Groundbreaking step towards Shark Conservation

A new law banning the consumption of shark fins in Hawaii has made shark conservation just a little easier. While Hawaii was the last state added to the USA it is the first state in the US (and the world according to Iris Ho of www.takepart.com) to implement a law that “prohibits the possession, sale or distribution of shark fins, will help arrest the cruel practice of shark finning and enhance shark conservation.”

A Hammerhead after it has been finned. It will take up to 3 days for it to drown.

Read More Here!

Interesting Read on Shark Finning

Shark Finning Info/Article

Photograph by Brian J. Skerry Whale Sharks weigh an average of 20.6 tons and can grow larger than 40 ft!

Thanks to ‘Shark Champion’ Richard Lochhead

Shark Trust created the this first time award for Richard Lochhead. Ali Hood of Shark Trust is quoted as saying “”This award to Mr Lochhead and the Scottish Government is the first of its kind to policy makers and reflects their decisive action in addressing the issue of shark finning.” This is an incredible step in a direction to further promote the conservation of sharks and a step to show the world they should be respected, not feared.

The article.

Scotland First To Ban Shark Fins

Scotland has become the first European country to ban shark finning and shark fins. This is exciting! Hopefully more countries will soon follow.

Feliz Año Nuevo

¡¡Hola Shark Savers!! Just wanted to wish you all a very happy new year and wish you all the best in whatever resolutions you may or may not have made. I have been in San Jose de los Cabos, México since the 30th and will be here until the 10th. It is an absolutely incredible experience!! The beauty and majesty of the whale migration off of the coast of Mexico is breathtaking. There are no words for such a lovely experience. I have had my picture taken with a wild donkey, been stabbed by sea urchins while snorkeling, seen several types of whales breach/play in the water (numerous Humpback Whales!!) and have heard that their songs can be heard excellently while snorkeling, I have also witnessed jumping rays (I assume they are Eagle Rays or Manta Rays, stingrays don’t jump)!! That alone is a sight worth taking in. It seems like everyone, man and beast, is enjoying the lazy island vibe that is so contagious you can’t help but catch it. I will post more about the whale migration, the jumping Rays, and, of course, SHARKS!!

Feliz año nuevo,

a girl with a dream

PS

Here’s an interesting bit of information of jumping Rays 

New Measures Take Effect in January 2010

Looks like the conservationists have been hard at work on the East Coast. Several new rules are going to take effect in mid-January that incorporate restrictions on fin harvesting (aka Finning) in the waters from Florida to Maine. Fourteen different kinds of sharks are now on the limited catch list. Some of the sharks that will now be protected from fin harvesting as a result of these new rules include the sandbar, silky and Caribbean sharpnose sharks from state waters.

What are some of the restrictions?

- One fish per person/two fish per vessel

-54-inch fork length minimum size limit for most sharks in Florida waters (except Atlantic sharpnose, blacknose, bonnethead, finetooth and blacktip sharks and smooth dogfish)

Silky Sharks are one of the types of sharks protected under the new measures due to overexploitation

EU Ban on Fishing for Two Types of Endangered Sharks

Another step in the right direction. Things are slowly getting better for sharks … Another two types of sharks will hopefully be able to be taken off of the endangered species list soon because of this move

“EU ministers have agreed to a ban on catching porbeagle sharks and reduced the fishing quotas for spurdog sharks by 90 per cent.”

Enjoy

Obama Gets B- from Humane Society

The article says it all… Enjoy

Conservationist Says Ban Finning in Fiji

Outside of the clever alliteration it is incredibly encouraging to see someone such as Mike Newman calling on the region to ban shark finning, He says “these moves are necessary to protect sharks, an endangered species critical for the survival of coral reefs.” Palau has recently become a major hub for tuna ships to off load shark fins on their way to port. Sharks are the top predator in our oceans and have proven their dominance with minuscule changes through the millions of years of evolution around them.

Everyone is concerned with saving our environment, our Ozone Layer, our land and oceans … Saving sharks is a majorly important factor in “going green.” Our lives without sharks would be in danger. They help keep the intricate balance that we see in our world day to day. The world ecosystem relies on this incredibly advanced, majestic creatures.

Quick facts from the article;

* Of 307 shark species, 50 are listed as vulnerable, endangered or critically endangered
* Of 64 species of open ocean sharks and rays, 32 per cent are threatened with extinction, primarily due to over fishing
* Shark fishery is a relatively lucrative business
Developing countries share a trade worth an estimated USD$515 million
* Of this, USD$101.1 million came from shark fin exports
* These figures are largely unrepresented of much of the black market trade.

For more info, here’s the article. Enjoy

.. thank you thank you thank you…

Hey everyone – Thanks for all of your visits and comments on my blog =D I really do appreciate each and every one. It means so much that people would take time out of their busy lives to read up a bit on these beautiful creatures. Sorry that the posts haven’t been up to date recently, I have a lot on my plate at the moment. Here’s just a brief glimpse…

I have been working full time, going to school full time, studying for the LSAT, as well as starting and hopefully soon finishing my law school apps. That all on top of time with my family has been enough to take it out of me.

I appreciate your patience and want you all to know that educating people about sharks and finning will always been in my thoughts. I haven’t turned my back on this endeavor, nor will I ever, I have simply taken a brief  hiatus so that I can pursue avenues that will help me to more actively save our sharks. Thanks again for your support (the sharks can really use it!). I do hope you’ll follow me on twitter @banfinning =D

Love always,

a girl with a dream