Wednesday, June 1, 2011

Epic Diving visits Cat Island Schools

Epic Diving teamed up with the Bahamas National Trust visiting a number of schools on Cat Island.

epic diving visits cat island schools bahamas shark

We discussed shark ecology and conservation to an excited crowd of students and teachers.

epic diving visits cat island schools bahamas shark

The students watch a video featuring the sharks in their local waters.

epic diving visits cat island schools bahamas shark

Every school greeted us with excitement.

epic diving visits cat island schools bahamas shark

Epic Diving Joins the Bahamas National Trust

It was an honor for Epic Diving to work with the Bahamas National Trust. We gathered as many Cat Islanders as we could to a town meeting to sign the protect the sharks of the Bahamas petition.

blue shark epic diving oceanic whitetip sharks cat island bahamas

Members of the local community listened in as Shelley filled them in on the crisis sharks are facing around the world.

blue shark epic diving oceanic whitetip sharks cat island bahamas

We had a great turnout and many of the locals were eager to learn more about sharks.

daniel botelho azul profundo epic diving oceanic whitetip sharks

Many people had questions about how important sharks are not only to the marine ecosystem, but also the economic impact of their removal.

We collected a ton of signatures that were turned into Parliament in support of legislation that would ban the sale and exportation of any shark or shark product within the Commonwealth of the Bahamas.

daniel_botelho_oceanic_whitetip_shark

Showing support for the sharks

mike rutzen blue shark epic diving oceanic whitetipe shark cat island bahamas

Locals watch a brief film showing a different side of sharks