Sanctuaries

(Dive Travel Business News - October 22, 2010) -- The Galapagos islands feature some of the rarest wildlife and youngest land masses on Earth, drawing visitors from around the world to see its treasures both topside and underwater. In the last two decades,  the Galapagos Islands experienced a tourism boom that more than tripled to some 150,000 visitors annually, while at the same time the number of people living on the islands — mostly from mainland Ecuador — has climbed to 30,000. Visitors staying on the islands make up 39 percent of tourism, up from nothing 10 years ago. This boom prompted the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization to add the Galapagos to the World Heritage Sites in Danger list in 2007.  The decision was a stern call to action, as well as a blow to a country’s pride and prestige. read more »

(Dive Travel Business News - October 27, 2010) -- Kantilal Jivan, or Kanti as he is better known, father of Nature Seychelles Dr. Nirmal Jivan Shah, passed away suddenly at Victoria Hospital, Mahe, Seychelles on Thursday, October 21, 2010. As a Seychellois of Indian origin, he went beyond his career as a successful businessman, protecting the natural heritage of the Seychelles and influenced many people both in Seychelles and overseas.

Kanti was the first Seychellois to have received the Seychelles National Tourism Trophy and served as the Chair of the Seychelles Small Hotels and Guesthouse Association for many years He has been featured in more than two hundred magazine and newspaper articles, TV interviews and films. He starred with Omar Shariff in the film "Return to Eden" and was included by Ian Fleming as a character in a story in the James Bond novel "For Your Eyes Only." He wrote many articles about the Seychelles and was a prolific international speaker.   read more »

(Dive Travel Business - August 2, 2010) -- Plans are underway for a milestone birthday celebration as John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park, America's first underwater preserve, turns 50 years old. The historic event is set for Dec. 1 through Dec. 11, 2010, offering an ideal occasion for divers, snorkelers and other visitors to discover or rediscover the Key Largo park.

The park was dedicated Dec. 10, 1960, capping efforts by the late Miami Herald editor John Pennekamp to create the Florida Keys jewel that lies just 90 minutes' drive from Miami. Today, the park named for Pennekamp draws more than one million visitors annually to explore its nature trails and beaches and observe the abundant underwater wildlife that inhabits its 70 nautical miles. read more »

(Dive Travel Business News - June 3, 2010) -- The Maldives’ nation continues to be a frontrunner in environmental activism with their latest announcement that offers complete protection for sharks in its  90,000 sq.kms (34,750 sq.miles) of Maldives territorial waters. The huge shark sanctuary will be free of all shark fishing and finning, protecting more than 30 different species that make their home in the region. The Maldives has further banned all imports and exports of shark fins and shark products.

"The Maldives were one of the first countries to recognize that sharks were a key reason tourists went to dive there," said Matt Rand, Director of Global Shark Conservation for the Pew Environment Group. "Today's announcement protects the Maldives' tourism industry - the largest segment of their economy - from the ravages of the shark fin trade. It is a bold and farsighted move on the part of the government of the Maldives." read more »

(Dive Travel Business News - June 2, 2010) -- With half of the world's sharks threatened with extinction, Palau created the world's first "shark sanctuary" in 2009. One of the smallest nation's in the world, Palau declared its entire Exclusive Economic Zone a shark sanctuary that protects about 600,000 sq km (230,000 sq miles) of ocean, an area about the size of France. Conservationists regarded the move as "game-changing" but enforcement is a problem due to the high demand for prestigious shark fin soup. read more »