“When you put good will out there it’s amazing what can be accomplished.”

Previous Projects


Write article about the legal protection of Mako Sharks on the request of "Duiken" dive magazine

2019

Giving speech at the November 3 "Rise for the Climate" protest in Brussels

2018

Speech on the influence of oceans on climate chance at the "Rise for the Climate" protest on November 3 in Brussels

Speech

 

Participate in the "Rise for the climate" protests on September 8, October 6 and November 3 to demand profound climate action from European leaders.

2018

Contribute to "Make Stewardship Count" coalition open letter protesting the fact that MSC tolerates shark finning in MSC certified fisheries

2018

Compose a file for volunteers to convince shops to cease selling shark cartilage

2018

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.

File of articles on shark cartilage

Host presentation at the Hugycup International Underwater Photo and Film Festival

2018

Hosting 80 minute shark conservation presentation for the film festival attendees.

Announcement Film Festival

Pic of presentation

 

Participate in coalition campaign to prevent the MSC from certifying the Spanish longline (shark) fishery as "sustainable" and improve general MSC certification standards.

2018

Contribute to coalition letter, rectifying incorrect statements in a paper claiming that a US shark fin ban would undermine sustainable shark fisheries.

2017

Letter in reaction to statements made by PhD student David Shiffman.

Letter in .pdf

 

Prepare video message and donate pics for Project Aware's "Divers for Mako"

2017

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.

Clip

Write and publish an (in English written) article in online dive magazine "Scubaverse" on shark feeding and shark conservation in Fiji

February 17,2017

Publication of the BlueShark article "The shark whisperers of Beqa lagoon" in Scubaverse online magazine. 

Article online 

Article in pdf

 

Advise producer of Dutch shark documentary

2017

Advising the producers of "Second Nature", a Dutch documentary TV show for the production of the series "Save the Sharks" with biologist Freek Vonk. 

Draft Announcement

 
haai maastricht

Host presentation at Museum of Natural Sciences Maastricht (Netherlands)

2017

Hosting 80 minute shark conservation presentation for the visitors of the "Shark" exhibition.

Host presentation for Sea Shepherd Belgium

December 1, 2016

Hosting 80 minute shark conservation presentation for the volunteers and supporters of Sea Shepherd Belgium.. 

Donate marine pictures to both Project Aware and PEW

2016

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.

 

Example

 

Host presentation at Museum Natural Sciences Maastricht (Netherlands)

September 11, 2016

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.

Juni 25, 2016

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

Juni, 2016

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

2016
Writing 7-page article on the bull shark feeding dives of Fiji Beqa Lagoon and the conservation benefits of this activity titled "De haaienfluisteraars van Beqa Lagoon".

Published in the Belgian "Hippocampus" dive magazine.

Donate pictures to both Project Aware and Shark Defenders (PEW)

2016
Donating marine pics to use for lobbying in support of the 2016 CITES shark proposals and in preparation of their attendance at the COP.

Example

Example

Example

Write and publish article on cetaceans in captivity, both in the Dutch animal rights "PiepVandaag" magazine and the "Duiken" dive magazine newsletter

2016
Writing article on Sea World's decision to stop the orca breeding program and on the possibilities to retire the orca's to ocean sanctuaries.

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

2016

Publishing a 9-page BlueShark article on the marine biodiversity in Fiji waters and reefs. 

Published in the Dutch "Duiken" magazine

Support various campaigns aimed at shark protection

2015

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"

2015

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.

2015

BlueShark Conservation participated in the Climate March in Ostend with ocean related climate change information. 

Video impression of the Belgian Climate March 

Edit and co-write article for the Dutch "Duiken" magazine on white sharks in Australia

2015

Co-writing an article on the request of diving magazine "Duiken", on the stigmatization of white sharks in Australia.

Article

Donate marine pictures to The Shark Trust, Shark Advocats International and Project Aware

2015

Donating marine pictures for the campaign to ban finning and establish limiting fishing quota's for endangered shark species in international waters of the Atlantic Ocean at the ICCAT conference 10-17 November 2015.

Example

Example

Host presentation at the Belgian Marine Ecological Centre

Oktober 16, 2015
Hosting 90 minute shark conservation talk at the Belgian Marine Ecological Centre in Ostend.

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

2015

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

2015

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.

Press Release

Published in zeezoogdieren.org

Write and send + publish letter concerning the Belgian dolphinarium to the Flemish Government Social Service on behalf of 6 Belgian NGO's

2015

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

2015

Co-organising a European demo in Brussels along with other national and international NGO's for the closure of all EU dolphinariums.

Clip European demo Brussels

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

2015

Design and produce a self-explanatory loop presentation + poster for the Belgian "Aquatopia" aquarium

2015

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.

Presentation

Poster Aquatopia

Shark Trust No Limits petition

Write and submit an open letter to oppose possible MSC certification of the Spanish shark fishery

2015

Open letter expressing deep concerns as the Spanish Atlantic longline fleets are in no way sustainable.

Open letter

Donate marine pictures to Project Aware

2015

Donating marine pictures to Project Aware, for use during their ocean and shark conservation campaigns.

Example

Example

Writing prologue for the "Little Book of Scuba Diving" titled "Giving back to the ocean"

2014

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

2014

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.

Comment

(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

2014

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

"Warrelniet" website

Write and publish an article on the illegal import and sale of three porbeagle sharks in Belgium in the Dutch "Duiken" magazine newsletter

2014

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.

Article published in "Duiken" dive magazine newsletter

Write and distribute a plea letter to oppose the dumping of steel slag in the shallows of the Dutch Oosterschelde

2014

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.

Letter

More info and online petition

Write and publish an article on recent blue shark sightings near French and Spanish beaches on the request of the Dutch "Duiken" diving magazine

2014

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

2014

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.

Proposal to list mobula rays on CMS appendices.

Write and publish an update article on the "Warrelniet" campaign, on behalf of the 4 participating NGO's

2014

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. 

Article published on Newsmonkey.be

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

2014

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.

Article published on Newsmonkey.be

Write and compose 30 minute shark talk and quiz for kids to be hosted at the Antwerp "DiveWise Training and Education Centre"

2014

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.

DiveWise Training and Education Centre website

Write numerous articles, press releases on behalf of Sea Shepherd Belgium

2014

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

2014

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.

Campaign website

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

2014

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.

Letter PDF

Donate marine pictures to Project Aware

2014

Donating marine pictures to Project Aware, for use during their ocean and shark conservation campaigns.

Example

Example

Example

Example

Support various campaigns aimed at shark protection

2013

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

2013

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

2013

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”.

Article published in the Dutch "Duiken" dive magazine

Write press release with NGO's WWF Belgium and Natuurpunt to oppose the Flemish Fisheries Marketing Centres recommandation to consume spiny dogfish

2013

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. 

Article

Support various campaigns aimed at shark protection

2013

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

2011-2013

“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).

Articles and Press Releases

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"

2012

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.


Article 


Write a press release with NGO’s WWF Belgium and Natuurpunt, urging the Belgian food sector to discourage the consumption of porbeagle meat

2012

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.

Article in food sector magazine (page 6)

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"

2012

Published in the online version of the Dutch diving magazine "Duiken" and referred to by several other websites.

Article

Co-author 3 articles on the marine diversity at Raja Ampat, published in diving magazines “Duiken”, "Hippocampus"
 and "Onderwatersport"

2012

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"

Article Duiken magazine

Article Hippocampus magazine

Article Onderwatersport magazine

Host dozens of shark conservation lessons and talks at various schools and conferences

2011 - now

Hosting shark conservation lessons and talks

Program World Ocean Day Belgium 2011 off line

Pictures Sea First Ocean Week

Pictures Sea First World Ocean Day

Pictures shark conservation lessons in schools

Write and publish an article on the plight of sharks in the Belgian dive magazine "Hippocampus"

2011

Publication of a 5-page article on the plight of sharks, shark finning, shark legislation and shark byproducts in the Belgian diving magazine “Hippocampus”.

Article

Contact and convince Belgian restaurants to cease serving shark meat

2011

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

2011

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 

Pictures handing over the European Shark Week photo book to the Belgian attaché of permanent representation to the EU

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

2010 & 2011

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

Pictures European Shark Week 2010

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

2010

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.


Mentioned in the Shark Savers press release

Co-found, administer and initiate a multitude of grassroots campaigns for Facebook page “The Global Shark Initiative” with eventually 26.200 members

2010-2011

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

2009-2010

Initiate and execute a grand scale e-mailing for the “Save Ningaloo” campaign

2003

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.

Mentioned on the Save Ningaloo website 

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

Speech

 

Participate in the "Rise for the climate" protests on September 8, October 6 and November 3 to demand profound climate action from European leaders.

2018

Contribute to "Make Stewardship Count" coalition open letter protesting the fact that MSC tolerates shark finning in MSC certified fisheries

2018

Compose a file for volunteers to convince shops to cease selling shark cartilage

2018

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.

File of articles on shark cartilage

Host presentation at the Hugycup International Underwater Photo and Film Festival

2018

Hosting 80 minute shark conservation presentation for the film festival attendees.

Announcement Film Festival

Pic of presentation

 

Participate in coalition campaign to prevent the MSC from certifying the Spanish longline (shark) fishery as "sustainable" and improve general MSC certification standards.

2018

Contribute to coalition letter, rectifying incorrect statements in a paper claiming that a US shark fin ban would undermine sustainable shark fisheries.

2017

Letter in reaction to statements made by PhD student David Shiffman.

Letter in .pdf

 

Prepare video message and donate pics for Project Aware's "Divers for Mako"

2017

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.

Clip

Write and publish an (in English written) article in online dive magazine "Scubaverse" on shark feeding and shark conservation in Fiji

February 17,2017

Publication of the BlueShark article "The shark whisperers of Beqa lagoon" in Scubaverse online magazine. 

Article online 

Article in pdf

 

Advise producer of Dutch shark documentary

2017

Advising the producers of "Second Nature", a Dutch documentary TV show for the production of the series "Save the Sharks" with biologist Freek Vonk. 

Draft Announcement

 
haai maastricht

Host presentation at Museum of Natural Sciences Maastricht (Netherlands)

2017

Hosting 80 minute shark conservation presentation for the visitors of the "Shark" exhibition.

Host presentation for Sea Shepherd Belgium

December 1, 2016

Hosting 80 minute shark conservation presentation for the volunteers and supporters of Sea Shepherd Belgium.. 

Donate marine pictures to both Project Aware and PEW

2016

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.

 

Example

 

Host presentation at Museum Natural Sciences Maastricht (Netherlands)

September 11, 2016

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.

Juni 25, 2016

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

Juni, 2016

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

2016
Writing 7-page article on the bull shark feeding dives of Fiji Beqa Lagoon and the conservation benefits of this activity titled "De haaienfluisteraars van Beqa Lagoon".

Published in the Belgian "Hippocampus" dive magazine.

Donate pictures to both Project Aware and Shark Defenders (PEW)

2016
Donating marine pics to use for lobbying in support of the 2016 CITES shark proposals and in preparation of their attendance at the COP.

Example

Example

Example

Write and publish article on cetaceans in captivity, both in the Dutch animal rights "PiepVandaag" magazine and the "Duiken" dive magazine newsletter

2016
Writing article on Sea World's decision to stop the orca breeding program and on the possibilities to retire the orca's to ocean sanctuaries.

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

2016

Publishing a 9-page BlueShark article on the marine biodiversity in Fiji waters and reefs. 

Published in the Dutch "Duiken" magazine

Support various campaigns aimed at shark protection

2015

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"

2015

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.

2015

BlueShark Conservation participated in the Climate March in Ostend with ocean related climate change information. 

Video impression of the Belgian Climate March 

Edit and co-write article for the Dutch "Duiken" magazine on white sharks in Australia

2015

Co-writing an article on the request of diving magazine "Duiken", on the stigmatization of white sharks in Australia.

Article

Donate marine pictures to The Shark Trust, Shark Advocats International and Project Aware

2015

Donating marine pictures for the campaign to ban finning and establish limiting fishing quota's for endangered shark species in international waters of the Atlantic Ocean at the ICCAT conference 10-17 November 2015.

Example

Example

Host presentation at the Belgian Marine Ecological Centre

Oktober 16, 2015
Hosting 90 minute shark conservation talk at the Belgian Marine Ecological Centre in Ostend.

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

2015

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

2015

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.

Press Release

Published in zeezoogdieren.org

Write and send + publish letter concerning the Belgian dolphinarium to the Flemish Government Social Service on behalf of 6 Belgian NGO's

2015

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

2015

Co-organising a European demo in Brussels along with other national and international NGO's for the closure of all EU dolphinariums.

Clip European demo Brussels

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

2015

Design and produce a self-explanatory loop presentation + poster for the Belgian "Aquatopia" aquarium

2015

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.

Presentation

Poster Aquatopia

Shark Trust No Limits petition

Write and submit an open letter to oppose possible MSC certification of the Spanish shark fishery

2015

Open letter expressing deep concerns as the Spanish Atlantic longline fleets are in no way sustainable.

Open letter

Donate marine pictures to Project Aware

2015

Donating marine pictures to Project Aware, for use during their ocean and shark conservation campaigns.

Example

Example

Writing prologue for the "Little Book of Scuba Diving" titled "Giving back to the ocean"

2014

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

2014

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.

Comment

(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

2014

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

"Warrelniet" website

Write and publish an article on the illegal import and sale of three porbeagle sharks in Belgium in the Dutch "Duiken" magazine newsletter

2014

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.

Article published in "Duiken" dive magazine newsletter

Write and distribute a plea letter to oppose the dumping of steel slag in the shallows of the Dutch Oosterschelde

2014

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.

Letter

More info and online petition

Write and publish an article on recent blue shark sightings near French and Spanish beaches on the request of the Dutch "Duiken" diving magazine

2014

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

2014

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.

Proposal to list mobula rays on CMS appendices.

Write and publish an update article on the "Warrelniet" campaign, on behalf of the 4 participating NGO's

2014

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. 

Article published on Newsmonkey.be

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

2014

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.

Article published on Newsmonkey.be

Write and compose 30 minute shark talk and quiz for kids to be hosted at the Antwerp "DiveWise Training and Education Centre"

2014

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.

DiveWise Training and Education Centre website

Write numerous articles, press releases on behalf of Sea Shepherd Belgium

2014

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

2014

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.

Campaign website

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

2014

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.

Letter PDF

Donate marine pictures to Project Aware

2014

Donating marine pictures to Project Aware, for use during their ocean and shark conservation campaigns.

Example

Example

Example

Example

Support various campaigns aimed at shark protection

2013

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

2013

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

2013

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”.

Article published in the Dutch "Duiken" dive magazine

Write press release with NGO's WWF Belgium and Natuurpunt to oppose the Flemish Fisheries Marketing Centres recommandation to consume spiny dogfish

2013

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. 

Article

Support various campaigns aimed at shark protection

2013

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

2011-2013

“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).

Articles and Press Releases

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"

2012

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.


Article 


Write a press release with NGO’s WWF Belgium and Natuurpunt, urging the Belgian food sector to discourage the consumption of porbeagle meat

2012

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.

Article in food sector magazine (page 6)

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"

2012

Published in the online version of the Dutch diving magazine "Duiken" and referred to by several other websites.

Article

Co-author 3 articles on the marine diversity at Raja Ampat, published in diving magazines “Duiken”, "Hippocampus"
 and "Onderwatersport"

2012

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"

Article Duiken magazine

Article Hippocampus magazine

Article Onderwatersport magazine

Host dozens of shark conservation lessons and talks at various schools and conferences

2011 - now

Hosting shark conservation lessons and talks

Program World Ocean Day Belgium 2011 off line

Pictures Sea First Ocean Week

Pictures Sea First World Ocean Day

Pictures shark conservation lessons in schools

Write and publish an article on the plight of sharks in the Belgian dive magazine "Hippocampus"

2011

Publication of a 5-page article on the plight of sharks, shark finning, shark legislation and shark byproducts in the Belgian diving magazine “Hippocampus”.

Article

Contact and convince Belgian restaurants to cease serving shark meat

2011

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

2011

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 

Pictures handing over the European Shark Week photo book to the Belgian attaché of permanent representation to the EU

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

2010 & 2011

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

Pictures European Shark Week 2010

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

2010

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.


Mentioned in the Shark Savers press release

Co-found, administer and initiate a multitude of grassroots campaigns for Facebook page “The Global Shark Initiative” with eventually 26.200 members

2010-2011

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

2009-2010

Initiate and execute a grand scale e-mailing for the “Save Ningaloo” campaign

2003

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.

Mentioned on the Save Ningaloo website 

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