1 / 22

Join the Movement to Protect our Ocean Planet.

Join the Movement to Protect our Ocean Planet. Version 1- June 2011. Our Vision A return to a clean, healthy and abundant ocean planet. Our Mission Project AWARE Foundation mobilizes the world’s divers into a global force to protect our ocean planet . Focus Areas. Sharks in Peril.

terri
Download Presentation

Join the Movement to Protect our Ocean Planet.

An Image/Link below is provided (as is) to download presentation Download Policy: Content on the Website is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use and may not be sold / licensed / shared on other websites without getting consent from its author. Content is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use only. Download presentation by click this link. While downloading, if for some reason you are not able to download a presentation, the publisher may have deleted the file from their server. During download, if you can't get a presentation, the file might be deleted by the publisher.

E N D

Presentation Transcript

  1. Join the Movement toProtect our Ocean Planet. Version 1- June 2011

  2. Our Vision A return to a clean, healthy and abundant ocean planet. Our Mission Project AWARE Foundation mobilizes the world’s divers into a global force to protect our ocean planet.

  3. Focus Areas Sharks in Peril Marine Debris

  4. Sharks In Peril

  5. Millions of sharks are killed every year… • Shark meat for food • shark fins for a bowl of soup • shark teeth for jewellery • shark jaws for tourist souvenirs • shark skin for leather wallets/belts • shark cartilage for medicine – no proof of medicinal properties • shark liver oil for cosmetics/skin care products

  6. What is Shark Finning? • The removal of the fins from a shark and discarding the carcass overboard Are there any laws to regulate this? • There are finning bans in over 20 countries but it is difficult to enforce • Examples: • EU allow separate landings of fins and carcass with special permits • New Zealand - the ban only applies to live sharks

  7. The Problem • Estimated 1 out of 5 evaluated species threatened • 70-80% decline of some shark populations globally • 89% decline of Hammerhead Shark in some regions • 90% decline of Porbeagle and Spiny Dogfish in some regions • Why are sharks vulnerable to overfishing? • Grow slowly, mature late, produce few young • Sharks keep marine ecosystems in balance • by stopping other species from overpopulating

  8. What can be done? • International management; effective fishing bans, domestic policy • CITES operates by controlling the international trade in various wildlife products via a system of import and export permits. • CITES currently lists three species of shark: basking, whale and great white. • However, all sharks put forward for protection were rejected at the last meeting in March 2010

  9. What is being done? • Project AWARE is lobbying governments to heed scientific advice and provide better protection • Campaign momentum to next CITES meeting in 2013 • 70,000 signed the petition so far • Lobbying for an effective EU Finning Ban

  10. We want… • An end to the practice of shark finning • Anincrease in protection for vulnerable shark species so shark population numbers can improve • Anincreasein the percentage of the ocean currently protected • Sharks to be landed with their fins naturally attached for better monitoring

  11. What can you do? Step 1:Sign the petition Demand better protection of sharks Step 2: Lobby your leaders Step 3: Speak out and teach Step 4: Join the movement Be part of a community of divers taking action for our ocean planet

  12. Marine Debris

  13. Marine Debris

  14. Sea turtles, dolphins, sharks, fishes and seabirds are affected by marine debris - for example ingest or become entangled in trash. In 2010, Project AWARE supporters brought to the surface… 56,653 Food Wrappers 175,018 Plastic Bottles 89,945 Cigarette Filters 49,061 Caps and Lids 46,109 Beverage Cans 81,878 Plastic Bags And much more….

  15. We want • A reductionin the amount of debris entering the ocean • To show the world and log what we see when we go underwater • Improvedwaste management practices.

  16. What can you do? Step 1: Volunteer Step 2: Remove Debris Step 3: Record Data We need to work together to fill data gaps The data you report will help drive change in how we prevent, reduce and manage waste both locally and globally. Dive Against Debris

  17. Let’s Protect Our Ocean Together • Dive carefully • Be AWARE of your body and equipment • Keep your dive skills sharp • Consider your actions • Understand and respect underwater life • Be an Eco-Tourist • Respect underwater cultural heritage • Report disturbance • Be a role model • Get involved

  18. We need you.... • to join a global force of advocates. Why? • Divers can play a greater role in making positive changes in the environment • We are a powerful economic constituency • Our collective voice can be brought to decision-makers to affect real change • Together we can connect everything we do locally to achieve our goals on a larger national, regional and international level

  19. Be part of it • Log on to projectaware.org/myocean • Join events and volunteer - Dive Against Debris, Shark Specialty Courses • Upload your conservation photos and videos • Blog, comment – engage with those around you who are taking action • Look out for action alerts, online contests, weeks of action to rally your energy and support for the cause

  20. Together... A clean and healthy ocean An abundant ocean rich in diversity • ….we canprovide the underwater perspective of marine debris impacts, take action to reduce waste, improve waste management practices, end littering and prevent debris from entering the ocean …. we can end unsustainable shark fishing, increase protection for vulnerable shark species and reverse the drastic decline of shark populations worldwide.

  21. Thank you. Protecting our Ocean Planet – One Dive at a Time www.projectaware.org

More Related