A call to action has been launched in Palau urging governments and international treaties to “address threats to the world’s oceans faster and more efficiently.”
Entitled “Letter from – Dive Industry Declaration on Marine Conservation”, this declaration is supported by dozens of dive industry stakeholders from 34 countries.
The declaration spearheaded by Divers for Sharks, co-founded by Jose Truda Palazzo, Jr. of Brazil applauded Palau and President Remengesau’s leadership for creating various initiatives and marine protected areas safeguarding the ocean and creatures within.
But calls for attention to the threats that climate change poses on the world’s oceans.
“We request that the dive industry’s interests and the livelihoods of the island and coastal peoples with whom we work be considered by climate negotiators from all countries and that a final, binding and effective agreement on this serious issue is reached still in 2015”, the letter urges.
In addition to their request for closer attention to climate change impacts, dive industry stakeholders expressed deep concerns for overfishing practices particularly of sharks, rays and sea turtles. Threatened by overfishing and unsustainable fishing practices, the declaration further urges fisheries officials to include the interests of non-extractive users of the oceans when making decisions.
Signatories of the declaration include dive shops from Palau, Federated States of Micronesia, Brazil, U.S., Argentina and many others. The letter was presented to Umiich Sengebau Minister of Natural Resources, Environment and Tourism on March 10, 2015.
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