PR AWARDS FOR SHARK PROTECTION.

Vienna, Zurich, Berlin, 18. November 2024 – The marine and species conservation organization SHARKPROJECT places great emphasis on professional knowledge transfer, media work, and comprehensive political communication in its efforts to protect sharks. Thanks to the voluntary support of leading communication experts and agencies, SHARKPROJECT has successfully raised awareness of shark conservation in the media and public sphere across many countries, ultimately persuading politicians to take concrete action.

FAR-REACHING BAN ON THE IMPORT AND PROCESSING OF SHARK MEAT AND SHARK

A prime example of this success is the recent achievement in Austria, where, after several years of lobbying, SHARKPROJECT convinced all political parties in parliament to pass a comprehensive ban on the import and processing of shark meat and shark products in 2024. SHARKPROJECT received significant support throughout this complex legislative process from Skills I Team Farner (www.skills.at), one of Austria’s leading PR and communications agencies, and its managing director, Jürgen Gangoly, a diver and underwater photographer who is a passionate marine conservationist.

The collaborative efforts of SHARKPROJECT and Skills I Team Farner have not only led to the passing of the Shark Protection Act in Austria, but also generated extensive media coverage across Europe on the need for legal protection measures for sharks. Between 2019 and 2023, SHARKPROJECT and Skills I Team Farner also played a pivotal role in the success of the European Citizens' Initiative “Stop Finning EU,” which garnered support from over 1.1 million people across Europe.

INTERNATIONAL COMMUNICATIONS INDUSTRY RECOGNIZES EXEMPLARY PR WORK FOR SHARK CONSERVATION

SHARKPROJECT’s professional and impactful public relations efforts have been recognized by the international PR and communications industry. In November 2024, SHARKPROJECT and Skills I Team Farner received the Gold Award from the International Public Relations Association (IPRA) in Belgrade.

Herbert Futterknecht, President of SHARKPROJECT Austria for many years, commented:

“Professional communication and information work are essential success factors for marine and species protection today, and are therefore indispensable for shark conservation. We would like to thank all our supporters, especially the communications agency Skills I Team Farner, which has been supporting SHARKPROJECT pro bono in its media and lobbying efforts for many years.”

PR REPORT AWARD 2024 IN BERLIN: SHARKPROJECT AUSTRIA AND SKILLS I TEAM FARNER HONORED JOINTLY

Last week, one of the most prestigious awards in the German PR and communications industry was presented in Berlin. The German PR Report Award 2024 (www.prreport.de, www.prreportawards.de) in the “Political Communication” category was awarded to Skills I Team Farner and SHARKPROJECT Austria.

Gabriela Futterknecht, Project Manager at SHARKPROJECT, summarized:

“The fact that the international communications industry has recognized our efforts and their impact with multiple awards this year – awards that are typically given to communications professionals from large industries and corporations – is both a pleasant surprise and a great honor. These awards help raise further awareness for shark protection, both in the business world and among political institutions, which is ultimately the most important outcome.”

ABOUT SHARKPROJECT

SHARKPROJECT is a species conservation organization dedicated to the protection of sharks and their marine habitat. In addition to education and outreach on marine conservation issues, SHARKPROJECT is committed to a global transformation of the use of our oceans, towards an ecosystem-based fishery management, the reduction of the bycatch of threatened species, and the creation of marine protected areas.  All employees work on a voluntary basis and all donations are used to directly support shark conservation projects. Besides the umbrella organization SHARKPROJECT International, there are country organizations in Austria, Germany and Switzerland. SHARKPROJECT is a member of the Deep Sea Conservation Coalition (DSCC), Seas at Risk, the Transform Bottom Trawling Coalition and advocates for a moratorium against deep sea mining and an end of destructive fishing methods.