February 3 2009 AustraliaAre YOU the Face of Australia?The Underwater Channel (UWC) in association with PADI is looking for you! The Underwater Channel (www.theunderwaterchannel.tv) in association with PADI (www.PADI.com) are looking to light up diving in Australia for UWC’s viewers around the world!  To do so we have launched an international competition to find an experienced and knowledgeable Aussie diver with bags of confidence and charisma to join The Underwater Channel’s team of presenters (aka Faces!) around the world to become the Face of Australia.  After an initial pre-selection of 6 semi-finalists a series of TV programs will be broadcast on UWC with a UWC/PADI judging panel who will feature the videos and comment (in a friendly fashion) upon the applications!  The viewing public will then be invited to vote, first for the semi-finalists and finally for the winner!   The Face of Australia will be chosen by our viewers!more...  Full story...

August 25 2008 HawaiiArchaeologists have located British whaler sunk by bad weather in 1837 off Kure Atoll Artefacts from the remains of a wreck believed to be of the British whaling vessel Gledstanes lost for 171 years have been found off Kure Atoll in the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands. The artefacts include four large anchors, cannons and cannonballs. The Gledstanes is the fourth whaling vessel found in the Papahanaumokuakea Marine National Monument, evidence of the area's significance as a 19th-century whaling area.  The divers who found the shipwreck were taking part in the 2008 Maritime Heritage Expedition, sponsored by NOAA's National Marine Sanctuaries.  Full story...

February 18 2009 Cayman IslandsNew International scuba Diving Hall Of Fame Inductees The International Scuba Diving Hall of Fame (ISDHF) has recognized four international pioneers and two Cayman Island honorees for their contributions to the recreational scuba diving industry. In a ceremony held on Grand Cayman Island on January 29, 2009, awards for the Inductees and local Ministry of Tourism Honorees were presented by the Hon. Charles E. Clifford, JP, Minister for Tourism, Environment, Investment & Commerce in Cayman.  The Honorable Minister praised the newest Inductees as dedicated and professional individuals who have taken their love for diving and applied it through various disciplines to promote awareness of the aquatic environment, maintain the admirable safety record of diving, and establish a foundation for the worldwide development of the sport.  The evening’s Master of Ceremonies was Leslie Leaney, President of the Historical Diving Society in the US. Leslie is a NOGI award winner and member of the Board of Directors for the International Scuba Diving Hall of Fame.  International Inductees for 2009 are: more..  Full story...

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Leatherback turtles decline

Malaysia - A United Nations report released through the UN Environment Programme (UNEP)

says the leatherback turtle population is almost extinct in Malaysia and the population is also waning due to legal and illegal egg harvesting and turtle hunting, while global climate change could affect breeding.
Whereas leatherback turtle nests along the Terengganu coastline used to number around 5,000 per year in the 1960s, in recent years only a handful of infertile nests have been laid," said a UNEP statement released on Monday. "That population is effectively extinct, depriving Malaysia of one of its most charismatic tourist attractions."

A companion report found that leatherback populations are under pressure after the December 2004 tsunami destroyed or damaged nesting habitats in 11 countries. "India, Thailand and Sri Lanka were the worst affected, with some nesting beaches having been completely destroyed," said the UNEP statement.

However, those studying the Malaysian leatherback turtle population have said that the population is down, but not extinct.

Kamaruddin Ibrahim, the head of The Turtle and Marine Eco-system Centre (Tumec) says that in 2003, fourteen nesting places were found containing 1,083 eggs. In 2004, five nesting places with 295 eggs were found and last year, one nesting place with 90 eggs. "This year, we have found five nesting places with 336 eggs”. Tumec has released almost 500,000 leatherback turtle hatchlings into the sea since 1961, and that many of these were most likely to return to nest on the shores of Terengganu.

Tumec is also taking steps to protect and conserve leatherback turtles by conducting patrols along the coast and sea, including ensuring that they are not trapped in the fishermen’s nets.

"The patrols have resulted in the seizure of 17 nets of fishermen, including three in Rantau Abang and Kampung Jambu Bongkok, near Marang, yesterday," Kamaruddin revealed.

Kamaruddin also said that the state government had indicated its commitment to ensure the perpetuation of the leatherback turtle with a RM200,000 allocation to Tumec this year for conservation of the turtle in Terengganu.

"Tumec will also support any endeavour at the international level to save the leatherbacks in Malaysia," he added.

 
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