At EUDI, the European Diving Show, a high level round table highlighted the crucial role of divers in protecting sharks and rays, and the benefits of sustainable diving tourism not just for the environment but also for the local economy. Alessandro Filippini, who moderated the discussion, reported on it for Italian National Television, RAI Tg2 (link to the episode).
Four partners of LIFE European Sharks took centre stage:
* Admiral Sergio Liardo, Deputy Commander of the Italian Coast Guard, who celebrated 30 years of the diving division.
* Antonio Terlizzi of the Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn, leader of our project, who highlighted the positive impacts of responsible and careful dive activities
* Eleonora de Sabata of MedSharks, who showed how reports from divers are providing useful information for the protection of endangered species
* Vincenzo Rabbiolo, explaining how the municipality of Capoliveri is strengthening the protection of eagle rays thanks to reports from diving centres.
* Gabriele Scozzafava of DAGRI UNIFI, who presented unpublished data on the economic value of the Banco di Santa Croce, a vital habitat for the nursehound sharks and the eagle rays.
* Lorenzo Cervellin, outgoing president of Assosub, who highlighted the importance of diving tourism.
* Roberta Eliodoro: President of Assedi – Associazione Servizi Diving Italiani, who illustrated the positive impact of diving tourism on local communities.
European Sharks is a project for the conservation of sharks and rays in the Mediterranean, co-funded by the European Union through the LIFE programme. It is coordinated by the Anton Dohrn Zoological Station with partners in Croatia (University of Split), France (Parcu naturale marinu di u Capicorsu รจ di l’Agriate) and Italy (Livorno Aquarium, District Competence Centre, D.R.E.AM, Italian Coast Guard, MedSharks, Shoreline and University of Florence).
One Response