10 March 2010 | Press Release, SFMI in the media | admin

‘Shark-Free Marina Initiative’ promotes catch-and-release

Note: There are Shark-Free Marinas in Harwich, Mass.; Key Largo, Fla.; Miami; Tequesta, Fla.; Vero Beach, Fla.; and West Alton, Mo.

(March 9, 2010) — The Humane Society of the United States has teamed up with Shark-Free Marinas in a campaign to significantly reduce worldwide shark mortality.

Fittingly, the effort is called the “Shark-Free Marina Initiative” and seeks the support of marina operators worldwide to prohibit the landing of any shark on their premises, thus encouraging catch-and-release fishing. To help publicize the plight of sharks and the need for their protection, The HSUS and SFMI are supplying signs and public information to participating marinas in the U.S. and the Caribbean.

“The Humane Society of the United States is pleased to join the efforts of the Shark-Free Marina Initiative,” said John Grandy, Ph.D., senior vice president of wildlife for The HSUS. “The HSUS works tirelessly to end animal cruelty, exploitation and neglect and is deeply concerned by the deteriorating status of shark populations.”

Luke Tipple, executive director of the Initiative, said, “The Shark-Free Marina Initiative welcomes the support of The Humane Society of the United States and its members to protect beleaguered shark species.”

The HSUS, the nation’s largest animal protection organization, strives to end the killing of sharks in sport tournaments around the United States, and works to raise public awareness about celebrating ocean life instead of destroying it. The Shark-Free Marina Initiative encourages marinas to adopt shark-friendly policies, preventing kill tournaments from using those facilities.

Facts

• Dozens of marinas in the United States, the Caribbean and the South Pacific have registered as Shark-Free Marinas since the initiative began in 2008.
• The HSUS also works to protect sharks by campaigning against shark finning, and the organization recently petitioned the National Marine Fisheries Service to list the porbeagle shark as endangered.
• The Shark-Free Marina Initiative runs a Regional Ambassador program where anyone can get involved in their important work. Visit the SFMI Web site (sharkfreemarinas.com) or The HSUS Web site (humanesociety.org/protectsharks) for more information.

Other groups supporting the Shark-Free Marina Initiative include the Fisheries Conservation Foundation and Cape Eleuthera Institute.

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05 March 2010 | Press Release | admin

Press Release
For immediate release
5th March 2010

Thresher Sharks Protected by Indian Ocean Tuna Commission
EU proposal leads to historic vote and fishing ban for three vulnerable species

Busan, Korea 05.03.10. The Shark Alliance is applauding a historic ban on fishing for thresher sharks  - oceanic species distinguished by their long, scythe-like tails – adopted today by the Indian Ocean Tuna Commission (IOTC) at their annual meeting in Korea.   The proposal to protect all three thresher species, offered by the European Union (EU), earned support from Japan, and passed in a secret ballot, 14-3.  It was the first vote ever taken by the consensus-minded commission and sets the IOTC as the leading international fisheries body in terms of shark species protection.

“We congratulate the EU for championing groundbreaking protections for thresher sharks on the high seas,” said Ali Hood, Director of Conservation for the Shark Trust, a member of the Shark Alliance.  “We also applaud the other Indian Ocean Tuna Commission members that have recognized the need to take a precautionary and internationally cooperative approach in the conservation of such highly migratory and vulnerable species.”

In 2008, scientists identified the bigeye thresher as the Atlantic, oceanic shark at highest risk of overfishing which led to protection for this one thresher species under the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas in 2009.  All species of thresher sharks are classified by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) as globally Vulnerable.

The EU was not successful in its proposal to secure IOTC protection for hammerhead sharks. Hammerhead fins are exceptionally valuable for use in the traditional, Asian delicacy “shark fin soup”; high demand for fins creates incentive for “finning” (slicing off a shark’s fins and discarding the body at sea).  Scalloped hammerheads, classified by IUCN as Endangered Globally, are heavily fished, even as pups, and “very often” finned in the region, according to IOTC scientists.

Three species of hammerheads are proposed by the US for listing under Appendix II of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES). Decisions on these proposals will be taken March 13-25 in Qatar. Such listings would prompt improvements in monitoring of international trade and assurances that exports do not pose a detriment to wild populations.   In total, the US has proposed six species of sharks for CITES listing while the EU is proposing two (spiny dogfish and porbeagle). Palau is co-sponsoring all of the shark proposals.

“The continuing lack of international fishing limits for hammerheads and other traded sharks bolsters arguments for CITES Parties to adopt the shark proposals before them,” added Hood.

Notes to Editors:

For further information or to arrange media interviews, contact:
Jo Frost / jo@communicationsinc.co.uk /+44 77360 32430

Nearly 500 EU vessels, from Spain, France, Portugal and the UK, fish in the Indian Ocean, taking in excess of 6,000 metric tonnes of sharks annually.

Australia, Belize, China, Comoros, Eritrea, EC, France, Guinea, India, Indonesia, Islamic Republic of Iran, Japan, Kenya, Republic of Korea, Madagascar, Malaysia, Mauritius, Sultanate of Oman, Pakistan, Philippines, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Tanzania, Thailand, UK and Vanuatu are Parties to IOTC.  Senegal, South Africa and Uruguay are “cooperating, non-contracting Parties.”

The Shark Alliance is a global, not-for-profit coalition of 76 conservation, scientific and recreational organizations dedicated to improving shark conservation policies. For more information concerning the work of the Shark Alliance please visit: www.sharkalliance.org

Communications Inc. | 43 Hassocks Road | Hurtpierpoint | West Sussex | London BN6 9QL

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01 February 2010 | Conservation news, Press Release | admin

The Shark-Free marina initiative would like to welcome and old friend of ours to the SFMI Ambassador program. Peter Wilcox is a Canadian born Dive Instructor and shark conservation advocate that has been working in the Bay Islands of Honduras for several years.

Pete’s organization the Shark Legacy Project was recently instrumental in pushing for a complete moratorium on shark fishing in Honduran Waters, a tentative status that for the moment protects all sharks from slaughter. Pete’s work is now really cut out for him as he works with the givernment and their officials to make this temporary bill permanent and regulated.

From Peter Wilcox Director of the Shark Legacy Project:

We’ve had a major victory down here. After our meetings with DIGIPESCA they pushed up the passing of a bill that has now gone into practice. It puts a moratorium on the fishing of all shark species in all the waters of Honduras! Think that makes Honduras the first in the Caribbean to have a shark sanctuary! Part of the drive behind this measure was to cease use of sharks as a resource until research can be done to evaluate the population/species of sharks here. So finally, a government willing to step in before the problem gets unmanageable.

We met with the government this last weekend to discuss how we can assist in this research (as you may be able to guess they do not have much in the way of funding for their own research). We are travelling to Tegucigalpa this week to discuss further research and affiliations to benefit the goals of protecting sharks here.

As if his work isn’t already cut out for him we’ve asked Pete to step up for SFMI and represent the Initiative in Honduras.

Please support the Shark Legacy Project by visiting their website and spreading the news of their win through your social networks.

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29 January 2010 | Supporters | admin

Just a quick one today. SFMI Regional Ambassador Stuart Gow sent over these shots of ‘Bite Me’, the #1 fishing boat in Fiji displaying SFMI signage on board. Kudos Guys and thanks to Stuart for all his hard work in Fiji.

Are you a marina owner/manager? Follow their example and register your facility with Shark-Free Marinas today. Want to get involved with SFMI? Visit our Regional Ambassadors page for more info.

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27 January 2010 | Marinas | admin

That’s right, Shark-Free Marinas has hit the Kingdom of Tonga! “Target One” is a fast 27′ game fishing and sport fishing boat operation, operating in the warm, clear blue waters of Vava’u in the Kingdom of Tonga. Led by the amazing example set in Fiji, which is close to becoming the first SFMI registered nation, we look forward to recruiting more marinas and businesses in the Pacific island nations.

Thanks to Mike in Fiji, an SFMI Ambassador, for making this happen.

Are you a marina owner/manager? Follow their example and register your facility with Shark-Free Marinas today. Want to get involved with SFMI? Visit our Regional Ambassadors page for more info.

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19 January 2010 | Conservation news, SFMI in the media, Supporters | admin

Marina’s and resorts across Fiji are taking the lead in shark conservation.  The International Shark-Free Marina Initiative works with marinas, boaters and fishermen to develop policy designed to protect a vital component of the oceans health, our sharks. Thanks to funding from Project AWARE Foundation and under the leadership of SFMI Regional Ambassador Stuart Gow from Matava- Fiji’s Premier Eco Adventure Resort, over 20 marinas and fishing charters on Fiji’s tropical islands have already signed their commitment.

The Shark Free Marinas program encourages shark conservation at sport fishing and resort marinas by prohibiting the landing of any shark at the participating facility. Fishermen are not allowed to bring caught sharks into the participating marina for any purpose.

Stuart Gow, Matava – Fiji said, “By asking vessels not to arrive at marinas with sharks we hope to encourage responsible sport fishing and ensure the future of healthy reefs and our islands.  We look forward to signing up more marinas and charters in the coming months.”

Joanne Marston, Asia Pacific Manager for Project AWARE added, “It’s great to see so many marinas and fishing charters practice responsible fishing practices and pledge their commitment to shark conservation.”

Please visit the Project Aware website and lend your support

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05 December 2009 | Marinas | admin

Vero Beach Municipal Marina in Florida is now registered as a Shark Free Marina.

The mission of the Vero Beach Municipal Marina is to provide efficient first class service at reasonable cost to resident and visiting boaters in a manner that reflects well on the character of the City of Vero Beach. In order to fulfill our mission Marina personnel are trained to:

• Exercise time and material cost consciousness, while implementing business practices that meet Marina Industry and City Standards. These practices are carried out in a labor-intensive activity requiring acute safety awareness on the part of each employee.
• Act as goodwill ambassadors for the city by promoting tourism and local business patronage.
• Insure that Marina and Mooring operations maintain a favorable relationship with neighboring residents, clubs and businesses.
• To promote Clean Marina practices and assist in developing programs and procedures to keep the Indian River clean and environmentally safe.

Located on the East side of the Indian River Lagoon, just north of the Merrill Barber (Hwy 60) Bridge, the City of Vero Beach prides itself on being a center for maritime information and hospitality for over 3,000 visiting boats each year. These visiting boaters spend a phenomenal 20,000 overnights with us. Rental moorings and slips are available on a daily or monthly basis (call for monthly details). Gasoline, diesel, and pump out services are available on our 70 ft. fuel dock. Approaches to the fuel dock are 8-10 ft. Facilities and services include free bus service to town, Laundromat, TV lounge, WiFi, mail drop and pick-up, bicycle and vehicle parking, restrooms, showers, trash disposal, waste oil disposal, and a park with picnic shelters and barbecues.

Support their business by dropping by their facility at:
City Marina at Marker 139 on the Intracoastal Waterway
3611 Rio Vista Boulevard, Vero Beach, FL 32963
Phone: 772-231-2819
Radio: Monitoring VHF CH 16 working CH 66A
Business Hours: 0700 to 1900
E-Mail: marina@covb.org

Are you a marina owner/manager? Follow their example and register your facility with Shark-Free Marinas today. Want to get involved with SFMI? Visit our Regional Ambassadors page for more info.

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04 December 2009 | Press Release | admin

Shark fishing tournaments have a bad rap. For years we’ve campaigned against the culture of mature shark harvest that they engender, in fact they are a big reason that Shark-Free Marinas was formed. In early 2009 the ‘Are you man enough’ shark tournament came under considerable community pressure as various conservation groups banded together to protest the kill event. In an industry first it’s organizer Jack Donlon responded by flipping his event into catch-and-release. Now in 2010 a group of forward thinking scientists, conservation groups and fishing entities have combined to stage a shark fishing tournament that aims to combine science and industry. Each round will be held exclusively out of a Shark-Free Marina registered marina.

The Guy Harvey Ultimate Shark Challenge Tournament Series to take place in April / may 2010

- Catch and Release Shark Tournament Hailed as a Model for Sport Fishing Enthusiasts and Marine Conservationists -

Ft. Myers, FL (December 03, 2009) – Jack Donlon, original founder of The Ultimate Shark Challenge Tournament Series, and his co-directors, Sean Paxton and Brooks Paxton II, have teamed up with renowned marine wildlife artist, scientist and conservationist Dr. Guy Harvey to present an innovative competitive event with $100,000 in cash and prizes that will serve as a model for sport fishing enthusiasts and marine conservationists.

The newly branded Guy Harvey Ultimate Shark Challenge Tournament Series will be a catch and release competition off the Southwest Florida coast – and much more. “For the first time, what we call a ‘love ‘em and leave ‘em’ shark tournament will be transformed into a true spectator sport,” said Sean Paxton. He and his brother, Brooks, known as the Shark Brothers, continued, “Our shared goal with Dr. Guy Harvey and Jack Donlon, is to give participants and viewers the most interactive, entertaining and educational shark-infested, multimedia spectacle found anywhere on the planet. This is not your grandfather’s fishing contest, but something completely new for a shark fishing tournament.”

Harvey, a long-time marine conservationist and founder of the Guy Harvey Ocean Foundation, said the tournament will increase global awareness of the important role that sharks play in the world’s oceans and our ecosystem. “The Guy Harvey Ultimate Shark Challenge Tournament Series will be a uniquely exciting event for participants, spectators and everyone who cares about the future of our oceans,” Guy Harvey said.

A total of 60 fishing teams will compete in the 2010 tournament, which will begin with three separate qualifying rounds next April and May. The series kicks off in Fort Myers Beach, Florida, on April 9 – 11^th, with additional stops in Marco Island and Sarasota.  Twenty teams will compete in each round and the top four will qualify to compete in the two-day Grand Championship Finale on May 22-24. The finale and its sister event, Shark Fest –a family-friendly, educational and entertaining event for all ages – are sponsored by Mote Marine Laboratory and Aquarium and the Center for Shark Research in Sarasota.

Tournament organizers hope that this event will become the “next generation” model for shark fishing competitions. Joining Donlon, the Paxton brothers and Guy Harvey in this ambitious effort are strategic partners Robert E. Hueter, Ph.D, director of Mote Marine Laboratory’s Center for Shark Research; Lee County Commissioner Ray Judah; Luke Tipple, director of Shark-Free Marinas; and other advocates of environmental stewardship.

“With the increasing demands facing our marine resources, we saw an opportunity to implement an alternative to traditional harvest formats that is not only environmentally sound, but also a viable tournament business model,” said Jack Donlon. “Through strategic alliances and with the support of like-minded corporations, such as Guy Harvey Inc., our vision will become a reality.”

Hueter noted that the staff from the Mote Center for Shark Research will oversee all scientific aspects of the tournament, including tagging operations. Selected sharks will be outfitted with satellite tags to track their movements after release. “This project will provide a breakthrough in collaborative research involving the marine scientific and recreational fishing communities,” he added. “By working together to develop a 21st century, conservation-oriented alternative, the Mote Center for Shark Research and tournament organizers will provide a national model, while changing public attitudes about responsible use of marine resources.”

Tournament organizers are planning a major television broadcast, which promises to deliver an adrenaline-fueled mix of extreme angling, cutting-edge research and wildlife management efforts. The show will be co-anchored by the Shark Brothers and Tipple, a marine biologist.

“In these days of technological connectivity, we will be able to put spectators right into the action, above and below the water,” said Tipple. “Our viewers will experience the sheer power and raw beauty of these animals, while seeing scientists and anglers working in concert to protect and understand their world.”

Limited sponsorship opportunities are still available and team entries are currently being accepted for review. For more details and additional contact information, visit: UltimateSharkChallenge.com and www.guyharveyoceanfoundation.org.

About Dr. Guy Harvey:

Born in Lippspringe, Germany in 1955, Harvey is a 10th generation Jamaican of English heritage.  Growing up in Jamaica, Harvey spent many hours fishing and diving with his father.  He was obsessed with the creatures of the sea and began drawing pictures of the many different fish he observed.  From those early inspirations, Harvey’s gift of recreating marine life propelled him from Professor of Marine Biology to a wildlife artist and photographer. He initially opted for a scientific education, earning high honors in Marine Biology at Aberdeen University in Scotland in 1977. He continued his formal training at the University of West Indies, where he obtained a Doctorate in Fisheries Management.  A vocal proponent of catch-and-release, Harvey generously donates artwork, time and funds for numerous institutions and conservation groups, including the Guy Harvey Research Institute established at Nova Southeastern University in 1999.  In 2008, Harvey created the Guy Harvey Ocean Foundation, which supports marine conservation, research and education efforts.  For additional information on Guy Harvey, visit www.GuyHarveyinc.com. For complete information on the Guy Harvey Ocean Foundation, visit www.GuyHarveyOceanFoundation.org.

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31 October 2009 | Regional Ambassadors | admin

The staff of Shark-Free Marinas will be away at sea until the middle of November. However there is still so much work that can be done, in fact the power of SFMI is in your hands.

Here is an example of what one person can do, well, two. Duncan Brake and Jillian Morris have been on-board with SFMI since the start and are perfect examples of Regional Ambassadors. They’ve produced this video which we hope inspires you to go to your local marina and encourage them to be a part of the solution and reduce worldwide shark mortality. You don’t have to make a video about your contribution… but if you do we promise to feature it here and give you the credit you so deserve.

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26 October 2009 | Regional Ambassadors | admin

Written by SFMI Regional Ambassador, Jillian Morris

The Shark Free Marina Initiative is one devoted to reducing worldwide shark mortality rates. Participating marinas will prohibit the landing of any shark within the marina for any purpose (i.e. meat processing, photos, and finning). They will encourage the practice of catch and release for those who insist on sport fishing for sharks. The movement is gaining strength and spreading globally, as people realize that it can be a powerful tool in shark conservation.

Duncan Brake and I live on the island of Bimini and as regional ambassadors for the campaign, we have been working on recruiting other marinas in the Bahamas. The Bimini Sands Resort and Marina was the first in all of the Bahamas to sign onto the campaign and has motivated others to follow suit. Bimini is a special location because big game fishing is as deeply rooted in its culture as are Hemingway and rum.

Weekend warriors travel from Florida in search of a prize fish. They hit known shark diving spots, shooting fish in a barrel so to speak. They also fish for sharks within the marinas, only to haul them onto the docks, take a picture, cut out their jaws and then throw the remains back. It is important to educate those who visit and live in Bimini on the importance of sharks to the ecosystems. Conch, lobster and fishing are staples in the economy and without sharks they will not exist. It is necessary that the locals understand this connection if they are expected to get involved and take action.

In March of this year I introduced the campaign to Nathan Moody, director of operations at the Old Bahama Bay Marina. Located on the West End of Grand Bahama, the marina is the customs clearance point for the primary liveaboard vessels that run Tiger Beach dive charters. Nathan was very excited about the project and eager to get the resort involved. They wanted to be on point with conservation messages and to encourage a positive image about sharks.

It took several months to get all the necessary people on the same page and in the same spot, but on September 10, 2009 the marina officially hung its Shark Free signs. The marina runs at high occupancy, so there is a massive turnover of boaters that will see the signs. This is a huge step for the Bahamas and a victory for sharks. Their involvement will hopefully be a catalyst for other large marinas throughout the islands to join. Even though marinas are hesitant to turn customers away with the current economic situation, it is crucial for them to understand that saving the ocean far exceeds the money that shark fisherman would have spent. As prominent marinas join, like Old Bahama Bay, we hope a strong message echoes across the globe.

For more information on the campaign or to sign on check out www.sharkfreemarinas.com

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