Owners
What it's all about
Around 100 million sharks are being killed each year; for their fins, as bycatch and on longlines. Sharks are not mindless killers, they are important in maintaining already threatened marine ecosystems.
i am starting a local group with the aim of raising awareness of the threats posed to sharks and taking part in campaigns aimed a local, national and international issues.
Bringing to light the devastion being caused by the global shark fin industry, which is responsible for the deaths of 35 million to 70 millions sharks each year (it is impossible to be more precise due the unregulated scale on which this happens). If you know of anywhere in the northeast selling shark fin soup/dishes (or know of anywhere selling any shark products) please get in touch!
Spiny dogfish, a lesser known shark, is being sold in fish and chip shops across the country as rock salmon despite being classsified as vunerable globally and critically endangered in the northeast Atlantic. See here for more details: http://www.sharktrust.org/v.asp?level2=6453&depth=2&level3=6453&level2id=6453&rootid=6209&nextlevel=6453
Fish stocks have decreased by upto 90% in the last 50 years, if you must eat fish it is important to do as sustainably as possible. We know plenty people enjoy a tuna sandwich and the environmentally conscious may reach for the dolphin friendly label, but what is friendly for dolphins isn't friendly for others. Sharks and other marine animals can be caught as bycatch in dolphin friendly tuna. If feel you absolutly cannot live without eating fish and especially tuna go for skipjack tuna caught line AND pole. Fish simply labelled line caught can be caught using longlines, an extremely destructive method of fishing.
We hope to eventually be able to have showings of the brilliant documentarty SHARKWATER in the Tyne and Wear area to
The most important thing you can do is educate yourself and people you know about the reality of sharks.
Check out these great organizations doing amazing work for sharks to
www.seashepherd.org
www.sharkangels.org/
www.sharktrust.org/
www.stopsharkfinning.net/
www.sharksavers.org/
Get in touch and get involved!!!
sharkfincoup@hotmail.co.uk
http://www.myspace.com/528586089
What's needed to make it a reality
Anyone interested who would like to help and get involved.
Comments
Thanks for posting your idea on Junction49. I'm Sarah from the Junction49 helpdesk, here to support you in turning your idea into reality.
Your idea sounds really interesting and I think creating this group and putting on a film screening will go a long way to educating people about a subject I don't think many would know anything about. I certainly do not know much about this subject, but I took a look at a trailer for Sharkwater and it looks like a really good film. Film screenings I think are a great way to get your message across and are really easy to organise too - you might be able to do it at your college.
Last year students from Northumbria University organised a beach clean in Whitley Bay/Cullercoats I think so if you need any help with that you can always comment on their idea and see if they have any advice for you. You can see their idea here:
http://www.junction49.co.uk/idea/2061/nsca_beach_clean/
Let us know if there is anything we can do to help/offer advice in anyway.
We have contacts at Sunderland University and some local youth groups/colleges so if you want us to send out any information, just let me know.
Sarah Report Abuse
I love your idea and think that it has a great cause! I think a good approach when it is up and running (or to get people to help) can be from showing what sharks are used for in terms of things which people in the UK will use and not realise.
Such as sharks are now commercially sought out for their oils in making Swine Flu Vaccinations. (In their livers is something called Squalene which is a needed oil for the vaccination).
Many aquariums and sea life centres, base much of their work on conservations and petition work. Perhaps if you speak to them then they will be able to help you in finding people or ideas in what you can do to promote your aims.
Even in making of jewellery, soups, cosmetics and in eye surgery tests. As many people tend to see sharks as vicious hunters, it may be worth reminding people of the true nature in them. That they are a valuable and needed source for the waters ecosystem through the fish that it eats, which balances things out. In a way which damages the natural waters marine life, is in fact by killing sharks (and the inhumane ways that it is done).
As you are looking towards expanding awareness from local (which I think would be great as I am much too far away from the location) then you may find that the internet will be the tool to help and setting up a small information source on the net will be beneficial. In this you might even be able to set up official petitions, liaison with other similar projects/organisations, set up funding, one-click charity work and make larger group events.
I think starting from your closest Aquarium (or messaging larger ones in the UK) might help you in bringing some informational sources in terms of how to kick start this. They may even allow you to advertise your needs for volunteers on their site/centre.
Nic Report Abuse
I was just wondering how this idea is coming along and whether you had managed to organise anything yet? If you need funding for your project let me know as I know of a few funds that you could potentially apply to.
Sarah Report Abuse
thanks for the comments. to be honest i havnt really done anything with this since i started it as i got busy with college but as i'm finished now i want start up again. someone from a local charity has been in contact as they are doing a project relating to this and i'm meeting with them next week. If you have some conacts in sunderland i would be very grateful if you could send out information to see if anyone was interested. As for funding and other stuff i was interested in getting some stickers done/printed, but i wouldnt know where to start getting that done aswell
cheers again
Chris Report Abuse
That's great you're still planning on doing your project. Good to hear you've got a meeting with a local charity as having that kind of support will really help move this forward and create more interest.
I'll send out information to people I know in Sunderland with a link to your idea for if they want to get in touch with you.
In terms of funding, here a number of places you can apply to cover some of those basic costs. If you need help with any applications then just let me know, as I would more than happy to help.
• Vcashpoint http://www.vinspired.com/opportunities/vcashpoint/
Young people between 16-25 years old can apply for up to £2500 to set up a project which will make a difference in their communities.
• O2 Think Big http://www.o2thinkbig.co.uk/
Awards of up to £2500 for your project, given in stages, for projects to improve the community.
• Live UnLtd http://www.liveunltd.com/
Live UnLtd will give up to £2,000 of funding and all the support needed to turn a great idea into a reality
You can update your diary as your project develops e.g. after your meeting with the charity and when you apply for funding to keep everyone in the know.
I look forward to hearing more :-)
Sarah Report Abuse
thanks for the links.
I've had a meeting with that charity and since then they've been talking to the tyneside cinema in Newcastle about showing sharkwater. the only potential problem is that they are worried that this is a film not many people will really want to see and if they show it not many people will turn up. Would you be able to let any contacts you have in the tyne and wear area know that we are trying to get this film shown and if anyone is interested in seeing it to let me know so we can pass that on to the tyneside,
thanks
Chris Report Abuse
How are things going with this project? Did you manage to get the film shown in the cinema?
I was just reading this article this morning and thought you might find it interesting, if you haven't heard about it already. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-15142472
Sarah Report Abuse
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