The Shark Alliance

A huge number of Europeans signed our petition calling on calling on José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero, Prime Minister of Spain, to take the courageous step of becoming a leader in shark conservation. The petition is open until the end of the year. Please sign now if you haven’t already.

Sadly we cannot include details of all the many events, but here are some of the highlights.

In France, European Shark Week was launched at the Seaquarium in Grau de Roi. Activities included demonstrations, a talk by shark expert Dr. Bernard Séret, and an exhibition by 13 year old shark enthusiast Ondine Elliot. The Australian Football Team the Montpellier Fire sharks, also came face to face with their aquatic colleagues! Read more (French). Activities continued all week at aquariums across France.

French actor, film director and keen diver Luc Besson was among the first to sign the European Shark Week Petition. He was joined by large numbers of French divers thanks to the strong support of the FFESSM (Fédération française d'études et de sports sous-marins) and other diving groups who took part in European Shark Week throughout the week and signed the petition.

Slide shows from France: Centre de Découverte de la pêche en Mer-Mareis; Seaquarium, Grau de Roi

2009 was also a great year for European Shark Week in Spain where Eccologistas en Accion organised a boat tour through Spanish ports from August, culminating in a large event in Barcelona during European Shark Week where was a screening of the documentary End of the Line.

Thirteen aquariums across Spain got involved, holding sleepovers for children, film showings, the colouring competition and much more.

Member group, CRAM celebrated European Shark Week at their popular "Torna a Casa" event (where they release rescued loggerhead turtles) attracting around 1000 local people and media.

Several diving groups and universities also got active and offered their support.

Slide shows from Spain: CRAM Tourna a casa; Universidad La Laguna; European Shark Week 2009 – Barcelona

In Italy, European Shark Week got off to a great start at an event in Rome. At Milan's Aquarium, there were a whole host of activities including a small conference, guided tours and school visits. Along with the many other supporters from schools , diving groups and environmental groups in Italy, we were also delighted to have the support of Vincenzo Venuto a well known Italian television presenter who acted as an ambassador during the week.

Slide shows from Italy: European Shark Week in Rome

Activities across Sweden varied from tattoo parlours offering special offers and asking customers to sign the petition, to an exhibition in Gottenburg and activities at aquariums. There was a screening of End of the Line at the Fish Symposium, where Shark Alliance expert Sonja Fordham spoke.

Deepwave and Deutsche Elasmobranchier-Gesellschaft (DEG) launched European Shark Week in Germany at the tropical aquarium in Hagenbeck where enthusiastic visitors queued to sign the petition. Germany's events continued throughout the week.

Tropical Aqaurium of Hagenbeck Zoo, 10 October 2009, Hamburg

In Greece and Slovenia we celebrated European Shark Week for the first time! Greek diving association, Tethys, held a successful talk by shark scientist Dr. D. Damalas. Protect the Sharks also held a flim screening in Thessaloniki and digital shark photo exposition and other activties in Chalkidiki. The Vivamar Society in Slovenia spread the word using the children’s Pocket Guide to Helping Sharks at aquariums, the Zoo, schools and the Natural History Museum

Read more about the Tethys event here (in Greek)

European Shark Week also went to Gdynia Aquarium in Poland , where visitors were keen to learn about sharks. In Finland the Sealife centre in Helsinki dedicated itself to European Shark Week activities including a talk by Shark Alliance shark expert Sonja Fordham.

Photos from Poland here
Video from Finland here (in Finnish)

In Malta, Sharkman collected petition signatures at the Marina. Shark lab held well attended talks for divers on European Sharks. Project Aware and the Humane Society International engaged their supporters across Europe collecting many signatures in support of shark conservation.

Myriad activities also took place in Ireland and across the UK from Scotland to Cornwall at universities, aquariums, and even shopping centres.

At the London Aquarium, Andy Starbuck joined the Save Our Seas Foudation with a special edition of the Cool Seas Roadshow entitled Give Sharks A Break. Vistors were invited to sign up and join the campaign. View more photos of the Cools Seas Roadshow here.