Successful Shark Week Palau 2008

April 11, 2008

Release from: Marianas Variety (Micronesia)

There is only one word to assess the just-concluded 6th Annual Shark Week Palau 2008 from March 27 to April 3 – SUCCESS.

“We are very happy because we have achieved our main goal for this year. We’re very successful in collecting data about the sharks,” thus said Tova Harel of the Micronesia Shark Foundation (MSF) and Fish ‘n Fins.

Harel said these data are wonderful sources for dive guides.

She explained that they were able to record how many sharks were actually seen in dive sites and how many of them are females and how many are pregnant.

Harel said these valuable data would be collated later adding that they will be contacting dive shops not only in Palau but also in other Micronesian countries to share this important information.

She also explained that microbiologists would analyze these data.

An interesting part of the data collecting activity was that the divers used an underwater paper where they recorded every information or activity of the sharks during the dives.

The MSF, a non-profit foundation whose goal is to research and monitor the many sharks of Palau as well as scientific shark data collection, holds the annual activity because it is in the month between February and April that hundreds of grey reef sharks migrate to the waters of Palau to mate.

During the week, participants from all over the world, from as far as Holland, Sweden and the United States participate in the data collection as well as have the opportunity to swim with the world’s famous Palau sharks. The participants also have the opportunity to join in the evening seminars.

This year’s featured guests are Rob Stewart, the Canadian creator of the award winning documentary Sharkwater, Dr. Mark Meekan from AIMS (Australian Institute of Marine Science), Captain William Marhoffer from the US Coastguard, and many key people from the Republic of Palau.

Due to his promotion activities for his film, Stewart sent inspirational messages while Capt. Marhoffer discussed some of the many challenges that Micronesian Islands and neighboring Pacific countries faced specifically about the depleting population of sharks due to poaching and illegal shark finning.

Vice President Elias Camsek Chin wrapped-up the seven-day event by vowing to urge Congress to legislate stiffer penalties against not only illegal shark finning activities in particular but also against illegal fishing in general.

Fish ‘n Fins photographer and videographer underwater specialist Richard Brooks shared some of the scenes during the week.