First UK Shark Fest Announced

Published 9 years agoon May 25, 2016

Fin Fighters are making waves in the UK by changing the way we approach shark and marine conservation; merging the qualities of scientific research, community involvement and positive activism. Their Fin Free by 2023 campaign aims to bring to an end the sale and trade of shark fin in the UK by 2023, by working closely with political representatives and restaurant owners in a cooperative manner. While their new Citizen Shark Scientist programme provides participants with the opportunity to contribute directly to shark research and monitoring. These positive approaches are helping to promote optimism and a sense that everyone in the UK can make a difference in the fight to conserve the world’s shark species.

During this time Fin Fighters have built a network of closely knit collaborators who share the same values and goals aimed towards the environment and future wellbeing. With these advances Fin Fighters are taking things to the next level by hosting the first ever UK based Shark Fest, being held in the M Shed in Bristol on Saturday the 24^th of September 2016. The event will bring together organisations from across the field of shark and marine conservation; with guest speakers, independent films, scientific demonstrations planned for throughout the day. Representatives from Frogfish Photography and Scubaverse have already been confirmed, with many more to be announced soon. Everyone is welcome, with activities to accommodate budding marine biologists, conservationists, families, kids and anyone who wants to learn, contribute or just have some fun! Entry fee will be £10.

To celebrate the occasion Fin Fighters are running a competition for any budding designers or artists to help create the Shark Fest 2016 logo. The winner will not only receive free entry to the event, it is a great opportunity to showcase your artistic talents. To enter participants should design a logo containing the words Shark Fest 2016 and then send it to info@finfighters.org before 15^th of June.

Venue: M Shed, Princes Wharf, Wapping Road, Bristol, BS1 4RN

Venue website: www.bristolmuseums.org.uk/m-shed

Event date: 24^th September 2016

Time: 10am to 5pm

Email: info@finfighters.org

Mobile: 07729238402 (Lou Ruddell, CEO and founder of Fin Fighters)

Website: www.finfighters.org / www.sharkfest.org.uk

Photo: www.frogfishphotography.com

Nick and Caroline Robertson-Brown

Nick and Caroline (Frogfish Photography) are a married couple of conservation driven underwater photo-journalists and authors. Both have honours degrees from Manchester University, in Environmental Biology and Biology respectively, with Nick being a Fellow of the Royal Photographic Society, a former high school science teacher with a DipEd in Teaching Studies. Caroline has an MSc in Animal Behaviour specializing in Caribbean Ecology. They are multiple award-winning photographers and along with 4 published books, feature regularly in the diving, wildlife and international press They are the Underwater Photography and Deputy Editors at Scubaverse and Dive Travel Adventures. Winners of the Caribbean Tourism Organization Photo-journalist of the Year for a feature on Shark Diving in The Bahamas, and they have been placed in every year they have entered. Nick and Caroline regularly use their free time to visit schools, both in the UK and on their travels, to discuss the important issues of marine conservation, sharks and plastic pollution. They are ambassadors for Sharks4Kids and founders of SeaStraw. They are Dive Ambassadors for The Islands of The Bahamas and are supported by Mares, Paralenz, Nauticam and Olympus. To find out more visit www.frogfishphotography.com