Successes

2012 has been a successful year for sharks and rays. Here are a few of the good events that have occurred:

• Shark Count started to record numbers
• First report published on destruction of Manta and Mobula Rays
• More MPA (marine protected areas) developed in the Pacific regions and islands
• A huge amount of awareness spreads through Singapore and China
• Some states in the USA banning the important and distribution of shark fins
• London starting to become aware due to more conservation information accessible to the public.
• European cities think about the laws surrounding fishing of sharks.

There is a lot more that happened during the year and hopefully more good news to come this upcoming year!

Talking with Richard Branson with Guy Harvey about the environment.

Wow!
What an amazing chance. I was able to talk to Richard Branson about businesses and the environment. I was in the room with both Guy Harvey and Richard Branson as they had a fascinating discussion about the oceans, different methods of business and methods of spreading awareness through research and through the internet. Jess Harvey was also there asking very interesting questions to him and telling him about the conservation laws around Cayman.

Richard Branson was down in Cayman as a speaker in a conference, it was joined onto the Legends tennis event. I am so incredibly lucky to have been able to have this chance to talk to Richard Branson and listen to him speak about the future. It was really inspiring to be in the presence of someone who really had put there mind to something and run with it. Just goes to show what you can do if you have the will to do it.

(pictures will come soon)
 

Tiger Beach, Bahamas

There are basically no words to describe what an unbelievable experience I had while diving with such incredible and powerful creatures.
 I arrived at the airport to be greeted by Guy Harvey and his daughter Jessica Harvey who were part of the group of people on the trip and Guy Harvey was the person who invited my along.
 We met all those going on the trip and then we boarded the boat, got ready and then tucked into bed. The boat was leaving at 3am in the morning and we were hoping to get to Tiger Beach by 9am. On the first morning we released some baby turtles which had been raised by a university in Florida. They were adorable and knew exactly how to swim as soon as they touched the water.

Me and Lemon shark on my first dive.

   My first dive:  It was nerve racking to listen to the safety demonstration and hear about all the things that could go wrong. But as soon as I got into the water  and could see the sharks I was completely calm. Caribbean reef sharks and Lemon sharks swam around us. They were amazing. No longer was I scared I was in awe of these beautiful creatures. It was an incredible first day and start to the trip.


Second Day: It started with an early start and a very chilled morning. We went diving, the bottom was sandy and not very deep. There were so many lemon sharks around and I got used to their 7 ft - 10 ft bodies around me. I went up after and hour and as I was just about to finish up for the day a Tiger shark was sighted! We all got carefully into the water, at this time it was around sunset so the dark water was descending. I spun around and I didn't spot the Tiger immediately but after a bit Jim Abernethy (A famous wildlife photographer and in charge on the trip) gestured for me to come closer to the bait crates  just as the big female tiger shark swooped in coming within inches of me. She was beautiful the pattern on her standing out even in the fading darkness. The lemon sharks and reef sharks held your attention but the Tiger held me captive in her beauty and power.

Down at 60ft with the Reef sharks.

Third Day: Deep dive today. Went down near a reef. Tiger sharks drifted in and out of view and the rest of the sharks swarmed around us. It was beautiful down there.  Unfortunately as much as i would have liked to spend all day down there, I had to go up for my surface interval which needed to be quite long as I was on air rather then Nitrox. I went down again and the Tiger sharks were getting bolder, as I was sitting next to Jim Abernethy on the bottom a big female Tiger shark came up wanting her head/snout rubbed. I gave her a small rub. It was amazing her skin was rough like a lemon sharks but a completely different texture. Wow. How was I supposed to go back to reality after this incredible trip?

Beautiful Tiger.

Day Four: Again a deep dive in the same spot. Amazing as the day before maybe even more so due to the fact that I was now quite comfortable with the Tiger sharks coming in and out of view. They came closer every time they past. I believe there was four different tiger sharks sighted while I was down there. Hanging onto the drop line for a safety stop was quite unnerving as the tiger sharks were harder to see from further up in the water. Its crazy to think that I actually feel safer down here with 20+ sharks then crossing the road in London.

Curious Tiger shark with me watching captivated in the background.

Day Five: It started with an early dive with occasional Tigers approaching and of course lots of Lemons and Reef sharks all around. Every day is so incredible, every time I am in the water my confidence grows and since I have seen these beautiful sharks up close I know I must do something to stop there decimation. It has been hard to write as the days are so full with sharks and so many new experiences.


Sixth Day: Sandy bottom and an early dive. I lay down on the sand so I could be at the same level as the sharks gliding across the bottom. It was great to see from their vantage point. I love these creatures so much. They are so powerful as they effortlessly fly through the water. Tiger sharks were sighted, they look at you with such clear expression, demanding respect. The pattern painted on them is mesmerizing.  They came close towards the food crates, circling around skimming our heads.

I believe this shark is called Mattie and may be the
one that befriended me.

In the evening I did my sort of night dive, starting at around 5:50pm and staying down there till 7:05pm. It was absolutely magical because although there were not any Tiger sharks, Lemons sharks still swam around as the water turned dark.  I thought diving at night was going to be scary especially with sharks but it was one of the most peaceful dives I have ever done.

Day 7 (last day): Woke up bright and early to watch the sunrise, it was very calm and picturesque seeing the Lemon sharks fins skim the surface right under the glowing ball that was the sun. This day was probably my favorite, but still not sure because all the days were so amazing. Although a bit chaotic down in the water at first it was much better once everyone was certain what to do. There were so many Tiger sharks drifting in and out of view. I stayed down for an hour and a half, my eyes were huge as I watched these huge, powerful creatures swim gracefully through the water. They were curious of us and of the smell of the bait in the water.  I went back up and then straight back down after my tank was filled up with air.  I stayed down there for almost 2 hours. This part was my favorite as I befriended a Tiger shark who kept on coming around to see me and brush against me wanting her snout  rubbed. She was such a beautiful and inquisitive  shark. It made the trip so much better to have one Tiger shark in particular single you out and repeatedly come round again and again. It was such an incredible last dive that I will certainly not forget.

Sniffing the ocean floor like a curious terrier.

Evening: We were under way back to Palm Beach when suddenly the fishing rod screamed with a fish on the line. Chad (one of the crew) had over an hours fight with the fish that turned out to be a Blue Marlin. It was the first time I had seen a bill fish. The colours were amazing, purples and blues streaked on the side of it.  What a great way to end an already fantastic trip.

The overall trip was magnificent. I had so many new experiences, met some passionate and interesting people all drawn to the ocean. It was a once in a life time opportunity and one of the most amazing experiences that I have had.

 Me and a Tiger shark on the last day. What an awesome experience!

Shark Diving

Tomorrow I fly to the Bahamas in order to take part in a research, tagging and filming team. We are diving with Tiger sharks. I am going for a 1.5 weeks. I will give a full update next Friday.

AMAZING!

Here is an article describing how a shark saved a mans life at sea. The man had been stranded without fuel, his brother-in-law having died in the first few days to dehydration before it rained, giving the man fresh water. He was on the sea for 15 weeks.

It is amazing, sharks are incredible creatures that shouldn't be feared but respected.

http://uk.news.yahoo.com/shark-rescues-man-lost-sea-15-weeks-082013711.html

Some very sad news

In this article, lives of precious marine creatures where wasted for the purpose and want of the human. If we choose the change the earth we can. The choice is between harming it for our purpose or protecting it for the future of all that live on it's surface.

Article:

http://minivannews.com/environment/marine-biologist-discovers-turtle-shark-slaughter-in-maldives’-unesco-biosphere-reserve-43986

Here is an article written by reporter Yu Qian based on an interview with Dai Xiaojie (professor at Shanghai Ocean University)

It has many good points, however, it is far past the time for sustainable shark fishing! It is the time to save this beautiful species.

Take a look and see what you make of his points regarding shark finning.

http://www.globaltimes.cn/content/733901.shtml

LINK to BBC clip on UK sharks

Clip:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-19582712

UK sharks

BBC news did a 2 minute awareness clip this morning.

Although short the clip does get the message across that sharks are reducing rapidly in UK waters and many wonder if the numbers will ever go up again.

We can only hope they eventually do.

Back to school and routine

Hi!

I have been back at school for basically a week now and slowly getting back into the routine of homework and full school days.

Haven't managed to do any shark activities as I have been busy with tests (already) and applying to colleges for my last 2 years of school (after this one).

On the environmental side rather then the shark projects I am planning to run 7km in a gorilla suit through the middle of London on the 22nd of September in order to raise money for the few but precious Mountain Gorillas.
Can't wait to run in a stinky gorilla suit!! I think it will be hugely humorous as well as being really rewarding for those running it and the gorillas.

The year is off to a good start and hopefully will just improve on the environmental, shark and personal front.

Some good and bad new

Good:
"Randall Arauz Vargas, Pretoma president, considers fin import from the neighbouring country is a mechanism to evade national regulations against the separation of this part of the shark's body at sea."  
Hopefully this statement will stop anymore loopholes in the Costa Rican law.

Bad: 
500kg of shark fin arrive at the public piers in Costa Rica annually from Nicaragua. This really has to stop. 

Raising awareness is the key, the more people who realize how horrible it is the more people will be against it and want it banned.

Costa Rica: The last week

Now onto the last week of an amazing journey in Costa Rica. Little did I know that the last week held many if not more amazing people, places and activities then the other 2.

We started with our home-stay's where I was staying with a lovely family with two daughters. Ana who was 13 and Gabi who was 10. I enjoyed chatting with my host mother Margot who made me remember the delicious Costa Rican food and the welcoming atmosphere that envelopes the country as a whole. It was an incredible experience as I got to get the daughters really well and help out at Gabi's school.
     During the home-stay's Caroline (the director of CIRENAS and the person in charge of our course) knew I was interested in marine biology and becoming a marine biologist, so talked to the PRETOMA people about staying and doing a patrol with another station on Caletas beach which was beautiful.
We left for the station at 7:30 at night and arrived at the station after the 3 km walk along a steep beach at 9. Where we were immediately taken onto a patrol to look for turtles in order to collect the eggs to move into the nursery so that poachers and raccoons didn't take them.  It was only me and Caroline which was nice to do something so incredibly special with someone who shared my love of the ocean and Costa Rica. We walked along the steep beach with 3 volunteers who were very efficient and passionate about the work they were doing. Turtle tracks were spotted up ahead and we quickly walked up to see a beautiful Olive Ridley laying in the sand. Unfortunately some of her eggs had been poached (the poacher had obviously heard us and had left) but we still managed to rescue 72 and we placed them in a bag in order to take them back to the nursery. Seeing this beautiful turtle was absolutley stunning, the way in which they know exactly when to lay their eggs is incredible.
We continued on our way along the beach and turned around at about 4km down the beach, as we walking "briskly" back to the station we saw another Olive Ridley beginning to nest. She was so methodical and precise in her building of her nest. She was beautiful. I stroked her shell and as I took my hand away I left a trail of blue where the phosphorescence had stayed on the turtles shell from the water. At to add to this amazing experience there was a comet shower and a full moon.
It is a night I will never forget.

After the home-stay's we headed up into the mountains to see a sustainable forest lodge, it was beautiful and the people warm and welcoming. It was an incredible place and so different from the coast, not to mention how cold it was compared to the beach. :)

Down the mountains we travelled to San Jose and I was dropped off from an life time of experiences. I felt as if I had changed, grown up, met people who I will never forget and seen so many different wonders of my birth country.

Costa Rica: Week 1 and 2

Costa Rica was absolutely incredible. The biodiversity there is just mind-blowing. We travelled from the hot dry forest to the rainforest and finally to the cloud and mountain forests. Every scene was so unique, yet all of the ecosystems were in the same country.

There were 4 students learning on the course, me included. We were planning to learn about biodiversity, sustainable development, communicate in different languages, help the local communities and build a turtle nursery.

We started by going up into the rainforest and seeing all the different plants and animals that lived there.  We began our course there to see the different rural/sustainable tourism and see how each one affected the natural ecosystem around them. It was a really good beginning to the course as I learnt a huge amount about the sustainable projects going on in Costa Rica.

      After many wet days and a thorough drenching on horse back, we headed down to the dry hot coast where we stayed at the Cirenas (the course we were on) campus. It was on the Nicoya peninsula and it was stunning. You could see the waves crashing on the long beach from the porch and at high tide the sea would climb so high that it felt like you where on an island. At the campus we learnt about the different systems used to make someone more sustainable and we looked at different projects around Costa Rica to see how sustainable each one was.

A small bit of sad news, as we were walking on the beach to collect garbage I found a dead baby bull shark about 1.5 feet long and basically its whole body gone. At first I thought it was a natural death till I saw the deadly longline hook in its mouth. It made me angry that this beautiful shark would never make it to adulthood all because it was accidentally caught on a longline and I assume either eaten by a bigger animal or drifted till exhaustion.

Overall the experience at the Cirenas campus was relaxing, knowledgable and peaceful because I really felt like I was in nature.

After hiking and exploring the coast we travelled further up along the Nicoya peninsula to help build a turtle nursery and do patrols for nesting sea turtles.

We went to Playa San Miguel. It was a beautiful beach, which we saw in both sunlight (building the nursery) and in the moonlight (on turtle patrols). We didn't see any turtles on the patrols but we had a great time bonding and learning about turtles on the late night strolls. We made a great start on the nursery and the PRETOMA (A turtle and shark conservation organization) volunteers were grateful for our help, as it was a tough and tiring job.

China takes first step

China said that they will not serve shark fin soup at state banquets!!
A step in the right direction for China.

Hope they continue :)

The Summer

Over the summer I will be helping to create a turtle nursery in Costa Rica and learning about the environment in general. 

I will keep updating as much as possible and hopefully at the end of the three weeks have lots of photos that I can put up!

Hello everyone,

Here is my blog at last!!

It is almost summer holidays and I can't wait to find out more about sharks and how I as a human and a 15 year old can help them.

Wonderful events have occurred since I set up my website.

- Many more countries and states have become fin-free or are in the process of creating a ban.
- Many more people are now aware of what is happening to the sharks.

In the future I am hoping to make the number of people who support sharks increase and as they get more aware, I hope that peoples' attitudes will change as well. Sharks are so incredibly beautiful and should be respected rather then feared.

Maddy