* sharks sensitiveness on electric-Smog
Diploma at Meereszentrum Fehmarn
Within this project we want to point out the burden and
restriction of the senses of sharks on electromagnetic radiation,
e.g. from radio towers or out of mobile phones in the surrounding
area. A substantial contribution to shark husbandry within
aquariums.
* Shark Oberver Vehicle SOV
Project management: Gerhard Wegner
It is a fact that the Great White Shark is probably the
most famous shark in the world and yet we know next to nothing
about the behaviour of this animal. What do they do all day?
Do they live in groups or on their own? Do they all roam,
or is it just a few that do and why?
Research on the Great White Shark is stuck in its infancy
because the habitat in which it lives makes research difficult
and medium to long-term observations have been ruled out
to a large extent for financial and logistical reasons.
This is where our latest project comes in: We plan to scientifically
document the everyday life of the Great White Shark over
a period of 12 months in its natural habitat.
Our Free-Dive-Cage, the Shark Observer Vehicle, SOV for
short, is specially designed for Great White Shark documentation.
It is motorised and in effect, a two-seater underwater scooter
surrounded by a cage. The two-man crew will observe the animals
on established routes with the help of two HD video cameras
and document their behaviour for science. The HD material
will also allow high-resolution images for selected sequences.
Sharkproject hopes to use this unique expedition to accelerate
existing research into Great White Sharks in South Africa
and hopes to provide a flood of material for new theses or
new evidence for theses, thereby contributing to, and advancing
the protection of all shark species.
As part of the research exciting underwater video and still-photo
material will become available which may be used by Sharkproject
for educational and promotional purposes.
A prime objective of Sharkproject is to further “de-criminalise” the
Great White's image in addition to gaining more scientific
and behavioral knowledge. This is to be achieved by communicating
this newly found knowledge as effectively and as broadly
as possible. The aspects “mating” and “birth” appear
to be predestinating for this purpose. Therefore a hype of
Media activities will accompany this project
Apart from the necessary sponsorship measures to cover costs,
the project has no commercial aim. This is, moreover, expressly
forbidden under the German laws governing non-profit-making
organisations.
We have received the permission in June 2006 to go on with
our Documentation Project on “Birth and Mating” as
well as the complete support of the MCM and the South African
sharks scientists.
In parallel, the MCM asked us to support the current range
of research on sharks with our S.O.V. That means that from
Sept. until Dec 2006 we will go on with our own Documentary
and from January on work with the MCM. To this joined work
belong research expeditions to the tiger sharks, as well
as shark expeditions with specialists of the MCM, on the
South African coasts. Some more projects are in the making,
that we are not yet allowed to disclose, or do not yet want
to disclose because it would all become way to exiting. So
much has been said, that the big research boat of the MCM
will come into operation with our SOV on board.
Sharks are among the most elegant of all animals. They are
extremely vulnerable to fishing pressure because they grow
quite slowly and have a much lower capacity to reproduce
than most bony fishes. Sharks are not the aggressive beasts
as which they are portrayed in Movies. Broad knowledge is
the base of the work of Sharkproject and its protection-aim – starting
with children and schools up to adults from all walks of
life!
* educational aquarium-trail
Project manager: Christine Gstöttner
In March 2006 we have started the first video educational
aquarium-trail at the „Meereszentrum Fehmarn”.
Beside the different loops on biology, senses, awareness
and other themes, there is also shown a 12-minute Sharkproject-film
inside the Whaleshark-Cinema. Approximately 500.000 visitors
ayear receive this information and also the annual Newspaper
of Sharkproject the “Sharknews”. This pilot-project
will be expanded to other aquariums in Germany, Austria and
Switzerland. The aim is to achieve the wide public and inform
about sharks.
* teaching material for schools
Project manager: Christine Gstöttner
The school CD entirely made by Christine Gstöttner,
on the base of the Shark Project books from Dr. Ritter and
Gerhard Wegner (themselves based on the material in our Haiothek)
has been reworked by pedagogues in the mean time and is now
in the final phase. The CD can be programmed and produced –we
only have to use formats every teacher can open! It should
be ready for the beginning of the new school year in September
2006. A press release will follow!
In this prospect we are looking for speakers to present it
to schools. Please contact Tina Gstöttner.
We are working on the submarinebook and different films about
it, many articles in journals are in preparation.
Aktuell: Stuttgarter Zeitung march, Playboy autumn 2006,
TV Hören und Sehen april 2006
* different
Shark-movies
Within this project we fight against the bad and wrong image
of sharks. Professional Videos, DVDs and movies show sharks
to the public from our point of view. No monsters but beautiful
and majestic animals within their natural habitats.
The films are sold through Sharkproject and specialist traders
and in cooperation with TV, documentaries are produced.
Publications: DVD „Language of sharks“, DVD „Angstzination
Hai“ and with direct and mediate publications Sharkproject
participated in more than 100 TV-shows.
We also offer scientific and TV-specialised support – please
contact us directly.
*Methyl-Mercury
Project-manager: Dr. Andreas Keppeler
SHARKS ARE DANGEROUS -- BUT ONLY WHEN THEY ARE DEAD!
They belong either in the ocean or on the harzardous waste
dump!
Sharkmeat contains very high levels of methyl mercury. The
Sharkproject tests and new study from the University of Mainz,
Germany, shows how dangerous shark meat is for health. It
can potentially kill you. Organic mercury can be 100 times
more toxic than non-organic mercury. Some shark steaks in
this study contained 50 times the amount of methyl mercury
than is recommended by the EPA. Methyl mercury can destroy
your nervous system, make people sterile and impotent, destroy
your kidneys and can cause birth defects in babies if eaten
by pregnant women. Also, sharks do not urinate. Their urine
is absorbed into their muscles and that's why shark meat
is full of uric acid.
China congress:
After a long and difficult phase of preparation for the responsible
team of Sharkproject, it has finally succeeded. From the
26th to the 28th of June 2006, a conference took place
in China, concerning the theme “Seafood Safety”.
Since Sharkproject has let sample of shark meat being examined
at the University of Mainz at the end of May, and tested
at the institute of Rijk in Holland, the results from the
toxicological point of view have been highly alarming.
The publication of the result to the public, as well as a
statement regarding the reliability of the analysis and its
toxicological meaning have created a considerable dropping
of the market volume of shark products in Germany, Austria
and Switzerland.
The opinion was quite close to divulgate this information
to Asia as well. Thanks to an immensely precious contact
in the person of Mrs. Pei Fang Wagner, who put all her talents
in action, it has now been possible to organise an international
conference in Qing Dao. This conference treats our important
theme of methyl quicksilver poison in shark meat.
Qing Dao, a big harbour in east China, is the seat of the
famous international Ocean University, where every year in
June the Ocean Days take place. Beside these days an important
Conference takes place.
On our suggestion, the theme Seafood Safety has been taken
into the program. From Sarkproject, four further main themes
where supported.
Two toxicologists Dr. Hermann Kruse from the Kiel University,
and Prof. Fritz Schweinsberg from Reutlingen, reported about
the dangers of such poisonous substances for people. The
Dr. Nataliya Poperechna and Dr.Petra Krystek, both chemists,
reported about the new position of the chemical analysts
concerning the research on heavy metal samples and especially
from Methyl quicksilver in shark meat.
The total costs of the journey, the organisation of the conference,
as well as the logistic adjustments will be covered by Shark
Project, with the supporting of Mrs. Wagner. Without her
that project would absolutely not be able to exist, and with
the supporting of the German Lufthansa, which once again
gave us most interesting prices.
Find the detailed report from Dr. A.Keppeler in our News!
*Stop Sales
Project-manager: Helmut Wipplinger
STOP SALES continues further, with a lot of in detail work:
Concerning restaurants offering shark steaks, local fish
dealers, shark products, and always again strips of smoked
dog fish…
We partly receive very positive answers, thanking us for
our explanations, assuring us that in the future no more
shark products will be consumed. Some other times we get
no answers, which is not necessarily negative. In fact, we
have realised that later, the shark products have simply
and quietly disappeared from the offers…
Two unusual cases happened lately:
Robison Club
We keep getting information that in the Restaurants of the
Robinson club world wide, shark meat is being offered.
Often even a whole shark thrones on the buffet, as decoration.
Their head office has been informed already last year,
but it is only now, for a few weeks that we have received
very good news. Bernd Adolf wrote us from TUI that since
our first letter, all the chefs of the Robinson Clubs worldwide
have been informed per email of the situation, and instructed
to ban all sorts of shark products from the food program,
and therefore from buffets. At this occasion, we would
like to warmly thank the management from TUI Robinson Club
for its decision and support.
Marco Polo travelling guide
The Marco Polo travelling guide on the “Seychelles” refers
to the local shark chutney delicacy. Dirk Zapf received a
very friendly answer from the publisher, informing him that
this will be corrected in the new edition (coming yearly),
as the Marco Polo of course does not approve the destruction
of an animal race.
To conclude: thank you very much for the very many information,
but also an urgent demand- continue like that!
*Stop Finning: Costa Rica
Project-manager: Helmut Wipplinger and Gerhard Wegner
Every year members, sponsors and supporters of the International
Organisation for the protection of Sharks – SHARKPROJECT
- nominate the candidates for the only worldwide Shark-Awards.
The SHARK GUARDIAN OF THE YEAR is statutory awarded to organisations
or nations protecting sharks consequently and effectively.
The SHARK ENEMY OF THE YEAR is given to organisations or
nations extinguishing sharks or do not force fishery-laws
actively.
Frank Schätzing, the world wide famous author of the
Best Seller “The Swarm” handed the awards to
the “winners” at the international Boat Show
in Duesseldorf in January 2006.
Guardian 2006: The campaign led by HEPCA and supported by
the Red Sea Governorate, The National Parks of Egypt and
the Ministry of Agriculture & Fisheries,
to secure a decree banning shark fishing through out the
entire Egyptian Red Sea, in order to protect the shark population
and environment of Egypt, led to the second nomination of
the SHARK GUARDIAN 2006. The first decree against shark-fishing
led to a national law banning fishing and finning through
out the entire Red Sea District and violations will be prosecuted.
Additionally, the trading of shark-products is now forbidden.
A very important step and role model in one of he best diving
spots in the world.
Enemy 2006: Due to the fact that the president is responsible
for the enforcement of laws Dr. Abel Pacheco de la Espriella
was nominated. Costa Rica has very strict and clear anti-finning-laws:
it is strictly forbidden to unload fins separated from sharkbodies.
Based on these regulations trawlers are hindered to fill
their cargo spaces with fins. That means that one ship of
normal size can “only” load 2000 sharks instead
of the fins of 40.000. Due to a lack of control and the permission
for running private Taiwanese docks without any control,
this law is not enforced in Costa Rica. Special permissions
and exceptions prevail and the slaughtering goes on.
Here we have received the first results – we are only
waiting fort he confirmation of
Randall Aurez. The official reaction says, that with immediate
effect a governmental controller will supervise every unloading
of ships at private docks. We will check if this regulation
is enforced.
Project-manager: Gerhard Wegner
Golden Megaphone on May 15th 2006: Price Award for the best
National TV Spots on Shark Project: The Advertising Year
Book gives out every year an important price for the most
creative spot. There are for the laureate from the different
category just a few super prices. Shark Project made a hit!
Winner in the category Social-marketing, it also won the
super price for best German TV spot. Like the jury said “It
is not possible to make advertising better!”
We are also working on a new campaign .. surprise!
* 250.000 minutes under the sea – pixel-campaign
Campaign: 250,000 minutes under the sea - researchers start
expedition to the white sharks! The expedition will take
approximately 4200 man-hours - from May 2006 to April 2007.
Converted to hours this world-wide singular expedition causes
costs of approximately euro 60, - what means each minute
costs euro 1, -.
You can support this expedition directly and personally now.
Starting from 20 minutes minimum donation your sponsor name
appears on the Website. you receive a regular email diary
of this unusual expedition via email and all promoters will
be namechecked in the book 2008. Starting from a 60-minute
donation you will additionally receive an unusual key trailer
with the submarine in 3-D.
Further information
campaign site
* New website
Project-manager: Christine Staacks
Our new Web site finds itself in the last preparation phase.
Christine and Björn program day and night. Our goal
is not to make a completely new come back, but mainly to
present a new Content Management System, quicker and more
flexible for news and changes.
Until now, it all goes through the critical eye of our Web
mistress (except for the Forums announcements), and she can
also do no more than work. It comes therefore often to delays
like for the registration of sponsors, announcements, or
adequate corrections in specific
fields.
The new system, as well as the existent Web site, will be
sponsored by Christine Staacks (in terms of time, work and
money), herself supported by our great background programmer
Björn Fernhomberg.
All data and files are meanwhile being reorganised, corrected
and translated. Our goal is to offer the complete English
version on line, shortly after the start of the new CMS System.
The corresponding presenter will then be able to work on
their field, change and complete them, and we hope to then
have overcome all possible problems.
The expect the “official start “ will be on the
1st of Sept 2006.
* Events/Lectures/Fairs
Project-manager: Rainer Heftrich
We will participate in many events and Fairs in 2006 and 2007. Each time with
a contact person, Informationcounters, Campaigns and Newspapers.
Please visit the according website “dates”
* Youth-campaign
Various project-managers
Starting Summer 2006 there are various parts: Kids- and
Youth Web, different activities, Junior membership, Scholl-lectures
and Shark comics – find the details as soon as it is
started on the referring websites!
As soon as our english website will be completed, you can
visit all our sites like the Stop sales sites, where a lot
of information concerning the necessary do´s and dont´s
are explained. As always moral courage is necessary to keep
the thing going!
You can also participate in the nominations fort he Shark
Guardian and enemy awards and there are a lot of things to
do to protect sharks..
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