Shark Free Marinas

Timing could probably not be any better. After all the negative stories that have been coming out of the shark diving industry (negative stories in the press thanks to a few egocentric individuals - who happen to have de-friended me on Facebook), the landing and killing of a beautiful large female hammerhead shark, and ongoing tournaments encouraging sport fishermen to kill sharks for fun...there are some positive things happening.

The people over at Shark Divers have formalized a concept of shark free marinas and given the program some legs.

Please visit www.sharkfreemarinas.com to see what I am talking about and help spread the word.

"The Shark-Marina has a singular purpose, to reduce worldwide shark mortality. Today the not-for-profit company launches its strategy which intends to prevent the deaths of millions of vulnerable and endangered species of shark. The initiative aims to win over the fishing community by working with game fishing societies, tackle manufacturers, competition sponsors and marinas to form community conscious policy." - to read the complete story click here:

Underwater Thrills:Swimming With Sharks: Shark Free Marinas - Official Website

The platform is there, the resources are there, the materials are there, now it is up to us help get the concept implemented where ever sharks are being hunted and displayed for pure fun and macho purposes.

Would love to see the Bahamian shark diving operators such as Stuart's Cove and Unexso drive this in my home country - maybe even Neil Watson will help implement this throughout

"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"