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Marine Life & Conservation

DEMA Preview: Unleash your potential with ocean conscious business models

Published

5 years ago

on

Reef-World’s #BlueGreen seminars at DEMA to help dive professionals thrive in a changing world…

Green Fins was showcased for the first time on US soil this time last year, and industry sustainability leaders have demanded more. UK Charity The Reef-World Foundation – the international coordinators of Green Fins – will return to lead a series of seminars at DEMA Show (Orange County Convention Center, Orlando, Florida, 13-16 November 2019) to help dive businesses and professionals find ways of seating sustainability at the heart of their business model.

In these seminars – which are sponsored by Fourth Element, Explorer Ventures, Paralenz and Worldwide Dive and Sail International Ltd. and supported by Blue Ocean Network – intel and practical guidance on industry environmental best practice will be shared. All segments of the industry, from dive travel, to dive operations, to dive kit manufactures and training agencies, can play a key role in greening the diving industry value chain. The result will be businesses that attract better staff, reduce costs, protect natural assets, invigorate existing markets, and engage enthusiastic customers who are hungry for more.

Chloe Harvey

Through her work with Green Fins over the past 10 years, Chloe Harvey (Director of Reef-World) has directly worked with diving communities and regulatory bodies in 11 major diving countries to implement environmental standards for diving. She has worked face to face with over 300 dive operators to improve environmental practice, and indirectly with over 600. She has built partnerships with leading diving industry brands to champion sustainability (e.g. PADI, Fourth Element, Six Senses), is affiliated with the UN Environment and a member of the International Coral Reef Initiative. Chloe would like to share tangible examples from businesses around the world who are already embracing Green Fins’ proven methods.

Event Details: 2 Seminar Times to Choose From

The “Unleash Your Potential with Ocean Conscious Business Models” seminars are open to all and will be running at two different time slots during the DEMA Show. Pick a time to come and join the conversation:

Benefits for Attendees

As the Blue Planet effect continues to drive eco-tourism, consumers are looking for greener alternatives. The seminar series will explain what an ocean-conscious approach is and how this will help businesses across the dive sector thrive; helping you to unlock countless scalable opportunities by giving eco-minded consumers what they want. Attendees will leave knowing: How to plan ocean-conscious dive trips; Where to find manufacturers that are reducing plastic packaging; Who produces innovative green dive gear; How to minimise environmental impact from divers and underwater photographers, and Receive free Green Fins guides.

Unlocking Sustainable Diving Practices through the Green Fins Approach

The seminars, presented by The Reef-World Foundation will teach attendees about Green Fins –  a proven conservation management approach spearheaded by The Reef-World Foundation in partnership with the UN Environment Programme, which leads to a measurable reduction in the negative environmental impacts associated with the marine tourism industry – and how dive and snorkel operators can benefit from free Green Fins membership.

Learn What the Competition is Doing

Through real-life examples of what businesses are doing to improve sustainability through Green Fins, attendees will gain priceless competitor insights and learn what works and what doesn’t when facing certain sustainability obstacles.

Free Resources, Support and Take-Aways

Reef-World will be launching the industry led Ocean Conscious Suppliers list, and attendees will be asked to contribute to this shared resource. Attendees will also receive free Green Fins guides to get started on their sustainability journey as well as learning more about networks and initiatives, such as Mission2020, where the industry is rallying together to make faster progress and hold each other accountable.

Hany George and Chloe Harvey prepare for a dive.

Ocean-Conscious Sponsors

This seminar series is made possible by the sponsorship of four companies who are already on the sustainable diving pathway and represent different stakeholder groups in the dive and travel industry:

  • Fourth Element is innovating dive manufacturing by producing dive gear using ghost fishing nets, biodegradable packaging made from vegetables is leading the latest environmental movement within the industry – Mission2020;
  • Explorer Ventures – is working towards the elimination of single-use plastics onboard its Caribbean vessels. It is also helping The Reef-World Foundation establish targeted liveaboard protocols as part of the Green Fins initiative with the hope of improving dive operator and liveaboard environmental policies worldwide;
  • Paralenz – Paralenz Group Aps is a Danish tech company dedicated to the Ocean. Together with divers across the globe, they have developed a camera that enable divers to capture and share the state and life of the Ocean as a seamless part of the dive;
  • Worldwide Dive and Sail International Ltd. works with partners with similar philosophies, sources local, sustainable products wherever possible, runs reef clean-ups and educates guests about how they can make a difference; for example, by encouraging them to bring eco-friendly toiletries, such as sunscreen and toothpaste.

Can’t Make it?

If you can’t make either of the seminars but are interested in receiving the Green Fins guides and materials, please email info@greenfins.net to register your interest. For real-time updates about the show and the latest Green Fins developments from The Reef-World Foundation, you can also follow Reef-World on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter and Green Fins on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.

For more information about Reef-World’s work, please visit www.reef-world.org and www.greenfins.net.

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Marine Life & Conservation

Shark Trust launches Oceanic 31 Shark Art Auction

Published

3 weeks ago

on

November 1, 2024

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After a two-year tour of UK art galleries, community spaces and aquariums, the Shark Trust’s acclaimed Oceanic31 exhibition takes its final bow at the Royal Geographical Society later this month. And the unique collection of artwork, depicting 31 species of oceanic sharks and rays, donated by 31 artists, is now open for bids from art lovers and shark enthusiasts. The online auction, launched today, will close on the 7th December at 8pm (BST). The money raised will support the Shark Trust Oceanics Programme.

People can now bid on 27 of the artworks by visiting this website:

https://superstars-auctions.com/sharktrustauction

It is a chance to own a beautiful piece of original art and to support the Shark Trust. The timing of the auction also means that these would make a very special Christmas gift for any shark-lover.

The diversity of pieces mirrors that of the sharks and rays they represent. You can bid on paintings, digital creations, sculptures, mixed media and more. You can pick your favourite artist or species of shark. Or you can select the perfect artwork to make a statement in your home or office. Whichever you choose, you will be supporting the work to protect these amazing animals.

One of the pieces of art has been selected to be auctioned live by Steve Backshall at the For the Love of Sharks event at the Royal Geographical Society in London on the 29th November. In addition to this, two further pieces will be raffled at this event, giving people a chance to win an incredible piece of shark art. For the Love of Sharks is the Shark Trust’s flagship evening. A night to celebrate sharks. Steve Backshall is the headline speaker at this event that will see other prominent shark advocates join him on stage.

Tickets for the event can be snapped up here:

https://thesharktrust.org.uk/Event/flos24

Those that would like to see the Oceanic 31 exhibition have one final chance. It is being displayed at the Pavilion at the Royal Geographic Society from 26th November until the 7th December. Entry is free.

Find out more here:

https://www.rgs.org/events/upcoming-events/oceanic-31

 Paul Cox, Shark Trust CEO, Said “This exhibition has given us the opportunity to reach out to a new audience. And inspire more people with the wonderful sharks and rays on which our Big Shark Pledge campaign is based. We are immensely grateful to the 31 artists who have worked so hard to create these works.”

Bid for your favourite Oceanic 31 artwork here:
https://superstars-auctions.com/sharktrustauction

Banner Image: Smooth Hammerhead by Alicia Hayden

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Marine Life & Conservation

Meet Steve Backshall in the Bite-Back Prize Draw

Published

1 month ago

on

October 21, 2024

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steve backshall

Until 28 November, prizes worth a massive £10,000 – including experiences, products and tuition – feature in a line-up of items that can be won for £5 in an online prize draw to celebrate Bite-Back Shark & Marine Conservation’s 20th anniversary and help generate crucial funds for the future.

Top of the list of prizes is the chance to spend time with adventurer and wildlife expert Steve Backshall, a workout session with Nat Geo star Aldo Kane, a kayaking trip alongside white-water expert and diver Sal Montgomery and a Zoom call with ‘shark whisperer’ Cristina Zenato.

On top of that, some of the most admired companies in the diving and scuba industry have been quick to support the charity with fabulous prizes that make the £5 ticket price worth more than just a flutter.

Master Liveaboards, BSAC, Midlands Diving Chamber, Go Freediving and Blue Shark Snorkel have all generously donated experience prizes, while celebrated photographer Alex Mustard has donated a print and artists Scott Gleed and Olivier Leger have donated a sculpture and illustration to help boost the fundraising pot.

Fourth Element has donated Ocean Positive gear and LA watch company Nodus has gifted the charity a stunning dive watch. For land lovers, the charity has included a five star London hotel stay at Bankside Hotel plus a family visit to Longleat Safari Park in the roster of prizes.

Campaign director for Bite-Back, Graham Buckingham, said: “We’ve been overwhelmed with support from companies and individuals that we truly admire and who have supported us on our 20 year journey and we’re truly grateful to them all. While we feel incredibly proud of our achievements over the past two decades – and we are super excited about the next chapter – this prize draw isn’t a vanity project. It represents a real lifeline to our work and important advancements in the global protection of sharks. So we hope divers, dive clubs and even bargain hunters grab some tickets to make this a massive success.”

The charity hopes that the prize draw will generate crucial funds to launch a brand new, ground-breaking, campaign to enrol the public and increase support for the protection of sharks around the world.

To enter the competition visit www.bite-back.com/prizedraw. The prize winners will be announced on 1 December 2024.

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