Tova Harel-Bornovski, founder and director of MSF in the opening ceremony of the shark week said that various divers from all over the world are participating in the program which includes shark-diving, shark-themes seminars and activities.
Dr. Mark Meekan, Chief Scientist of Australian. Institute of Marine Science and who is leading the foundation’s shark research again gave a lecture on his work.
Bornovski , meanwhile will give a talk on how the research is proceeding and what has been done by the foundation.
The MSF is a Palauan-based, non-profit foundation which aim is to research and monitor sharks of Palau as well as scientific shark data collection.
Bornovski added that PHD students will give a lecture on the economical analysis of the value of a live shark.
State Minister Sandra Pierantozzi in the ceremony said that the declaration of Palau as a shark haven is aimed at putting an end to commercial shark fishing.
Pierantozzi said that due to commercial shark fishing, sharks are driven to extinction.
“Palau has taken the first step,” she said.
Francis Toribiong, founder of Fish and Fins said that he has finally convinced his brother to protect the sharks.
“Without you what I have been preaching is invaluable,” Toribiong told the participants.
Toribiong has discovered most of the dive sites in Palau.
Participants joining the Shark Week are divers from Norway, Russia, Latvia, Germany Australia, England, Brazil, New Zealand, Italy, Israel and Czech Republic among others.
The number of participants is smaller this year. Bornovski said this is due to the global economic crisis.
Between February and April, hundreds of grey reef sharks migrate to the waters of Palau to mate. These months generate an opportunity for shark lovers to dive with the world famous sharks of Palau and to participate in data collection.
The ongoing goal of the MSF is establish a long term program for shark research and study in Palau, to develop scientific tools to protect the prime dive sites of Palau, its goal is to reduce the threats to Palau’s shark population through MSF’s research.
MSF has also tagged sharks and are logging their movements to determine the range of the shark’s habitat in Palau and to record the frequency of their visits to each area.
