Ocean Minds:The Blog

After the tragedy happening at Sea World earlier this year, one can easily come to the conclusion that big mammals like cetaceans are not meant to be jailed  in marine parks and aquariums. On the other hand I believe that education about cetaceans is crucial to achieve  preservation campaigns that relies heavily on the general public. So here is a brillant solution proposed by a researcher at SFU. It involves using 3d technology with animation and voila! virtual cetaceans can come to life and interact with aquarium goers.

No more fish smells, and veterinarians but computer geeks behind the scene.

Now that is great news!

more on this on the Vancouver Observer

Rep. Jon Riki Karamatsu for Lieutenant Governor not for Sharks

We thought things were going well in reference to the ban on shark finning – but apparently there has been a setback being led by one man – a politician: Riki Karamatsu. The guys over at Shark Diver having been reporting about the situation in Hawaii and have written a pretty detailed post on Karamatsu:

“He is a politician.

He has been charged and convicted with drunk driving resulting in a crash.

He is currently running for Lieutenant Governor of Hawaii.

This man also hates sharks.

Enough to actively work against a new shark fin bill making the rounds through the hallowed halls of Hawaii’s legislative offices.

Why is he doing this?

What can you do about it?

The answer to the first question is money. Riki Karamatsu is the patron of several well heeled shark fin businesses in Hawaii, businesses that sell thousands of tons of dried shark fin to Asia.

Currently the cost of shark fin is hovering at 1980′s gold price levels. The shark fin industry is a multi-billion dollar global industry. It is also one of the most barbaric animal cruelty issues the conservation world is dealing with now. Akin to sedated wild bears and gall bladder secretions, a wild animal product that is as equally disturbing and one that has no place in Hawaii’s business trading community.

So, what can you do about it?

Here is the list of contacts for Jon Riki Karamatsu. Your voice, in your own words, may help this man realize how many people care about sharks and how sometimes, being the patron of people whose business depends on shearing the fins off live animals for a soup product…is a bad career choice.

You can also tweet, blog, and re post this far and wide.

Let’s send a clear and unambiguous message to Jon Riki Karamatsu.

“Mr.Karamatsu if you want to see your political career continue, get on the side of millions of people who care about our oceans, and our wildlife. Stop your solo attempts to block or modify legislation that would put and end to shark fin sales in Hawaii.”

Note: Do not send threatening or abusive emails, phone calls or letters. You are entitled to use words that describe disgust, distaste, you are entitled to detail how you will support his opponent in his race for the Lieutenant Governor seat in Hawaii. You are also entitled to mention the fact that this man, who would aspire to the higher levels of government, was once so intoxicated he drove his car off the road.

Is this the man who should be leading Hawaii into the new decade?

For the many thousands of sharks that are currently being finned just outside the territorial waters of Hawaii the answer to that question is clearly no.

Contacts:

Jon Riki Karamatsu – Blog

Jon Riki Karamatsu -jonriki@gmail.com

Jon Riki Karamatsu – Democratic Offices

Jon Riki Karamatsu – Facebook”

Go at it and let Riki know how you feel about shark finning…

POSTED BY FELIX LEANDER AT 12:54


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I can’t believe environmentalists are pushing to free Tilly the now famous/infamous orca from Sea World orlando, who killed his trainer. The Free Willy experiment was to me a costly failed experiment  both in human ressources and money, but we should draw conclusions from it. I consider myself an environmentalist, but  one has to ask the right questions to solve a matter intelligently. Action versus reaction. I understand the beautiful theory behind the reaction of some environmentalist. These park animals are literally put in jail. I always feel terrible seeing sea giants held in goldfish bowls. Wild animals belong in the wild period! Or perhaps can spend short period of times in aquariums like the successful catch and releases of White sharks at the Monterey Bay Aquarium. I believe these kinds of displays, are educational. They might inconvenience a shark for a a few weeks but are worth it for the specie on the long haul.

Back to killer whales or Orcas as I’d rather call them.And all marine mammals for that matter…Dolphins,sea lions and orcas belong in the wild so please help non profits that fight to stop capturing these animals in the first place. Start by signing the petition.

As sad and devastating as it sounds the park animals that perform today are colateral damage. Convince your friend to stop taking the kids to Sea World or the Zoo for that matter, rather bring them to more sustainable places. Go see the butterfly garden, watch Nat Geo and PBS to show your kids these beautiful animals in the wild. Go Whale watching! It is a lot more rewarding experience.

Don’t forget the film Oceans coming soon!

Here are some wise words from Jean-Michel Cousteau

Oceanminded yours truly,

nico danan

As I rode my motorcycle back home, in the freezing and rather unusual temps of South Florida, I pondered on what I had seen and listened to, while attending the First Annual South Florida Shark Conservation party. Before I do the usual name drooping and non profit promotion, let’s get to what I thought was the most important message of this evening. In order to fight and win the battle dealing with the politics and economics involved in shark conservation, let’s make sure all of us involved in it, know our data right. Let’s educate ourselves properly. Use online ressources and reach out to shark biologists, professors and non profits to make sure you are not just an idealist shark hugger but, most importantly well educated to fight and win an argument. To start, know the “golden” dramatic and sad number.  Dr. Samuel Gruber and newly professored Neil Hammerschalg from University of Miami confirmed this evening that the number of shark slaughtered every year is close to a 100 millions and that it was a conservative estimate.

We then got a nice treat from the guys at 333 productions and talented film maker Joe Romero as they presented “Lateral Lines” a short film on three pelagic sharks: Mako,Blue and White. Great story telling and photography as usual. Th evening presentation followed with PSA’s from Oceanic Defense and Shark Savers/Wild Aid on campaigns involving  catch and release for shark tournaments and Say No To Shark FIn Soup backed by famous Yao Ming.

As a closing, we had talented guitar player and songwriter singing his shark songs. Fun! wish I had gotten his name, the guy is talented.

Looking forward to see further events and colaborations in between non profits fighting for similar interests. As we say in French “L’union fait la force” (Unity gives power).

For the name dropping part… fun to meet and see again Samantha Whitcraft of Oceanic Defense Brendal Davis and Julie Andersen from Shark Savers and Lawrence Groth and Mary O’Malley (and Lupo)  from Shark Safe Network. Of course let’s not forget the guy who got me into the shark crowd and my brother in the blue, Felix Leander from Oceanic Dreams and his blog .

OM~

photo by Felix Leander

Award-winning journalist and author of Ocean’s End, The Lobster Coast, and The Republic of Pirates, Colin Woodard is a true Ocean Mind. I had several conversations with him regarding his brillant book “The Lobster Coast” during a documentary film shoot in Maine last summer. As we both hold a passion for characters (human beings with character that is) and the Ocean we continued our conversations on   skype  about  other subjects, lately his excellent article on “The Great Pyramids Of Bosnia” in the Smithsonian this month.

I am writing this blog post not only to mention his talent to pinpoint issues and conduct a thorough research but most specifically for his ability  to truly connect with the people he engages with in a conversation.  After having interacted with Maine Fishermen, one knows that when you are “from away” you better walk the way of the peaceful warrior and listen rather than yap away explaining what you want from them. Although not recognized as such, for me Colin is a true Mainer as his passion for this unique State transpires through his writing.

I highly recommend reading “The Lobster Coast” and will write a review of Ocean’s End which I shall read very soon.

For more info on Colin’s work refer to :

http://www.colinwoodard.com/

http://colinwoodard.blogspot.com/

Colin Woodard on Amazon