White Shark Ecoventures - Earth Hour 2010 call to participate

This is a call to stand up, to take responsibility for our planet, to get involved and lead the way towards a sustainable future. Iconic buildings and landmarks from Southern Africa into Africa, Europe to Asia and to the Americas will stand in darkness.

People across the world from all walks of life will turn off their lights and join together in celebration and contemplation of the one thing we all have in common – our planet.

Join us now and let’s make 2010 the biggest Earth Hour yet.  It’s Showtime!  Let’s show the world what we can do!.

WHITE SHARK ECOVENTURES - PROTECTION OF SHARKS

Doha, Qatar – 25 March, 2010: Today, in their final Plenary session, Parties to the Convention for the International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) voted narrowly to reverse a previous Committee decision to monitor and regulate trade in the porbeagle shark and confirmed Committee rejection of similar proposals for the hammerhead, spiny dogfish, and oceanic whitetip shark.
 
“Today’s backsliding on porbeagle protection by the CITES Parties is deeply regrettable as are their previous decisions to reject trade safeguards for similarly threatened hammerheads, spiny dogfish and oceanic whitetip sharks,” said Heike Zidowitz, President of Europe’s leading association of shark scientists and the head of the Shark Alliance delegation to the CITES Conference. “These failures leave some of the oceans’ most vulnerable and heavily traded species at great risk from unregulated, international trade.”
 
The proposals to list porbeagle and spiny dogfish under CITES Appendix II were developed by the European Union while the United States proposed similar action for hammerheads and oceanic whitetip sharks.  The Pacific island nation of Palau co-sponsored all four proposals.  A two-thirds majority of votes is required for the adoption of such CITES proposals.
 
“Despite the setbacks, the CITES Conference debates have served to highlight the urgent plight of sharks and increase recognition of the role that CITES can play in their conservation,” added Zidowitz. “The member groups of the Shark Alliance will continue to promote CITES action along with science-based fishing limits as key elements of comprehensive shark conservation programs.”
 
The high demand for shark fins is a major threat to hammerhead and oceanic whitetip sharks while Porbeagles and spiny dogfish are sought primarily to satisfy European demand for their meat.  
 
According to the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), all the shark species proposed for CITES listing are classified as Globally Threatened under the IUCN Red List and meet the criteria for listing under CITES Appendix II.
 
Appendix II listings result in requirements for export permits and determinations that trade in a species is legal and not detrimental to the species’ survival.
 
End

Released by: Sophie Hulme – SHARK  ALLIANCE

ISSUED ON BLOG – WHITE SHARK ECOVENTURES

This fund raiser was extremely successful, where a substantial amount of money was raised for the ongoing rehabilitation and preservation of the African Penguin, which has been classified an endangered specie since there are only 25000 breeding pairs left along the South African coast line.

On Sunady the 27th of Sept., White Shark Ecoventures also participated in the Sanccob childrens environmental and educational day, in order to create awareness amongst our youth with regard to all marine birds.  A Green Marine Kayak day was also hosted where all entrant fees were donated to Sanccob.

White Shark Ecoventures have been honoured to once again participate in this annual event and will continue to do so in the future.

Below is the thank you letter received from Paul Fisher’s wife;

“We wish to thank White Shark Ecoventures (Pty) Ltd. for their involvement and contribution, which helped raise over R120K on the auction items. Michelle Smuts and an assistant came along and, in addition to the sponsored prizes, also did a great job in sponsoring welcoming drinks – which was immensley enjoyed by all. Michelle and her colleague worked tirelessly in making this a truely wonderful event so, which was so enjoyed by all that we invited them to stay and enjoy the evening with us. We all had great fun!

Paul and I are extremely grateful for the efforts you made in making a huge difference to his life. We are overwhelmed by the willingness and generosity displayed by people like you. This will also go a long way to helping us achieve the second part of our vision, which is to start a half-way home. This home will enable families with older disabled children, the opportunity to send their children on a 2 or 3 week break-away period, to a place where they know their loved ones are cared for in a safe environment. There are very few such facilities available to family’s with disabled adult children and families making use of this facility would help sustain this venture.”