Scuba divers are amongst some of the most passionate shark and ray advocates we know. We’re wild about them!

That’s why, this Shark Week, we’re excited to launch #Divers4SharksNRays - Project AWARE’s latest global campaign to help protect some of the world’s most vulnerable shark and ray species.

The World Wildlife Conference - 17th meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES CoP17) - to be held Sept 24 to Oct 5 in Johannesburg, South Africa - is just a few months away.

Our goal? Secure adoption of CITES Appendix II proposals for nine species of devil rays, three species of thresher sharks and the silky shark.

The countdown starts NOW! Project AWARE will bring together the scuba diving community in a mass social media rally to help encourage CITES Member Parties to vote YES for sharks and rays. Will you join us?

How can you get involved in #Divers4SharksNRays?

• Download our #Divers4SharksNRays sign
• Take a photo underwater, on the boat, or in your dive shop with the sign and your dive buddy or group of divers
• Share your photo on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram. Use our campaign hashtag #Divers4SharksNRays and the following social media post:

#Divers4SharksNRays in {insert location} urge @CITES countries to vote YES for sharks and rays #CoP17 @projectaware + photo

or

We’re supporting @projectaware’s #Divers4SharksNRays @CITES #CoP17 Campaign from {insert location} + photo

Governments increasingly recognise marine tourism as a complementary conservation strategy for sharks and, for some species in some locations, an economically viable alternative to fishing. Live sharks and rays can be worth much more in their long lifetimes than the value of one-time harvest of low productivity species vulnerable to overexploitation. The voice of the dive community can help bring a positive outcome for sharks and rays at CITES.

Now through mid-September, 2016, Project AWARE's global dive community will share photos with their 'Vote YES for Sharks & Rays' sign to show their support for CITES CoP17 listings.

Check out our progress and join the rally!  #Divers4SharksNRays (www.divers4sharksnrays.projectaware.org) speaks out for threatened, commercially valuable shark and ray species in need of protection from the potentially devastating effects of unregulated international trade.

Project AWARE is committed to engaging the dive community in science-based, respectful and well-informed policy actions. Join us in delivering our message to CITES Member Parties: Vote YES for sharks and rays.

Look out for more alerts and actions from Project AWARE and how you can get involved in our #Divers4SharksNRays campaign from Shark Week until CITES CoP17.

Want to do more?

• Make a gift today to support our work.
• Raise awareness in your local community with a Finathon®.

You can read more on the Terms and Conditions of photo use here.