Abandon Fear

Maldives bans shark fishing

administrator — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 20:41:04 +0000

Just prior to a United Nations endangered species conference that begins this week, a government official has announced that Maldives, an island country in the Indian ocean, is banning shark fishing in its waters. “We’ve decided to go ahead with a shark fishing ban,” Ibrahim Didi, the fisheries and agriculture minister, told The New York Times. “Beginning July 1 there will be a total ban on exports.” Maldives is one of the world’s top scuba-diving destinations. Researchers from James Cook University in Australia last year estimated that a single gray reef shark was worth $3,300 a year to the Maldivian tourism industry, compared with the one-time value of $32 that a fisherman would get from the same shark. Didi said his government began planning the ban last year, but was delayed due to objections from fishermen, who were catching the sharks and killing them for their fins. Now, he says, “They understand that it isn’t a sustainable fishery.” The government is planning to provide the fishermen with financial support and retraining. The Maldivian waters are home to over 26 types of sharks, including the whale shark, tiger shark and hammerhead shark.

Students talk about Sharkwater

Rob Stewart — Mon, 25 Jan 2010 19:17:41 +0000

Thank you to Noah Doughty, Biology teacher at Mission College Preparatory who sent us the following letter and comments:

To Rob Stewart and all the others involved with the SHARKWATER film, website and related projects
I recently showed the movie Sharkwater in my biology classes and my students were greatly impressed with the movie and wanted to find out more. As a follow up assignment I asked the students to email me with their comments and questions after watching the movie. I’ve left spelling and grammar unchanged. I realize that you are busy and probably do not have time to reply to all, but we did want to send you the message that the movie was watched, awareness was raised, and many of the students want to know how they can help.
Thank you for such an amazing film,
Noah Doughty
Biology Teacher
Mission College Preparatory

January Jones advocates for sharks

administrator — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 17:12:41 +0000

Mad Men actress January Jones went to Washington, D.C. this week to lobby for the Shark Conservation Act of 2009, saying, “We should be scared FOR sharks, not of them. The survival of sharks and the health of our oceans depend on it.” Jones became a spokesman for Oceana’s Save Sharks campaign earlier this year. The Shark Conservation Act would outlaw shark “finning,” a cruel practice in which sharks’ fins are cut off, only to be dumped back into the sea to suffer a slow death. The law would require that sharks be brought in to land in one piece and would stop the massacre of hundreds of thousands of sharks each year by fishermen who make enormous profit by just getting the fins. Jones recently swam in the ocean with sharks while in the Bahamas with Oceana, an environmental group that works to protect the oceans of the world. “It’s exhilarating,” Jones said at the Variety Power of Women luncheon last Friday, where she was honored for her work with the environmental group. “They’re beautiful creatures and to be in that close proximity with them was a dream come true.”

The Toronto Zoo hosts FREE Sharkwater screenings!

rstewart — Thu, 06 Aug 2009 20:49:48 +0000

Sharkwater will be featured in August as part of the Toronto Zoo’s Conservation Awareness Weekends!

On Saturday August 8th - Sunday August 9th and Saturday August 22nd- Sunday August 23rd, there will be 3 screenings each day at 11:30am, 1:30pm and 3:30pm FREE with your admission to the zoo.

Don’t miss this incredible opportunity to see this award winning film, learn about shark conservation and visit the new Sharks at Stingray Bay exhibit!

The gift shop will also be featuring Sharkwater DVDs, BluRay disc and Rob Stewarts photobook “Sharkwater: An Odyssey to save the Planet”. Own your copy TODAY!

The Toronto Zoo is located on Meadowvale Road, just North off exit #389 on Highway 401 in Toronto

http://www.sharkwater.com/
http://www.torontozoo.com/

Sharkwater screening and fundraiser in Japan!

rstewart — Mon, 20 Jul 2009 17:21:12 +0000

Tokyo, Japan (July, 09) - PangeaSeed, a Japan-based nonprofit organization, is ramping up its inaugural activities in Tokyo this summer with events tailored to spotlight the organization’s dedication to increasing awareness of the plight of sharks. Of the 400 shark species, more than 100 are endangered, with many species so overexploited it may be impossible for them to recover.

The events will showcase the issues surrounding shark finning in Asia and other parts of the world, where sharks are killed to satisfy culinary and medicinal demand. In finning it is common to cut the fin from a still-living shark, then discard the rest, as the fin is worth many times over the shark as a whole.

PangeaSeed takes an inclusive approach to spreading its message by engaging its audience through music, art, photography and open discussion. First, PangeaSeed has been selected to host a booth at the 2009 Fuji Rock Festival’s NGO Village on July 24 -26, 2009. The booth will feature information and facts about the shark finning issue and aims to provide a venue for the organization to educate and discuss with its target audience such topics as the threat of shark extinction, and the need for shark protection and shark sustainability. At the event, PangeaSeed will collect signatures with the goal of securing an area of the coast of Miyagi prefecture as a sanctuary for sharks, while special guest artist and PangeaSeed member Yoh Nagao will perform “live paints” during the festival to raise awareness of the shark finning issue. During the festival, PangeaSeed also will feature a public service announcement on the festival’s Green Stage.

Later in July, PangeaSeed will host its first event, “No Fin, No Future.” The event will be held Thursday, July 30, 2009, at Super Deluxe in Nishi Azabu, and will feature never-before-seen art and photography from global artists such as Mr. Brainwash, Josh Keyes, Dave Kinsey and many more. Guests will enjoy a screening of the international award-winning documentary, “Sharkwater” followed by a discussion with leading shark expert, Ms. Kim McCoy of Shark Angels. Ms. McCoy will discuss her experience in working with sharks including research and education. She will also share with the audience underwater footage of swimming and interacting with large sharks from around the world. “We are very excited to showcase a not-for-profit fund raising art collection featuring works contributed from more than 30 internationally renowned artists, graphic designers and photographers never seen before in Japan,” said Tre’ L. Packard, managing director of PangeaSeed.

“We are thrilled with the opportunities we’ve been given both with Fuji Rock and our own No Fin, No Future event,” Packard said. “Through these events PangeaSeed aims to open the eyes, minds and hearts of our neighbors and bring to the forefront the ecological and environmental problems that continue to be overlooked both domestically and around the globe. We believe these events are an excellent place to introduce our message and gain the necessary momentum to make a difference.”

PangeaSeed
Phone: 050-1550-6358 Fax: 050-1550-6358
E-Mail: pangea.seed@yahoo.com
Web: www.pangeaseed.com

About PangeaSeed: PangeaSeed (www.pangeaseed.com) is a Tokyo-based grassroots effort to educate and raise awareness of the plight of sharks around the world. Through volunteer activism and the media of art, music and photography, PangeaSeed aims to create an open dialogue with the global community to develop an understanding of the need to preserve and protect sharks and their habitat.

Rob Stewart empowers over 1,000 students in live Web Conference

administrator — Wed, 22 Apr 2009 16:24:56 +0000

On March 3rd, 2009 Rob Stewart addressed over 1,000 school students in a North America wide web conference. Over 30 schools held private screenings of Rob’s award-winning film Sharkwater and spent several days engaged in numerous educational activities surrounding the movie and the conservation of the world’s oceans.

This rare opportunity brought students together from Hawaii to Ontario and allowed them to communicate directly with Rob to ask many of the burning questions they had collected after researching sharks and watching the movie. Rob did not disappoint! Not only did Rob answer the student’s questions, he inspired a generation of kids to stand up for what they believe in and guided them in how to make positive changes in their world.

Like a true hero, Rob empowered, taught and shared and made a real difference in the lives of those who he spoke with.

To see the interview click here.

Bring Sharkwater to China!!

rstewart — Sat, 18 Apr 2009 21:01:52 +0000

This is Your Chance to Help Save Sharks!

Bring Sharkwater to China! Act Now!

Dear Friends,
It’s really important that you help us bring the award-winning documentary Sharkwater to China. China is the largest consumer and trader of shark fins in the world, fueling the growing demand for shark fin soup that is destroying our oceans within our lifetime.

Most Chinese consumers don’t know that shark fin soup contains shark, because the translation literally means “fish wing soup”. Shark populations have dropped more than 90% in 30 years, destroying the most important ecosystem for our own survival. Conservation isn’t just saving species and ecosystems, it’s saving humans.

This is a huge consumer awareness issue that we have the power to change. We urgently need your help to create a Chinese version of Sharkwater that will target an audience of over 300 million people. We can change the world, with your help.

WHAT YOU CAN DO:

Donate now to the non-profit foundation SAVE THE BLUE (savetheblue.org/donate) that is working with us and WildAid to bring Sharkwater to China & receive a special custom-made tribal shark pendant, shirt or bag!

Wear your special shark pendant with pride to engage people in making shark conservation an international priority!

It’s cool to save sharks!

Act now & donate to China

Thanks for helping us save sharks,

Rob Stewart and the Sharkwater Team

www.sharkwater.com

Rob Stewart joins the festivities at EFFY

Rob Stewart — Fri, 17 Apr 2009 20:15:43 +0000

Rob Stewart, director of the award-winning film Sharkwater has been invited to participate at the inaugural Environmental Film Festival at Yale (EFFY) April 16-19, 2009!

The festival showcases cutting-edge documentaries and short films to raise awareness of current environmental issues. It also offers an opportunity for the audience to interact with the filmmakers and other experts in an intimate setting. Sharkwater screens Saturday April 18th at 7:30pm followed by a discussion with Rob Stewart. This is an amazing opportunity to not only see the film with fellow environmental enthusiasts but will provide a chance to speak with Rob about the film and what we can all do to help save sharks!

In addition to Sharkwater there are some amazing films screening - and best of all, all screenings and special events are FREE and open to the public! Bring your friends, family, colleagues and share this experience with them!

For more details on EFFY visit
http://environment.yale.edu/film/Home.html

To learn more about Rob Stewart and Sharkwater visit
www.sharkwater.com

Sharkwater fibreglass shark up for auction

administrator — Fri, 20 Mar 2009 16:20:51 +0000

The 16 foot long fibreglass shark that was used to promote Sharkwater at various functions, including film festivals and movie premieres, is up for auction at eBay. Rob’s willing to part with this valuable piece of movie memorabilia to order raise funds for his new film, Rise Again. Check out the shark at by clicking on this link, which will lead you straight to the auction.

Mr. Stewart goes to Washington!

rstewart — Fri, 27 Feb 2009 00:19:30 +0000

Rob Stewart and the team from Sharkwater Productions are heading to Washington DC for the PowerShift ‘09 Convention February 27- March 2, 2009.

PowerShift’09 is an event that brings youth, activists and the leaders of the climate and clean energy movement together for a weekend of seminars, panels and action planning. Participants are encouraged to join workshops and panels that are designed to infuse young leaders with new skills, networking, new ideas and employment opportunities. The forum concludes with an action rally at Capitol Hill when the participants send their message to political leaders and demand immediate federal climate action. PowerShift demands that the federal government: invest in a clean energy economy, cut global warming pollution immediately, end our dependence on dirty energy, take dirty money out of politics, and re-engage as a leader in the international community.

Attending this monumental event is important to Rob as it provides key research opportunities for his next documentary Rise Again. The film explores how humans are going to survive the next 100 years and points to revolutions of the past to hopefully further the most important revolution of our time, saving humanity. Rise Again will take audiences on an incredible journey working with conservation groups to protect the planet, ecosystems, and ensure survival of our species.

For more info on Powershift ’09 please visit : http://www.powershift09.org/