Marine Life & Conservation
Why every day should be World Oceans Day…
Every day should be World Oceans Day, but until my wish is granted we’re grateful for the one day a year the oceans get global attention.
In 2008 the United Nations officially recognized World Oceans Day to be celebrated on the 8th June every year. Since that was a Saturday in 2019, the celebratory event at the United Nations Headquarters in New York took place on Friday 7th themed: Gender and Oceans.
This year the strategic partner Oceanic Global organized a morning of storytelling by men and women and an afternoon panel discussion regarding solutions for gender issues with panellists from the Human Rights at Sea, UN Division of Ocean Affairs and Law of the Sea, the World Surf League and many others.
Some highlights of the day were the testimony of Kudzi Victorino Dyckman. She was born in Mozambique as the oldest of 14 children and worked as a young child to help provide for her family. Her strong willpower and gratefulness eventually led to her becoming the first female Dive Instructor in Mozambique!
And what about the real life Moana: Aunofo Havea – a true seafarer following the stars and her dream, from cleaning to cooking to captain because she wanted to be the decision maker, while raising a family! Some people in the dive industry might know her as an inspirational power woman operating in Tonga – her dream since she first swam with the whales.
We also heard goosebump testimonies from a former slave at sea and now the founder of Labour Rights Promotion Network Foundation, Mr. Tun Lin.
In between the stories and panels, I had the honour to announce the winners of the 6th UN World Oceans Day Photo Competition. The overall winner, David Salvatori from Italy, presented a stunning shot of a diver between floating tunicates! A symbol that we need the motion in the ocean to keep them rich and full with life. Check back here tomorrow to see the images!
The day ended with a compelling speech by Dr. Sylvia Earle about the knowledge we have and the choices we make, or rather not make fast enough. We have to make peace with nature and that is not a gender issue but a cultural one. But women with superpowers all around the world can make a difference as we should provide the values at home so they become second nature.
We can do this partly by embracing the differences there are between men and women and using the differences in decision making like ones we all make at home: what shall we eat? We have to stop eating marine life because we’re all guilty in playing a part in the atrocities happening at sea if we don’t. In our food choices, we are implicated in everything from overfishing to forced labour at sea.
When a scientist with the experience and hours in the ocean like Dr. Earle tells you what to do… you better listen!
Conclusion: Gender and the Oceans seemed like a difficult theme when it got announced months ago, but the day was too short once the dialogue began! To be continued…
Find out more about Ellen and her work at www.ellencuylaerts.com.
Marine Life & Conservation
Leading UK-based shark conservation charity, the Shark Trust, is delighted to announce tour operator Diverse Travel as a Corporate Patron
Corporate Patrons provide a valuable boost to the work of The Shark Trust. The Trust team works globally to safeguard the future of sharks, and their close cousins, the skates and rays, engaging with a global network of scientists, policymakers, conservation professionals, businesses and supporters to further shark conservation.
Specialist tour operator Diverse Travel has operated since 2014 and is committed to offering its guests high quality, sustainable scuba diving holidays worldwide. Working together with the Shark Trust will enable both organisations to widen engagement and encourage divers and snorkellers to actively get involved in shark conservation.
“Sharks are truly at the heart of every diver and at Diverse Travel, we absolutely share that passion. There is nothing like seeing a shark in the wild – it’s a moment that stays with you forever!” says Holly Bredin, Sales & Marketing Manager, Diverse Travel.
“We’re delighted to celebrate our 10th year of business by becoming a Corporate Patron of the Shark Trust. This is an exciting partnership for Diverse and our guests. We will be donating on behalf of every person who books a holiday with us to contribute towards their vital shark conservation initiatives around the world. We will also be working together with the Trust to inspire divers, snorkellers and other travellers to take an active role – at home and abroad – in citizen science projects and other activities.”
Paul Cox, CEO of The Shark Trust, said:
“It’s an exciting partnership and we’re thrilled to be working with Diverse Travel to enable more divers and travellers to get involved with sharks and shark conservation. Sharks face considerable conservation challenges but, through collaboration and collective action, we can secure a brighter future for sharks and their ocean home. This new partnership takes us one more valuable step towards that goal.”
For more information about the Shark Trust visit their website here.
For more about Diverse Travel click here.
Marine Life & Conservation
Shark Trust Asks Divers to help with Shark Sightings this Global Citizen Science Month
Whether you are stuck for ideas of what to do with the kids or are off on the dive trip of your dreams. You can get involved in Citizen Science Month and help the Shark Trust by providing vital data about sharks are rays both close to home and further afield.
In addition to reporting the sharks and rays you see on your dives, the eggcases you find on the beach, the Shark Trust is looking for some specific data from divers who are asked to report any Oceanic Whitetip and Basking Sharks.
Oceanic Whitetip Sharks
The Shark Trust are looking specifically for Oceanic Whitetip Shark sightings over the coming weeks and months. So, if you are diving anywhere in the world, please report your sightings via the website or app.
Website: https://recording.sharktrust.org/
App: Search The Shark Trust in your app store
The Oceanic Whitetip. Known for their incredibly long dorsal and pectoral fins, this species was once the most abundant oceanic-pelagic species of shark on the planet.
Large and stocky, they are grey or brown above, and white below and famous for their huge rounded first dorsal fin and paddle-like pectoral fins. The fins also highly prized within the shark fin trade. Whilst they are mostly solitary, Oceanic Whitetips do occasionally hunt in groups.
An inquisitive species, they were easy prey for fisheries. Combined with their low reproductive rate, they were inevitably at high risk of population depletion. And declines of up to 99% have been reported in certain sea areas. They are listed as Critically Endangered on the IUCN Redlist (2019).
Conservation efforts to discourage further declines include listing on CITES Appendix II and CMS Appendix I. They’re also the only species prohibited from take by all the Tuna RFMOs (Regional Fisheries Management Organisations). However, these measures do not mean that Oceanic Whitetips are not still caught – whether targeted or as bycatch – in some parts of the world. With populations declining at such a high rate, effective implementation of management measures is essential to ensure that the species can recover.
If you are lucky enough to get an image of an Oceanic Whitetip and you record your sighting on the Shark Trust app or website YOU CAN WIN! All images submitted with sightings, that also give consent to use in conservation messaging, will be in with a chance to win an Oceanic Whitetip T-shirt and mug. The competition will run until the end of “Shark Month” in July – so keep those sightings (and images) coming in.
Basking Sharks
Basking Shark (Cetorhinus maximus) season is upon us, and the Shark Trust is asking everyone to keep an eye out for these majestic giants over the summer months. If you see any, you can record your sighting to the Basking Shark Sightings database.
Each year, these mighty fish return to British waters to feed on plankton. You may see one, (or a few if you’re really lucky) from around April-October. They can be seen feeding at the surface of the water, where they look like they’re basking in the sun. Thus, their name!
Sighting hotspots around the British Isles include southwest England, Isle of Man, north coast of Ireland, and western Scotland. The Sea of the Hebrides is the most prolific sightings area in Scotland, but they have been spotted all around the coast and have even ventured into some of the sea lochs. The Shark Trust has received thousands of sightings since the Basking Shark project began, but more data is needed to truly understand what is going on with population numbers and distribution. You can help by recording your sightings this summer.
Great Eggcase Hunt
The Shark Trust has an Easter Egg Hunt with a difference for you to try. Take part in the Great Eggcase Hunt and get involved with a big citizen science project that helps shark, ray and skate conservation. And it’s an enjoyable activity for all the family.
The Shark Trust also want snorkellers and divers to record their underwater eggcase findings. Underwater records help pinpoint exactly where sharks and skates are laying their eggs and can help link to beach records. Learning the depth and substrate that they lay on also helps better understand the species.
Find out more: https://www.sharktrust.org/great-eggcase-hunt
Whether you are diving, snorkelling or exploring on the beach you can take part in Citizen Science Month and get actively involved in shark and ray conservation. Find out more: www.sharktrust.org
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