Top Ten Ways You Can Save Sharks

So you don’t eat shark fin soup or live in a country that considers it part of its culture? Doesn’t matter. You can still make a difference in the shark issue and save your share of the 100,000,000 killed a year.

Most likely, the sale of shark products is legal in your town, yes - your town. The local restaurants, grocery stores, health food stores, beauty salons and even pet stores may sell shark. Chances are also good your country is also responsible for the supply. Shocked? Believe it. The US, UK, France, Spain, and Portugal join Indonesia, Taiwan and Japan in the top 20 largest shark fishing nations.

Even if your country isn’t on the list, sharks and their habitats probably aren’t effectively protected – did you know Australia allows commercial shark fishing in the Great Barrier Reef – a World Heritage Site? And, no matter where you live, the myths about sharks as bloodthirsty man-eaters are being perpetuated – dangerous mis-truths standing in the way of their conservation. Think sharks are evil re-incarnated? Watch this video, then say that.

So, here are ten easy things you can do:

# 1) Do not consume or purchase shark - it’s dangerous.
It isn’t just the soup. Do not eat shark steaks or meat, don’t buy any shark or stingray leather products, leave the shark teeth and jaws in live sharks – where they belong.

This isn’t just for the sharks’ health – it’s for yours. Shark meat (including fins) carries warnings due to its high mercury levels from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, the Environmental Protection Agency, the Environmental Defense Fund, and the World Health Organization. If you want to know what mercury does, just google “mercury poisoning” and prepare to be horrified. Still want to eat it?

# 2) Volunteer your time.
Become a spokesperson or local organizer for our campaigns. Give a presentation at a school or event. (Its easy. Shark Angels or Shark Savers can provide them – or just grab this one off SlideShare.)

# 3) Be aware, informed consumers.
Know what you are buying. Often shark is relabeled as other types of fish, like rock salmon, included in fish patties like pollock, or hidden from consumers – as shark ingredients are not always labeled like chondroitin which can be made from shark cartilage.

# 4) Take your business elsewhere.
Do not support any restaurant or store that sells shark products or shark fin soup and inform them of your concerns. Educate them about why you are making this choice and ask them to make the same decision.

# 5) Support the cause.
Join and donate to shark conservation organizations. There are many ways to save sharks (science & research, direct action, legislation, grass roots activism.) Find an organization you identify with and don’t just join them – make a donation. They desperately need funding. A few of my favorites include: Shark Savers, Sea Shepherd, and WildAid – but chose the one right for you.

# 6) If you must eat it, only eat shark-friendly fish.
Since over ½ of the 100,000,000 sharks caught yearly are caught as by-catch, only eat sustainably caught seafood – or better, don’t eat anything from the seas.

If you do eat fish, download a sustainable seafood card and carry it with you. Most likely, one exists. You may even be able to download a cool iPhone App - like the one from Monterey Bay. You can even SMS a database of sustainable choices when out and about in South Africa, so I am quite certain no matter where you are, there are NO excuses not to make informed decisions.

# 7) Spread the enlightenment.
Increase your Shark IQ. Learn more then teach others. Host a local screening of Sharkwater then a have discussion afterwards. Shark Savers makes it easy to do from invitations to a discussion guide.

# 8) Keep sharks out of your cosmetics.
Never use any products (including makeup, lotions and deodorants) that contain Squalene - shark liver oil. In fact, just buy cruelty free.

# 9) Develop a voice.
Be heard. Blog, write articles, appeal to media outlets and help dispel the myths. Don’t support media outlets that demonize sharks. Sharks aren't evil re-incarnated. Watch this video.

# 10) Make your vote count.
Even if you aren’t living in country that is heavily consuming sharks, chances are, your country is part of the problem. The US and many countries in the EU are responsible for catching more sharks than most other countries in the world. Support legislation that stops shark fishing, protects shark habitats, and ends overfishing. It’s not just about the sharks – it’s about the oceans.


And, bonus points if you make sharks more valuable alive than dead and support responsible (strong emphasis here) shark diving tourism. But that is a blog for a different day.

You can and should make a difference before there aren’t sharks left. In fact a recent IUCN report has identified over 1/3 of all shark species (more than 400 in total) are facing extinction – some in our lifetimes. Destroying sharks and the oceans isn't a legacy I want to leave for future generations. You?

Thank you Windsor! The World's First Shark Friendly Town is in England

What does it mean to be shark friendly? Well, in Windsor, England, it means no shark products are sold anywhere in the city limits: not a single cartilage pill at the local herbal shop, not a single rock salmon steak at a restaurant, not a single bowl of shark fin soup, and not a single shark tooth trinket at a souvenir stand. Yes, the favorite home of the queen is now the FIRST place in the world to be considered officially “Shark Friendly”.

A few weeks ago, Kim and I were hosted by Dale Bowie for the festivities, whose brainchild it was to have a Shark Awareness week. It was a well-planned, wonderful event geared around raising awareness, and funds, for shark related causes.


An informational donation booth in the center of the town, evening screenings and lectures, school presentations, a raffle that raised over $5,000 USD for shark causes including The Shark Trust, Sea Shepherd and Shark Angels, a special batch of Lush’s Shark Fin Soap on sale, an organized egg case hunt, a shark dive, and much more - all culminating into the finale: the presentation of the world’s first Shark Friendly award to the Deputy Mayor of Windsor. (Shame, the Queen Mum herself wasn’t in the neighborhood.)

Indeed, Dale and his local group of dive and shark enthusiasts had managed to get all of the shark products out of Windsor, ensuring that not only was this event special – it was the first of its kind. Well done Dale, Sea Shepherd UK and Aquatic Element.

Now let’s hope this sets in motion a far bigger movement and soon, many more localized efforts will kick off, with many more municipalities joining suit.

Be a Shark Friendly Consumer... Help Protect Sharks When You Buy

Many people assume that because they don’t eat shark fin soup – then they can’t possibly be contributing to the demise of the sharks. And while shark fin soup does account for a considerable amount of shark consumption, there are many other culprits. It isn’t just something that can be blamed on a single culture or country.

Often, I find many people surprised – including myself – to discover what shark is actually used in. And it isn’t always the usual, easy to identify products, say with the word shark in the product name, like shark steaks, shark teeth or shark leather. Certain energy drinks, pet supplements, vitamins, lotions, dog chew toys, and even lipsticks - to name but a few - are all known to contain shark products.

One quite underhanded technique restaurants and stores often employ is masking the use of shark by changing the name. Take for instance, the poor, little Spiny Dogfish Shark. Not a well-known, charismatic shark so it remains in the shadows of its sexy cousins: the tigers, bulls, and hammerheads. But, the Spiny Dogfish Sharks’ population is plummeting worldwide and critically facing extinction – in fact, it is already considered commercially extinct in certain areas. And this relatively unknown shark was one of two (or three if you run with the folks that put the sawfish in this group) being considered last year for addition to the CITES Appendix that currently protects only white, whale and basking sharks from international trade.

Who would eat this shark? Well, if you live in the UK, maybe you or someone you know. How is that possible? Because these sharks have been re-labeled in the UK to a more, well, appealing term: Rock Salmon. Mmmm… Sounds far more tasty to those who eat fish, no?

Indeed, many of the fish & chip shops that so many Brits know and love commonly have Rock Salmon on the menu. And even if it isn’t on the menu, a simple inquiry will lead you to discover it is often available by request or even featured as a special. That’s why many of us in shark conservation have stopped frequenting these places. We would never support a restaurant or store that sold shark – even if the chips are the best thing we have ever tasted.


That is why we were thrilled to find a fish & chips shop in Windsor on our Shark Awareness week visit that was indeed shark friendly. Dale Bowie, the organizer of the event, introduced us to it. (And of course it would have to be – since he was able to ensure Windsor is the first town ever to be shark friendly.) No rock salmon sold here! Good for you, Ronnie Shaw.


For some of us, like Steve Roest, CEO of Sea Shepherd, it was the first batch of chips enjoyed in a long, long while. And for some of us, it was a first – and I must say, with the malt vinegar, I think I was pretty much eating little slices of heaven – that was until I couldn’t stand watching Steve drool as I enjoyed them, having scarfed his own down too quickly. Surprisingly, he turned down the offer for “seconds”, but only because it was actually “fourths” considering he had managed to weasel half of both Kim's and my chips as well.

The moral of this story, besides of course exercising some control when consuming chips with others lest they out you on Facebook to the world, is to always be an aware, informed consumer. Know what is in that “pollack” - processed "white fish" - you are eating in the form of crab sticks, patties or fish cakes because it can possibly be shark. Don’t take or drink any supplements with “Chondroitin“ - derived from shark cartilage - in them. Never use any cosmetic products (including makeup, lotions and deodorants) that contain Squalene which is shark liver oil – in fact just buy the cruelty-free variety all the time. No matter how much you like those shark’s tooth earrings, or the shark leather wallet, don’t buy them. And under no circumstances order the Rock Salmon, let alone eat at a restaurant that serves it. In fact, if you are really serious about protecting sharks, since over ½ of that 100,000,000 sharks caught yearly are caught as by-catch, only eat sustainably caught seafood, or, better yet, do like I do and just refrain from eating anything from the sea. That way, no matter how a fish is re-labeled, you can be sure you are doing your part.

To enjoy Shark Friendly chips when in Windsor, visit: Ronnie Shaw's Great British Fish & Chips on Thames Road right across from the castle. Tell Ronnie we sent you!

The War over Whales

Finally the long awaited show featuring last year’s Sea Shepherd whaling campaign (Operation Migaloo) is being released on Animal Planet. Shark Angel Kim is one of the key characters and I can’t wait to see her in action on the high seas.

The campaign was an exciting one, with hostages being taken, Paul getting shot and one of the Zodiac’s tipping over into the frigid waters. I am sure the seven part series will be a huge success. Think “Deadliest Catch” without all of the needless aquatic carnage – instead of featuring boats raping the seas, Discovery is following a group that is actually protecting it.


And we got to go to the premier! It was so great to see all the Sea Shepherds getting some highly-deserved accolades for the incredibly dangerous but incredibly important work they do.

Be sure to watch Whale Wars on Animal Planet. I am gutted that it isn’t in South Africa yet, but I already have my order in for the DVD box set.


Check out Whale Wars here… http://animal.discovery.com/tv/whale-wars/

More pics here.

Lush Joins the Fight to Save Sharks

While Alison and I have been busy in South Africa, our third shark angel Kim, Executive Director of Sea Shepherd, is setting the rest of the world on fire - and making sure our message is out there. That sharks - completely misunderstood and mal-aligned creatures - are being chased into extinction, without most of us knowing or caring.

A few months ago, Kim made a heartfelt presentation to over 300 Lush executives regarding the state of our sharks - and rumor has it, some were even left with tears in their eyes. I have seen Kim in action, so I know this can't be far from the case.

Now Lush (who was already my favorite manufacturer of all natural - and really hip, fresh, handmade cosmetics) is launching an awareness campaign like no other. They are manufacturing a Shark Fin Soap, which is a blue soap made with seaweed and sea salt with a cardboard shark fin sticking out the top. They are making 11,416 bars of the soap, the number of sharks killed each hour, with all proceeds going to Sea Shepherd.

AND, in each of Lush's 88 UK stores, there is a video display in the windows showing the SHARK ANGELS intermixed with footage of sharks being pulled from the water and having their fins sliced off only to be thrown back into the ocean still alive. Shawn, the director and producer of Shark Angels did an amazing job on the video, which you can see on the Lush site.

As part of the campaign, a former employee and performance artist will suspend herself from shark hooks in one of the stores. Kim promises to send pictures shortly. And, Lush has written to restaurants throughout the UK asking them to remove shark fin from their shelves and two retailers have already bowed to the pressure.

This is just the type of publicity we need. Awesome work Kim, Captain Paul and Shawn!!!

Buy your soap today.

My Hero is a Pirate

When I went to Starbucks today, the cashier looked at me like he couldn’t understand what I was ordering. I said it four times. Turns out, he was just entranced by my baseball hat…. which had the Sea Shepherd Jolly Roger (pirate) logo on it. “Sea Shepherd!!!” He exclaimed and thrust out his hand to vigorously shake mine. “Thank you. Thank you so much for what you do. You guys are amazing.”

And they are. And, I am lucky enough to work with and be good friends with both Kim McCoy, a fellow Shark Angel and Executive Director of Sea Shepherd Conservation Society and also, Captain Paul Watson – the iconic leader of the organization.


















Paul is one of the strongest and most heroic people I know. His passion for all living creatures on this planet is endless, as is his intellect, his strength and his undying commitment to his cause. To protect the oceans and all that live within it. To enforce the laws that no one enforces. Dolphins, Whales, Sharks – they are all almost extinct. And Sea Shepherd combats those that threaten the lives of the few that remain. They are all about action. They ARE good, instead of working at looking good. It isn’t about egos or positioning, it is about making a difference on this planet. About fighting the good fight – that everyone else just turns a blind eye too. These are MY kind of people.

In fact, I hope to join them in the Galapagos in August to fight the sharkfinning issues and the Antarctic Whale Campaign (if one is necessary this year) in December.

Paul was just in town for a week again – he left Monday. I was able to spend quite a good deal of time with him this trip (as well as with his girlfriend Claudette) plotting about how to save the planet, listening to his stories and deep insights, hanging out in NYC, and just enjoying his company. It always amazes me that my hero – the man who is on the frontline of the battles to save the creatures I hold so dear – is also a real person. One I can giggle like a school girl with about some piece of gossip or plot on how to end the madness of drumlines in South Africa.

I love that when I am out with him, he is often recognized. People whisper around him “Is it? No… couldn’t be.” Then, they predictably meet my eyes as if to ask if it truly is – and plea for an invitation. They always get it, because Paul is incredibly humble. And I love it, not because I am star struck or get off on a silly notion that I am hanging out with someone meaninglessly famous, but that Paul, who has sacrificed everything and dedicated his whole life to doing something that is truly making a difference for all of us, is adored and revered like a celebrity. The only difference is, he truly is – and is doing something that is worth worshiping – instead of a silly basketball player, b-list actor, rich socialite or rap star. He deserves every moment of positive attention showered on him.

And even more, I love that even though he has been doing this for decades and has a team of thousands of volunteers behind him, he still walks around with a pocket full of stickers, pasting his latest campaign wherever he goes. He isn’t above anything – and he is endlessly and tirelessly the protector of the sea – speaking out for the whales, the dolphins, the seals and the sharks, who don’t have voices of their own.

Some say Paul is a pirate. I say thank god he is - we need someone who isn't afraid to do what we all should be - if only we weren't so busy eating our tuna sushi, driving our hummers, and um, breathing oxygen. Oh wait? You mean, if we kill off all those creatures and don't start conserving our planet we won't have any of that?!?

Shark Girls Go Wild in NYC!

(Persia White, me, Ashley Lou Smith, and Claudette Cassanovas at Karen Dawn's book party.)

Another fantastic evening at the launch party for Karen Dawn’s book, Thanking the Monkey, and new friendships are born.

Out again with Paul Watson and his girlfriend Claudette. This time, it was to attend our friend, Karen Dawn’s, book launch for her book dedicated to protecting those creatures on this planet that have no voice.

An incredible party filled with incredible people. A real a-list who's who of the animal rights world. Even cooler, there is nothing more invigorating than being around like-minded people who are fabulously – and wonderfully committed to saving our planet and all its inhabitants.

I was Shark Girl all night long. In a room filled with animal rights activists, being a Shark Girl is something captivatingly interesting – and compelling. It was such a wonderfully affirming evening. I walked away really feeling like the crazy decision I had made with my life wasn't so crazy.

At some point, a new plan was hatched. Persia White, Ashley Lou Smith, Rory Freedman, (three girls I am absolutely crazy about) and I would join Paul on his boat in Galapagos. All of them are desperate to dive with sharks. Well, that is after I convinced them they could do it with me leading the charge. I simply cannot help myself – I want everyone to experience sharks the way I have.

And, I think they would make absolutely incredible angels. So do they! Think Girls Gone Wild and Sea Hunter combined. No really. Sex sells… and so do sharks. And these girls are wiiild... I just saw a picture of Ashley showering in Times Square. Wow. So, let’s shock the world a bit by putting some wonderfully inspiring, intelligent and captivating (oh and also, did I mention hot) chicks in the water with the world’s most feared sharks… This Shark Angel will induct a whole new graduating class. Guaranteed to draw an audience, and once we have hooked them in, well then, we can open them up to the real message.

Stay tuned for this one. It promises to be hot! (Channeling Paris. Ok, so I am not above using a little shameless media to our benefit and cause instead of theirs. And, it is about time it was something other than shark porn.)(Persia, Claudette and I after dinner. Photo by Paul Watson.)