Plans to protect sharks set to receive backing

EU fisheries ministers are next week expected to back plans to protect endangered sharks. At a meeting in Luxembourg (23-24 April) ministers will be invited to endorse measures to stop overfishing of sharks and follow the international conservation plans that the EU has already signed up to.

They will also discuss an EU shark action plan that was published by the European Commission in January.

One-third of shark species in European waters are threatened, according to the International Union for the Conservation of Nature.

Sonja Fordham of the Shark Alliance, a coalition of conservation groups, described the Commission's plan as encouraging, but noted that “it is just a plan, it is not binding”.

She said the priority should be toughening up the implementation of the EU ban on shark ‘finning', the practice of catching a shark, cutting off its fins and throwing it back into the sea to die.

originally posted here: http://www.sharktrust.org/content.asp?did=32651

Shame!! - Canada Opens 2009 Seal Hunt

CHARLOTTETOWN, Canada, March 23, 2009
It is that time of year again when Canada is thrust into the international spotlight for all the wrong reasons.

Canada's commercial seal hunt is the largest hunt for marine mammals in the world. Sealers are allowed to kill 280,000 harp seal pups this year, provided they have begun to molt their white coats, which occurs when the animals are about two weeks old.



This image above is that of a harp seal with its skull crushed by the clubs the hunters first swing to immobilize the seal. The hunters then skin the seal on the pristine white snow. It has been well documented that some of these seal pups are STILL ALIVE when the hunters begin to hack and slice their skin off then leave them to finally die a ravaged inhumane death.

We here at Oceanic Defence are embarrassed to be Canadians and call on all citizens of the world to ban ALL CANADIAN PRODUCTS until Stephen Harper outlaws this barbaric hunt. We are hoping Canada follows Russia's recent ban.

CLICK HERE HELP STOP THE HUNT. SUPPORT THE HARP SEAL BILL

To learn more about IFAW's efforts to end the Canadian commercial seal hunt, visit www.stopthesealhunt.org | www.ifaw.org

Craig Clasen - A Picture is Worth a 1000 Words

Have you ever heard that expression a picture is worth a 1000 words. Well we thought we would supply you with two sources - both from Clasen and his roving band of shark hunters.

1) a quote directly from Clasen's mouth. 2) the photo they took shortly after brutally killing the Tiger Shark.

Read the quote above, read it again. Now look at Clasen's eyes and notice the remorseful smile. Do you see the "remorse" he professes to the media? Neither do we. Looks like one frame away from chest thumping to this editor.

We'll continue to expose this shame and push for publicity.

Shame on all involved.

Over the coming days we will speak to shark behaviorists and prove that this event was completely premeditated or at the very least opportunistic.

One other point. After being "so devastated" by the events leading up to the death of the shark the men report that they then filleted the shark and ate it shisimi style.

Self-defense or Brutal Attack?

For the past few days we have been hearing all kinds of buzz about Craig Clasen, the spear fisherman that was allegedly attacked by a tiger shark while spear fishing.

While tiger sharks can be aggressive they will give you plenty of warning that you are in danger.

Clasen and his crew may have pushed their luck and turned this event into a publicity stunt. And as a result you may have seen them on the Today Show where that news program promoted it with a sensational title: "man vs. shark".

The brutal mutilation of the shark and the "trophy-style pictures" that were taken of Clasen and the various body parts of that beautiful shark are overwhelmingly stomach turning. To us, this picture is not that of a traumatized free diver that he professes, look at his face...proud. Disgusting. Hopefully, the footage and still pictures taken during this barbaric acts can be used prosecute all the parties involved.

End of the Line - The Health of Our Oceans

As more and more stories are published about the over fishing of a non-sustainable shark trade a new movie is about to be released that will unequivocally show that we are destroying our planet from land to sea. The End of the Line is a movie made by concerned citizens of the world who investigate the depletion of fish stocks and the devastating affect it will have on us as a species.

Children are our future: Meet Martina and Luly

I found this beautiful video on YouTube from a young girl named Martina and her whale Luly. She addresses Captain Toyama of the Nisshin Maru. Martina, at her very early age sees a future with whales and wants to turn the "research" into a whale watching excursion.

Watch her wonderful video here:

Dive into Google Ocean

Google launches an updated version of Google Earth that includes oceanic 3D underwater terrain as well as historical imagery. With this new addition to the software, you can spot shipwrecks as you wander the ocean floor. As you cruise around, you can also view videos and stills from content partners like National Geographic and videos from the archives of Jacques Cousteau. Another new feature in 5.0 is historical imagery: By activating a time slider, it's possible to see newer and older satellite imagery from around the globe.