And now the not so good of 2011...

... as seen by Mike Neumann.

Mike is a good friend of mine, so are some people he has mentioned in part two of his review of 2011, and who certainly won't like Mike's incisive observations. In those specific cases I cannot but be impartial.

Apart from that, Mike and I do not always agree on everything - how could we?

What I fully share with Mike, however, is his almost visceral aversion against BS. Thus, when we see something we don't like for BS reasons, we open our mouths rather than keep silent in order to be "Messrs. Nice Guys".

We are not "politically correct", and as far as I am concerned, I despise this new form of diplomacy which is often aimed at converting plain, smelly BS into some sort of odorless bull crap.

Some will say (I know who they will be.... :-): "Why do these guys feel they have to pick on other shark defenders? Why can't they just be tolerant and focus on the 'larger' issues?" Simple - because as in all other human activities, including organzations with common interests such as movie star fan clubs, there are always diverging opinions that should be questioned, debated, criticized.

A critical mind cannot be equated with being negative or destructive which is something I hear once in a while from some of the hypocritical shark "conservationists" out there.

In extreme cases I get reprimanded in the most subtle of ways.

As, for instance, by a youngster who found it appropriate to call me "a seemingly bored mother fucker" who should get a life rather than bad-mouthing other people who DO THINGS, like his newly found friend, shark pornographer extraordinaire ABC4, and other such professional and ad honorem "Shark Angels"... :-)

Anyway, enjoy Mike's blog. In literary terms it is an award winning piece of writing, as are all his postings. I would rank Mike, along with his choice of Patric Douglas, as the best 2011 shark blog writer, by far.

http://fijisharkdiving.blogspot.com/2011/12/part-two-bad-and-ugly.html

Another Shark-Free Marina

Update: After posting story, Patric Douglas contacted us with the following information - makes the whole Shark-Free Marina concept even more powerful:

"THIS marina went SF due to the efforts of one local woman who wanted to do something for sharks and her name is Kate Metzler.

Kates story is even more wonderful when you come to discover she purchased two signs on her own and walked right into the marina with the website material and got them to make the change for sharks!

This is the vision behind the SFMI, empowering people in their own areas to help sharks.

Kudos to Kate and the hundreds of other Kates just like her out there.

It starts with "One".

Thanks for the post. "

Harwich Port Boat Yard has become a shark-free marina thanks to the efforts of Luke Tipple (Director of the Shark-Free Marina project) and Patric Douglas (CEO of Shark Divers).

Take a look at the growing number of marinas that are doing the right thing: http://www.sharkfreemarinas.com/current-shark-free-marinas.shtml

Read complete story here...

Bimini Sands becomes Bahamas' first 'Shark Free Marina'

Patric Douglas' Shark Free Marina concept really seems to be taking off, add another to the list - Bimini Sands Resort and Marina becomes the first marina in the Bahamas to be 'shark free'.

Recap of the 'shark free' marina initiative.

Would be great to one day see all the marinas in the Bahamas become 'shark free' (and anywhere else where sharks and sport fishermen cross paths)...for sharks as well as the Bahamas - plus as a Bahamian it would make me very proud!

Yes, I was born in Nassau, spent half of my childhood there, being so close to the ocean I learned how to swim before I could walk, my first word was "boat", and I spent many sundays at the Poop Deck, a popular restaurant overlooking the harbor, getting free cherries from the bartender... :-)

Hats off to Bimini Sands and Patric!!!

Patric Douglas is "ONE"

A while back, the people over at Shark Diver started a self-sufficent program that benefits sharks and helps marinas become greener - the concept is simple and has been implemented by various marinas in The Bahamas.

The program can be implemented anywhere there are sharks and marinas...help spread the word.

I applaud Patric's work and foward thinking in developing this.

"Noblesse Oblige" - By Patric Douglas

Patric Douglas over at Shark Divers seems to have had some similar thoughts in reference to the "Where Credit is Due" post:

"There's an old French saying “Noblesse Oblige". It roughly translates in to Nobel Obligation. Those that are on the front lines of an issue and can effect change have a nobel obligation to do so.

Which gets us to the state of commercial shark diving worldwide. The industry is valued at $200-300 million dollars and for the most part, operators are content to show divers sharks, make money and repeat. Without a doubt the current state of “Noblesse Oblige" in our industry is at an all time low.

Let me qualify this statement before the angry emails start. In our world effecting change with sharks goes beyond just interacting with these animals on a commercial level or aligning ourselves with non profits who are doing all the heavy lifting. You have to be engaged, you have to create directional focus and motivate people-who might not consider it-to be active in the shark community. Let's face it with 80 million sharks being killed each and every year there's little room anymore for fence sitters who are content to just make money diving with sharks.

Operators should be bound by “Noblesse Oblige" to create conservation efforts outside their operations. Real and lasting projects that further the protection of sharks, shark science, and conservation.

Having said this there are some simply stunning projects out there that are fully supported by many forward thinking commercial shark diving operations. They are, unfortunately, the minority of the industry and we can do much better beyond a few online petitions, some POS material on a vessel, and an eco chat with our guests.

As front line sentinels, operators from California to South Africa are often the first to report trouble, and have a key insight into the health and direction of local shark populations. One of the misnomers is that real and effective shark conservation costs a lot of money, it does not. It does take time and effort beyond operations.

There are many within the shark community who are trying to make 2009 The Year of the Sharks-to that may we add “Tiburon NoblesseOblige". The hope that operations worldwide look to where they can become involved, create local efforts, websites, focus and direction.

We cannot allow NGO's to shoulder the shark conservation burden alone. Noblesse Oblige can and will effect lasting change for shark conservation. Time is a luxury that sharks are in short supply of.


Cheers,
Patric Douglas CEO
www.sharkdiver.com
www.sharkdivers.com
www.sharkdivers.blogspot.com
www.guadalupefund.org
www.islandofthegreatwhiteshark.com
415.235.9410"

Great Shark Initiative

Patric, over at Underwater Thrills - Swimming with Sharks, has a great post and idea that I think is just phenomenal: Shark Free Marinas - think smoke free areas in Marinas talking specifically to anglers that choose to kill sharks and show them and themselves off at Marinas.  This initiative, if implemented, will definitely increase the catch-and-release practice and save the lives of many sharks.  As far as the Marinas' go, they could further promote themselves as Green and eco-friendly.