A third of all animals and plants on earth face extinction — endangered blue whales, coral reefs, and a vast array of other species. The wave of human-driven extinction has reached a rate not seen since the fall of the dinosaurs 65 million years ago.

But there is a plan to save them — a global agreement to create, fund and enforce protected areas covering 20% of our seas and lands by 2020. Right now, 193 governments are meeting in Japan to address this crisis. But without public pressure, they are likely to fall short of the bold action needed to avert the collapse of ecosystems the world over.

This summit ends on Friday, October 29 — we have no time to lose. Let’s rapidly build a global public outcry urging governments to save all life on earth from runaway decline. Sign the petition below and it will be delivered directly to the meeting:

Take action now!

Here you can read the reaction to the email to the “European Parliament” (http://e-activist.com/ea-campaign/clientcampaign.do?ea.client.id=1678&ea.campaign.id=7941).

vielen Dank für Ihre Email. Sie bitten mich, anlässlich der aktuellen europäischen Haifischwoche die schriftliche Erklärung zum Schutz von Haien zu unterschreiben.

Die EU hat mit ihrer Ratsverordnung (1185/2003) aus dem Jahre 2003 ein Finning-Verbot beschlossen. Ziel dieser Verordnung des Rates ist es, die Praxis des Abtrennens von Haifischflossen an Bord von Fischereifahrzeugen und das anschließende Zurückwerfen des Tierkörpers ins Meer zu verbieten.

Das Europäische Parlament hat sich seitdem dafür eingesetzt, dass entstandene Schlupflöcher der Verordnung geschlossen werden (INI/2006/2054).

Für diese Flossen besteht offenbar immer mehr Nachfrage, insbesondere auf den asiatischen Märkten, wo sie zu hohen Preisen verkauft werden. Interessant ist in diesem Zusammenhang, dass Hawaii im Mai 2010 als erster Staat der USA den Besitz, den Handel und die Verteilung von Haifischflossen verboten hat.

Ich habe für Ihr Engagement, die offenbar immer noch bestehenden Schlupflöcher zu beseitigen, großes Verständnis. Im Fischereiausschuss des Europäischen Parlaments verfolgt meine Kollegin Britta Reimers die Entwicklung mit großer Sorge.

Sie wird sich dafür einsetzen, dass das Schicksal dieser besonderen Meeresbewohner wieder auf die Tagesordnung der Kommission gesetzt und die Ratsverordnung auch umgesetzt wird.

Wie Sie mir auf Nachfrage mitteilte, plant sie eine sogenannte Schriftliche Anfrage an die Kommission gemäß Art. 117 der Geschäftsordnung, in der sie die Kommission auffordert, die korrekte Umsetzung der Ratsverordnung zu ermöglichen und die Verordnung besser zu kontrollieren.

Diese Position teile ich und werde ebenso wie meine Kollegin das Thema weiter verfolgen.

Mit freundlichen Grüßen

Jorgo Chatzimarkakis

Remains to be seen what will happen if or whether this is a typical response of the Parliament. We will follow it!

If you have not signed yet you still have the chance here: http://e-activist.com/ea-campaign/clientcampaign.do?ea.client.id=1678&ea.campaign.id=7941

Not only in Africa (see trailer) sharks are killed, even in European waters! Now the time has come for some completely laws.

Sign petition under: www.sharkalliance.org/content.asp?did=35619

World freediving champion Tanya Streeter dives with a pack of reef sharks in an attempt to overcome her fear of these wild predators. Beautiful underwater video from BBC show ‘Shark Therapy’.

And here is another part of the BBC show ‘Shark Therapy’: World freediving champion Tanya Streeter attempts to face her fear of sharks by swimming with a host of tiger sharks.

Write to your Members of the European Parliament and ask them to close the loopholes in the EU finning ban

This autumn Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) have a unique opportunity to support shark conservation and provide much needed protection for these vulnerable species. We need to persuade them to sign a Written Declaration calling on the European Commission to deliver a proposal to completely prohibit the removal of shark fins on-board vessels and finally close the loopholes in the shark finning ban.

The Written Declaration will only be effective if a large number of MEPs from all EU countries sign on. MEPs as elected representatives listen to their constituents. We need your help to encourage them to sign on.

Link to campaign: European Shark Week 2010: Focus on Finning

The European Shark Week starts tomorrow. Get ready to help us send letters to the Members of the European Parliament next week

The Shark Conservation Act is a proposed bill that aims to put an end to shark finning in U.S. waters and closes the loopholes that exist in previous shark finning legislation.

This bill is a necessary step in preventing fishermen from removing fins at sea and will make it illegal to have a fin that is not naturally attached to a shark carcass aboard any type of vessel. The bill will also require that the National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) identify and maintain a list of countries that target sharks during fishing activities across the globe in order to encourage other countries to stop shark finning.

To email your US Senators:
http://www.oceanfutures.org/action/sh…

People who do not live in the US can support the Act here:
http://www.oceanfutures.org/action/sh…

Finning: A Cruel Practice from Oceana.

I can see those videos any more slow. It has to happen at last something. Make people so on, the sharks will be extinct soon.

Honduras and Palau, two countries that have stopped shark fishing in their waters, are urging the rest of the world to conserve the world’s dwindling shark populations or run the risk of losing the ocean’s top predator and throwing the marine food chain out of balance.

Listen to an audio recording (MP3) of the press conference.

To coincide with the High Level Plenary Meeting of the United Nations General Assembly to review the Millennium Development Goals, which include a target for preserving global biodiversity, President Johnson Toribiong of the Republic of Palau and President Porfirio Lobo Sosa of the Republic of Honduras issued a challenge to other world leaders to work together to save the world’s sharks. The two Presidents are calling on coastal countries to establish shark sanctuaries in their waters, where no shark fishing is permitted, and for all fishing countries to end shark finning and the global overfishing of sharks.
Read complete article / Zum kompletten Artikel »

Each year, millions of sharks are brutally maimed and killed, just for their fins. Sharks are vitally important to our waters, helping balance marine ecosystems in their role as apex predators.

The Shark Conservation Act would end shark finning in U.S. waters and make us world leaders in shark conservation.

Tell your Senators TODAY that you demand shark protections and the passage of the Shark Conservation Act.

Send this letter to your senators today

Thanks Oceana