Project AWARE
Manta rays, a species close to the heart of every diver and every individual who cares about the future of our ocean, are increasingly threatened with extinction. They have roamed the ocean for 150 million years and yet we are witnessing their ecocide before our eyes.
Demand for manta ray gill rakers – or the internal feathery structures that strain plankton – has risen drastically, driving untold numbers of deaths for the Asian medicine market. The gruesome and cruel destruction of these gentle creatures is needless, tragic and extremely alarming.
As the environmental voice of the global dive community, Project AWARE is working at every turn to ensure that mantas will not disappear on our watch. Help us ensure maximum protection for these animals before it’s too late. The time is now. Make an urgent donation today to support critical conservation efforts to protect mantas globally.
FACT: Manta ray catch has nearly quadrupled in seven years according to the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO).
FACT: Project AWARE has a track record of success on this critical issue. In 2011, in coordination with our partners and with your support, we succeeded in safeguarding this wide-ranging, globally threatened species and its key habitats under the Convention on Migratory Species of Wild Animals (CMS). Project AWARE has the global reach and seasoned expertise needed to try to stop this slaughter - but we need your financial support.
FACT: Worldwide value of manta-based tourism and filming is estimated at $100 million USD per year. Manta rays top divers’ must-see list time and again. Divers around the world have of a truly special relationship with marine creatures and this means we must play a pivotal role in their protection.
Project AWARE is now targeting protection for mantas and their close relatives the devil rays under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) – the world’s largest, most effective wildlife conservation agreement. CITES protections offer the best hope for controlling the manta trade globally and ensuring species recovery.
The battle ahead is going to be difficult. But our opposition is underestimating us. Dive supporters span the globe as guardians of the sea from surface to depth. We will not let manta rays die silently and needlessly. Exercise this power, make waves and join together with us in protecting mantas and devil rays today.
Visit the Manta Rays at Risk section of our website for more information on the manta gill raker trade. Thank you for your urgent support!
Monday, 16 July 2012
Wednesday, 11 July 2012
Fiji Shark Sanctuary Campaign | Coral Reef Alliance
Fiji Shark Sanctuary Campaign | Coral Reef Alliance
CORAL, working in partnership with the Pew Environment Group and the Fijian Ministry of Fisheries, is raising awareness for shark protection in Fiji through an exciting shark conservation campaign.
The campaign's objective is to create a Fijian National Shark Sanctuary that would
- prohibit the commercial fishing of sharks throughout the entirety of the Fijian exclusive economic zone;
- prohibit the import and export of shark products in Fiji;
- prohibit the sale of shark products within Fiji;
- allow recreational catch and release of sharks; and
- allow the incidental, artisanal catch of sharks by citizens of Fiji, assuming the subsequent shark or shark products are not sold.
Since February 2011, our team has been working on the ground, alongside the Fijian people, to raise support for shark protection. Because effective conservation requires collaboration, we have been engaging and educating local stakeholders from the
confederacies, provinces, districts, and villages to ensure
long-lasting protection for sharks.
confederacies, provinces, districts, and villages to ensure
long-lasting protection for sharks.
CAMPAIGN POSTER  While Fiji is home to a high diversity of sharks, many of these species are threatened with extinction globally. Download our shark conservation campaign poster to learn more. |
ATCH SHARK HOPEDOCUMENTARY  As part of our community-based conservation efforts in Fiji, CORAL's field staff and shark sanctuary campaign partners worked with a local production company to produce Shark Hope. Told from a uniquely Fijian perspective, the stories and imagery used in this educational film are a reflection of the local community's rich traditions and cultural identity. |
 |
| Meeting with Ratu Epenisa Cakobau, high chief of Bau Village and the Kubuna Confederacy, who has given his support for shark protection |
Sharks have long held a place of respect and worship in Fiji, but past efforts to legally protect them from local and international fishing pressures were met with resistance. Thanks in part to the recent wave of shark sanctuary designations around the world, however, this current campaign is gaining momentum.
In July, Fiji's Department of Fisheries and Forests confirmed that it is reviewing Fiji's fisheries laws and is considering revisions that would include a ban on the trade of all shark fins and other products derived from any shark captured in Fijian waters. If the proposal moves forward, we expect the government to issue an official decree before the year's end. The passing of such a law would make Fiji the first Melanesian country to approve such comprehensive protection for these iconic animals.
The successful passing of the decree is only the first step. The second—and perhaps most important step—is making sure the new policy is effectively implemented. We will work with the Fijian people to make sure communities are aware of the law, understand its importance, and proudly support it.
Wednesday, 4 July 2012
2012 Great Fiji Shootout - Underwater Photography Seminar and Contest
Underwater Photography Shootout is coming to FIJI!
Hosted by Photo Pro Chris Liles on November 5th-10th photographers will unleash and hone their skills under Fiji’s Coral Coast’s clear warm tropical ocean. YOU can be one of them and previous experience is not required.
Discover what the Great Fiji Shootout is all about.
To book your space on the Great Fiji Shootout contact your dive travel agent or visit the Diveaway Fiji contact page.
2012 Great Fiji Shootout - Underwater Photography Seminar and Contest:
Monday, 11 June 2012
Saturday, 9 June 2012
Friday, 8 June 2012
NEW GoPro Wi-Fi Combo Kit is Live!
NEW GoPro® Wi-Fi Combo Kit is Live!
Be one of the first to have the NEW GoPro® Wi-Fi Combo Kit which includes Wi-Fi Bac Pac and Wi-Fi Remote.
This new GoPro® accessory offers the ability to control up to 50 cameras at a time, live streaming and ransfers videos to your smartphone or tablets directly from your GoPro®.
The GoPro® Wi-Fi Combo Kit enables remote control, live preview and playback on smartphones and tablets*, live streaming* to the web, and more.
Wi-Fi Remote:- Control up to 50 GoPro® cameras a time, 600’ / 180m range
- Full camera control: On/Off, Mode, Shutter, and Settings
- Attachment strap, key ring, and charging cable included
- Wearable & Waterproof to 10’/3m
GoPro® HD Cameras
Thursday, 7 June 2012
Dive fiesta attracts agents - Fiji Times Online
Dive fiesta attracts agents
FELIX CHAUDHARY
Wednesday, June 06, 2012
Wednesday, June 06, 2012
+ Enlarge this imageJohnny Singh, Nanise Ledua, Satnesh Sharma and Abdul Kalaam. Picture: Jai Prasad
THE Fiji Dive Fiesta 2012 was held at Shangri-La’s Fijian Resort and Spa in Cuvu recently.
While agents from traditional markets including Australia and New Zealand were present, the Fiji Hotel and Tourism Association welcomed representatives from the growing Asian dive market as well.
FHTA chief executive officer Michael Wong said the dive market continued to be a lucrative sector for the country’s booming tourism industry.
Dive fiesta attracts agents - Fiji Times Online:
'via Blog this'
Wednesday, 6 June 2012
Tuesday, 22 May 2012
Fiji Diving with NAI'A, March 12-19 2011
Awesome and VERY Nai'a! Sometimes we miss it...
Sam Cambell's trip video shot from NAI'A using a Sony camera in a Gates housing.
Sam Cambell's trip video shot from NAI'A using a Sony camera in a Gates housing.
Sunday, 11 March 2012
Ma'afu Marine Lecture Series:: Shark Reef Marine Reserve: Conservation, Research and Shark Provisioning
Ma'afu Marine Lecture Series
Shark Reef Marine Reserve: Conservation, Research and Shark Provisioning
Ni sa bula vinaka, Colleagues !!
Mike Neumann has kindly agreed to give this week's Ma'afu Marine Lecture, following
on from Helen Sykes' inspiring talk on Fiji's Shark Sanctuary Campaign.
Mike will be talking about the origin of Shark Reef Marine Reserve and associated tourism and research
aspects.
Many
of you will have seen a number of press releases this week, announcing
that researchers from the
University of Miami, Florida have completed the first satellite-tagging
study to find out how ecotourism impacts on tiger sharks. I copied a
summary of their paper below and attached a related paper from 2011.
More information can be found under the following
links and may provide a useful background for Mikes' lecture.
- www.bbc.co.uk/nature/17299522
- www.functionalecology.org/view/0/index.html
- www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/06/110627143831.htm
- www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/13683500.2011.585227
- http://www.scribd.com/doc/59874229/Global-shark-currency-the-distribution-frequency-and-economic-value-of-shark-ecotourism-by-Neil-Hammerschlag
Please join us :
Date: 15.03.2012
Time: 4:30 pm
Venue: Veitiri Conference Room, IUCN Office, 5 Ma'afu Street, Suva
Mike Neumann is a retired lawyer and banking executive.
He now lives in Fiji and is a full-time marine conservationist with a special interest in Sharks.
As always, please kindly share this invitation widely with friends and colleagues, we look forward to see you on
Thursday afternoon in Ma'afu street,
Vinaka Vakalevu,
Jan
--
Don't bite the hand that feeds: Assessing ecological impacts of provisioning ecotourism on an apex marine predator
Neil Hammerschlag, Austing Gallagher, Julia Wester, Jiangang Luo and Jerald Ault
Ecotourism activities that use food
to attract and concentrate wildlife for viewing have become a
controversial topic. This debate is best exemplified by the shark dive
tourism industry, a highly lucrative and booming global
market. Use of chum (fish parts and blood) or food to attract sharks to
divers has generated significant concerns, with many criticisms
focusing on the potential for ecological and behavioral impacts.
To tackle this issue, we conducted
the first satellite telemetry study to examine the long range movement
patterns of tiger sharks (the largest apex predator in tropical waters)
in response to dive tourism. We studied two
separate populations of tiger sharks: one that originated in Florida
and the other in the Bahamas. At the Bahamas site, nicknamed "Tiger
Beach," chum is regularly used to attract sharks for diving purposes. In
contrast, shark feeding for ecotourism is illegal
in Florida waters.
Satellite tracking revealed that
both groups of tiger sharks displayed similar, long distance migration
patterns into the Atlantic. Our data suggests that ecotourism activities
do not impact the long term shark movements.
Instead, this study allowed us to make several new discoveries related
to the previously unknown ecology of Atlantic tiger sharks. Tracked
sharks spent a large amount of time in the open ocean, thus challenging
conventional wisdom that tiger sharks are generally
more "coastal" than "pelagic" species. Both groups of sharks followed
the Gulf Stream north east, into areas of high productivity, suggesting
an opportunistic foraging strategy for this species. This trait, and the
relatively low percentage of daily consumption
needs estimated to be provided by chumming, may combine to make tiger
sharks less susceptible to the behavioral changes explored here. We
further speculate that the Bahamas tourism site may serve as an area for
female tiger sharks to gestate while pregnant,
before heading off to feed or birth elsewhere.
Because shark-based ecotourism
generates significant economic and conservation benefits, and further
because our data did not provide evidence of tourism impacting long-term
movements of tiger sharks, we believe that managers
should not prevent shark diving tourism unless new data were to
demonstrate otherwise.
Jan H. STEFFEN
Regional Marine Program Coordinator
IUCN Oceania Office
Private Mail Bag
5 Ma'afu Street
Suva, FIJI
Ph +679 - 331 9084
Fax +679 - 310 0128
M +679 - 938 2722
jan.steffen@iucn.org
www.iucn.org/oceania
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