Click here to see the report and here to see some familiar dive team faces signing the Help Give Sharks a Fighting Chance Petition.
(And please consider signing this petition if you haven’t already done so!)

The ‘Save our Fins’ 3-legged fin race was an event organised by Fish4divers.com, to help raise awareness about shark finning (and much needed funds) to help the Shark Trust continue their constant fight to protect our ocean’s sharks.

Fish4divers.com called upon everyone they could think of, including dive clubs, schools and local community groups, to get them involved with this fun event. In Regents Park, Newquay and Ko Lanta, people have hosted their own three-legged fin races to support the cause.

The Event Itself…

We asked divers, locals and holiday-makers from all over Ko Lanta to grab a buddy and join us for a three-legged fin tournament, to help raise awareness about shark finning.

Posters and shark-fin shaped leaflets in Thai and English were distributed around the island the publicize the event and Ko Lanta’s dive centers united to form teams and enthuse their divers to take part.

We were delighted and overwhelmed by the hugely positive response and fantastic turnout to the event. Nine Dive Centres, White Rock Resort, Opium Bar and even the Thai Diving Association joined fins to sponsor the event, and over 80 people from all over the island came to take part in the race, spectate or have a giggle at the fin-wearing racers. It even became a traffic-stopping event with cars and motorbikes pulling up to see what was going on.

Please visit the Liquid Lense Flickr photostream to view more of our event photos.

Twelve, 3-legged teams raced in 2 heats, with first and second place winners from each heat competing for overall first place in the final. Race winners, Luke and Ben from Blue Planet Divers, used questionable, but dramatic shark-like tactics to secure their win. Reports of them beating other contestants with a giant home-made Leopard shark fin have been confirmed with video evidence that can be viewed on Facebook or You-Tube.

Donations for the Shark Trust are still being counted, but if enthusiasm and support for this event had a monetary value, this was certainly a huge success and will be remembered, and hopefully repeated, for a long time to come.

Narima Diving and Scubafish will continue to support events and causes that raise awareness about Shark Finning and other environmental issues facing our oceans and marine life.

Living, working and diving in Ko Lanta – a small island community in Southern Thailand – gives a unique opportunity to understand, disseminate and share information with local islanders, to whom fishing is a part of everyday life, and tourists who come to dive, snorkel and admire the beautiful reefs.

We hope that by coming into contact with such a diverse mixture of people, we can continue to spread the word and educate people from all around the world about the great need to protect our oceans’s top predators.

Ko Lanta ‘Save Our Fins’ Event Sponsors:

* Scubafish
* Narima Diving
* Blue Planet
* Go Dive
* Lanta Diver
* Ko Lanta Diving Center
* Kontiki Lanta
* Dive and Relax
* Flip Flop Divers
* TDA (Thailand Diving Asociation)
* White Rock Resort (& Mr. Bean)
* Opium

Why?

Sharks continue to be fished faster than they can reproduce causing real fears that shark species will become extinct in the very near future.

As global shark populations continue to decline – some by more than 90 percent in the last two decades – many scientists fear the worst.

Losing these top predators has devastating impacts on our underwater ecosystems and local economies. When sharks disappear, entire food webs can shift and valuable economies become devastated.

Sharks take decades to reach sexual maturity, and the fishing industry is catching, killing or finning them at such an astonishing rate that shark populations have no chance to regenerate.

This is a dramatic over-exploitation of shark populations and this tampering with the largest ecosystem of the world, can never be undone. We will see far-reaching and dramatic consequences within our own lifetime and for generations to come.

If we don’t act now, the seas will die off within just a few decades and with them, 70% of the means for generating oxygen on our planet.

Right now there are few countries and laws that have actually banned shark fishing, and those that have restrictions on shark fishing and shark finning have not successfully enforced their rules.

Organisation, such as Project AWARE, are working to close loopholes in shark legislation, support establishment of effective MPA networks and engage divers in underwater research, data collection and awareness projects.

Films such as SharkWater aim to raise public awareness about the plight of these beautiful, but misunderstood, apex predators. The SharkWater documentary exposes the abuse in the shark-fin industry and the damage it is causing to our ocean’s ecosystems. It also uncovers government corruption supporting the industry.

Although shark fining violates the UN food and agriculture organizations code of conduct it is hard to police because this process is done at sea in international waters. Some see the best approach to help combat shark finning is to educate the consumer. WildAid’s slogan “When the Buying Stops, the Killing Can Too” may be the only real way to curb the problem.

The consumer must understand that sharks are vital to the health of our oceans, and without them, entire marine ecosystems may break down. And if this is not compelling enough of a reason to be against shark finning, the high levels of mercury in shark fins may cause sterility in men and birth defects in pregnant females.

Useful Links:

* WildAid
* Shark Trust
* Shark Project
* Sea Shepherd Conservation Society
* Shark Gaurdian
* ReefQuest Centre for Shark Research
* Fish4Divers
* Sharks Need Your Help

Grab a buddy and join us for a three-legged fin tournament, to help raise awareness about shark finning.

What: Three-Legged Fin Tournament.
When: 17th July, 5.30pm.
Where: Meet at White Rock, Klong Nin Beach.

Shark finning refers to the re­moval and retention of shark fins and the discard at sea of the carcass. The shark is most of­ten still alive when it is tossed back into the water. Unable to swim, the shark slowly sinks toward the bot­tom where it suffers predation from other fish, starves to death, dies from blood loss or suffocates and drowns, since most sharks need to keep moving to force water through their gills for oxygen. Sharks can take hours or even days to die after being finned.

Fishermen are mainly interested in the fins because shark meat is of low economical value and this conserves room in the hold. Up to 99 per cent of the shark is thrown away, a process as wasteful as slaughtering an elephant for its tusks.

Shark fins are used as the principal ingredient of shark fin soup, an Asian delicacy. Demand for shark fin soup has rocketed in recent years due to the increased prosperity of China and other countries in the Far East. In the past, Chinese Emperors ate shark fin soup because it was rare, and difficult to prepare, and conferred prestige. Shark fin soup, which can easily cost $100 a bowl, is still of­ten served at wedding celebrations so that the hosts can impress their guests with their affluence. In fact a set of fins can sell for more than US$700/kg, and a single Whale Shark pectoral fin can sell for up to US$15,000.

Shark fin itself is tasteless, it just provides a gelatinous texture for the soup which is flavoured with chicken or other stock. It has also been shown to contain high levels of mer­cury which is detrimental to our health. Many people, especially the consumers, are unaware of the suffering that fin­ning causes.

Global trade in shark fins is increasing, and the market for shark fin soup is estimated to be growing by 5% per year, placing an unsus­tainable demand on shark populations. Tens of millions of sharks are slaughtered every year to satisfy the demand for shark fin soup (three sharks are killed every second for their fins); at least 8,000 tonnes of shark fins are shipped to restaurants around the world.

Sharks’ life history makes them vulnerable to exploitation. Sharks take between 7 to over 20 years to reach matu­rity, and produce few young over long lifetimes meaning that it takes populations a long time to recover once de­pleted. Fishermen report that sharks are getting smaller because they are not being given time to mature.

Sharks are “apex” predators, eco­logical stablisers, when they are removed from the ocean the entire eco-system suf­fers.

Organised and founded by responsibletravel.com in 2004, in partnership with Metro Newspaper, Geographical Magazine, and World Travel Market, the Awards are the most prestigious of their kind in the world, and dedicated to celebrating the best of the best in responsible tourism, from niche to mainstream, all around the world.

There are 13 categories in all, and a panel of 13 Judges from across the industry and chaired by Professor Harold Goodwin (International Centre for Responsible Tourism) are ready to debate who should win in 2010. To be in with the chance all Narima Diving would need is a nomination from a member of the public – a happy traveller, appreciative guest, or simply a supporter who believes we deserve to win an Award!

Nominations are made online at www.responsibletourismawards.com/nominations

Narima Diving and Scubafish have previously been shortlited in the Best in a Marine Environment Category – awarded to an organisation related to a beach or other marine environment, such as turtle conservation or a marine eco-tourism trip or an eco-dive center.

The deadline for nominations is Monday 14th June 2010.

Visit the official Awards website for more details www.responsibletourismawards.com

Over the last 10 years, the Project AWARE Foundation have joined this effort to focus attention on aquatic environements, and named this “Dive for Earth Day”.

Why?

With the oceans covering more than 70% of the Earth’s surface and providing habitat for 90% of all life on the planet, one aim is to highlight the issues facing this particular environment, including pollution, debris, climate change, overfishing and coral-bleaching. Human activity is costing the Earth. And despite the oceans’ vast expanse it is taking its toll on aquatic eco systems.

You can choose to make a world of difference by joining Scubafish and Narima Diving‘s Dive for Earth Day event on 18th April. This is your chance to have a fun day out and get involved in a conservation activity to make a world of difference!!

What?

Dive for Earth Day: Our boats will be visiting Ko Haa and Ko Rok, where the staff on board will be conducting Underwater Reef Clean-ups on one dive (to help us identify the general sources of marine debris), and a ReefWatch/Coral Watch monitoring exercise on the other dive. Any of our guests are welcome to join this effort, including snorkellers. We will also be offering an AWARE Fish ID Adventure dive at no extra cost to anyone who is interested!!!

ReefWatch:

* Scubafish and Narima Diving, in partnership with Greenfins Thailand and the Phuket Marine Biological Center are bringing ReefWatch, a simple, non-invasive coral reef monitoring method to divers who are passionate enough to make a difference. Our staff will provide a thorough briefing and short presentation on Reefwatch survey techniques, enabling us to collect valuable information to monitor the reef’s health and help us care for the reefs you visit. Volunteer divers can easily learn the method and take part in the programme recording such information as common coral types, visual percentage cover, indicator species, damage and topography of reef and track this information over time. Marine Biologists and government departments will use the data collected for these dive sites to help answer questions about global coral bleaching and recovery patterns as well as the overall health and risks to Thailand’s coral reefs.

Coral Watch:

* CoralWatch is an organisation who aims to provide a scientific tool which increases awareness about global warming by demonstrating one of its devastating effects. They developed a simple method for the monitoring of coral bleaching, and assessment of coral health. The Coral Health Chart is basically a series of sample colours, with variation in brightness representing different stages of bleaching/recovery, based on controlled experiments. In the field, users simply compare colours of corals with colours on the chart and record matching codes. The charts can be used by anyone, and is an ideal way for snorkellers to get involved!

When and Where?

Our guests will meet at Scubafish in Kantiang Bay at 07.45am on Sunday 18th April. Transfers can be arranged.

Anyone interested is asked to confirm participation before the day. Please register your interest before 16th April. Thank you for your support, we look forward to seeing you on the 18th April to celebrate Dive for Earth Day.

The PADI Member Awards program was based on nine separate Asia Pacific regions; a system that ensured PADI Members compete with other PADI Members within their own geographical region for one of five Awards. All PADI Dive Centres and Resorts within each of the nine regions were considered for nomination by a specially convened selection panel, who selected up to three finalists for each of the awards. A panel of PADI judges then considered all of the finalists within each region and we are proud and delighted to announce that Scubafish/ Narima Diving are the winners of this year’s Project AWARE Conservation Award for our region (Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand and Vietnam).

The Project AWARE Conservation Award “recognises outstanding ecological achievements, with a focus on fostering environmental and cultural understanding, appreciation and conservation”.

The dive team are delighted at this achievement and obviously intend to continue these efforts whilst offering a sustainable and environmentally responsible diving experience.
Now 2 time winners of this particular award!

Feeding the fish is a bad idea for tourists, snorkellers, divers, the fish and the ecosystem.
It can:
1.Disrupt the ecology
Over time this activity can change the behviour of fish, as they learn to connect snorkellers, divers and boats with feeding time. Marine life maintains balanced ecological relationships by competing for habitat and food. In many cases, different species share space and alternate the use of that space by feeding at different times of day. Some species do not interact at all. This balance of behavior can be interrupted by the introduction of a free meal. Unnatural feeding overrides normal competitive relationships among species and hand-fed fish are especially vulnerable to predators. Sensations associated with feeding can override other associations, including predator avoidance and protection.Competition for the handout interferes with natural instincts and behaviors, which are essential for survival and cohabitation with other species.

2. Have Dangerous health impacts to fish
Many of the foods (hot dogs, rice, bread, pretzels, potato chips, etc ) commonly fed to fishes will result in health problems for these animals, which do not naturally encounter such substances. Fish cannot handle hard fats. Fish generally consume a wide variety of prey in order to stay healthy and survive. To obtain the necessary nutrients, fish have complex feeding cycles. Over time a fish conditioned to a free meal may actually stop or interrupt natural feeding patterns and become malnourished, stressed and can even die.
3.Be a Danger to Humans
There are increasing numbers of attacks and bites reported by fish feeders and others in the vicinity because marine life mistake the actions of divers and snorkellers for feeding, or have lost their natural wariness of humans. At popular tourist destinations where fish are commonly fed, there are often incidents of accidental biting. In 2005 there was a highly publicized incident of a moray eel in the Similans used to eating sausages from visiting divers one day mistaking a divers thumb for a sausage and biting the whole thing off!!! It is only where fish feeding is common that such unnatural behaviors occur.

4.Damages the Environment
Many fed species are predators whose feeding habits play a key role in the balance of life on coral reefs. By supplementing the diet of these fish we interrupt this natural balance. When grazers like surgeonfish—which normally feed on algae—are fed by tourists, the surgeonfish eat less algae. With a reduction of grazing activity by these fish, the algae is left to flourish and potentially smother the reefs. There is much evidence in Thailand that fish feeding is increasing the number, severity and rate of Crown of Thorns (COT) Starfish outbreaks. COTs are a coral reef predator which climb onto the reef and eat live hard coral, each destroying 6m square each a year. Normally there may be 1 COT in a 100m square, but outbreaks of 30+ in this space have been reported. Sergeant Major’s naturally feed on COT eggs, triggerfish naturally feed on young and adult COT, and even parrotfish accidentally eat young COT when grazing. So by feeding these fish we increase the number of COTs that survive to destroy the reef.

It is illegal to feed fish in National Parks around Thailand-please do not feed fish.