The clock is ticking so to keep building momentum in defense of the two whale sharks, we’ve created a global petition on the Care2 Petition Site which members of PangeaSeed will personally deliver with your signature to Mayor Kanemaru and the facilitators of Hasama Ocean Park where the whale sharks are being held captive. We’ve already reached our initial goal of 1000 signatures! Together, lets push for more!

SIGN THE PETITION TODAY! CLICK HERE

Or copy the address here:

http://www.thepetitionsite.com/2/Free-the-whale-sharks-in-Japan

Captive whale shark info:

On July 25 and August 10 two whale sharks were caught by Japanese fishermen off the coast of Tateyama-Chiba prefecture, Japan. The two whale sharks are currently held in a 50×50 meter space, 7 meters tall, that is cordoned off by a net.

While waiting for an aquarium to house the whale sharks, facilitators are taking the opportunity to profit by letting 40 divers inside the enclosure daily, as well as boat tours, creating a lot of stress to the whale sharks. In addition, the tiny enclosure forces the sharks to make a lot of sharp turns, causing it to burn off its energy very fast.

The man-made environment can also not cater to a whale shark’s special feeding requirements. In short, its inability to adapt to this captivity will drastically reduce the sharks lifespan.

What you can do to help save the two whale sharks:

*Sign the Care2 petition and send it along to friends, family, and contacts urging them to do the same.

* Copy the PDF letter below and continue to send the letter directly to the mayor of Tateyama asking for the release of the two whale sharks.

PDF LETTER INSTRUCTIONS:

* Open a new e-mail.

* Copy the e-mail address and Japanese title in the link below in your e-mail. (As the mayor might not speak English, we are sending this letter in Japanese).

* Then open the PDF file and with the cursor tool, copy the letter in your e-mail (you can read what you are sending in the English translation below the Japanese letter).

* Add your name and send. Please share this link and urge your friends, family, and contacts to do the same!

LINK TO THE PDF LETTER AND INSTRUCTIONS:

The following link contains the PDF letter in English and Japanese addressed to the mayor of Tateyama in Chiba, Japan asking for the immediate release of two captive whale sharks recently caught off the coast of Japan:

PDF Letter

Please open the PDF letter available in Japanese with English translation. Select the entire Japanese text and copy/paste into the body of an email, add your name under “Best Regards”, and send all mails to Mayor Kenichi Kanemaru at the following email address and title:

E-mail Address: shichou@city.tateyama.chiba.jp

Email Title: 館山市長　金丸 謙一 殿 / Free the Whale Sharks in Tateyama.

The following link leads to the webpage, with photos, for the Hasama Ocean Park

(Email: o_hasama@mvc.biglobe.ne.jp)
where the whale sharks are currently being held captive.

Thank you for your support. Save the sharks, save the oceans, save ourselves.

We have learnt that the dolphinarium’s ‘exhibits’ would be sourced from Japan. We’re going to need all the help we can get, so please get in touch with GONHS if you our your organisation can help.

International pressure on the Government of Gibraltar may become crucial if we are to defeat this proposal.

Thank you