SHARK CONSERVATION
Written by Brennan Engel
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Sharks are the closest thing we have to the perfect predator. They have existed for hundreds of millions of years. Sharks have stalked earth's oceans longer than trees have stood on land. Throughout the history of our planet there have been few creatures that have survived through four of the five mass extinctions our planet has witnessed.
Sharks are the greatest survivors our planet has to offer, but today even sharks are beginning to disappear. The root cause of shark’s population decrease are humans; from hunting sharks, overfishing their food sources, and the destruction of their habitats. Sharks are particularly vulnerable near Asia and Australia where sharks are hunted in large numbers.
To help fight declining shark numbers, conservationists are attempting to educate people and lobby for laws and regulations that help create and maintain conservation zones. Help promote sharks, educate yourself and others about shark conservation, and support the end of shark finning throughout the world.
Sharks are a keystone species. They are the measuring stick scientists use to see how well our oceans are doing. As apex predators, they keep our oceans in balance by feeding on lesser predators. This keeps lesser predators from overeating the herbivorous fish. The loss of sharks has led to coral reef and grass bed destruction, and commercial fisheries begin to struggle because of increased numbers of larger predatory fish that are generally eaten by sharks. Like sharks create balance in the oceans, it is our job to create balance and maintain our world.
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SPOTLIGHT CAREER: DIVER
Written by Madelyn Ruemping
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Diving is this month’s spotlight career. Believe it or not there are many different things you can do as a professional diver. There is a commercial diver who works on underwater construction like helping build bridges. They can also handle ship maintenance making sure a ship’s hulls, propellers, and steering is all working properly. Another thing a professional diver can do is work in public safety. These divers work with police departments and other rescue teams in order to keep people safe. They’re even involved in rescue missions when people in the ocean need help.
Becoming a diver takes lots of hard work. Before one can get into the water and start working as a professional diver, they have to get certified in a couple of different areas. First, a scuba certification. This certification shows that you know what all the equipment is and how to use it. In order to get a scuba certification, you have to learn about all the equipment being used, which is done inside a classroom. Then you put what you learned in the classroom into action by doing dives in both a swimming pool and the ocean. Next, is the TWIC (the Transportation Worker Identification Credential) which is required for workers who need access to secure areas. From here, there are many different certifications you can get depending on what you want to do as a professional diver. Some of these certifications include Entry Level Tender/Diver certificate, Welding certificate, and Unrestricted Surface Supplied Diving certificate. Being a diver is very physically demanding as the equipment can be very heavy, and a lot of the time you are working with your hands.
For anyone wanting to know more about being a professional diver, the article https://www.scubadiving.com/training/basic-skills/how-go-pro is a great place to start.
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SPOTLIGHT SPECIES: LEOPARD SHARK
Written by Kiyas Kousoulas
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Although they might be just as fierce, you won’t be finding these leopards in any jungle. Instead, you'll find leopard sharks lining the west coast of the United States. Between Oregon and California, these quick and agile creatures can be found snacking on crabs, sea worms, fish eggs, or anything else on the ocean floor. Although most leopard sharks are between 2 and 5 feet long, some have been known to get up to 7 feet in length! These sharks also have brown, spotted skin which not only gives them their name, but also helps them blend in with the sand and avoid predators. This is especially helpful when they are trying to hide from big, smart predators like the broadnose sevengill shark. A fun fact about leopard sharks is that they have a special trait that sets them apart from most other sharks. Most sharks can never stop swimming otherwise water stops moving through their gills, but leopard sharks have a special ability to move water over their gills without swimming! This means they can lay on the ocean floor to hide from predators, hide from prey, or even just take a little rest.
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Virtual Beach/Park Cleanup Winners
Our virtual beach and park cleanup event came to a close at the end of June, and we have our winners! They are Cynthia Tuscano and Cecile Wei-Yu-Neng! Winners received a S'well Stainless Steel Water Bottle. Congrats to our winners, and thanks to everyone who participated! We look forward to your participation in future events.
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CURRENT & UPCOMING EVENTS
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National Marine Week
From July 25th to August 9th, we celebrate the importance of the marine environment. This special week is based out of the UK, but we can celebrate all over the world!
International Whale Shark Day
August 30th is International Whale Shark Day, a day to celebrate one of Earth's amazing shark species. This day is meant to bring awareness to the need to protect and conserve Whale Sharks across the globe. More information about this holiday can be found here.
August Team Member Birthdays
August 11th: Daron Schmit, Technology Associate
August 16th: Troy Engel, Director of Operations
August 23rd: Alex Cooper, Director of Finance
August 26th: Hannah Peterson, Publishing Manager
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International Save the Vaquita Day
July 24th was International Save the Vaquita Day, and Aeon was part of the International Vaquita Day Youth Panel.
A vaquita is a small porpoise that lives in the northern part of Gulf of California, Mexico. They are the most critically endangered marine mammal on the planet. About 10 to 20 vaquitas remain in the wild, and entanglement in gillnets is driving the species toward extinction. You can help by not buying gillnet-caught seafood and boycotting Mexican shrimp to help the vaquita. Visit the VIVA Vaquita website for more information.
Aeon for Ocean is privileged and honored to be part of the International Save the Vaquita youth panel. Let’s save the Vaquitas!
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MEET THE NEW MEMBERS OF OUR POD
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Since our last newsletter, we have added two new members to our team. We are excited for their contributions to Aeon for Ocean.
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Kiyas Kousoulas
Publishing Associate
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Clark Johnson
Board of Directors
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OPPORTUNITIES AT AEON FOR OCEAN
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Are you interested in joining our team and helping to contribute to ocean conservation? We are currently looking to fill the following positions:
- Board of Directors
- Education Associate
- Graphic Designer
- Social Media Associate
More information can be found at VolunteerMatch.
Interested applicants can send their resume to hr@aeonforocean.org
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KRILL2WHALE PROGRAM SPOTLIGHT
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What is Krill2Whale?
Krill2Whale (K2W) is a program focused on educating kids about marine life and oceans so they can then share that information with other children in both casual and formal presentation settings. The goal is to spread awareness on the importance of the marine ecosystem and to increase involvement in activities to save our oceans.
How does K2W benefit kids?
Not only will new K2W Ambassadors join a group of inspiring kids, make new friends, and learn about marine life, but they will also learn valuable life skills like public speaking, leadership, and planning. The K2W Ambassadors will be given the opportunity to present a 30-45 minute interactive presentation at schools and libraries and help organize events for their communities.
How can my child join?
Head to aeonforocean.org/krill2whale for more information. If you'd like to join, click “Join me” in the “Become a K2W Ambassador” section and complete the form. If you have further questions about the program, please send an email to info@aeonforocean.org.
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