COARE: news | sharksafe.org press release

sharksafe.org Press Release . . .
NEWS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
09 October 2009


  NEW ONLINE RESOURCE FOR SHARK CONSERVATION EFFORTS

 Certification Program Adds Online Resources to Raise
          Awareness of Shark Conservation


Oakland, Califonia - 09 October 2009 -- The Center for
Oceanic Awareness, Research, and Education, known more 
commonly by its acronym "COARE", announced today the 
availability of online resources supporting its popular 
Shark Safe certification program.

The website, www.sharksafe.org, allows both consumers
and businesses to learn more about the Shark Safe
certification program, and businesses aspiring to become
Shark Safe can initiate the process of earning
certification.

Using an easily recognizable logo to distinguish
participating establishments, the Shark Safe program
offers certification to qualifying restaurants and
select businesses that demonstrate a measured commitment
to shark conservation.

"Our program is a comprehensive one, and was developed
with input from scientists and researchers around the
world, including the famed Seafood Watch Program at the
Monterey Bay Aquarium," said Christopher Chin, COARE's
Executive Director.

The mission of the Shark Safe certification program is
to protect oceanic ecosystems by encouraging  practices
that do not negatively impact shark populations.
"Sharks are one of our oceans' top predators, keeping
the entire ecosystem in check, but shark populations
have declined dramatically over the last few decades as
a result of human greed and lack of understanding,"
said Chin.  "If people knew more about these animals,
they would want to protect them."

"By increasing public awareness of the need for shark
conservation, we endeavor to change the way people think
about sharks, thereby reducing the sale, use, and trade
of shark products," Chin continued.  

Animals at the top of the food chain, such as sharks, 
have few natural predators, so they are slow to mature, 
and have very few young.  "As a result, they are 
extremely sensitive to fishing pressures, and are slow 
to recover from overfishing," stated Chin.

As a conservation based website, www.sharksafe.org will
also offer information about the plight of sharks and
about the need for their conservation.  As further
development of the website continues, it will serve as a
portal for consumers to locate certified Shark Safe
establishments quickly and easily.

COARE began development of its Shark Safe program in
early-2007, seeking to protect sharks by raising
awareness of threats to shark populations and by
reducing the demand for shark products.  In July of
2007, Jim Toomey, the artist behind the popular
syndicated cartoon Sherman's Lagoon, joined the effort
and helped form the Shark Safe logo in use today.
"Sharks have resided in a dark corner of our mythology
for thousands of years, which is partly the reason why
saving this vital animal from extinction will require a
special effort," said Toomey.



About COARE
The Center for Oceanic Awareness, Research, and
Education, Inc. (COARE) is a tax-exempt nonprofit
organization based in the San Francisco Bay Area.  Its
purpose is to study our oceans and increase public
awareness of the earth's marine environment through
educational programs and outreach.  COARE seeks to
enlighten people, young and old, to the plight of the
oceans, to change the way they think and act, and to
encourage them to create positive and lasting change.
For more information about COARE, visit
http://www.coare.org.

COARE, Shark Safe, and the Shark Safe logo are
trademarks of The Center for Oceanic Awareness,
Research, and Education, Inc.  All other company names
or marks mentioned herein are those of their respective
owners.


Media Contact:
Jennifer Bowyer, media@coare.org, +1-510-495-7875

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