We have just received this News from Palau - Micronesia.

Shark Savers' "Thank you to Palau"
book presented to Palauan President Toribiong

Photo: Copyright PALAU HORIZON;
Courtesy www.sharksanctuary.com

You may recall that Shark Savers fielded two petitions regarding Palau. The first one opposed a bad shark fishing law and the second one thanked Palau for subsequently protecting sharks by creating the National Shark Sanctuary. We created a book consisting of your signatures and comments for presentation to President Toribiong. Today, our book was presented to the President on our behalf by our friend, Dermot Keane of the Palau Shark Sanctuary. Here is Dermot's report: Read the complete article @ Shark Savers' "Thank you to Palau" book presented to Palauan President Toribiong

TV report on Palau Shark Sanctuary just in...

Dateline video journalist David O’Shea takes his first ever scuba dive and plunges into the controversy over saving the ocean’s top predator. read more Click this LINK or the Image above.


In support of the Palau Shark Sanctuary & Sam's Tours

The Nature Conservancy is not only Protecting nature but preserving life and plays a big environmental role in Palau Micronesia. Protect and treasure one of Natures last Paradise on Earth below and above the waves.

© Gunther Deichmann - unique marine bio diversity,
image above: Soft Coral Arch Palau

“We need a little more compassion, and if we cannot have it, then no politician or even a magician can save the planet.”
Dalai Lama

Excerpts below from Nature Conservancy website...

© Gunther Deichmann - Palau is home to many Bird
species, like this Rookery near Kayangal

...Legendary for its astonishing marine diversity and beauty, even named one of the “Seven Underwater Wonders of the World” by divers, Palau holds far more than seems possible in the 170 square miles it covers.
Underwater, Palau supports an amazing 373 coral species, and nearly 1,300 varieties of reef fish... read more:
Click this LINK to Natures Conservancy, with more environmental info on Palau.

Support The Nature Conservancy & Palau Conservation Society
Keeping Palau a “Wonder”


© Gunther Deichmann - Palau is an important nesting ground for Turtles


© Gunther Deichmann - dense unspoiled rainforest and unique vegetation


© Gunther Deichmann - flesh eating plant from Palau

For more images on Palau please visit my Photoshelter Gallery
Click the LINK and type your subject e.g. Palau, Jelly Fish lake,
Rock Islands, Aerials etc. or what ever you’re looking for in the Search Box.

We found this very interesting article at our friends from Dive Photo Guide, amazing how little we know about our precious Oceans and how much is there to be discovered yet. Who knows they might be cruising in Palau below the waves too.
The Philippine and the Pacific waters still hold a surprise or two, as long we take care of our Marine life...
Read on below and go to Dive Photo Guide for the complete story and Photos.
Editor

Rare Megamouth Shark Caught In Philippines

Author: Jason Heller / April 07, 2009 12:00AM CDT Category: Marine Conservation
Megamouth, rare, Shark, Philippines, Donsol
So rare are these sharks that each of them is designated with a number.

Fishermen based in Donsol were trawling for mackerel along the eastern coast of Burias Isle on the morning of 30 March when they caught a strange-looking shark from a depth of approximately 200 meters. WWF’s satellite tagging initiatives have already shown that pelagic filter feeders such as whale sharks and manta rays regularly prowl through the region. It was only a matter of time before something else was discovered.

Megamouth SharkThe shark was brought to Barangay Dancalan in Donsol, Sorsogon for assessment. WWF Donsol Project Manager Elson Aca immediately arrived to assess the haul – and promptly identified it as a megamouth shark... MORE

Sharks in peril?

Late NEWS received from Sam’s Tour’s Blog, posted by Dermot Keane today the 18th of March 2009.

Repeal of Palau's Shark Protection Laws Proposed!

A Bill is now before Palau's OEK (Congress) that if passed would eliminate Palau's strong shark protection laws and actively encourage fishing for sharks and the taking of shark fins.

Senate Bill No. 8-44 seeks "to amend Title 27 of Palau's National Code to allow for the commercial fishing of sharks within Palau's Exclusive Economic Zone, to impose a tax on the export of sharks and tuna-like species, and for other related purposes."
The proposed law is a potentially severe blow to Palau's tourism industry of which scuba diving is the mainstay. Palau gained international recognition in 2004 for passage of landmark legislation that protected sharks, turtles and rays and outlawed the practice of shark-finning. Under Senate Bill 8-44 it is unclear whether shark fishing and or shark-finning is or is not permitted and the ambiguity will make it virtually impossible for law enforcement to successfully prosecute potential violators. Sections of the bill read as follows:
"It is unlawful for any person: to remove the fins of or otherwise intentionally mutilate or injure any such shark"...
Read More @ Sam’s Tours Blog

We picked up this very interesting article today...

With sufficient public support and resulting political will,
we can turn the tide.
Nicholas Dulvy, SSG

Sharks swim closer to extinction
By Richard Black
Environment correspondent, BBC News website

Sharks Swimming into trouble...
an Environmental message from
palautours.com
Protect our OCEAN & Natural Resources



© Gunther Deichmann - Blue Corner Palau, Micronesia.
"How much longer can we and our Children enjoy these
amazing creatures?"

More than half of the world's ocean-going sharks are at risk of extinction, a new analysis concludes.
Specialists with IUCN (formerly the World Conservation Union) found that 11 species are on the high-risk list, with five more showing signs of decline.
Sharks are particularly affected by over-fishing as they reproduce slowly.
The scientists are calling for global catch limits, an end to the practice of removing fins, and measures to minimize incidental catches (by-catch).

"There's this idea that because these are widely ranging species, they're more resilient to fishing pressure," said Sonja Fordham, deputy chair of the IUCN Shark Specialist Group (SSG) and policy director for the Shark Alliance conservation group.
"In fact they're becoming species of serious concern because there are no international catch limits for sharks. There are intense fisheries on the oceans, and they remain pretty much unprotected."

New threats

The SSG assessed data on the 21 species of sharks and their close cousins, the rays, that swim in upper portions of the open ocean where they are exposed to fishing fleets.
Of the 21, one - the giant devilray - is assessed as Endangered, and 10 are Vulnerable.

A further five are listed as Near Threatened, which means the signs of decline are not serious enough yet to merit a full listing...
please read the whole article with photos @ http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/7413948.stm

Tags: Science, Protect THE SHARKS, Extinction

PALAU CONSERVATION SOCIETY keeping Palau the way NATURE intended.... protecting and preserving Palau's natural resources.


© Gunther Deichmann - Turtle returning to the sea.

Named one of the world's last “Edens” by National Geographic, Palau is truly blessed with an abundance of natural wonders. From the sublime Rock Islands to Micronesia's largest undisturbed forest, adventure seekers from around the world come to Palau to engage in world-class diving and snorkeling. Palau's magnificent reefs and coral gardens provide the underwater enthusiast with an unparalleled diving experience, where encounters with sharks, mantas, sea turtles and a kaleidoscope of reef fishes are commonplace... read more on the Palau Conservation Society @ http://www.palautours.com/palau-conservation.html


© Gunther Deichmann - pristine mangrove coastline

Tags: Environment, Conservation, Marine, Protect, Global warming, Save our Planet