We had been asked to keep our speech quick and simple. We were informed that the attendees were well aware of our society’s beliefs, such as the complete refrainment from consuming seafood, and therefore it was not necessary to share these beliefs and suggestions for lifestyle alteration with the attendees.

Our fellow speakers all focused upon educating the citizens of how they should prepare for handling the effects of climate change. Whilst it is vital that people understand the magnitude of what will occur if we do not act quickly and dramatically on climate change as it should spur people into action, the general public must also be presented concurrently with actions they can take to prevent it. Don’t just tell people what the outcome will be if they don’t act, tell them how to act.

The theme of the evening seemed to revolve around portraying the ocean as the monster that will slowly creep up the shore to eat civilization, or the defenceless victim of the ignorant and selfish, and unpreventable, actions of the human race. What few people know and understand is how great an ally the Ocean is in the battle against climate change, and how the humble shark will influence the oceans capacity to take up arms in the epic battle of our lifetime.

“The seas of the world are often highlighted as being great victims of the global climate crisis, but very rarely have they been highlighted as an adversary in the battle against it.

We know that the old growth forests that cover the planets terrain act as vital carbon banks, but few are aware that the earth’s vast oceans hold up to 50 times more carbon dioxide than the earth’s atmosphere. The marine physical pump allows for carbon to be carried deep within the ocean where it may be safely stored for hundreds of years, with a small proportion being held within the ocean sediments for thousands of years.

At present the amount of oxygen produced by plants via photosynthesis almost perfectly correlates with that being consumed by terrestrial organisms; this is a scary thing to acknowledged whilst inhabiting the earth in the time of the great industrialised deforestation pandemic. However 70% of the worlds oxygen still comes from the photosynthesis of plankton, microscopic marine plant and plantlike organisms. Yet this basic biological fact and the urgent action required for the protection of this vital source of breathable air has gone practically uncommunicated to the general public by the scientific community and the world’s governments.

Thankfully this issue has recently been highlighted by both the United Nations Environmental Program and the International Union on the Conservation of Nature, with both releasing reports within the last 2 months highlighting how vital it is that we take the oceans into account when investigating ways of stabilizing this crisis.

The United Nations Blue Carbon report states that around the year 2000 the oceans carbon intake peaked. Whilst it is taking in a greater number of carbon than ever before recorded during human history, the percent of atmospheric carbon it is absorbing is in fact in decline. In 2004 a total of 146 dead zones were documented to exist in the world’s oceans, areas wherein marine life could no longer be supported due to depleted oxygen levels. Some of these were as small as a square kilometre, but the largest dead zone covered 70,000 square kilometres. A 2008 study counted 405 dead zones worldwide.

Whilst we are pumping insurmountable quantities of pollutants and wastes into the ocean, we are also seeking to take from the ocean more of its resources than ever before. Overfishing has become an issue of immediate address.

In a 2001 edition of Science a team of 19 researchers examined marine sediment evidence from about 125,000 years ago, archaeological information from early human coastal settlements some 10,000 years ago, and European trade records from the 15th century to the present. In every case they looked at, overfishing by humans preceded ecosystem collapse.

We at the FINished Foundation direct our efforts towards protecting the apex predators of the ocean. Sitting atop the oceanic food chain they have a direct and immense influence upon all animals who sit below them. The venerable shark is easily one of the most influential creatures of the deep. Inhabiting this planet since the time before the dinosaurs, sharks have influenced the oceans and the creatures to have evolved therein for the past 400 million years. They have survived every single major extinction event that our planet has until now endured – yet scientific records inform us that over the last 30 years we have lost 90% of the worlds shark populations with 18 species now listed by the IUCN as either threatened or endangered.

This tragedy is a shining example of mans insatiable self-absorption. We are not losing these beings to science, to medical research, to feed the starving of the world – we are losing them for soup. For shark fin soup to be specific. For 4% of the animals body weight to be cut from its live body and thrown back into the ocean to bleed to death, so that its mercury riddled, nutritionally lacking cartilage and contribute texture to a chicken flavoured soup. We are losing up to 100 million sharks every year for this purpose.

Whilst areas wherein shark fishing was permitted have seen a demise of their shark populations fishermen have illegally moved into some of the most fragile and protected waters on earth.

One of the few global organisations working to protect global shark populations is the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society. Sea Shepherd, upon initiation by the Ecuadorian Government, has been working with the local Environmental Police force in the Galapagos Islands to create a shark fin trade specific police unit, patrolling for long line fishermen and utilizing sniffer dogs in detecting outward bound shark fin cargo. In 2007 a sting launched by Sea Shepherd and operatives of the Ecuadorian Environmental Police seized a cargo of 18000 shark fins outbound from Ecuador.

With a population of over 6.4 billion people presently inhabiting the earth the practically unregulated plundering of our oceans to feed them must simply be stopped. Greater political, scientific and public pressure must be exerted to ensure we protect the 70% of the world’s surface that has too long been ignored.

We have already witnessed localized collapses of fisheries and ecosystems due to the removal of sharks, including the scallop fisheries in Chesapeake Bay, the coral reefs in Belize, the cod in New England and the lobster fishery of Tasmania resulting from the overfishing and subsequent loss of regional shark populations.

In November 2006 a study conducted by fourteen scientists from around the world was published in the internationally respected journal ‘Science’ reporting that all of the worlds fisheries are estimated to reach collapse – by the year 2048.

The study revealed that marine biodiversity loss is increasingly impairing the ocean’s capacity to provide food, maintain water quality, and recover from perturbations. Yet also states that available data suggest that at this point these trends are still reversible if the global community acts quickly.

It is vital that all of the planets ecosystems are taken into account when our governments convene on Copenhagen next month and it is important that the general public are encouraged to understand the interdependence of all the earth species and ecosystems. The human species must change what is ingrained in our ways and traditions. For it seems it will not be until we can all realise and embrace that it is all one big beautiful interconnected planet, that we will all come to realise and embrace that all we have is just this one planet.”

After conducting our speech I was approached by one of the women responsible for holding the event. Whilst everyone speaking at the event had been recorded by members of The Organisation, the camera had been turned off for our presentation. She was quick to prevent me in my attempt to leave following the conclusion of the evening to request that I email her the transcript of my speech. She informed me I would be added to her email list – but only if I provided her with my material. I politely declined informing her that she could easy find it upon our own website.

Whilst it was wonderful to be able to share these beliefs and concerns with a gathering of people with a clear interest in the issue of climate change, it was quite disheartening to experience for the first time the somewhat disrespectful attitude often shown to young conservationists by the older more experienced generation. We may sometimes appear to be extreme is our beliefs and actions, but we do possess fresh new ideas on how to approach the issues at hand, and ultimately we are the ones you will need to pass the torch to. Aid us and nurture us, for if there is to be a future for the planet and the human race there must be future generations of conservationists.

We at FINished would like to congratulate Magneto on the slew of awards won at the ASPA Fairfax Media Award, including best small publiation.

Enjoy.

As a daring campaign launch, five eager activists bared all, in an effort to draw attention to an overlooked cause: Shark Finning. The event was the first held as part of the Skins for Fins movement in Melbourne. Skins for Fins is a local event conducted under the umbrella of the broader FINished campaign, focusing on protesting the practices involved in obtaining shark fins, predominately used as the key ingredient in shark fin soup both locally and internationally. Through the focus of Skins for Fins movement, FINished is also targeting plans for the introduction of a Shark Fishery on the Great Barrier Reef. Fishing quotas will be assigned to major fishing companies, therefor undermining small and illegal trade. FINished is an ongoing global campaign which is fighting to redeem the sharks’ reputation in the public eye.

“Sharks are actually beautiful, shy and intelligent animals,” says organiser and marine zoologist, Sara Keltie. “What I was most surprised to learn is that most people don’t know how shark fin is obtained,” says Keltie. The most common method, is ‘long-lining’: Boats are tailed with kilometres of line with baited hooks in the water, which indiscriminately catch every creature curious enough to investigate. The shark remains fully conscious during the removal of its fin. The rest of the shark is then discarded back into the ocean. This causes the shark become immobile and eventually drown, as constant movement is crucial to all fish, allowing water to pass over the gills and extract oxygen to breathe. “It’s no less barbaric or painful than cutting off a persons’ legs.” Says Keltie.

Doused in fake blood, mimicking a de-finned shark and framed by the FINished banner, the finless five lay side-by-side, motionless and fully naked, near the popular Fitzroy pier. They did this for for over an hour as onlookers were informed of the sharks’ plight by spokesperson Keira Anderson. Posters and pamphlets were distributed to the crowd in a bid to expose more than just the backsides of the 5 conservationists. “Its quite sad but the destruction of the Earth’s most vital ecosystem and the eradication of one of its most pivotal species doesn’t seem to get much interest from the media or general public,” says Keltie, “but sex does sell! “Whenever people rally against the Canadian seal hunt we don’t hear much about it – but we sure hear about the naked people that rally against the seal hunt, and this keeps the issue in the media and in people’s consciousness. Conservation should be fun and enlightening, and I consider it to be quite sexy.” she added.

The launch was designed as the first step of the Australian contribution, in what is weighing up to be a long and multi faceted campaign, against a large international industry of which little is known among the general public. Group organisers promising a convoluted and multifaceted series of events to draw attention to the subject. The ultimate goal of Skins for Fins is growth, Keltie emphasises. “What we would really love to do is continue to hold other rallies and photo shoots until it’s so large; the world’s media is enticed.” She says excitedly. “If we can show the industry and government how many people are willing to go naked and boycott shark fin and other pointless shark derivatives, hopefully we can evoke some fear in the people allowing these vulgar practices to continue.” The event has been regarded as a success by all involved, generating enough interest to start a FINished group on the popular social networking site, Facebook – as well as gather likeminded members to join it. “What comes next, you’ll just have to wait and see. But trust us when we say this is only the beginning,” says Skins for Fins photographer, Simone Spicer. The work is not in vane as the FINished icon is now spreading around inner Melbourne and plans for the next Skin for Fins are already underway. Sara and the finless 5 are on the look out for anyone willing to brave our beaches and bare all in the name of Shark conservation. “The people involved in this campaign all displayed how seriously they take this cause and how far they are willing to go to get [shark finning] some desperately needed attention.” Keltie says. “There is nothing scarier to a business or a government than a mass of young people willing to go to extremes for what they believe in.”

The FINished Foundation is a grass-roots shark conservation foundation based in Australia, run by Marine Zoologist Sara Keltie and Journalist and Filmmaker Joe Cashmore. At present our main campaign is against shark finning and the industries which support it. Our aim is to place public pressure upon those who partake in unsustainable, inhumane and illegal shark finning, whilst increasing public awareness of the severly detrimental effects this industry often places upon both environmental and human health.

In the past 30 years, it is estimated that 90% of the worlds’ shark populations have been eradicated! Much of which could be attributed to the hysteria following the ‘JAWS’ paraphernalia. However as the tides change on the issue of the danger of sharks in ‘our’ waters, why then do shark populations continue to fall and shark hunting industries only continue to profit?

Nowadays many are pointing the finger at the growing demand for the shark fins.

Used in many Asian cultures for a variety of reasons including for ceremonial purposes and aphrodisiacs, shark fins are also commonly used in the global Asian markets for the key ingredient of the aptly named ’shark fin-soup.’

Acquiring this most of essential ingredients involves the both illegal and brutal practise of hunting and catching the shark, slicing the fins off the still conscious animal and tossing the finless creature back in the water (like a human without legs). This of course leaves the creature to drown, as sharks require the constant movement of water over their gills for oxygen. This savage practise is performed merely so the fins can be boiled down and added to a flavoured both, as the fin itself only serves as a texture and status ingredient and has no flavour of its own.

Soup anybody?

As early as 2002 The Convention on the International Trade in Endangered Species of Fauna and Flora (CITES) recognised that shark species are being subject to unsustainable exploitation. A total of 115 shark species, or 23% of the worlds’ shark species, are currently listed on The World Conservation Union (IUCN) Red List.

A recent study conducted by the Australian government and the wildlife trade monitoring network Traffic stated in its 57 page report: “As the world’s demand for sharks continues to grow, shark populations are plummeting.

“The Asian market for shark fin is the key driver of shark fishing globally and is fuelling illegal fishing and high levels of legitimate shark fishing of questionable sustainability.”

In August last year the World Wildlife Fund released a statement, with figures obtained from the Australian Quarantine Inspection Service, declaring 230 tonnes of shark fin were already being exported from Australia within the past 13 month period, equating to over 10,000 sharks, whilst importing over 10,000 kilograms of shark fin a year, equating to 26,000 sharks.

Plans have been put in place to introduce a shark fin fishery into the Great Barrier Reef (a World Heritage Area.) Rob Stewart, biologist and director of the ground-breaking documentary Sharkwater, recently remarked to members of the FINished campaign that given the financial value of the Great Barrier Reef as a tourist hotspot this fishery displays a horrifically “short sighted vision on behalf of the Australian government, when past studies have shown declines in shark populations to have severely detrimental impacts upon coral reefs, Australian tourisms greatest draw-card.” He went on to remark that referring to any shark fishing industry as sustainable is horribly misleading to the public as no research has viably supported the idea that this can truly be achieved.

Despite its high price as a food additive, many conservationists and divers are arguing that in fiscal terms, sharks are worth far more alive than dead. Studies have shown that over the period of its lifetime a single Ragged Tooth shark can be worth tens of thousands of dollars in tourism; as opposed to the average $90 US fisherman receive for a dead shark. Spokesman Nick Heath for the World Wildlife Fund told ABC News “We should actually be protecting them (Australia’s shark species) because more and more people around the world are becoming interested in seeing sharks and I think that all over the world they’re becoming so endangered we should make sure that people can pay big money to come from all over the world to see them.”

It has been reported that much of the products reaped from the slaughter will be exported, whilst we continue to import from unknown regions, from fisheries being conducted under unknown regulations, as there is no legal requirement when shipping shark fin products into Australia to declare from where and by whom they were sourced. With the trade in wild animals being such a lucrative business, is there any surprise that underhanded methods are being employed? In 2006 and 2007 alone, a total of 350 illegal fishing boats were intercepted in Australian waters, possessing 1.6 tonnes of shark fin collectively.

A popular method of shark fishing is the barbaric and non-discriminatory method of long line fishing, utilising lines stretching over kilometres, consisting of up to 400 baited hooks. These lines are just as likely to kill the many other local species as they are sharks – long lines do not discriminate and offer only a slow and painful death to any animal enticed. Locally, a New South Wales fisherman told ABC News “[I] went into shark fishery 12 months ago, the prawn industry was getting harder with the imported prawns, prices dropped, increase of fuel costs.” This individual for one has made the choice to utilise the ghastly long-line method.

Bycatch, however, is not the only means by which other members of the oceanic ecosystem are threatened. Sharks are alpha predators of the oceans, inhabiting the planet over 100 million years before the dinosaurs, the ocean has been shaped by their presence and hence their loss would be devastating to the marine food chain, as well as causing a potential fissure on the global oxygen cycle. In many regions around the world scientific analysis has shown that the depletion of shark populations has lead to the collapse of other, otherwise sustainable and financially sounds fisheries.

Shark losses can initiate major restructuring of marine ecosystems, leading to rapid increase of grazing fish in the absence of their natural predator. As a result, the consumption of crucial phytoplankton would exponentially increase. These microscopic beings may well be our greatest allies in the fight against climate change, processing the ability to photosynthesise the greenhouse gas CO2 into 70% of the planets oxygen supply!

It truly has become the case that in the fight against climate change, we need to save our oceans, and it is herein that sharks are amongst our greatest allies!

The going trend is that shark bites lead to an average of 5 human deaths annually, most if not all can be traced back mistaken identity on the sharks behalf – whereas the number of sharks hunted each year have been reported to stand at 100 million. And we know what we’re looking at…

All this for some tasteless cartilage…

However the global effects of the amount of fishing being conducted, to meet the demand for the shark fin market, leaves a rather bitter taste in ones mouth.