This is it! In just a few weeks, Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) will vote on amending the European Shark Finning regulation.
We are calling on the diving community to join us in demonstrating tremendous support across Europe as well as globally for the "fins naturally attached with no exceptions" policy - the best, most efficient and enforceable method to prevent shark finning.

It’s that time of the year again! The Discovery Channel’s 25th annual Shark Week is underway - a week-long series of programming dedicated to sharks placing the shark conversation at an all time high around the world.
But for shark lovers here at Project AWARE, every week is Shark Week! We’re working every single day to protect some of the world’s most threatened species of sharks.

Shark Advocates International is congratulating the government of Sri Lanka for adopting rules to protect three species of thresher sharks -- wide ranging species characterized by their exceptionally long tails – in line with a 2010 agreement by the Indian Ocean Tuna Commission (IOTC).

It’s truly an honor - Project AWARE was recently named one of “11 Nonprofits That Excel at Social Media” by Nonprofit Tech 2.0.
Being nominated alongside esteemed organizations including Amnesty International, UNICEF and the Nature Conservancy is extremely exciting and a true testament that you don’t need large resources to launch and maintain successful online communications and campaigns. You just need a dedicated team and a passionate group of supporters.

It's one of the greatest shows on earth: the Olympic Games 2012. 10,500 athletes from around the world descend on London for the next 19 days of competitions, tears and triumphs as they go for gold. Let the games begin.
But as well as the athletes, London also play host to the hundreds of thousands of spectators, Olympic organisers, media, businesses, politicians, caterers - the list goes on. London will be a hive of action, pumping and buzzing with energy and adrenaline.

Rebuilding global fisheries would make them five times more valuable while improving ecology, according to a new University of British Columbia study.
The study says that by reducing the size of the global fishing fleet, eliminating harmful government subsidies, and putting in place effective management systems, global fisheries would be worth US$54bn each year, rather than losing US$13bn per year.

Vincent Mock’s deep love for the ocean is apparent through his art where he explores the human disconnection from nature in an ironic way – sculpting ocean predators from the very fish hooks that threaten their survival. A fellow PADI Divemaster and artist, Mock has traveled and dived the world over. Here he discusses his Hooked on Life series.

Garbage, filth and dirt are not what you’d normally expect to see in a museum exhibit. But the Plastic Garbage Project in Zurich, Switzerland, is breaking all the rules.
According to the Museum of Design Zurich, the vast amounts of plastic pictured here, gets released into the sea every 15 seconds!

Project AWARE together with other NGOs leading the fight against marine litter is calling on European countries to set a 50% reduction target in marine litter.
As part of a requirement to comply with the EU Marine Strategy Framework Directive (MSFD) - a legislative initiative that uses an ecosystem approach to improve the management of human activities that affect marine environment including marine litter -  European Union (EU) member states are required to finalise their marine environmental targets for 2020 by 15th July 2012.

Working globally and acting locally has never been so important. If you’re a local ocean hero trying to make a difference in your community or you have a project that needs an extra push – then the Ocean Action Project is for you!