Wednesday, April 30, 2014

China Outlaws the Consumption of Rare Animals Products

 

Photo: Luca Tettoni/Robert Harding World Imagery/Corbis
Recent decisions in China have now made it punishable by law to consume or knowingly purchase the biproduct of an endangered animal. As a country with a questionable track record in preservation, this puts China at the top of the list as conservation pioneer in the Asian world. China has always been major hub for the illegal animal trade with some experts thinking the trade ranks right behind drugs and human trafficking as the most lucrative in the world.
Conservationists everywhere are praising China for this sustainable decision to protect over 420 species from being sold or consumed within Chinese borders. But some wonder - will it really be enforced? If so, many close-to-extinct species can potentially be saved by holding consumers accountable for their actions. The recently passed law protects over 420 different species and carries up to a 10 year prison sentence for violators. While this this a step in the right direction, potential loopholes still exist.

China and other Asian countries continue to hold a thriving market for illegal animal products. Westerners theorize the reasoning for such a market is due to traditional beliefs and the idea that consuming rare animal biproducts is a symbol of status and wealth in the Asian world. Many Chinese business people will serve pangolin or shark fin soup when trying to close a business deal or impress an important client. Some Chinese elders still believe that items such as bear bile and rhino horn can cure diseases such as cancer and malaria. With the new law passed, items such as tiger meat, elephant tusks and the coveted shark fin soup, are all included on the list of banned animal biproducts in China.


Photo Credit: NY Times
While this is a huge step forward for the preservation of endangered animals, potential loopholes exist for those determined enough. In China, a person is allowed to eat an endangered animal if it was bred in captivity for the purpose of consumption. But, how would anyone know whether the animal was bred locally or poached? Officials agree there is no way to tell; opening the door for people to continue poaching under ther guise that the animal was farm raised. Despite this potential escape clause, China is being praised for holding consumers accountable, which is the real root of the problem.
 
Recently, Chinese officials arrested 24 people in connection to a major animal trafficking ring and continue to crackdown on local restaurants by authorizing raids and investigations. Citizens convicted of eating a protected animal or knowingly purchasing on to do so can face betwen 3-10 years in prison. If China stays true to their word, many critically endangered species, such as the pangolin, siberian tigers and multiple species of sharks, have hope of rebuilding their population. 

Tuesday, April 29, 2014

Sea Save Foundation at ADEX

Sea Save Foundation team at ADEX - From back left to right Joanne Healy,
Brian Stelmar, Jay Ireland, Carolina Dratva, Paige Henderson, Georgienne Bradley and Lynda Whitbread
This April, the Sea Save Foundation team took a part in the 2014 Asian Dive Expo (ADEX), held in Singapore. Our group was highly successful in engaging the community and bringing global awareness to the unsustainable shark finning industry through our "Give Em' The Fin" campaign. As a volunteer for Sea Save, it was incredibly exciting to be a part of the team at ADEX, and also very rewarding to know that I was intimately involved in helping to save sharks in a part of the world that is known for shark finning.

The Sea Save exhibit showcased photographs by Paul Hilton, Jay Ireland and Georgienne Bradley that were both captivating and eyecatching, drawing many people in with questions. Participants were asked to take a picture "Giving The Fin" and to upload that image to the mosaic.  People were delighted to partake in the campaign and many had their own fun variations on how they participated. We also asked people to sign two extremely important petitions; one pertaining to the enforcement of protecting the CITES Appendix II, and another urging Singapore Airlines to stop shipping shark fins.  

Our campaign was wildly successful, and over 50 % of the images currently displayed in the mosaic were uploaded at this event. For our team, it was very encouraging to see Singaporean, Thai, Indonesian, Chinese and other citizens from countries all over the globe excited to make a stand against shark fin soup. 

Children made pledges to never indulge in shark fin soup and many adults were following suit. This change is crucial and to see it in action in Asia, a contintent with a long standing tradition of consuming shark fin soup, was exhilarating. There is still a great amount of work to be done to help save sharks from the imminent threat of over-fishing and extinction, but thanks to the efforts of Sea Save Foundation and other preservation organizations, change is finally happening.

Keep following the efforts of Sea Save Foundation and stay tuned to see how you can help to protect our sharks. We encourage you to also upload photos of you and your friends "Giving The Fin" to our mosaic by clicking here. Your picture will be featured along with 20,000 other pictures of people from all over the planet uniting as one to support sharks. 

Upon completion, the mosiac will be featured on billboards all across Asia to again remind people of the consequences of supporting the shark finning industry. You can also help by signing our petitions, such as the Enforce CITES Petition and the Petition Urging Singapore Airlines to Stop Shipping Shark Fins. Join us.  It's Your Ocean.  Do Something About it!


Written by Paige Henderson

Friday, April 25, 2014

Making Waves: Week in Review - April 25, 2014

1. Philippine Airlines Agrees to Stop Shipping Shark Fins

2. Party Like a Shark with DJ EPSR

3. International Support for Shark Conservation Floods Guam


 

1. Philippine Airlines Agrees to Stop Shipping Shark Fins


Philippine Airlines has joined the ranks of major airlines taking a stand against shark finning. Officials from the airline stated that the decision was made "in support of its commitment to sustainable development."

Ocean conservationists view this decision as a major victory in their fight against shark finning. Further pressure has been placed on two other major airlines that have yet to follow suit, Thai and Singapore air.


 

2. Party Like a Shark with DJ EPSR

DJ EPSR in San Antonio, Texas dedicated his scratches, scribbles, and mixes to Earth Day 2014: Give 'Em The Fin Around The World on April 22nd!
 
This innovative event was another of a long list of creative ways people are finding to contribute to the Give 'Em the Fin Mosaic.

Check out DJ EPSR on his website, MySpace or Facebook Page


3. International Support for Shark Conservation Floods Guam


Students from George Washington High School and Simon Sanchez High School are raising awareness of a federal attempt to overturn Guam’s shark conservation law.

The students started an online petition that calls on NOAA and President Barack Obama to cease attempts to undermine Guam’s local conservation laws. They further ask NOAA and the president to create a shark sanctuary. The petition, started by students Maile Dolores and Makaelah Blas, has already received more than 2,000 signatures.



Friday, April 18, 2014

Making Waves: Sea Save's Week in Review - April 18, 2014

1. Earth Day 2014: Give 'Em the Fin
2. Loophole in Costa Rican Shark Finning
3. Opposition to Oceanic Seismic Blasts
4. Chinese Billionaire Celebrated as Global Shark Guardian
5. 6.8 Ton Shark Fin Shipment Discovered in Hong Kong

1. Earth Day 2014: Give 'Em the Fin

In celebration of Earth Day on April 22, 2014, Sea Save Foundation is spearheading a creative, fun and impactful event called Earth Day 2014: Give 'Em The Fin Around The World!

Sea Save invites you and volunteers from around the world to host their own Give 'Em the Fin event. The event unites us all as one voice to apply international pressure on the shark finning industry, decision makers, and individual consumers of shark fin soup.

Join our Give 'Em The Fin Facebook event, and the rest is easy. Plan a fun event in honor of Earth Day, snap a few "Give 'Em The Fin" photos, and submit them to our Sea Save mosaic. You'll see your picture featured in the mosiac and your location on the map.

2. Loophole Found in Costa Rica Shark Finning Law

A recent court verdict may have opened a loophole that legalizes shark finning in Costa Rican waters. For a guilty verdict of shark finning, the fins of the shark need to be removed from the body while at sea. Instead of removing the fins, the fisherman hack away the flesh of the shark until only the spine remains, with fins “naturally attached," which meets the law’s requirement of bringing all sharks to port with the fins still intact. With this verdict, conservationists worry that the gates may have opened to legal shark finning.

3. Opposition to Oceanic Seismic Blasts

PHOTO: Loud seismic air gun blasts could damage sea life and fisheries in the Atlantic. Photo credit: Natural Resources Canada.Coastal communities on the East Coast of United States are rallying against dynamite-like underwater blasts used to survey for oil and gas deep beneath the Atlantic Ocean floor. If approved, boats towing airguns will send high-decibel sound blasts through the ocean for months on end.

Dolphins and whales rely on their hearing to catch food, communicate and reproduce. Airgun blasts kill fish eggs and larvae and scare away fish from habitats. It will disrupt the vital behaviors of millions of other marine animals including sea turtles. Imagine trying to carry out your day with a deafening blast every 10 seconds.
Sign a petition to say 'no' to offshore drilling, dirty energy practices destroying our Earth for profit at www.surfrider.org/campaigns

4. Chinese Billionaire Celebrated as Global Shark Guardian

Billionaire Guo Guangchang,  chairman of Chinese investment firm Fosun International, will be honored in New York this Thursday, April 17, for his efforts to stop shark finning. Guo was named “Global Shark Guardian” at an event organized by WildAid, the Nature Conservancy, and the Pew Charitable Trust

5. 6.8-Ton Shark Fin Shipment Discovered in Hong Kong

dried shark, shark fin soupWild Life Risk activists have discovered a 6.8-ton shark fin shipment brought into Hong Kong from the Middle East via Philippines Airlines. The delivery was found in Hong Kong’s Sheung Wan district next to the Courtyard Marriott Hotel.

- http://its-your-ocean-news.seasave.org/2014/04/shark-finning-legalized-in-costa-rica.html
- http://www.floridatoday.com/story/opinions-columns/columnists/guest-columns/2014/02/28/guest-column-seismic-testing-could-harm-marine-life/5860905
- http://www.forbes.com/sites/russellflannery/2014/04/13/chinese-billionaire-guo-guangchang-to-be-feted-as-global-shark-guardian-in-new-york
- http://www.businessinsider.com.au/video-undercover-activists-find-a-6-8-tonne-shipment-of-dried-shark-fins-on-the-streets-of-hong-kong-2014-4

Tuesday, April 15, 2014

Has Shark Finning Been Legalized in Costa Rica?

Photo Credit: Pretoma
A recently ruled court verdict may have opened a loophole that legalizes Shark Finning in Costa Rican waters. After Kathy Tseng, a Taiwanese-Costa Rican woman, was caught with 652 shark fins at port and arrested, animal rights advocates thought maybe justice would finally be served to offenders only to find that she was released based on a technicality. 

 Kathy Tseng arrived at a Costa Rican port with over 652 shark fins in 2011, well after the country had outlawed shark finning and the sale of shark fins. So how was she acquitted of the charges? To be convicted of Shark Finning, the fins of the shark need to be removed from the body while at sea. Kathy Tseng technically did not remove the fins at sea; however, she did take part in an equally horrific practice known as “shark spining” or “back boning”. Instead of removing the fins, the fisherman hack away the flesh of the shark until only the spine remains, with fins “naturally attached”, which meets the law’s requirement of bringing all sharks to port with the fins still intact. By not bringing the entire shark aboard, fisherman can save room in the hull for additional sharks, thus the appeal of finning or spining.


In 2011, Tseng attempted to dock her boat with over 330 shark skeletons aboard, but only after submitting a query as to if what she had done was kosher. After docking, officials were ordered to destroy all fins that were only attached the spine, costing Tseng’s company thousands of dollars. After being arrested and charged with finning, conservationists warned Costa Rican officials that a not-guilty verdict would create loopholes that would allow the shark fin trade to begin flourishing in Costa Rica and under legal grounds. On Monday, Tseng was acquitted of charges due to the fact that she did not technically unload and sell the shark fins. Since the fins were seized at port, the judge deemed Tseng of not having committed a crime. Key eyewitnesses also backed out of testifying last minute for reasons not entirely clear.


With this verdict, conservationists worry that the gates may have opened to legal shark finning. Fisherman may now arrive at port with shark fins as long as they do not unload them and some of them may even be able to get away with unloading the fins if they are still “naturally attached” via spining. “It’s another slap in the face of the conservation movement,” voices Randall Arauz, the current President of Pretoma, a Costa Rican ocean conservationst organization. “We are going out to the world showing ourselves as a world leader in shark-finning legislation, and then we show the world that when it comes to our domestic policies we are still ruled by the shark finning industry.”


Prosecutors can still appeal the acquittal of Tseng’s charges within 15 days of the verdict and have already stated that they intend to do so. Tseng is also facing charges of Human Trafficking after over 30 Asian slaves were found working within her fishing company.

Friday, April 11, 2014

Making Waves: Sea Save's Week in Review - April 11, 2014

1. Asia Dive Expo (ADEX) Begins Today!
2. Petition to Stop Singapore Airlines from Shipping Shark Fins
3. Whales Slow Down Ocean Warming
4. Earth Day 2014: Give 'Em the Fin Around the World!
5. Blue Whale Found Frozen



1. Asia Dive Expo (ADEX) Begins Today!



Ocean conservationists, divers and animal rights advocates from all over the globe are flocking to the Marina Bay Sands Casino & Resort this weekend to attend the Asia Dive Expo (ADEX). The Asia Dive Expo is an annual event held in Singapore that strives to bring awareness to oceanic issues, educate on technical diving and celebrate our beautiful ocean.

Sea Save Foundation will be attending the 2014 ADEX for the first time, and thanks to a kind invitation from ADEX organizers Cassandra Ann Dragon and Michael Aw, the Sea Save Foundation “Give 'Em the Fin” mosaic will be featured at the show. As a stand against shark finning, Sea Save Foundation has collaborated with conservationists all over the globe to create a mosaic featuring Sea Save’s Give 'Em Fin symbol in front of world monuments. If you uploaded your Give 'Em the Fin picture to Sea Save’s website, you will be a part of Sea Save’s mission and seen by over 38,000 people at ADEX this upcoming weekend.

We are very excited to bring our Give ‘Em the Fin campaign to this event to honor these beautiful creatures, and to educate on the terrible practices of shark finning. If you are attending ADEX, make you stop by and visit Sea Save Foundation in the Activity Center!

 


2. Petition to Stop Singapore Airlines from Shipping Shark Fins

 While the supply of shark fins has slowed considerably, the supply needs to stop. And for that to happen, the supply chain must be severed. Executive boards of many international carriers have made a stand to support shark conservation by banning the transportation of fins on their aircraft. These airlines include Emirates, Cathay Pacific, Qanta, Air New Zealand, Korean Airlines, Asiania, Eva Air, Lan Chile, AeroMexico, Dragon Air, and Fiji Air.
Of the 1,100 tons of shark fins flown into Hong Kong, 14% of that mass was flown in on aircraft carriers such as Singapore Airlines. If Singapore Airlines were to join other major carriers and commit to stop the transport of shark fins, supply would be slowed considerably.  You can help by make your voice heard by Signing the Linked Petition Urging Singapore Airlines to Stop transporting Shark Fins. The petition already has 39,770 signatures. Your signature will help save the lives of millions of sharks worldwide. Read the full article at the Sea Save Foundation blog by clicking here.


3. Whales Slow Down Ocean Warming


Pooping near the ocean surface can lead to a bigger dinner for whales.
Marine biologist, Victor Smetacek found that giant whales — blues, humpbacks and baleens — which prowl the seas consuming immense quantities of krill, might, during digestion, concentrate their food into iron-rich deposits. Iron is important for marine life, and the polar oceans are important for helping to regulate atmospheric CO2 levels. Every sperm whale, it is said, draws 50 tons of iron to the surface every year. Thus, the whales’ personal hygiene is helping vastly smaller lifeforms to thrive, which in turn keeps the ocean ecosystem in balance and able to recycle carbon safely to the seabed.Southern Ocean sperm whales also stimulate the return of 40,000 tonnes of carbon annually to the deep ocean but breathe out only half that amount. So, by stimulating new primary production, the 12,000 Antarctic whales act as a carbon sink, removing twice as much carbon from the atmosphere as they add by their breathing.
  


4. Earth Day 2014: Give 'Em The Fin Around the World!

 



In celebration of Earth Day on April 22nd 2014, Sea Save Foundation is spearheading a creative, fun and impactful event - Earth Day 2014: Give Em The Fin Around The World!



Sea Save invites you and volunteers from around the world to host their own Give Em The Fin event so that we can unite as one voice and apply international pressure upon the shark finning industry, decision makers, and individual consumers of shark fin soup.
 As of now, over 5,000 people have RSVP'ed to be a part of this global event and you can too! All you need to do is join our Give Em The Fin Facebook Event and then the rest is easy; just plan a fun event in honor of Earth Day. Events can be as simple as a small dinner party or as extravagant as a Earth Day pub crawl. Whatever event you choose to plan, we want to see it! Make sure to snap a few "Give Em The Fin" photos submit them to our Sea Save Mosaic. Check back at our Facebook page to see your picture featured in the mosiac and your location on the map. For more information on how to plan your own Give Em The Fin event, visit our Event in a Box page for details.

 


5. Blue Whale Found Frozen


While man-made threats like seismic or vessel strikes can be monitored and controlled, natural events like ice traps, which caught as many as 9 blue whales off Newfoundland's southwest coast, leave us helpless. "It's like putting a lid back on a cup — it just traps the animals in there, and if it keeps pushing it can kill them," states DFO researcher Jack Lawson. Something as simple as a change in the wind could potentially leave the whales trapped, with no way to escape.











Original Articles:
- http://its-your-ocean-news.seasave.org/2014/04/help-stop-singapore-airlines-from.html
- http://livinggreenmag.com/2014/04/09/mother-nature/sperm-whale-turds-temper-antarctic-ocean-warming
- http://www.npr.org/blogs/krulwich/2014/04/03/298778615/the-power-of-poop-a-whale-story?live=1
- http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/2014/04/09/blue-whales-newfoundland_n_5118726.html



Tuesday, April 8, 2014

Help Stop Singapore Airlines from Shipping Shark Fins

Singapore Airlines is among the largest airlines in the world and makes daily flights to major Asian cities such as Hong Kong, Kuala Lumpur, Jakarta, Bangkok, Manila, Singapore, and many large cities in China. The inhabitants in these areas make up the majority of consumers of shark fins in the world and Singapore Airlines serves as a principal transporter.

According to TRAFFIC, the wildlife monitoring network, Singapore was the fourth largest shark fin exporter between 2000 and 2009, with a large percentage of them being transported on aircrafts. Hong Kong, which is one of the major hubs for Singapore Airlines, is the largest trade center for shark fins in the world. In 2012, the Hong Kong Government reported that over 1,100 tons of shark fins were imported into the city, with more than 14% of that mass being flown in on major aircraft carriers, such as Singapore Airlines.

The executive boards of many international carriers have made a stand to support shark conservation by banning the transportation of fins on their aircrafts. These airlines include Emirates, Cathay Pacific, Qanta, Air New Zealand, Korean Airlines, Asiania, Eva Air, Lan Chile, AeroMexico, Dragon Air, and Fiji Air. These transportation bans have made a major impact on the import of shark fins, unfortunately, regions of highest demand are still receiving ample supply through airlines such as Singapore Airlines.

The supply must also be stopped. If Singapore Airlines were to join other major carriers and commit to stop the transport of shark fins, supply would be slowed considerably. 


SIGN THE PETITION HERE! 


You can help by make your voice heard by signing the linked petition urging Singapore Airlines to stop transporting shark fins by clicking here. The petition already has 39,770 signatures. Your signature will help save the lives of millions of sharks worldwide.
Sea Save Foundation is making an appearance in Singapore this April at the Asian Dive Expo (ADEX) to raise awareness about shark finning. Sea Save Foundation has an extensive twenty year history fighting to protect our oceans. Last year, Sea Save Foundation attended CITES (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species) in Bangkok and were apart of the successful effort that lead to the inclusion of scalloped hammerhead sharks, great hammerhead sharks, oceanic white tip sharks, porbeagle sharks, and manta rays to CITES Appendix II.  This victory was a strong step toward  international protection and possibly protection from extinction.


Currently, Sea Save Foundation is running a campaign called, “Give Em the Fin”.  Leaders are rallying people to take a picture demonstrating the international sign of the fin, and to upload it onto a large mosaic. The mosaic will feature the photographs of 20,000 individuals who have chosen advocate shark protection. The mosaic will then be displayed on billboards across the world to broadcast the message. Join Sea Save in their fight to protect sharks by Uploading a Picture of yourself Giving Em The Fin as well as Signing the Petition to Urge Singapore Airlines to Stop the Transport of Shark Fins.


Written by Paige Henderson.

Friday, April 4, 2014

Week in Review: Sea Save is going to ADEX, Costa Rica Seizes 153 Shark Fins, Japanese Whaling Banned

United Nations Court Bans Japanese Whale Hunt


Photo Credit: Jeremy Sutton-Hibbert—Handout/epa/Corbis
This past Monday, the United Nations Court banned Japan’s annual Antarctic Whale Hunt, rejecting the country’s claim that the hunt is for “scientific purposes” and forcing Japan to cancel the hunt for the first time in almost 25 years. Whaling has been outlawed in Japan since 1986, but the country has skirted the law under the guise of “Scientific Research”. Japanese officials have made no secret that whale meat is used as food in Japan and against worldwide pressure, have continued to hunt whales as a means for food. The demand for whale meat has been on a steady decrease in recent years and shows little need for the whaling industry; however, Japan wants to continue this unnecessary atrocity.

After the International Court ruling on Monday, Japan has agreed to abide by the new law. As per the ruling, all existing permits or licenses allowing whaling are now void and no permits shall be given. The hunt itself is to be cancelled immediately.

Officials speculate that Japan will find another loophole to continue with its annual whale hunt, possibly exploring other oceans in which the ban does not cover, such as the Pacific. Australia and New Zealand have pledged to continue pressuring Japan to refrain from hunting whales.

 

Costa Rican Government Seizes 153 Shark Fins


The Costa Rican Coast Guard seized 153 shark fins aboard a fisherman’s boat this past Sunday, all illegally obtaining through shark finning. The fisherman was suspected to have killed as many as 40 sharks, each reaping between 4 and 6 fins each. The fisherman’s boat was discovered during a two day Guard Operation in the South Pacific off the shore of Golfito.  

Shark Finning has been banned in Costa Rica since 2012, but illegal shark finning continues to occur. Shark Finning is the barbaric practice of cutting the fins off a live shark, then throwing its body back into the ocean to die. Fishermen employ this practice to spare more room of their boats, since the remaining shark parts are of no value to them.

Although shark finning is illegal in most countries, it is still a worldwide problem that needs to be worked on. Find out how you can help stand against shark finning by visiting the Sea Save Foundation website, or participating in Sea Save’s Earth Day 2014 Event: Give Em’ The Fin Around the World.

Sea Save is going to ADEX - Asia Dive Expo (April 11- 13)


The Asia Dive Expo is an annual event held in Singapore that strives to bring awareness to oceanic issues, educate on technical diving and celebrate our beautiful ocean. ADEX hosts a medley of exhibitors, varying from ocean conservationists to underwater photographers to dive experts all uniting to share their knowledge and love for the sea. The 2014 ADEX is dedicated to coral reefs, a keystone member of marine ecosystems. Many coral species are currently under threat due to pollution, ocean acidification, and climate change.


Sea Save Foundation will be attending the 2014 ADEX for the first time and thanks to a kind invitation from ADEX organizers Cassandra Ann Dragon and Michael Aw, the Sea Save Foundation “Give Em the Fin” Mosaic will be featured at the show. As a stand against shark finning, Sea Save Foundation has collaborated with conservationist all over the globe to create a mosaic featuring Sea Save’s Give Em’ Fin symbol in front of world monuments. If you uploaded your Give Em’ Fin picture to Sea Save’s website, you will be a part of Sea Save’s mission and seen by over 38,000 people. If you haven’t uploaded your picture yet, do not worry! There is still time and we would love to feature you and your monument on our mosaic.

 We are very excited to bring our Give ‘Em the Fin campaign to this event to honor these beautiful creatures, and to educate on the terrible practices of shark finning. If you are attending ADEX, make you stop by and visit Sea Save Foundation in the Activity Center!


Earth Day 2014: Give Em' The Fin Around the World!


View Give Em The Fin Worldwide Events - Earth Day Week in a larger map

In celebration of Earth Day on April 22nd 2014, Sea Save Foundation is spearheading a creative, fun and impactful event - Earth Day 2014: Give Em The Fin Around The World!

Sea Save invites you and volunteers from around the world to host their own Give Em The Fin event so that we can unite as one voice and apply international pressure upon the shark finning industry, decision makers, and individual consumers of shark fin soup.

As of now, over 5,000 people have RSVP'ed to be a part of this global event and you can too! All you need to do is join our Give Em The Fin Facebook Event and then the rest is easy; just plan a fun event in honor of Earth Day. Events can be as simple as a small dinner party or as extravagant as a Earth Day pub crawl. Whatever event you choose to plan, we want to see it! Make sure to snap a few "Give Em The Fin" photos submit them to our Sea Save Mosaic. Check back at our Facebook page to see your picture featured in the mosiac and your location on the map. For more information on how to plan your own Give Em The Fin event, visit our Event in a Box page for details.

Original Articles
http://www.ticotimes.net/2014/04/02/costa-rican-coast-guard-captures-boat-with-153-illegal-shark-fins
http://www.cnn.com/2014/03/31/world/asia/japan-whale-hunt/
http://www.news.com.au/technology/environment/japan-cancels-annual-antarctic-whaling-hunt-after-un-court-ruling/story-e6frflp0-1226873852302

Wednesday, April 2, 2014

Sea Save is going to ADEX - Asia Dive Expo (April 11- 13)


Sea Save Foundation will be making their first appearance at ADEX - Asia Dive Expo, this April, in Singapore!

The Asia Dive Expo is an annual event held in Singapore that strives to bring awareness to oceanic issues, educate on technical diving and celebrate our beautiful ocean. ADEX hosts a medley of exhibitors, varying from ocean conservationists to underwater photographers to dive experts all uniting to share their knowledge and love for the sea. ADEX also offers a wide array of events tailored to entertain any attendee. The TekDive Conference educates attendants on technical diving discipline and even offers an interactive dive pool. Attendees are also encouraged to dress up (come in a wetsuit and get in for free!) or decorate their booth for the chance to win prizes. ADEX also offers a networking room, celebrity speakers, a Miss ADEX Ocean Ambassador contest and multiple conferences.


Photo Credit: Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary
The 2014 ADEX is dedicated to coral reefs, a keystone member of marine ecosystems.  Many coral species are currently under threat due to pollution, ocean acidification, and climate change. Coral reefs are such an important part of our ocean, their annual value can be estimates at about 30 billion US dollars. A well-managed coral reef can yield almost 15 tons of seafood per year – that’s important considering we are overfishing most of our edible seafood supply. Coral reefs also generate money for tourism, fisheries and coast line protection. ADEX hopes to raise awareness of the importance of coral reefs and how everyone can do their part to preserve these precious members of our ocean.



Thanks to a kind invitation from ADEX organizers Cassandra Ann Dragon and Michael Aw, the Sea Save Foundation “Give Em the Fin” Mosaic will be featured at the show. As a stand against shark finning, Sea Save Foundation has collaborated with conservationist all over the globe to create a mosaic featuring Sea Save’s Give Em’ Fin symbol in front of world monuments. If you uploaded your Give Em’ Fin picture to Sea Save’s website, you will be a part of Sea Save’s mission and seen by over 38,000 people. If you haven’t uploaded your picture yet, do not worry! There is still time and we would love to feature you and your monument on our mosaic. 

We are very excited to bring our Give ‘Em the Fin campaign to this event to honor these beautiful creatures, and to educate on the terrible practices of shark finning. If you are attending ADEX, make you stop by and visit Sea Save Foundation! We will be in the Activity Center and would love to meet a fellow ocean lover. If you live near Singapore and can help us prepare for this event, or if you can help us at our booth during the event, please send us an e-mail at [email protected].