“When you put good will out there it’s amazing what can be accomplished.”
Previous Projects
Giving speech at the November 3 "Rise for the Climate" protest in Brussels
Speech on the influence of oceans on climate chance at the "Rise for the Climate" protest on November 3 in Brussels
Participate in the "Rise for the climate" protests on September 8, October 6 and November 3 to demand profound climate action from European leaders.
Contribute to "Make Stewardship Count" coalition open letter protesting the fact that MSC tolerates shark finning in MSC certified fisheries
Compose a file for volunteers to convince shops to cease selling shark cartilage
Compose a file with copies of articles concerning the facts around shark cartilage for volunteers to take to shops and convince the owners to remove shark cartilage products from their shelves.
Host presentation at the Hugycup International Underwater Photo and Film Festival
Hosting 80 minute shark conservation presentation for the film festival attendees.
Participate in coalition campaign to prevent the MSC from certifying the Spanish longline (shark) fishery as "sustainable" and improve general MSC certification standards.
Contribute to coalition letter, rectifying incorrect statements in a paper claiming that a US shark fin ban would undermine sustainable shark fisheries.
Prepare video message and donate pics for Project Aware's "Divers for Mako"
Participating in the Project Aware "Divers for Mako" campaign by contributing to a "Shark advocates speak up" series of short clips and by donating pictures. The campaign aimed to convince ICCAT to set limiting fish quota's for Mako sharks in the Atlantic Ocean.
Write and publish an (in English written) article in online dive magazine "Scubaverse" on shark feeding and shark conservation in Fiji
Publication of the BlueShark article "The shark whisperers of Beqa lagoon" in Scubaverse online magazine.
Advise producer of Dutch shark documentary
Advising the producers of "Second Nature", a Dutch documentary TV show for the production of the series "Save the Sharks" with biologist Freek Vonk.
Host presentation at Museum of Natural Sciences Maastricht (Netherlands)
Hosting 80 minute shark conservation presentation for the visitors of the "Shark" exhibition.
Host presentation for Sea Shepherd Belgium
Hosting 80 minute shark conservation presentation for the volunteers and supporters of Sea Shepherd Belgium..
Donate marine pictures to both Project Aware and PEW
To use during the ICCAT summit aiming to strengthen the finning ban by banning at-sea removal of fins and set precautionary, science-based catch limits for blue sharks.
Host presentation at Museum Natural Sciences Maastricht (Netherlands)
Hosting 80 minute shark conservation presentation for the visitors of the "Shark" exhibition.
Give interview as the speaker guest at the opening celebration of the six months ongoing exhibition "Shark" at the Maastricht, Netherlands Museum of Natural Sciences.
Giving interview about diving with sharks and shark conservation during the opening celebration of their six months ongoing exposition on the biology and plight of sharks.
Invitation card
Donate pictures to the Maastricht Museum of Natural Sciences for their "Shark" exhibition
Donating multiple BlueShark pictures to the Maastricht (Netherlands) Museum of Natural Sciences for their "SHARK" exposition, a six months ongoing exposition on the biology and plight of sharks.
Pictures of exposition and official opening
Write and publish article in Belgian dive magazine "Hippocampus" on shark feeding and shark conservation in Fiji
Published in the Belgian "Hippocampus" dive magazine.
Write and publish article on cetaceans in captivity, both in the Dutch animal rights "PiepVandaag" magazine and the "Duiken" dive magazine newsletter
Published in the newsletter of "Duiken" diving magazine
Published in the online magazine PiepVandaag
French translation
English translation
Write and publish article in the Dutch "Duiken" dive magazine on marine biodiversity in Fiji
Publishing a 9-page BlueShark article on the marine biodiversity in Fiji waters and reefs.
Support various campaigns aimed at shark protection
Supporting campaigns of likeminded organisations. Examples:
* Atiracan Asociación Amigos de los Tiburones y Rayas: For the establishment of a shark and ray sanctuary in the Canary Islands.
* The Global Shark Conservation Initiative: To put an end to the Australian shark cull policy.
* Singapore without fins: For a ban on the consumption and trade of shark fins in Singapore.
* Great British Oceans: For the establishment of fully protected marine reserves at British overseas territories.
* Alex Hofford campaign: To ban shark fin transports by UPS
Advise the producers of Belgian TV show "Het lichaam van Coppens"
Advising the producers of this Belgian VTM TV-channel on the plight of sharks, shark behaviour and referring them to contacts for extra information and filming opportunities.
Excerp of the tv show (test if sharks are attrackted by human blood)
Participate in the Climate March in Ostend.
BlueShark Conservation participated in the Climate March in Ostend with ocean related climate change information.
Edit and co-write article for the Dutch "Duiken" magazine on white sharks in Australia
Co-writing an article on the request of diving magazine "Duiken", on the stigmatization of white sharks in Australia.
Donate marine pictures to The Shark Trust, Shark Advocats International and Project Aware
Host presentation at the Belgian Marine Ecological Centre
Annoucement
Write and send letters to the Belgian Minister of Animal Welfare on behalf of a coalition consisting of 6 Belgian NGO's and 5 VIP's
Drafting the letters and sending them after approval by the coalition, asking the Belgian Minister of Animal Welfare for investigation and the closure of the Belgian Boudewijn Seapark dolphinarium.
Second letter to Flemish minister of animal welfare Ben Weyts
Write and send + publish press release concerning the Belgian dolphinarium on behalf of the Jurat of Herent municipality and a coalition of 6 Belgian NGO's
Drafting the press release and sending it + submitting it for publication after approval by the Jurat and coalition. The press release refutes the lies in a statement by Boudewijn Seapark and asks the Flemish minister of welfare to investigate the dolphinarium.
Write and send + publish letter concerning the Belgian dolphinarium to the Flemish Government Social Service on behalf of 6 Belgian NGO's
Drafting the letter and sending it + submitting it for publication after approval by the coalition. The letter informed the Flemish Governments Social Service of grave irregularities at the Belgian Boudewijnpark dolphinarium, because the departement sold discounted tickets to the dolphinarium to their employees.
Due to our letter, the Flemish Governement Social Service ceased selling entry tickets for the dolphinarium to their employees.
The open letter was also published, in online magazine PiepVandaag.
Reading this published letter prompted the jurat of Flemish municipaly Herent to ban their local summer school from visiting the dolphinarium.
Open Letter published in the Dutch online magazine PiepVandaag
Co-organize a European protest for the closure of all EU dolphinariums
Co-organising a European demo in Brussels along with other national and international NGO's for the closure of all EU dolphinariums.
Write and publish an article announcing a European protest for the closure of all EU dolphinariums in the Dutch "PiepVandaag" magazine and in the Dutch "Duiken" dive magazine's calender
Design and produce a self-explanatory loop presentation + poster for the Belgian "Aquatopia" aquarium
The self-explanatory loop presentation centered around the plight of sharks and the lack of fishing quota's for sharks in the Atlantic Ocean. In coöperation with The British Shark Trust, the presentation was accompanied by the No Limits - No Future .pdf petition and documentation.
Write and submit an open letter to oppose possible MSC certification of the Spanish shark fishery
Open letter expressing deep concerns as the Spanish Atlantic longline fleets are in no way sustainable.
Writing prologue for the "Little Book of Scuba Diving" titled "Giving back to the ocean"
Writing conservation foreword for the "Little Book of Scuba Diving" by Kelvin J. Knight titled "Giving back to the Ocean".
Foreword (in English) in the link, click on the book and read at page 3
Write and send an opinion to NOAA concerning the proposed rule to ban finning of smooth dogfish and set catch limits
Sending opinion to support the proposed rule to ban the at-sea removal of smooth dogfish fins and to apply science based dogfish catch limits.
(Successfully) lobby for a ban on the use of gill nets in Belgium at the office of the Flemish minister of Nature Joke Schauvliege, for the "Warrelniet" campaign
BlueShark Conservation led the coalition campaign "Warrelniet": a Belgian national campaign in coalition with Sea Shepherd Belgium, Natuurpunt and Sea First Belgium.
Within three weeks after handing over the petition with +22.600 signatures, the Flemish government decided to issue a ban on the recreational use of gill nets nation wide.
Prime time Belgian TV-news covering the cabinet meeting and hand-over of the petition signatures
Write and publish an article on the illegal import and sale of three porbeagle sharks in Belgium in the Dutch "Duiken" magazine newsletter
Drafting and publishing an article on the illegal import and sale of three individual porbeagle sharks in Belgium.
Due to the BlueShark Conservation article and reporting, the Belgian CITES officer investigated the matter and apprehended the importer.
Write and distribute a plea letter to oppose the dumping of steel slag in the shallows of the Dutch Oosterschelde
Drafting and distributing the plea letter to Belgian and Dutch dive centers, urging them to support the campaign and to sign the petition against the dumping of steel slag use in order to reïnforce the shores.
Write and publish an article on recent blue shark sightings near French and Spanish beaches on the request of the Dutch "Duiken" diving magazine
The BlueShark Conservation article explains the sightings and defuses the panic surrounding these sightings
Article published in the newsletter of "Duiken" dive magazine
Donate marine pictures to Humane Society and Manta Trust for use during the CMS summit
Donating marine pictures for the proposal to list mobula rays on the CMS (Convention on the conservation of migratory species) protection appendices in November 2014.
Write and publish an update article on the "Warrelniet" campaign, on behalf of the 4 participating NGO's
Drafting and publishing an update article on the Warrelniet-Mailles Fatales campaign on behalf of Sea Shepherd Belgium, Natuurpunt, Sea First Belgium and BlueShark Conservation.
Write and publish an article to oppose the distribution of free tickets to the Belgian dolphinarium by P-magazine on behalf of 4 Belgian NGO's
Drafting and publishing an article to oppose the distribution of free tickets for Boudewijn Seapark dolphnarium by Flemish P-magazine, on behalf of Sea Shepherd Belgium, Bite Back, Dauphins Libres and BlueShark Conservation.
Write and compose 30 minute shark talk and quiz for kids to be hosted at the Antwerp "DiveWise Training and Education Centre"
Writing 30 minute shark talk for kids approx. 12 years old with powerpoint presentation, video clips and a Shark Quiz, for DiveWise Training and Education Centre in Antwerp, Belgium.
Write numerous articles, press releases on behalf of Sea Shepherd Belgium
Writing articles, press releases and application letters for permits to conduct activities, as the Communication / Public Relations Manager of Sea Shepherd Belgium.
Compose a strategy and lead the implementation of the "Warrelniet" campaign on behalf of participating NGO's of the campaign
Cooperating with NGO’s Natuurpunt, Sea Shepherd Belgium and Sea First Belgium in a campaign to establish a nation wide ban on the recreational use of gill nets on Belgian shores.
BlueShark services included among other things: Designing and implementing a campaign strategy. Attracting NGO Natuurpunt (largest nature organisation in Flanders) to take part in the campaign. Designing, organising and preparing a beach event to launch the campaign (with information booths, a Kids Club, a sand sculptures contest with prices, a maze contest with a Belgian VIP and a music preformance by a Belgian band). Designing a 50x30 metre maze with poles and rope and constructing it on the beach. Finding sponsors for the funding of the event. Announcing and promoting the beach event and campaign in the media. Conducting research on the issue and writing an extensive motivation for the campaign. Also writing all other texts of the campaign website including the updates in the news section. Contacting NGO's and governmental organizations, requesting permission to use their pictures for the campaign. Creating the online and .pdf campaign petitions. Creating e- and printed postcards for supporters to send to the mayors of coastal municipalies which allow gill nets on their beaches.
English version online petition (main petition lists were in Flemish and French)
Video clip with impression of the beach event
Article written for gill nets campaign, published in Dutch online magazine “PiepVandaag” and copied into several other websites like “Zeezoogdierennieuws”
Article written for gill nets campaign, published in Belgian "Hippocampus" diving magazine.
Write and send a letter to Flemish Government, opposing their decision to shelve two cases of illegal basking shark (parts) retention by a Belgian fishing boat
Drafting and sending a letter to the Flemish Government on behalf of BlueShark Conservation and Sea First Belgium, opposing their decision to shelve two separate cases of illegal basking shark (parts) retention. Both times the boat crew was (partially) the same.
In the first case the crew aimed to land a basking shark in the harbour of Zeebrugge. Two years later, during a routine check, two sliced off basking shark fins were found hidden in the ships freezer. Both cases were shelved.
Support various campaigns aimed at shark protection
Supporting campaigns from likeminded organisations. For example:
* PEW: overfishing
* Alex Hofford campaign to ban shark fin transports on planes: examples: Thai Airlines, Cebu Pacific
Distribute and follow up on a manta ray survey on behalf of Manta Ray of Hope, Manta Trust, the Indonesian Manta Project and Blue Sphere Media
Grand scale distribution of a manta ray survey on request of NGO Shark Savers, for Manta Ray of Hope, Manta Trust, the Indonesian Manta Project and Blue Sphere Media campaign to establish nationwide legal protection for manta rays in Indonesia. Reference: Mary O’Malley (Shark Savers / Wild Aid / Manta Trust).
Press Release manta rays protected in Indonesia
PLOS One Paper which was written using conclusions of the survey
Publish a 9-page+cover article on shark fishing near the Azore Islands in the Dutch "Duiken" dive magazine
Publication of a 9-page+cover article on the conservation of sharks of the Azore Islands and the Atlantic Ocean in the Dutch diving magazine “Duiken”.
Write press release with NGO's WWF Belgium and Natuurpunt to oppose the Flemish Fisheries Marketing Centres recommandation to consume spiny dogfish
Cooperating with NGO's WWF Belgium and Natuurpunt, to draft a press release opposing the Flemish Fisheries Marketing Centre (VLAM)'s recommandation to buy and consume spiny dogfish/spurdog.
Support various campaigns aimed at shark protection
Supporting campaigns of likeminded organisations. For example:
Shark Defenders: CITES protection for endangered shark species
Project Aware: CITES protection for endangered shark species
Initiate, coordinate (get subsidized) and execute a 1.5 year long nationwide shark awareness campaign “The Shark Project” for Belgian NGO Sea First, consisting of a contest for students, the composition of an online information package, lessons in schools, press conferences, a prize ceremony, leading a week long marine themed study trip and production of an awareness video for schools
“The Shark Project" included a year-long contest for secondary school students, a press conference, a prize ceremony, a guided field trip to encounter marine life in Florida for the grand prize winners and the production of a short documentary on ocean conservation. The documentary was distributed back to the secondary schools in Belgium to raise awareness among the students through the experience of their peers while they were in Florida and to promote discussing ocean exploitation and preservation in the classrooms.
The Belgian National Lottery was convinced of the necessity of this project which was executed at the time of the EU legal proposal to ban shark finning in the EU and therefore funded the campaign with a grant.
Campaign Teaser
Campaign website (after the contest the website was taken offline, but it is currently being restored as a seperate part of this BlueShark website (under construction).
Radio Interview on Flemisch National
French National Radio
Pictures Press Presentation
Pictures Prize Ceremony
Pictures study trip conservation contest grand prize winners Set 1, Set 2, Set 3
Pictures premiere of the Shark Project documentary "Sea and Learn"
Shark Project Documentary "Sea and Learn" Online
Write and publish an article on the West-Australian government decision to cull white sharks in the vicinity of beaches in the Dutch online magazine "PiepVandaag"
Publication of an article in the Dutch online magazine “Piep Vandaag” on the decision of the West-Australian government to cull white sharks in the vicinity of popular beaches.
Write a press release with NGO’s WWF Belgium and Natuurpunt, urging the Belgian food sector to discourage the consumption of porbeagle meat
Drafting a press release in cooperation with NGO’s WWF Belgium and Natuurpunt, urging the food sector to discourage the consumption of porbeagle meat in Belgium.
Write and publish an opinion on the recreative catch of dogfish in the Dutch Oosterschelde for tagging purposes, in online version of the Dutch diving magazine "Duiken"
Published in the online version of the Dutch diving magazine "Duiken" and referred to by several other websites.
Co-author 3 articles on the marine diversity at Raja Ampat, published in diving magazines “Duiken”, "Hippocampus" and "Onderwatersport"
Publication of three co-authored articles on Raja Ampat (conservation part) with Dos Winkel (Founder Belgian NGO Sea First) in the Diving Magazines “Duiken”, "Hippocampus" and "Onderwatersport"
Host dozens of shark conservation lessons and talks at various schools and conferences
Hosting shark conservation lessons and talks
Program World Ocean Day Belgium 2011 off line
Write and publish an article on the plight of sharks in the Belgian dive magazine "Hippocampus"
Publication of a 5-page article on the plight of sharks, shark finning, shark legislation and shark byproducts in the Belgian diving magazine “Hippocampus”.
Contact and convince Belgian restaurants to cease serving shark meat
On behalf of the Belgian NGO Sea First and as a board member of this organisation, contacting and convincing restaurants to cease selling shark meat in their restaurants.
Lobby the Belgian MEP's concerning the legal proposal to ban finning in the EU on behalf of NGO PEW’s Shark Alliance
Lobby he Belgian attaché of permanent representation to the EU, for NGO PEW’s Shark Alliance campaign during the EU legal proposal to close the loopholes in the EU finning legislation.
Pictures Shark Alliance yearly member meeting
Pictures launch EC proposal to close the loopholes in the EU Finning Ban
Coordinate and execute the “European Shark Week” awareness demo for PEW’s Shark Alliance project and as a board member of Belgian NGO Sea First
Coordinate and execute the “European Shark Week” awareness demo for NGO PEW’s Shark Alliance and as a board member of Belgian NGO Sea First.
Pictures European Shark Week 2011 second week
Pictures European Shark Week 2011 first week
Initiate and execute a grand scale mailing to gather support for NGO Shark Savers' legal proposal to establish a shark sanctuary in Raja Ampat, Indonesia
Initiating and executing the grand scale mailing. Contacting NGO's, dive tourism companies and travel companies all over the world, to gather support for the legal proposal to establish a shark sanctuary in Raja Ampat.
Co-found, administer and initiate a multitude of grassroots campaigns for Facebook page “The Global Shark Initiative” with eventually 26.200 members
Co-found, administer and initiate a multitude of grassroots campaigns for Facebook page “The Global Shark Initiative” with 26.200 members. (Page was removed on the request of the co-founder in November 2011)
Article by Michelle Kirk Marks on GSI and involving top chef Gordon Ramsay in shark conservation.
Campaign featured on the Let Sharks Live Blog
Initiate, coordinate and connect likeminded NGO’s and individuals for an online campaign against the sales of thresher shark cartilage as dog chew bones
Initiate and execute a grand scale e-mailing for the “Save Ningaloo” campaign
Grand scale e-mailing aiming to prevent the construction of a mega resort with a marina at an ecological extremely important and fragile area.
The campaign was successful and the area was later designated a world heritage area.
Giving speech at the November 3 "Rise for the Climate" protest in Brussels
Speech on the influence of oceans on climate chance at the "Rise for the Climate" protest on November 3 in Brussels
Participate in the "Rise for the climate" protests on September 8, October 6 and November 3 to demand profound climate action from European leaders.
Contribute to "Make Stewardship Count" coalition open letter protesting the fact that MSC tolerates shark finning in MSC certified fisheries
Compose a file for volunteers to convince shops to cease selling shark cartilage
Compose a file with copies of articles concerning the facts around shark cartilage for volunteers to take to shops and convince the owners to remove shark cartilage products from their shelves.
Host presentation at the Hugycup International Underwater Photo and Film Festival
Hosting 80 minute shark conservation presentation for the film festival attendees.
Participate in coalition campaign to prevent the MSC from certifying the Spanish longline (shark) fishery as "sustainable" and improve general MSC certification standards.
Contribute to coalition letter, rectifying incorrect statements in a paper claiming that a US shark fin ban would undermine sustainable shark fisheries.
Prepare video message and donate pics for Project Aware's "Divers for Mako"
Participating in the Project Aware "Divers for Mako" campaign by contributing to a "Shark advocates speak up" series of short clips and by donating pictures. The campaign aimed to convince ICCAT to set limiting fish quota's for Mako sharks in the Atlantic Ocean.
Write and publish an (in English written) article in online dive magazine "Scubaverse" on shark feeding and shark conservation in Fiji
Publication of the BlueShark article "The shark whisperers of Beqa lagoon" in Scubaverse online magazine.
Advise producer of Dutch shark documentary
Advising the producers of "Second Nature", a Dutch documentary TV show for the production of the series "Save the Sharks" with biologist Freek Vonk.
Host presentation at Museum of Natural Sciences Maastricht (Netherlands)
Hosting 80 minute shark conservation presentation for the visitors of the "Shark" exhibition.
Host presentation for Sea Shepherd Belgium
Hosting 80 minute shark conservation presentation for the volunteers and supporters of Sea Shepherd Belgium..
Donate marine pictures to both Project Aware and PEW
To use during the ICCAT summit aiming to strengthen the finning ban by banning at-sea removal of fins and set precautionary, science-based catch limits for blue sharks.
Host presentation at Museum Natural Sciences Maastricht (Netherlands)
Hosting 80 minute shark conservation presentation for the visitors of the "Shark" exhibition.
Give interview as the speaker guest at the opening celebration of the six months ongoing exhibition "Shark" at the Maastricht, Netherlands Museum of Natural Sciences.
Giving interview about diving with sharks and shark conservation during the opening celebration of their six months ongoing exposition on the biology and plight of sharks.
Invitation card
Donate pictures to the Maastricht Museum of Natural Sciences for their "Shark" exhibition
Donating multiple BlueShark pictures to the Maastricht (Netherlands) Museum of Natural Sciences for their "SHARK" exposition, a six months ongoing exposition on the biology and plight of sharks.
Pictures of exposition and official opening
Write and publish article in Belgian dive magazine "Hippocampus" on shark feeding and shark conservation in Fiji
Published in the Belgian "Hippocampus" dive magazine.
Write and publish article on cetaceans in captivity, both in the Dutch animal rights "PiepVandaag" magazine and the "Duiken" dive magazine newsletter
Published in the newsletter of "Duiken" diving magazine
Published in the online magazine PiepVandaag
French translation
English translation
Write and publish article in the Dutch "Duiken" dive magazine on marine biodiversity in Fiji
Publishing a 9-page BlueShark article on the marine biodiversity in Fiji waters and reefs.
Support various campaigns aimed at shark protection
Supporting campaigns of likeminded organisations. Examples:
* Atiracan Asociación Amigos de los Tiburones y Rayas: For the establishment of a shark and ray sanctuary in the Canary Islands.
* The Global Shark Conservation Initiative: To put an end to the Australian shark cull policy.
* Singapore without fins: For a ban on the consumption and trade of shark fins in Singapore.
* Great British Oceans: For the establishment of fully protected marine reserves at British overseas territories.
* Alex Hofford campaign: To ban shark fin transports by UPS
Advise the producers of Belgian TV show "Het lichaam van Coppens"
Advising the producers of this Belgian VTM TV-channel on the plight of sharks, shark behaviour and referring them to contacts for extra information and filming opportunities.
Excerp of the tv show (test if sharks are attrackted by human blood)
Participate in the Climate March in Ostend.
BlueShark Conservation participated in the Climate March in Ostend with ocean related climate change information.
Edit and co-write article for the Dutch "Duiken" magazine on white sharks in Australia
Co-writing an article on the request of diving magazine "Duiken", on the stigmatization of white sharks in Australia.
Donate marine pictures to The Shark Trust, Shark Advocats International and Project Aware
Host presentation at the Belgian Marine Ecological Centre
Annoucement
Write and send letters to the Belgian Minister of Animal Welfare on behalf of a coalition consisting of 6 Belgian NGO's and 5 VIP's
Drafting the letters and sending them after approval by the coalition, asking the Belgian Minister of Animal Welfare for investigation and the closure of the Belgian Boudewijn Seapark dolphinarium.
Second letter to Flemish minister of animal welfare Ben Weyts
Write and send + publish press release concerning the Belgian dolphinarium on behalf of the Jurat of Herent municipality and a coalition of 6 Belgian NGO's
Drafting the press release and sending it + submitting it for publication after approval by the Jurat and coalition. The press release refutes the lies in a statement by Boudewijn Seapark and asks the Flemish minister of welfare to investigate the dolphinarium.
Write and send + publish letter concerning the Belgian dolphinarium to the Flemish Government Social Service on behalf of 6 Belgian NGO's
Drafting the letter and sending it + submitting it for publication after approval by the coalition. The letter informed the Flemish Governments Social Service of grave irregularities at the Belgian Boudewijnpark dolphinarium, because the departement sold discounted tickets to the dolphinarium to their employees.
Due to our letter, the Flemish Governement Social Service ceased selling entry tickets for the dolphinarium to their employees.
The open letter was also published, in online magazine PiepVandaag.
Reading this published letter prompted the jurat of Flemish municipaly Herent to ban their local summer school from visiting the dolphinarium.
Open Letter published in the Dutch online magazine PiepVandaag
Co-organize a European protest for the closure of all EU dolphinariums
Co-organising a European demo in Brussels along with other national and international NGO's for the closure of all EU dolphinariums.
Write and publish an article announcing a European protest for the closure of all EU dolphinariums in the Dutch "PiepVandaag" magazine and in the Dutch "Duiken" dive magazine's calender
Design and produce a self-explanatory loop presentation + poster for the Belgian "Aquatopia" aquarium
The self-explanatory loop presentation centered around the plight of sharks and the lack of fishing quota's for sharks in the Atlantic Ocean. In coöperation with The British Shark Trust, the presentation was accompanied by the No Limits - No Future .pdf petition and documentation.
Write and submit an open letter to oppose possible MSC certification of the Spanish shark fishery
Open letter expressing deep concerns as the Spanish Atlantic longline fleets are in no way sustainable.
Writing prologue for the "Little Book of Scuba Diving" titled "Giving back to the ocean"
Writing conservation foreword for the "Little Book of Scuba Diving" by Kelvin J. Knight titled "Giving back to the Ocean".
Foreword (in English) in the link, click on the book and read at page 3
Write and send an opinion to NOAA concerning the proposed rule to ban finning of smooth dogfish and set catch limits
Sending opinion to support the proposed rule to ban the at-sea removal of smooth dogfish fins and to apply science based dogfish catch limits.
(Successfully) lobby for a ban on the use of gill nets in Belgium at the office of the Flemish minister of Nature Joke Schauvliege, for the "Warrelniet" campaign
BlueShark Conservation led the coalition campaign "Warrelniet": a Belgian national campaign in coalition with Sea Shepherd Belgium, Natuurpunt and Sea First Belgium.
Within three weeks after handing over the petition with +22.600 signatures, the Flemish government decided to issue a ban on the recreational use of gill nets nation wide.
Prime time Belgian TV-news covering the cabinet meeting and hand-over of the petition signatures
Write and publish an article on the illegal import and sale of three porbeagle sharks in Belgium in the Dutch "Duiken" magazine newsletter
Drafting and publishing an article on the illegal import and sale of three individual porbeagle sharks in Belgium.
Due to the BlueShark Conservation article and reporting, the Belgian CITES officer investigated the matter and apprehended the importer.
Write and distribute a plea letter to oppose the dumping of steel slag in the shallows of the Dutch Oosterschelde
Drafting and distributing the plea letter to Belgian and Dutch dive centers, urging them to support the campaign and to sign the petition against the dumping of steel slag use in order to reïnforce the shores.
Write and publish an article on recent blue shark sightings near French and Spanish beaches on the request of the Dutch "Duiken" diving magazine
The BlueShark Conservation article explains the sightings and defuses the panic surrounding these sightings
Article published in the newsletter of "Duiken" dive magazine
Donate marine pictures to Humane Society and Manta Trust for use during the CMS summit
Donating marine pictures for the proposal to list mobula rays on the CMS (Convention on the conservation of migratory species) protection appendices in November 2014.
Write and publish an update article on the "Warrelniet" campaign, on behalf of the 4 participating NGO's
Drafting and publishing an update article on the Warrelniet-Mailles Fatales campaign on behalf of Sea Shepherd Belgium, Natuurpunt, Sea First Belgium and BlueShark Conservation.
Write and publish an article to oppose the distribution of free tickets to the Belgian dolphinarium by P-magazine on behalf of 4 Belgian NGO's
Drafting and publishing an article to oppose the distribution of free tickets for Boudewijn Seapark dolphnarium by Flemish P-magazine, on behalf of Sea Shepherd Belgium, Bite Back, Dauphins Libres and BlueShark Conservation.
Write and compose 30 minute shark talk and quiz for kids to be hosted at the Antwerp "DiveWise Training and Education Centre"
Writing 30 minute shark talk for kids approx. 12 years old with powerpoint presentation, video clips and a Shark Quiz, for DiveWise Training and Education Centre in Antwerp, Belgium.
Write numerous articles, press releases on behalf of Sea Shepherd Belgium
Writing articles, press releases and application letters for permits to conduct activities, as the Communication / Public Relations Manager of Sea Shepherd Belgium.
Compose a strategy and lead the implementation of the "Warrelniet" campaign on behalf of participating NGO's of the campaign
Cooperating with NGO’s Natuurpunt, Sea Shepherd Belgium and Sea First Belgium in a campaign to establish a nation wide ban on the recreational use of gill nets on Belgian shores.
BlueShark services included among other things: Designing and implementing a campaign strategy. Attracting NGO Natuurpunt (largest nature organisation in Flanders) to take part in the campaign. Designing, organising and preparing a beach event to launch the campaign (with information booths, a Kids Club, a sand sculptures contest with prices, a maze contest with a Belgian VIP and a music preformance by a Belgian band). Designing a 50x30 metre maze with poles and rope and constructing it on the beach. Finding sponsors for the funding of the event. Announcing and promoting the beach event and campaign in the media. Conducting research on the issue and writing an extensive motivation for the campaign. Also writing all other texts of the campaign website including the updates in the news section. Contacting NGO's and governmental organizations, requesting permission to use their pictures for the campaign. Creating the online and .pdf campaign petitions. Creating e- and printed postcards for supporters to send to the mayors of coastal municipalies which allow gill nets on their beaches.
English version online petition (main petition lists were in Flemish and French)
Video clip with impression of the beach event
Article written for gill nets campaign, published in Dutch online magazine “PiepVandaag” and copied into several other websites like “Zeezoogdierennieuws”
Article written for gill nets campaign, published in Belgian "Hippocampus" diving magazine.
Write and send a letter to Flemish Government, opposing their decision to shelve two cases of illegal basking shark (parts) retention by a Belgian fishing boat
Drafting and sending a letter to the Flemish Government on behalf of BlueShark Conservation and Sea First Belgium, opposing their decision to shelve two separate cases of illegal basking shark (parts) retention. Both times the boat crew was (partially) the same.
In the first case the crew aimed to land a basking shark in the harbour of Zeebrugge. Two years later, during a routine check, two sliced off basking shark fins were found hidden in the ships freezer. Both cases were shelved.
Support various campaigns aimed at shark protection
Supporting campaigns from likeminded organisations. For example:
* PEW: overfishing
* Alex Hofford campaign to ban shark fin transports on planes: examples: Thai Airlines, Cebu Pacific
Distribute and follow up on a manta ray survey on behalf of Manta Ray of Hope, Manta Trust, the Indonesian Manta Project and Blue Sphere Media
Grand scale distribution of a manta ray survey on request of NGO Shark Savers, for Manta Ray of Hope, Manta Trust, the Indonesian Manta Project and Blue Sphere Media campaign to establish nationwide legal protection for manta rays in Indonesia. Reference: Mary O’Malley (Shark Savers / Wild Aid / Manta Trust).
Press Release manta rays protected in Indonesia
PLOS One Paper which was written using conclusions of the survey
Publish a 9-page+cover article on shark fishing near the Azore Islands in the Dutch "Duiken" dive magazine
Publication of a 9-page+cover article on the conservation of sharks of the Azore Islands and the Atlantic Ocean in the Dutch diving magazine “Duiken”.
Write press release with NGO's WWF Belgium and Natuurpunt to oppose the Flemish Fisheries Marketing Centres recommandation to consume spiny dogfish
Cooperating with NGO's WWF Belgium and Natuurpunt, to draft a press release opposing the Flemish Fisheries Marketing Centre (VLAM)'s recommandation to buy and consume spiny dogfish/spurdog.
Support various campaigns aimed at shark protection
Supporting campaigns of likeminded organisations. For example:
Shark Defenders: CITES protection for endangered shark species
Project Aware: CITES protection for endangered shark species
Initiate, coordinate (get subsidized) and execute a 1.5 year long nationwide shark awareness campaign “The Shark Project” for Belgian NGO Sea First, consisting of a contest for students, the composition of an online information package, lessons in schools, press conferences, a prize ceremony, leading a week long marine themed study trip and production of an awareness video for schools
“The Shark Project" included a year-long contest for secondary school students, a press conference, a prize ceremony, a guided field trip to encounter marine life in Florida for the grand prize winners and the production of a short documentary on ocean conservation. The documentary was distributed back to the secondary schools in Belgium to raise awareness among the students through the experience of their peers while they were in Florida and to promote discussing ocean exploitation and preservation in the classrooms.
The Belgian National Lottery was convinced of the necessity of this project which was executed at the time of the EU legal proposal to ban shark finning in the EU and therefore funded the campaign with a grant.
Campaign Teaser
Campaign website (after the contest the website was taken offline, but it is currently being restored as a seperate part of this BlueShark website (under construction).
Radio Interview on Flemisch National
French National Radio
Pictures Press Presentation
Pictures Prize Ceremony
Pictures study trip conservation contest grand prize winners Set 1, Set 2, Set 3
Pictures premiere of the Shark Project documentary "Sea and Learn"
Shark Project Documentary "Sea and Learn" Online
Write and publish an article on the West-Australian government decision to cull white sharks in the vicinity of beaches in the Dutch online magazine "PiepVandaag"
Publication of an article in the Dutch online magazine “Piep Vandaag” on the decision of the West-Australian government to cull white sharks in the vicinity of popular beaches.
Write a press release with NGO’s WWF Belgium and Natuurpunt, urging the Belgian food sector to discourage the consumption of porbeagle meat
Drafting a press release in cooperation with NGO’s WWF Belgium and Natuurpunt, urging the food sector to discourage the consumption of porbeagle meat in Belgium.
Write and publish an opinion on the recreative catch of dogfish in the Dutch Oosterschelde for tagging purposes, in online version of the Dutch diving magazine "Duiken"
Published in the online version of the Dutch diving magazine "Duiken" and referred to by several other websites.
Co-author 3 articles on the marine diversity at Raja Ampat, published in diving magazines “Duiken”, "Hippocampus" and "Onderwatersport"
Publication of three co-authored articles on Raja Ampat (conservation part) with Dos Winkel (Founder Belgian NGO Sea First) in the Diving Magazines “Duiken”, "Hippocampus" and "Onderwatersport"
Host dozens of shark conservation lessons and talks at various schools and conferences
Hosting shark conservation lessons and talks
Program World Ocean Day Belgium 2011 off line
Write and publish an article on the plight of sharks in the Belgian dive magazine "Hippocampus"
Publication of a 5-page article on the plight of sharks, shark finning, shark legislation and shark byproducts in the Belgian diving magazine “Hippocampus”.
Contact and convince Belgian restaurants to cease serving shark meat
On behalf of the Belgian NGO Sea First and as a board member of this organisation, contacting and convincing restaurants to cease selling shark meat in their restaurants.
Lobby the Belgian MEP's concerning the legal proposal to ban finning in the EU on behalf of NGO PEW’s Shark Alliance
Lobby he Belgian attaché of permanent representation to the EU, for NGO PEW’s Shark Alliance campaign during the EU legal proposal to close the loopholes in the EU finning legislation.
Pictures Shark Alliance yearly member meeting
Pictures launch EC proposal to close the loopholes in the EU Finning Ban
Coordinate and execute the “European Shark Week” awareness demo for PEW’s Shark Alliance project and as a board member of Belgian NGO Sea First
Coordinate and execute the “European Shark Week” awareness demo for NGO PEW’s Shark Alliance and as a board member of Belgian NGO Sea First.
Pictures European Shark Week 2011 second week
Pictures European Shark Week 2011 first week
Initiate and execute a grand scale mailing to gather support for NGO Shark Savers' legal proposal to establish a shark sanctuary in Raja Ampat, Indonesia
Initiating and executing the grand scale mailing. Contacting NGO's, dive tourism companies and travel companies all over the world, to gather support for the legal proposal to establish a shark sanctuary in Raja Ampat.
Co-found, administer and initiate a multitude of grassroots campaigns for Facebook page “The Global Shark Initiative” with eventually 26.200 members
Co-found, administer and initiate a multitude of grassroots campaigns for Facebook page “The Global Shark Initiative” with 26.200 members. (Page was removed on the request of the co-founder in November 2011)
Article by Michelle Kirk Marks on GSI and involving top chef Gordon Ramsay in shark conservation.
Campaign featured on the Let Sharks Live Blog
Initiate, coordinate and connect likeminded NGO’s and individuals for an online campaign against the sales of thresher shark cartilage as dog chew bones
Initiate and execute a grand scale e-mailing for the “Save Ningaloo” campaign
Grand scale e-mailing aiming to prevent the construction of a mega resort with a marina at an ecological extremely important and fragile area.
The campaign was successful and the area was later designated a world heritage area.
