Sharks are in peril and the ability to buy and sell their fins and meat internationally is a big driver of shark over-exploitation. And regulation is sorely lacking for almost all trade in sharks which are sought for fins, meat, oil, teeth and cartilage.

All the staff and Board Members at Project AWARE were deeply saddened to hear the news on the weekend of the passing of one of our oceans' greatest heroes and ambassadors, Neville Coleman OAM (Medal of the Order of Australia). 
Based in Australia, Neville dedicated his life to underwater exploration and marine conservation. As an underwater naturalist he explored the world of water, discovering many new critters and species across the globe. His incredible career spans over 45 years of underwater exploration, photographing and documenting ocean life.

We reached a massive milestone during April’s Big Shark Shout Out and we couldn’t be more thrilled. Hundreds of supporters shouted for sharks and took AWARE's shark petition to the streets helping reach an impressive total of 100,000 signatures. These signatures give a stronger, united voice to push for trade protection for the world's most vulnerable shark species. 

Soon World Ocean Day June 8th will reach out to young people to inspire them to protect our ocean planet.  The theme for 2012 is Youth: the Next Wave for Change.
Project AWARE dive leaders are one step ahead.  This April saw Atlantis Dive Centre, Dubai inspire high school children to be the next wave for change. 
Atlantis Dive Centre’s Week Without Walls Program gave 40 youngsters the opportunity to learn to dive.

With your help, the voice for shark protection has grown - 100,000 strong!
April's Big Shark Shout Out 2012 has ended with a very loud and clear message to global policy makers that 100,972 SCUBA divers and shark advocates are demanding effective and enforceable shark protection measures.
Project AWARE is going to great lengths to ensure our collective voice helps secure trade protection for the most v

Many shark populations have plummeted in the past three decades as a result of excessive harvesting – for their fins, as an incidental catch of fisheries targeting other species, and in recreational fisheries. This is particularly true for oceanic species. However, until now, a lack of data prevented scientists from properly quantifying the status of Pacific reef sharks at a large geographic scale.

While working on a research sailboat gliding over glassy seas in the Pacific Ocean, oceanographer Giora Proskurowski noticed something new: The water was littered with confetti-size pieces of plastic debris, until the moment the wind picked up and most of the particles disappeared.

A new analysis by the Australian Institute of Marine Science and the University of Western Australia concluded that in 2010, shark-related diving contributed $42.2 million ($73 million Fijian) to the economy of Fiji. Shark-diving operations generated $4 million that year for Fijian communities through salaries and local levies.

When most people think of sharks, they think of the film Jaws and scary stories. Fear of sharks comes mainly from lack of knowledge and the inaccurate man-eating image perpetuated by mass media over the years. Through the power of images, divers can tell the real story and raise awareness about the plight of sharks.