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Center for Oceanic Awareness, Research, and Education
The Latest Waves . . .
15 May 2008: Shark Centre opens in South Africa
Today, the Save Our Seas Foundation opened the doors of its new Save Our Seas Shark Centre (SOSSC) in Kalk Bay, South Africa.
The SOSSC will promote the protection and conservation of sharks worldwide by developing scientific research projects, and global education and awareness projects that target the general public, fishers, and in particular, children.
According to Chris Clarke, the Foundation's Executive Director, "The new SOSSC cements our commitment to make a meaningful contribution toward shark conservation in southern Africa. By becoming a Centre open to the general public it will be a visible reminder of the importance of sharks in our ecosystem and the integral role they play in the health of our oceans."
The Centre will also encourage collaboration with other scientists, universities, industry and government in the area of shark research and conservation both locally and internationally.
Click here to see the entire SOSF press release
23 April 2008: MLPA Task Force Makes Recommendations
Today, the Blue Ribbon Task Force of the California Marine Life Protection Act Intiative recommended a network of marine protected areas (MPAs) for California's north central coast.
Their recommendation includes a preferred alternative and three other proposals that will help the State of California improve the design and management of its marine protected areas. This recommendation will be presented to the California Fish and Game Commission, the decision-making body under the MLPA.
Click here to read the MLPA Initiative press release.
Click here to learn more about COARE's involvement in the MLPA process.
14 April 2008: Saving Sharks with Sherman's Lagoon
This week, our favorite comic strip, Sherman's Lagoon, is dedicated to raising awareness of shark conservation issues.
Click here to see the Artist's call for action.
10 April 2008: Congress Pushes for True Shark Finning Ban
Recent 9th Circuit Court of Appeals Ruling Leads Congress to Fix Flaws in Current Laws
Washington, D.C. -- A recent decision by the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals has prompted Congress to introduce the "Shark Conservation Act of 2008." This legislation would close loopholes exposed in the court decision by improving existing laws, originally intended to prevent shark finning.
The bill was introduced by Congresswoman Madeleine Bordallo (D-Guam), Chairwoman of the Subcommittee on Fisheries, Wildlife and Oceans of the House Committee on Natural Resources. The Natural Resources Committee is expected to consider the bill mid-April.
08 April 2008: Sharkwater DVD is Released
The revolutionary and award winning film Sharkwater (now up to 26 awards!) is finally available on DVD and Blu-Ray. The film is currently in the midst of its European tour, but North American viewers can finally take it home and help spread the truth about sharks.
25 February 2008: Shark Angels Express Condolences over Dive Tragedy
The Shark Angels are devastated by news of the recent tragedy on the M/V Shear Water, and their hearts go out to the family of Markus Groh, the scuba diver who died yesterday after an accident involving a bull shark in the Bahamas. The Shark Angels are incredibly saddened by this unfortunate loss that hits very close to home and extend their sincere condolences to the family of the diver. The Angels were recently hosted on the Shear Water, owned and operated by Jim Abernethy, the highly-esteemed pioneer of cageless shark diving in tropical waters.
During his 35 years of diving with sharks, Abernethy has maintained a spotless safety record until this point, bringing tens of thousands of divers into the water to safely experience shark interactions. Abernethy is a responsible, safe dive operator who has spent more time in the water than anyone with the sharks of the Bahamas. He delights in safely sharing his passion and respect for these sharks with others.
While the fear surrounding shark bites abounds, in reality, only one person worldwide died from a shark bite last year.
In contrast, sharks are one of the most hunted animals on the planet. Desired for their fins, over 100 million sharks are killed each year with a growing number of shark species approaching extinction.
Click here to see the entire Shark Angel press release
18 February 2008: Nine More Sharks to be Added to Endangered List
Boston: Nine more species of shark are to be added to the endangered list as scientists warn that oceans are being emptied of the fish by overfishing and finning.
The scalloped hammerhead shark, which has declined by 99% over the past 30 years in some parts of the world, is particularly vulnerable and will be declared globally endangered on the World Conservation Union (IUCN) list.
"Sharks are definitely at the top of the list for marine fishes that could go extinct in our lifetimes," said Julia Baum of the Scripps Institution of Oceanography in California and a member of IUCN shark specialist group. "If we carry on the way that we are, we're looking at a really high risk of extinction for some of these shark species within the next few decades."
At the American Association for the Advancement of Science annual meeting in Boston yesterday, Baum said that in addition to the scalloped hammerhead, other shark species that will be added to the revised IUCN endangered list later this year are the smooth hammerhead, shortfin mako, common thresher, big-eye thresher, silky, tiger, bull and dusky. There are already 126 species of shark on the IUCN's list.
Click here to see the original article
13 February 2008: US Senate Sanctuary Expansion Introduced
Washington, DC: U.S. Senators Barbara Boxer and Dianne Feinstein introduced legislation that would permanently protect the coastal waters and estuaries of Sonoma County and portions of Mendocino County by extending the boundaries of the Gulf of the Farallones and Cordell Bank National Marine Sanctuaries.
Boxer said, "California's coast and marine waters are one of America's great natural treasures. By extending the boundaries of these National Marine Sanctuaries to include the Sonoma and southern Mendocino coast, this legislation will help protect and conserve this spectacular part of our coast for generations to come."
Click here to see the entire press release
12 December 2007: Options for European Shark Plan revealed
Conservationists see hope on the horizon in EU Commission initiative
Brussels: The Shark Alliance is welcoming the release of the European Commission's consultation document for a Community Plan of Action (CPOA) for Sharks, which, at long last, addresses the plight of sharks and proposes a range of options for improvement. The Commission document, released last night, is now subject to a two-month stakeholder comment period.The thorough and relatively robust consultation document proposes many elements promoted by the Shark Alliance, including catch limits in line with scientific advice, special attention to endangered species, measures to strengthen the ban on shark finning, means to regulate and reduce bycatch, and educational programs to promote awareness among fishermen and the public.
The document is open for comment until February 15 and will be further developed throughout 2008. It is expected to be offered as an official Communication to the European Council and Parliament by the end of the year, after which time both entities will provide their views.
Click here to see the entire press release
15 November 2007: Shark Angels Arrive in the Bahamas.
32 years after Jaws™ showed a defenseless woman being dragged underwater and devoured by an insatiable monster, three women have come together to debunk that largely fictitious image.
Shark enthusiasts Kim McCoy, Executive Director of Sea Shepherd Conservation Society, Julie Andersen, Director of Shark Savers, and Alison Kock, Head Field Biologist of Save Our Seas, have joined forces to create a short feature documentary called Shark Angels. Representing the next generation of shark conservationists, these organizations are coming together for the first time to combat myths about sharks. Production begins on November 14, 2007 in the Bahamas.
Entering what was once the domain of daring male divers, often relying on the safety of cages, McCoy, Andersen, and Kock will challenge their own fears by swimming in open water with tiger sharks. Aboard Jim Abernethy's vessel, the Shear Water, their mission is to get as close to as many large predators as possible in the most shark-inhabited waters of the Caribbean.
Kurt Lieber, Sea Shepherd Director, and Rob Stewart, director of the award winning documentary Sharkwater, will be joining the expedition to support the threesome as they intentionally surround themselves with what are considered some of the most dangerous sharks in the world. The production team consists of Shawn Heinrichs of Blue Sphere Media as producer and director, Eric Cheng of Wetpixel as photographer, and Christopher Chin of the Center for Oceanic Awareness, Research, and Education (COARE) as cinematographer.
Click here for the official press release.
25 October 2007: Sharkwater US Release Draws Near.
Sharkwater made history when it opened in Candian theaters in March. It's won awards at every film festival where it's shown, and will be opening throughout the US on November 2nd.
COARE would like to invite you to a private advanced screening in the heart of San Francisco. Be one of the first to see the film on the west coast, and meet director Rob Stewart, who will be on-hand for a Q&A session after the screening.
Private Screening
Roxie Theatre
3117 16th Street
San Francisco CA 94103
Tuesday, October 30, 2007
VIP @ 6 pm
Screening @ 7:30 pmClick here for tickets!
21 September 2007: California Puts Landmark MLPA into Effect.
California's landmark Marine Life Protection Act went into effect from Pigeon Point to Point Conception on Friday, September 21. This action established a Central Coast Region, composed of 29 marine protected areas (MPAs), from San Mateo County to Santa Barbara County. The MPA designation significantly increases the protection that marine life living in the area receives. These protections include long-term safe havens for rockfish and other bottom fishes, migration corridors for salmon, and a diverse environment that abalone, kelp, and numerous marine mammals and seabirds need to survive.
Click here to read more about the MLPA and how COARE is involved.
25 June 2007: Sting Results in Seizure of Over 18,000 Shark Fins.
Two-month Long Undercover Investigation Reveals Illegal Shark Fin Trade
Sea Shepherd Conservation Society and operatives of the Ecuadorian Environmental Police seized a total of 18,673 shark fins and arrested four suspects...
Click here to see the entire article (including photos).
15 June 2007: A Dark Day for Dogfish.
CITES fails to safeguard sharks from unsustainable trade
The Hague 15.06.07: The Shark Alliance is expressing deep dismay over today's defeat of a European Union (EU) proposal to limit international trade in imperiled spiny dogfish sharks through the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES). The proposal had failed narrowly in a CITES Committee last week, but was brought back for reconsideration today in the CITES Plenary. After a week of intense lobbying on both sides, the dogfish proposal again fell short of the required two-thirds majority needed for adoption.
"We are deeply dismayed that this exceptionally vulnerable and heavily traded shark species has been denied the global safeguards that are so urgently warranted," said Sonja Fordham, Shark Alliance Policy Director. "It is now up to fishing nations to compensate for this failure by restricting regional fishing to ensure that international demand for spiny dogfish does not result in further population depletion."
Many countries opposing the EU CITES listing proposals for sharks expressed concern over lacking shark fishery management in European waters and used this as a reason to vote against the listings. While domestic failings should not excuse denying global action, EU spiny dogfish quotas are indeed out of line with the scientific advice for no fishing. During the debates, EU representatives underscored previous commitments to development of an EU shark plan by 2008.
"The upside of this roller coaster ride is the enhanced global awareness of the plight of sharks," added Fordham. "We welcome the widespread recognition, by the EU and other countries, that national and international shark conservation measures are urgently needed to recover spiny dogfish populations and prevent depletion of other species. It is imperative that the EU complete its overdue shark management plan, as a matter of priority, and that CITES continues its work to highlight, and consider trade limitations for vulnerable shark species."
Spiny dogfish are exported from all corners of the globe to satisfy European demand for fish and chips and smoked belly flaps. Populations have been seriously depleted by poorly regulated fisheries that often target pregnant females. The IUCN (World Conservation Union) classifies spiny dogfish as globally Threatened, Endangered in the Northwest Atlantic and Critically Endangered off Europe.
The EU, Canada, the US, Norway, and New Zealand have dogfish fisheries; the US supported the EU listing proposal while Canada, Norway, New Zealand, along with Japan, China, and Argentina worked hard to kill it.
A similar EU proposal to list porbeagle sharks under CITES also failed in Committee last week.
08 June 2007: World Ocean Day.
Yes, today is World Ocean Day!
Celebrations are taking place worldwide, and COARE, Surfrider, Oceanhealth.org, and Trillium Films are hosting two events right here in the San Francisco Bay Area!
Please join us in our celebrations tonight and tomorrow. Check out www.oceandaysf.org for details.
In addition to celebrating, today is a perfect day to make a difference ....
YOU can help us save sharks.
Click here to find out how.
Thanks, and have a wonderful World Ocean Day!
17 April 2007: 600 lbs of Illegal Shark Fins Confiscated in Ecuador.
(translated and paraphrased)
The Judicial Police from the El Oro Province of Ecuador detained 12 large packages containing 272.4 kilograms (599.3 lbs) of shark fin in Huaquillas prior to being shipped to Peru for export. The shipment was being transported by bicycle and the suspect fled from the scene. The destination of the shipment was Aguas Verdes, Perù.
It's estimated that 80% of the fins exported from Ecuador are taken in the Galapagos.
the original spanish language article follows:
(n.b.: the original article indicates that fins cost up to $200. COARE has evidence that fins can fetch as much as US$500/lb.)
Diario Hoy
17 de Abril 2007Policiía se incauta de aletas de tiburón
El 80% de ese producto que exporta Ecuador es de Galápagos. Estas se usan en la gastronomía y la medicina, y su costo llega hasta los $200
La Policía Judicial de El Oro investiga el decomiso de 12 bultos con 272,4 kilos de aletas de tiburón disecado que fueron descubiertas en Huaquillas, cuando iban a ser enviadas al Perú para su comercialización.
La carga era transportada en un triciclo por el sector de las calles Diecinueve de Octubre y Machala, en Huaquillas, con rumbo a Aguas Verdes, Perú. El sujeto, no identificado, que transportaba la carga se dio a la fuga. La Policía Judicial y la Fiscalía de El Oro buscan al involucrado.
La captura de tiburones para conseguir sus aletas es una práctica rutinaria entre los pescadores del país, ya que su precio es muy bien cotizado en mercados como Hong Kong, Beijing, Taiwán, Singapur y otros lugares del continente asiático.
Entidades internacionales especializadas estiman que un 80% de las aletas exportadas desde Ecuador proviene de las islas Galápagos. (AM)
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