Do you want to save sharks?

Our friend Mike Neumann from Beqa Adventure Divers, has just made us aware of an "opportunity of a lifetime". We offer cage diving with great white sharks at Isla Guadalupe, where you will be swimming with shark, on our shark expedition, with tiger-sharks, bull sharks,
Projects Abroad has an opening for a Open Water SCUBA instructor, with a Marine Biology degree. This is your chance to do really do something for shark- and marine conservation. Who wouldn't want to live in Fiji, save the sharks and get paid for it? Mike is right, this is truly an opportunity of a lifetime!We offer cage diving with great white sharks at Isla Guadalupe, where you will be swimming with shark, on our shark expedition, with tiger-sharks, bull sharks,
Here are the details from Mike's blog.

Your Role:

• To carry out shark research in line with our Conservation Management Plan. 
• Coordinate scientific work with our international and local project partners. 
• Help develop and grow future scientific projects on a local and global scale. 
• Train research volunteers in all aspects of our scientific work. 
• Organisation and coordination of all field and related activities. 
• Supervise research volunteers. 
• Data collection, analysis and reporting. 
• Assist with teaching of dive courses when needed. 
• Administration.

Requirements:

• Marine Science Degree or similar
• PADI OWSI or higher
• First Aid certification
• Fluent in English
• Must be able to work as part of a team
• Very flexible approach to work
• Long term commitment (min 1 year)
• Proven experience of working with sharks is a big advantage.

We offer:

• 1 year contract with view to extend, subject to a 3 month probation period.
• Basic salary
• Accommodation
• 3 meals a day
• Comprehensive insurance
• Return flight to your home country after 1 year
• Visa related expenses
• Internet and phone
• Two days off a week
• Excellent in country support and benefits
• Working with some of the world's most renowned shark scientists and experts.

Please only apply if you have the relevant experience.

Only success applicants will be contacted.

Closing date for applications is: 10th February 2014.

Send a cover letter, CV and photo to Andy Hill:

Email: andyhill@projects-abroad.org

You can find all the details about the project here.

Good luck - and hopefully, c'ya real soon in Fiji!

Thanks for making us aware of this!

Cheers,

Martin Graf

CEO

Shark Diver

Great White Shark expeditions at Isla Guadalupe, diving with Bull sharks, swimming with Hammerhead sharks, free diving with Bull Sharks in Fiji are specialties of Shark Diver
About Shark Diver. As a global leader in commercial shark diving and conservation initiatives Shark Diver has spent the past decade engaged for sharks around the world. Our blog highlights all aspects of both of these dynamic and shifting worlds. You can reach us directly at staff@sharkdiver.com

Fiji Leading the Shark Pack - Cool Research

Has it been a decade over there in Fiji? 

Looks like it and now we have research driven data as well.

The kind of data that helps an entire industry grow, the kind of data that Fiji and the Team at BAD are so good at initializing and producing - quality work.

If you thought today's blog post from Fiji and Da Shark was celebratory, you were correct, and congratulations are in order as well for the entire Fiji team who have fearlessly, "done their own thing," and in doing so laid out a template for sustainable shark diving the world over.

We have long been fans of BAD and Da Shark, and no we're really not secret investors, we just have an eye out for excellence in the shark diving community and Fiji consistently fires on all cylinders when it comes to commercial shark diving, conservation, and research.

So Kudos to all for this latest paper and another continued decade of adventures to all:

Opportunistic Visitors: Long-Term Behavioural Response of Bull Sharks to Food Provisioning in Fiji
Juerg M. Brunnschweiler, Adam Barnett

Abstract

Shark-based tourism that uses bait to reliably attract certain species to specific sites so that divers can view them is a growing industry globally, but remains a controversial issue. 

We evaluate multi-year (2004–2011) underwater visual (n = 48 individuals) and acoustic tracking data (n = 82 transmitters; array of up to 16 receivers) of bull sharks Carcharhinus leucas from a long-term shark feeding site at the Shark Reef Marine Reserve and reefs along the Beqa Channel on the southern coast of Viti Levu, Fiji.

Individual C. leucas showed varying degrees of site fidelity. 

Determined from acoustic tagging, the majority of C. leucas had site fidelity indexes greater than 0.5 for the marine reserve (including the feeding site) and neighbouring reefs. However, during the time of the day (09:00–12:00) when feeding takes place, sharks mainly had site fidelity indexes smaller than 0.5 for the feeding site, regardless of feeding or non-feeding days. 

Site fidelity indexes determined by direct diver observation of sharks at the feeding site were lower compared to such values determined by acoustic tagging.

The overall pattern for C. leucas is that, if present in the area, they are attracted to the feeding site regardless of whether feeding or non-feeding days, but they remain for longer periods of time (consecutive hours) on feeding days. The overall diel patterns in movement are for C. leucas to use the area around the feeding site in the morning before spreading out over Shark Reef throughout the day and dispersing over the entire array at night. Both focal observation and acoustic monitoring show that C. leucas intermittently leave the area for a few consecutive days throughout the year, and for longer time periods (weeks to months) at the end of the calendar year before returning to the feeding site.

About Shark Diver. As a global leader in commercial shark diving and conservation initiatives Shark Diver has spent the past decade engaged for sharks around the world. Our blog highlights all aspects of both of these dynamic and shifting worlds. You can reach us directly at sharkcrew@gmail.com.

From the Office to the Ocean Part I - Of Shark and Man

First official teaser for the film "From the Office to the Ocean Part I - Of Shark and Man"
Filmed on location in Pinewood Studios UK, Manchester UK and Shark Reef, Fiji
Produced and Directed by David Diley.

What's not to like about this?

  "Of Shark and Man" - Teaser Trailer 1 from Scarlet View Media on Vimeo.

About Shark Diver. As a global leader in commercial shark diving and conservation initiatives Shark Diver has spent the past decade engaged for sharks around the world. Our blog highlights all aspects of both of these dynamic and shifting worlds. You can reach us directly at sharkcrew@gmail.com.

Shark Hope Video - First Rate Conservation Messaging

From TheDorsalFin on Aug.30, 2011 at 10:54 am, under Shark Videos.

Shark Defenders have posted the trailer above for a documentary titled “Shark Hope” to their YouTube channel. According to the video description the documentary is a collaboration between Walker Films, Ratu Manoa Rasagitale, the Coral Reef Alliance and Pew Environment Group. The documentary focuses on efforts to create Fiji National Shark Sanctuary.

Kudos to everyone involved in this project, this is first rate shark conservation outreach and messaging:

Fiji Sharks - Cause for Celebration!

Fiji is set to put in place a landmark fisheries policy to ban all shark finning in the country and address the alarming decline of sharks.

Department of Fisheries and Forests permanent secretary Commander Viliame Naupoto says the ban would be similar to laws that currently protect turtles.

The proposed new law would ban the trade of all shark fins and other products derived from any type of shark that is captured in Fiji waters.

The ban only affects trade and does not stop villagers from consuming shark meat.

However shark meat is not a regular diet for Fijians in villagers – although it is available in Fish and Chips shops in urban centres.

Sharks are also held sacred as the totem animals or Vu of the people of Cakaudrove and other islands.

Commander Naupoto says sharks play a critical role within the marine ecosystem by controlling the population of certain marine species.

He adds the emerging market in shark tourism has huge potential as an economic exchange earner and as employment for locals – and sharks are more valuable alive than dead.

Beqa Adventure Divers director and shark conservationist Mike Neumann highlighted that Beqa Adventure Divers generated about $3million in direct and indirect revenue that were all invested in Fiji.

Fiji will be the first Melanesian country to approve such a law.

Fiji Study - Fiji Template

We have said in the past and for the sake of saying it again, kudos!

Fiji's Beqa Adventure Divers have once again shown the rest of the commercial shark world how to sustainably manage their sharks with ongoing research.

While other sharks sites worldwide such as Playa del Carmen struggle with commercial shark fishing interests, because they did not take the time to roll out an embedded and highly visible research component with their diving programs, Fiji has created a global template - and they are willing to share it.

That's not to say all's lost elsewhere, but the fact remains that too few sites hedge against commercial disasters and embrace ongoing shark research. It works, and we are bound by more than commercial gain to adopt the time and funding necessary to make it happen at our own shark sites.

This morning Da Shark revealed his teams ongoing Bull shark project:

Seasonal and Long-Term Changes in Relative Abundance of Bull Sharks from a Tourist Shark Feeding Site in Fiji

Juerg M. Brunnschweiler, Harald Baensch

ETH Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland, Department of Biology, University of Nebraska at Kearney, Kearney, Nebraska, United States of America

Shark tourism has become increasingly popular, but remains controversial because of major concerns originating from the need of tour operators to use bait or chum to reliably attract sharks. We used direct underwater sampling to document changes in bull shark Carcharhinus leucas relative abundance at the Shark Reef Marine Reserve, a shark feeding site in Fiji, and the reproductive cycle of the species in Fijian waters. Between 2003 and 2009, the total number of C. leucas counted on each day ranged from 0 to 40. Whereas the number of C. leucas counted at the feeding site increased over the years, shark numbers decreased over the course of a calendar year with fewest animals counted in November. Externally visible reproductive status information indicates that the species' seasonal departure from the feeding site may be related to reproductive activity.

Complete study here.

Sharks - the Science - the Success!

Over in Fiji Da Shark and his entire team have a lot to be proud of when it comes to templates for sustainable and research interactive commercial shark sites - they have written the book.

We'll let Da Shark tell it in a blog post from today:

The section about Shark Tourism fascinates me.

Here are the numbers for our Sharks, in Fiji Dollars. One FJD is worth fifty US cents.

• The yearly turnover of Beqa Adventure Divers is FJD 1,100,000 (of which FJD 45,000/year marine park levy), all of which gets re-invested in country. Add to that the ancillary revenues in the tourism industry (airline tickets, transfers, accommodation, meals, souvenirs, excursions etc) and assume that the ratio is 1:2 (which is very conservative!) = FJD 2,200,000, gives a total of FJD 3,300,000.


• We work with approx 100 Sharks, meaning that every Shark contributes FJD 33,000 to the Fiji economy - not once but per year!
  


• Assuming that on average, a Shark will live for 20 years (less for Whitetips, more for Bulls), then the value of one Shark on our Shark dive is FJD 660,000.


• Our competitors work with the same Sharks. Assuming that their cash flow is similar to ours, one can double the above numbers.
  

Pretty darn impressive huh!

Fiji Shark Conservation - Nicely Done

Da Shark is rightly heralding this latest Fijian Pro Shark PSA/Conservation piece like a proud father. This is mighty fine stuff, highlighting a small island nations, and their first rate shark awareness and conservation efforts.

If only Hawaii was so evolved:

The Last Blue Wilderness / Save the Sharks from Emma Robens on Vimeo.

Ecuador sharks commitment to coastal and marine biodiversity

The national government of Ecuador during the next four years will launch a project to alleviate the pressures on marine and coastal biodiversity. The aim is to create an ecological network of marine protected areas and implement a Plan of Action for Shark Conservation in Ecuador (PAT-EC).

The Global Environment Facility (GEF) will provide USD 4 million to implement this initiative, an amount that will be administered through the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB).

The Ministries of Environment and Agriculture, Livestock, Aquaculture and Fisheries have also funded USD 4.3 million.

The program consists of three components:

• Establishing a functional network of marine protected areas including intangible zones for multiple use, in order to preserve habitats and representative samples of marine and coastal ecosystems. The network elements are functionally connected and act synergistically to generate social, economic and environmental benefits to the country
• Implementation of PAT-EC, which will help consolidate the national government's efforts to protect shark populations. It will strengthen inter-agency cooperation and compliance with established standards, and promote decision making based on scientific data
• Awareness, support and participation of stakeholders in the management of marine and coastal protected areas and for the conservation of sharks.
  

Mangroves for Fiji - Industry Leadership

Over the past three years we have said a lot about Da Shark and his operation in Fiji.

Industry leadership comes in many forms. Getting out ahead of the pack with smart ideas and front running initiatives are the hallmarks of leadership.

Beqa Adventure Divers are one of those companies where leadership comes naturally and today revealed their latest project in Fiji.

Carbon sequestering is a major issue facing the planet right now, and while multi national companies like GE are looking at high tech solutions, millions of years ago the planet came up with a few of her own. In the process provided shark nurseries, habitat, and a natural buffer against hurricanes.

The lowly Mangrove.

Easy to propagate, simple to plant, and the planets ultimate natural Carbon sequestering device.

This effort has our full support because it makes sense on many different levels. Mangrove habitat has been reduced worldwide to coastal development and aquaculture.

This initiative just might help stem the tide when the realization that Mangroves will provide a reduction in carbon footprints to commercial interests along with many other benefits ranging from fish stocks to coastal stabilization.

Starting with Fiji and a commercial shark diving company.

Kudos.

Fiji - Evolving Shark Tourism

Shark tourism is a $300 million dollar worldwide industry. Done right, shark tourism has long lasting positive effects on local economies, shark conservation, and regional fisheries.

Fiji has been at the forefront of the evolution of commercial shark diving thanks to the tireless efforts of a few industry visionaries who pushed for change.

Worldwide, shark tourism efforts run the complete spectrum from "business only models" where the sharks are the subject of for profit enterprise, to a newer breed of operation that includes shark research, conservation and outreach.

Change to any industry comes slowly and is lead by risk takers and industry movers.

As a template for sites like Tiger Beach, Bahamas the set aside Shark Reef Marine Reserve Fiji model is in need a few regional champions.

Welcome to industry change.

Welcome to Fiji (click image)