Fishing nations at the annual meeting of the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT) reached consensus on just one of seven proposals for action on sharks.  By the end of the eight-day meeting today, ICCAT Parties could only agree to report next year on their compliance with existing shark measures.  Proposals to establish ICCAT limits on shortfin mako and porbeagle failed, as did efforts to change existing measures on oceanic whitetip sharks and shark finning (slicing off a shark’s fins and discarding the body at sea).

Are the planet’s oceans doomed to become its waste bin? Marine litter  – plastics, wood, metal, rubber, paper and other debris – from human activity continues to invade and pollute oceans and seas, posing a serious threat to the coastal and marine environment worldwide.

Time to celebrate! Today in Australia the largest network of marine parks in the world was officially declared and is now legally in place.
Over the last few years your submissions made the Australian Government aware of the broad support for ocean protection amongst the global dive community - well done!
Join us in thanking the Australian Government for this landmark decision to protect our unique marine wildlife and places.

We’re on the brink of a decision. Our long journey and battle to improve European shark conservation policies is coming to an end as the final debate on the EU shark finning regulations and final plenary vote are scheduled to take place later this month.

Scientists have witnessed a “promising” recovery in the coral reefs around the Maldives, a recent survey has revealed.
The results show that some reefs now have more live coral cover than before the catastrophic El Niño bleaching event in 1998, which killed 95 percent of the country’s reefs – a key attraction for foreign tourists.

Project AWARE’s FINatical about Dive Downbelow who reached the finish line and raised AUD $5,000 for sharks.  Everyone completed the 1km open sea swim and enjoyed the day so much they’re asking: “When’s the next Finathon?”

Major nations failed to reach agreement on Thursday to set up huge marine protected areas off Antarctica under a plan to step up conservation of creatures such as whales and penguins around the frozen continent.
The 25-member Commission for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources (CCAMLR) agreed, however, to hold a special session in Germany in July 2013 to try to break the deadlock after the October 8-November 1 meeting in Hobart, Australia.

Dive centres are creating innovative fundraising campaigns around the world. Project AWARE relies on dedicated divers to raise funds to protect our ocean planet. Fundraising can be as fun, fishy, flamboyant or FINatical as you like.

With their black eyes and rows of teeth, it’s easy to understand why many people fear sharks, but our view of these creatures is actually hurting their chances for survival.
A new analysis determined that negative media reports about sharks and shark attacks are hindering shark conservation efforts.  According to the analysis, Australian and U.S. news articles are more likely to focus on shark attacks than on shark conservation issues.