speech about shark
threats and conservation at the Sealife Aquarium Timmendorf Germany It was a good opportunity to get the audience interested in learning more about the big EU shark fishing fleet and its intense activities in the international shark fin trade
310 New Sharkmanrsquos World Organization Website
The new Sharkmanrsquos World Organization website is now up and running The new url is wwwsharkmans-worldeu Please update your links If you wish Sharkmanrsquos World
Organization to link to your website please contact Alex Sharkman Buttigieg
For Shark Alliance member groups Please do not upload this document to your website
9
4 Calendar
NB There is a more detailed calendar relating to the EU process for strengthening the finning ban that we can share with all those who are interested
March 15-20 CITES 26th Meeting of the Animals Committee Geneva Switzerland
March 14-21 Palau Shark Week
March 26-30 Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission (WCPFC) Session Guam
April week of 22nd Project AWARErsquos Big Shark Shout Out 2012
June 8 World Oceans Day
June 11-15 ICCAT Sharks Meeting (Ecological Risk Analysis) Portugal
June 20-22 Rio +20 (United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development) Rio de Janeiro Brazil
June 25-29 IATTC La Jolla California
July 9-13 30th Session of FAO Committee on Fisheries (COFI) Rome Italy
July 12 CITES 62nd Meeting of the Standing Committee Geneva Switzerland
September Debris Month of Action
September 6-8 10th International Seafood Summit Kowloon Shangri-La Hong Kong
September 6-15 IUCN World Conservation Congress Jeju Korea
November 12-19 ICCAT Special Meeting of the Commission Agadir Morocco
Please let us know of other upcoming events and key dates
5 Shark Alliance Member Groups
The Shark Alliance now has 122 member groups Welcome to our newest members
1 Tiny Island Conservation (Maldives)
2 Danishark Elasmobranch Research (Italy)
The full list of member groups can be found on the website Member Groups
For help regarding Shark Alliance administration please contact Ronna Mercado at rmercadopewtrustsorg
For Shark Alliance member groups Please do not upload this document to your website
9
4 Calendar
NB There is a more detailed calendar relating to the EU process for strengthening the finning ban that we can share with all those who are interested
March 15-20 CITES 26th Meeting of the Animals Committee Geneva Switzerland
March 14-21 Palau Shark Week
March 26-30 Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission (WCPFC) Session Guam
April week of 22nd Project AWARErsquos Big Shark Shout Out 2012
June 8 World Oceans Day
June 11-15 ICCAT Sharks Meeting (Ecological Risk Analysis) Portugal
June 20-22 Rio +20 (United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development) Rio de Janeiro Brazil
June 25-29 IATTC La Jolla California
July 9-13 30th Session of FAO Committee on Fisheries (COFI) Rome Italy
July 12 CITES 62nd Meeting of the Standing Committee Geneva Switzerland
September Debris Month of Action
September 6-8 10th International Seafood Summit Kowloon Shangri-La Hong Kong
September 6-15 IUCN World Conservation Congress Jeju Korea
November 12-19 ICCAT Special Meeting of the Commission Agadir Morocco
Please let us know of other upcoming events and key dates
5 Shark Alliance Member Groups
The Shark Alliance now has 122 member groups Welcome to our newest members
1 Tiny Island Conservation (Maldives)
2 Danishark Elasmobranch Research (Italy)
The full list of member groups can be found on the website Member Groups
For help regarding Shark Alliance administration please contact Ronna Mercado at rmercadopewtrustsorg
![Shark FX/LT 8.0 : Produkt-Information - POSH GmbHposh.de/download/sfx/Shark FX-LT 8.0-DE.pdfShark Funktionen Shark FX / Shark LT [Auszug] Benutzerfreundlich Legen klassische Maschinenbau-CAD-Systeme](https://static.fdocument.pub/doc/165x107/5e5a4a8f3a94ee365b10ba72/shark-fxlt-80-produkt-information-posh-fx-lt-80-depdf-shark-funktionen-shark.jpg)
