A Ray of Light: brilliant Video by David!

David's new production company, Scarlet View Media.

I'm in love with Brad.

No not in that way! :)
But David's masterful portrait is so full of tenderness and empathy that one is instantly mesmerized by the guy's humanity and compassion, and by his selfless commitment to try and better protect the Sting Rays of Mallorca.

This is David Diley's coming out as a filmmaker.
Like Brad, he is achieving the seemingly impossible with zero back-up and minimal resources, simply driven by his passion for marine conservation and the need to make a difference by telling a story. I say, if this is a taste of things to come, the man is in for a stellar career!
Love the storyline, the filming, the editing, the style, the music!

A short film about Brad Robertson, a passionate conservationist tirelessly working to maintain and grow a grassroots, community based project to help protect the Stingrays of Mallorca.

This is the reality behind "spit and sawdust" conservation, there are no glossy marketing campaigns, no sexy photo-shoots and most critically of all, no financial support, just Brad and his wife Bea, struggling against bureaucracy, apathy, crippling financial pressure and a lack of support from the people who could actually help.

The economic crisis has had a devastating effect on Spain, a country which has cut funding to support the policing of its Marine Reserves by up to 80% and as a result, we see that without vigilant protection, a "Marine Reserve" is no more a haven for marine wildlife than any other stretch of unprotected coastline.

So why does he bother? Because he's a diver, a diver who wants future generations to experience the kind of things he has in his twenty years underwater, the kind of incredible experience we see at the climax of the film an experience which illustrates just how important Brad's work in Mallorca is.

Enjoy David's video.



Story here and here.

PS Richard Theiss' take here.

CNN and the Shark Free Marinas!

Cool!
Stories here, here and here!
Enjoy!

Thank you Shark Girl - again!

Proudly BAD: Lui, Fabi, Silio, Netani and Vili!

Quick-quick.
I'm once again beholden to Jillian aka the Shark Girl for a very honorable mention of BAD on her blog.

I'm sure that I am also speaking for Stuart of Matava when I say that we are proud of the role Fiji has played in promoting the idea of the Shark Free Marina Initiative. The success in Fiji was certainly instrumental in proving that the then completely novel concept was very much a viable one.

Very much looking forward to the Fiji PSA!

PS This all thanks to Patric who got the ball rolling - his take here.

Shark Free Marinas PSAs!

Excellent stuff!
We've obviously been big fans of the SFMI since day one, and Fiji continues to be one of the initiative's principal supporters.

Ever since Guy Harvey and the Humane Society have decided to support the concept, Luke has been assisted by a growing number of Board members, Celebrities and yes, certainly not leastly, by the influx of much needed funds that are being spent on promotional and support materials but also, on excellent PSAs.

Here are two of the most recent ones.
The first contains the endorsements by actor Kelly Perine, singer/songwriter Aria Johnson , celebrity photographer Nigel Barker, actress Lisa Edelstein, guitar legend Slash, the Dr Guy Harvey, American football legend Steve Bartkowski and the SFMI's Director Luke Tipple.
The second features the unequaled Guy and specifically targets the marinas in Florida - and I sure hope that there will be more targeting the other coastal states where pro-Shark activities have so far been dismal!
And, let's not forget this one! :)

Enjoy!

Shark Free Marinas – Takeoff!

Great news!
It really looks like the whole SFMI concept is coming together and having continued to heckle Luke about the apparent lack of proactive action in the USA, all I can say is finally and well done!

You can read it all on the great, completely re-vamped website.
There a brand new logo and they have produced brand new brochures that feature beautiful artwork by Guy Harvey and that will be distributed to a whopping 1,500 marinas during the upcoming US membership drive.
All very impressive indeed!

Although, having said that…
If Tonga, population 100,000 can sign up 3 marinas (=one for every 33,300 Tongans) and Fiji, population 850,000 can sign up 24 (=one for every 35,400), what should we expect from the USA, population 310.5m?

So, Luke: there’ your challenge! :)

Here's to the Aquarium!

And here's to Lori, Mike, Milo and Leni!

This is now the third Shark Free Marina in Tonga.
Forget the old and helplessly dated Mermaid - the Aquarium is clearly the place to be in Vava'u, and not only if you are a yachtie! The brainchild of Lisa and Ben who have moved on, it was taken over by Lori and Mike two years ago and is now bigger, hipper and more popular - and still as friendly as before!

Apart from being a favorite hang out of the decent locals, his remains the obligated port of call of every yachtie visiting the Port of Refuge.
There are moorings for hire, free wi-fi, excellent and cheap food and by far the very best coffee (!) - but above all, this is the place where everybody is happy to help you navigate the treacherous waters of getting things done in a place where time begins but then gets caught in a gelatinous warp of the spacetime continuum called Tonga Time. Don't ask, that's just the way it is, probably a third consequence of the Theory of Relativity!

But I'm digressing as usual.
Well done - and yes, still counting!

Savusavu covered!

Make it twenty-four - Fiji rocks!

The Copra Shed and Waitui Marina have become Shark Free Marinas!
This is a personal initiative of our marine scientist Arthur who was in Vanua Levu for a talk at a community outreach seminar organized by CORAL and Sea Web.

Those are Savusavu's principal marinas and with it being one of Fiji's principal ports of call on the SoPac milk run, the signage will undoubtedly contribute to spreading the concept among the yachting community.
Who knows, maybe one of them will even sign up a marina as he travels on towards Melanesia!

In view of the pathetic snubbing by the Shark orgs, the initiative sure needs all the help it can get!

Vinaka Art, you're the man!

Case in Point!

Sorry for the silence!

Thing is, we're currently hosting Royalty and also, incredibly busy cooking up some real cool projects (watch this space!) and it's just very difficult to find the time!

But I saw this and just wanted to make the point.

This would have been a Fijian all-tackle record and yet, they let the Shark go.

They of course being Bite Me, Fiji's top game fishing operator and together with Matava, the coordinator of the Fiji roll-out of the Shark Free Marinas Initiative. 22 supporters later, Fiji is by far the most active region and well on its way to becoming the first Shark Free country.

I just discovered that the SFMI website has been completely re-vamped and is now even more user friendly.

And yet, when you check out the Registered Marinas, nothing much has changed: a paltry 7 in the USA, a measly 3 in the Bahamas where Shark diving is a mainstay of tourism - not a single one in Australia,  New Zealand, Africa, Asia, Europe, South America: entire continents featuring less supporters than the tiny Kingdom of Tonga!

How pathetic is that!

I've said it before, this is without a doubt one of the most efficient and effective Shark conservation initiatives around. The concept could not be simpler, it costs absolutely zero and it immediately saves Sharks that would otherwise get killed - and yet, nobody seems to care.

Let me cite from another post.

Having searched for "names" and having looked at the websites of the plethora of self-professed Shark lovers, savers, warriors and protectors out there, I'm starting to wonder: where are they?

Where are, to name but a few, the Funds, Allies & Alliances, Societies, Foundations, Initiatives, Conservancies, Institutes, Projects and Trusts, the Backbiters, Savers, Preservers, Spotters, Angels, Shepherds, Aiders, Stewards, Researchers and all of those other orgs that solicit donations from the public for safeguarding Sharks?
Where are all those prominent photographers and cameramen that draw their sustenance from taking images of Sharks?
Have the Shark diving operators and the Travel agents that book them bothered to mobilize their clients?

Questions questions - and I spare you the answers! 

Smart!

Good news for Sharks!

The Humane Society of the United States has taken on Shark conservation and instead of trying to re-invent the wheel like so many others, it has decided to join the Shark Free Marinas Initiative.

That is very much right down my alley, the more as I believe the SFMI to be a simply brilliant example for smart, efficient, effective and inventive Shark preservation. This truly is Conservation Bootstrapping at its very best!
And at the risk of repeating myself: I remain perplexed at the fact that all those Sharkitarians haven't picked it up and spread it all across the world!
Go wonder!

Anyway: Kudos!
Let us all look forward to a miraculous increase of registered US marinas and charter services!

Full story here.

Tonga: one more - and counting!

Bravo Chris and Nora!

Their Vava'u Island Express is Tonga's second Shark Free game fishing operator under the Shark Free Marinas Initiative!
Theirs is the newest marine venture in Vava'u and having decided to follow the example of Target One is a clever business decision, as it instantly propels them at the forefront of the Kingdom's ecotourism operators - and I hear that for that precise same reason, more are about to follow!

As always, our gratitude goes to our good friends Paul and Karen of Dive Vava'u for acting as the Initiative's local ambassadors.

Number One!

Henk (on the left) and deckhand Teao proudly announcing the release of three Blues from his Target One

Bless Henk and Sandra Gros!

They have graciously agreed to act as trailblazers and are now the Kingdom of Tonga's first Shark Free game fishing operators. This is far from being trivial as contrary to many Fijians, Tongans hunt and eat Sharks and will thus regard any attempt at sparing their life as a wasteful and incomprehensible act of utter Palangi foolishness.
Kudos!

In the big scheme of things, this will again turn out to be a wise business decision - like everything the Gros' have done so far.
They are among the original pioneers of tourism in Vava'u and have struck gold on practically every one of their ventures. On the accommodation front, they operate one of the first, and still the only clean and reliable backpacker hostel, Adventure Backpackers and are the developers of Mystic Sands, one of only two beachfront resorts on the main islands. Sandra and Kiwi Magic's Pat also operate the only reliable and highly successful agency for holiday homes in Vava'u, Vava'u Holiday Homes and provide access to reliable and trustworthy local help through their Vava'u Property Services.
Yes, I did indeed stress the term reliable, and for good reason! Whatever your provenience and intentions: nowhere does caveat emptor (and I'm not only talking in terms of legal transactions!) apply more than in the Friendly Kingdom- and I'll leave it at that!

Henk himself is the quintessential factotum and provided that he likes the project, you can avail yourself of his expertise for anything from building your next home (he did build mine) or installing a smoker for the most delicious home-smoked Wahoo, all the way to constructing and then successfully deploying a FAD in 1,000-odd fathoms of azure pelagic waters.

But his true love is game fishing and his Target One Sportfishing Charters is one of the most successful (and reliable!) such ventures in the whole of the Kingdom.
Vava'u prides itself on some of the most pristine fishing grounds in the whole of the South Pacific and anglers flock there from all over the globe to try their skills against good sized Sails, feisty (but generally, rather small) Blues, Wahoo, Mahi Mahi and in season, great numbers of migratory Yellowfin. This is also the place where one can still experience important numbers of pelagic Sharks, be it Silkies, Bronzies and even elusive Oceanic Whitetips.

Until very recently and much to the joy of the locals and the chagrin of the environmentalists, all fish caught in Vava'u were being landed and consumed, this largely regardless of species, season and size.
But progress being inevitable, more and more enlightened customers have been asking that the Billfishes be tagged and released and even the most backward operators had to grudgingly abide, to the point where the last national tournament was held under that formula - and won by none other than Henk and his Target One!

This is hopefully yet another step in the right direction.
After Palau's epic declaration and Fiji's simply mind-blowing performance, Tonga is hopefully on its way to becoming yet another Pacific island nation that fully embraces the concept that Shark conservation is not only essential for the health of the marine ecosystem but constitutes great tourism marketing on top of that!

Fingers crossed that after Target One, many more game fishermen in Vava'u will see the light and embrace the Shark Free Marinas Initiative!
Bravo Henk and Sandra - and Malo 'aupito!

SFMI: finally, the Signage!

From the Facebook page of the Fiji Shark Conservation and Awareness Project.

New signs ready to be distributed to all supporting marinas, resorts and fishing boats in Fiji!
Funding was provided by Project AWARE! The dock signs are printed and laminated on 0.080 Marine Grade aluminum to ensure resistance against the elements.

The Shark-Free Marina Initiative has a singular purpose, to reduce worldwide shark mortality. We encourage shark conservation at sport fishing and resort marinas by prohibiting the landing of any shark at the participating marina. The SFMI works with marinas, fishermen and like minded non-profit groups to form community conscious policy and increase awareness of the need to protect our sharks, our ocean and our legacy.

Once again, big Kudos to everybody involved, especially Stuart of Matava who pretty much singlehandedly put Fiji on the map as being the planet's most progressive nation in terms of Shark conservation and also, modern eco-minded game fishing!

As in: Twenty-one participating marinas and game fishing operators compared to a measly six in the big and all-powerful US of A!

How's that for a turnout!
And, believe it or not: we ain't finished yet!

Twenty!

Check out the list of Shark-Free Marinas!

Yes, that's twenty Fijian operators that have made a commitment for Shark conservation by pledging not to allow any dead Sharks to be landed at their dock. And I just hear that one more has agreed to sign up - and counting!
Is that cool - or what!

This is foremost the direct personal success of Stuart and Matava who have taken the initiative, done most of the leg work and tirelessly promoted the concept.

But this is also a testimony to how much Fiji cares about Nature in general and Sharks in particular.
This is a country that thanks to a visionary network of locally managed MPAs, is well on its way to protecting 30% of its reefs and that has declared all of its waters to be a Whale Sanctuary - and may hopefully once do the same for Sharks.
This is the country that has embraced the International Year of the Shark, with the who's who of conservation, diving and tourism signing up to its local initiative, the Fiji Shark Conservation and Awareness Project. This is where local television and the main media support Sharks and where a locally produced pro-Shark PSA has been a roaring success among the indigenous population, many of which revere Sharks as Gods and Guardian Spirits.

And finally, our thanks need to go to Patric and Luke who have come up with this brilliant initiative and have invested their time, energy and money into what is a fabulous example of smart and inclusive conservation!

Stuart tells me that thanks to a generous grant by PADI Project Aware, the signage is being printed and that it will be distributed within the next two weeks.

A big Vinaka Vakalevu to everyone involved!
I'm sure that Dakuwaqa is smiling!

Fiji: Pro-Shark!

Matava organises Fiji to be the first COUNTRY to fully participate in the Shark Free Marina Initiative Matava - Fiji's Premier Eco Adventure Resort and Bite Me Gamefishing Charters take the leading role in the world with a major shark conservation initiative in the gamefishing community KADAVU, FIJI ISLANDS - 14 July 2009 - Matava - Fiji's Premier Eco-Adventure Resort and Bite Me Gamefishing Charters are proud to take a world wide leading role in the the international Shark-Free Marina Initiative. 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. Matava Director Stuart Gow said "We have worked hard over the past few months in Fiji at certifying many marinas and charter fishing boats as 'Shark-Free Marinas' and so far have more than any other country worldwide." "Matava and Bite Me Gamefishing Charters was the first in Fiji to sign up and is actively promoting, coordinating and distributing information about the Initiative. We are working towards when Fiji can be the first country to be proud to announce itself as a 'Shark-Free Marinas' Country!" he continued. The majority of shark species caught by recreational and sport anglers are currently listed by the IUCN as 'Threatened' (or worse) and each year an average of a ½ Million of these sharks are killed in the United States alone. It is estimated that 70-100 million sharks are killed yearly world wide! Bite Me Gamefishing Charters actively avoids fishing for any species of shark and encourages this practice to be followed by all. By encouraging non-lethal 'catch-and-release' shark fishing fishermen and those sharks inevitably caught accidentally can enjoy their sport while ensuring that shark populations are not further diminished. By promoting sustainable practices of ocean management we hope that sharks will be around to keep our oceans healthy for generations to come. Many Fiji marinas and charter operations are already listed on the Shark-Free Marina website as well as having the right to use the SFMI logo and signs for their own publicity. We are now in the process of distributing the stickers, posters and metal dock signs to registered businesses, charter boats and marinas. The SFMI website also has an education centre that we hope everyone will find useful, it includes tips on how to catch and release shark, a list of Endangered and Threatened species plus information on how they can help protect the ocean. "At Matava, and Bite Me Gamefishing Charters we are of course both happy and proud to be spearheading this initiative in the South Pacific and indeed the World" said Matava Director and Bite Me Gamefishing Charter Captain, Captain Adrian Watt. "We also see this as a great step forward and opportunity for all gamefishing and sportfishing charter boats, both on Kadavu and in the Fiji Islands, to move forward in their standards to achieve truly world class levels of service and capabilities demonstrated by the 'catch and release' programs." Captain Watt finished by saying "We would like to thank all friends and clients of Matava and Bite Me Gamefishing Charters past and present who have contributed to the success of our ecotouirsm principles and the resort and we look forward to exciting times ahead." The Shark-Free Marina Initiative has a singular purpose, to reduce worldwide shark mortality. We encourage shark conservation at sport fishing and resort marinas by prohibiting the landing of any shark at the participating marina. The SFMI works with marinas, fishermen and like minded non-profit groups to form community conscious policy and increase awareness of the need to protect our sharks, our ocean and our legacy. Matava - Fiji's Premier Eco Adventure Resort, is an eco adventure getaway offering you a fun and unique blend of cultural experiences and adventure activities in the environmentally pristine and remote island of Kadavu in the Fiji Islands. Matava - Fiji Premier Eco Adventure Resort is a PADI Dive Resort as well as a Project AWARE GoEco Operator. With more than 12 years experience in the Fiji Islands, Matava is recognized as a leading educational dive centre. Matava offers accommodation for up to 22 guests in lush tropical surroundings in traditional thatched Fijian 'bures' with hardwood polished floors, louvre windows and private decks offering privacy, comfort and superb ocean views. Bite-Me Gamefishing Charters is our on-site IGFA game fishing specialists offering the best of superb record breaking blue water game fishing for tuna, wahoo, sailfish and marlin. As an active member of IGFA and The Billfish Association we advocate tag and release of all billfish and Trevally not deemed to be a National or World Record. www.Matava.com www.GamefishingFiji.com # # #

Shark-Free Marinas in Fiji!

Huge kudos to Stuart and Adrian of Matava!

Fiji's Premier Eco Adventure Resort and Bite Me Gamefishing Charters have partnered in spearheading the nation-wide roll-out of The Shark-Free Marinas Initiative to all marinas and charter fishing boats across the country. It's a great undertaking: smart, cheap, effective - Conservation bootstrapping at its very best.
A first push directed at their peers in the game fishing community has already resulted in the certification of nine proudly Fijian Shark-Free marinas and operators - more than in the USA and the Bahamas combined!

Now, it's the turn of the other Supporters of the Fiji Shark Conservation and Awareness Project, Fiji's contribution to the International Year of the Shark - and of you, the Fijian readers of this blog!

Whether you are a Dive Operator, a Resort, an Org promoting Conservation or just an individual: please get active in your area and Fiji-wide. Do you own or operate out of a marina or harbor? Are there any marinas, fishing charter operators, or avid fishermen in your area?



Then, please approach them and help them getting certified as Shark-Free Marinas and Operators!
Should you have any questions about how to go about it, please consult the information and support pages on the SFMI website where you will also find the downloadable "Invitation to register as a Shark-Free Marina". Please also consult Matava's exhaustive explanations right here. Finally, always feel free to write to Eroni Rasalato, the coordinator of the FSCAP at Info@FijiShark.com for any further assistance you may require.
Want to contribute more or get personal recognition for your efforts? Please consult this page!

Registering online is really very easy and absolutely free of charge.
Apart from being a direct and tangible contribution to the immediate conservation of Sharks in Fiji, this will help making a better Fiji by once again contributing to the Country's reputation of being at the forefront of Conservation and Eco-Tourism. It will also allow the registered participants to add valuable "green" credentials to their marketing. Dock signs and other support materials are currently being sourced and will be "in country" shortly.

Let's go for it and make Fiji proud!
Vinaka!

Shark Free Marinas!

Mark the Shark has just killed another Tiger Shark.

At 14 feet and 1200 pounds, she must once again have been a pregnant mother, like the other Tiger in the Bahamas and the two Hammerheads killed by Bucky Dennis. And then, there's the upcoming abomination of Mr. Donlon in Ft. Myers that is specifically targeting more record-sized and thus pregnant Sharks.
That's what "game" fishermen do for fun, the more as their Association has no ethical problems whatsoever to sanction those killings as legitimate records. In my book, that's being tacit instigators, accomplices and enablers. Even the hunting community doesn't do that anymore - and thankfully, there seems to be growing opposition to those gruesome trophies even among the fishermen themselves.

But the cold facts are that all of that is perfectly legal.
All of our vocal condemnation, petitioning and picketing are not likely to change much in the short term. Game fishing is big business and we're hopelessly outmanned and outgunned.
Yes, I'm repeating myself! Again!

Which brings me straight over to the Shark-Free Marina Initiative.
It's a great idea that started with this post by Shark Diver in September, 2008. Type "Shark Free Marinas" into the search box of Underwater Thrills and you will be able to follow its gradual inception by several enlightened marinas in the Bahamas.

Now, it's being rolled out on a global scale via its own org., website and blog

This is smart Conservation aimed at organic cooperation instead of confrontation, via a nifty feel-good campaign. Good for the marinas, good for the Sharks. And I'm sure that the ultimate thrust is to educate the fishermen in the process.

Smart, cheap, effective - Conservation bootstrapping at its best.
Kudos guys!