THE DECOMPOSITION RATE OF MARINE DEBRIS

Glass Bottle – 1 million years
Mono filament fishing line – 600 years
Plastic beverage bottles – 450 years
Disposable diapers – 450 years
Aluminum can – 80-200 years
Foamed plastic buoy – 80 years
Rubber boat sole – 50-80 years
Foamed plastic cup – 50 years
Tin can – 50 years
Leather – 50 years
Nylon Fabric – 30-40 years
Plastic film canister – 20-30 years
Plastic Bag – 10-20 years
Cigarette filter – 1-50 years
Wool sock – 1-5 years
Plywood – 1-3 years
Waxed milk carton – 3 months
Apple core – 2 months
Newspaper – 6 weeks
Orange or banana peel – 2-5 weeks
Paper towel – 2-4 weeks

REFERENCE:
PROJECT AWARE’S Marine Debris Fact-sheet
“From Pocket Guide… to Marine Debris,” The Ocean Conservancy, 2004.
Sources: U.S National Park Service; Mote Marine Lab, FL and “Garbage In, Garbage Out”

CONCERNED DIVERS FOR THE PHILIPPINES (CDP) will be conducting a beach and underwater cleanup at Anilao, Mabini, Batangas this coming Saturday, 25th of September 2010 in celebration of Project Aware’s International Cleanup Day. The event is sponsored by Crystal Blue Resort.

Divers find whale shark with fins, tail sliced off

By Marrah Erika Lesaba, Alcuin Papa

Inquirer Southern Luzon, Philippine Daily Inquirer

First Posted 03:44:00 02/17/2010

BATANGAS CITY…—A dead whale shark without fins and a tail was buried
on the shores of Tingloy Island on Tuesday morning, inscribing a sad
epilogue to a Manila conference of 50 nations for the protection of the
endangered fish species.
Locally known as “butanding,” the juvenile whale shark (Rhincodon
typus) was found at 9:30 a.m. on Monday by a group of foreign and local
divers in Barangay Maricaban on the island, 44 kilometers from this
city.
It was still alive but “very weak” when the group left it at 5 p.m.,
said Rey Manalo, head of the Bantay-Dagat (sea patrol) in Tingloy.
Manalo said the whale shark, measuring 18 feet, could have gotten
accidentally entangled in a net laid out by a group of island fishermen
who were catching fish nearby.
They must have tried to rescue the creature with their bare hands
but could not do so without cutting its fins and tail, he said.
Since it could no longer swim, the hapless giant fish was placed in
cool waters with Bantay-Dagat personnel watching over it, Manalo said.
Unfortunately, it died on Monday night and was buried on the shore the
next morning, he said.

More pictures of the whaleshark slaughter in Tingloy. Photos by Wandy Kwok

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?page=3&aid=146163&id=540684152#!/album.php?aid=146173&id=540684152

It all started informally at first. Dave introduced the kids to diving by letting the kids swim, then snorkel and  try on the scuba gears in the pool. After a few sessions, the kids were comfortable enough to start their formal scuba diving lessons. Like the adult class, they had a series of lectures and pool sessions before their check-out dive in Batangas. They also had to pass the written exam before getting certified as Junior Open Water Divers.

Nothing beats sharing our passion with our little ones. I just can’t get enough taking pictures and videos of the kids enjoying themselves underwater. Scuba diving also provides a venue for the parents to  teach their children to appreciate, value and take care of our underwater environment. After all, they are the future stewards of the sea.

This coming September 19, the Concerned Divers for the Philippines (CDP) in cooperation with Project Aware , Aquamundo and Crystal Blue Resort will hold it’s annual coastal and underwater cleanup along the shorelines of Mabini, Batangas more popularly known as Anilao. 

Concerned Divers for the Philippines is a non- stock, non-profit organization comprised of divers and their families. CDP advocates environmental awareness.

Last year, we had more than 40 volunteers (divers and non-divers); cleaned up 4 dive sites; and gathered more than 300 pounds of marine debris.

This year, aside from the regular cleanup, we will also have a photography contest for  the topside and underwater cleanup as well as various activities for the non-divers and kids. Prizes await the winners.

60 volunteers have confirmed their participation for September 19. The event is still open, however,  we can only accommodate day trip volunteers since the Crystal Blue Resort is already fully booked.

Compilation of videos taken at the Twin Rocks Marine Sanctuary (Anilao) Mabini, Batangas, Philippines.

WHAT: DIVE FOR EARTH DAY 2009
WHEN: April 18 & 25, 2009
WHERE: Anilao, Batangas

The Concerned Divers for the Philippines is scheduling a Project Aware – Dive for Earth Day on April 18 and April 25.

Divers and non-divers alike are needed to help protect the underwater environment of Mabini by doing a shoreline and underwater cleanup during the said dates.

Please get in touch with me or Dave as soon as possible so we can reserve slots for you.

See you soon

From the National Geographic News.

“In just a short time, one of the rarest sharks in the world went from swimming in Philippine waters to simmering in coconut milk. The 13-foot-long  megamouth shark, caught on March 30 by mackerel fishers off the city of Donsol, was only the 41st megamouth shark ever found, according to WWF-Philippines.”

“Fishers brought the odd creature—which died during its capture—to local project manager Elson Aca of WWF, an international conservation nonprofit. Aca immediately identified it as a megamouth shark and encouraged the fishers not to eat it. But the draw of the delicacy was too great: The 1,102-pound (500-kilogram) shark was butchered for a shark-meat dish called kinuout.”

“While it is sad that this rare megamouth shark was ultimately lost, the discovery highlights the incredible biodiversity found in the Donsol area and the relatively good health of the ecosystem,” Yokelee Lee, WWF-US program officer for the Coral Triangle, said in an email.”

“The Coral Triangle, which spans Indonesia, Malaysia, Papua New Guinea, the Philippines, Solomon Islands, and Timor-Leste (East Timor), is home to the richest concentration of marine life—including iridescent corals—in the world, according to WWF.”

“It is essential that we continue working with the government and local community on the sustainable management of Donsol’s fisheries resources for the benefit of whale sharks, megamouth sharks, and the local community,” Lee said.

“The megamouth shark species, discovered in 1976 off Oahu, Hawaii, was so bizarre that scientists had to create a new family and genus to classify it. With its giant mouth but tiny teeth, megamouth, like the whaleshark, is a filter feeder that preys on tiny animals and appears to be no danger to humans.”

“Only 40 megamouth sharks, including 7 in the Philippines, have been found since the initial discovery. The shark is so rare that the International Union for Conservation of Nature lists the megamouth species as “data deficient.”

“Scientists who examined Megamouth 41—the Philippine specimen’s official name, bestowed by the Florida Museum of Natural History—before it was eaten found facial scars from past run-ins with gill nets. The shark’s last meal was shrimp larvae.”

“Other shark species in Donsol are valued for conservation rather than consumption: The region hosts a successful ecotourism project that allows people to swim with whale sharks, according to WWF.”

Christine Dell’Amore

Photograph by Elson Q. Aca/WWF-Philippines

Register here: http://condurarun.com/registration.html/
Registration ends on March 16, 2009.

Visit the official Condura Run Website here: http://condurarun.com/

taken from the website:
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THE INSPIRATION

The Condura Run is an advocacy of the Concepcion family led by Concepcion Durables President, Ton Concepcion.

A runner and a scuba diver himself, Ton’s vision for the Condura Run is to be the premier running event in the country by continuously raising the standards of Philippine running to global standards. The Condura Run is a running event created by a runner for runners and is inspired by international marathons.

The mission of the Condura Run is to inspire people to run because we believe that if everyone runs then the country will be a much better place. We will also help save the marine environment and promote eco-tourism by making people aware of the richness that lie beneath our seas.

Condura stands for durable bodies, durable seas, and durable products for a durable environment. In 2008, the first ever Condura Run: Race for Tubbataha Reefs was able to raise money for the protection of the Tubbataha Reefs in Palawan, and propelled it to be one of the top Global contenders for the New Seven Wonders of the World.

This year, it will be staged for the benefit of the Whale Sharks of Donsol, Sorsogon. 50 pesos of the registration fee shall go to the Whale Sharks.

Be part of history. Sign up now for the 2009 Condura Run for the Whale Sharks.

WHALE SHARK 101

Donsol Sorsogon is known as the Whale Shark capital of the world. Hundreds of Whale Sharks congregate in Donsol from January to June to feed on its plankton-rich waters. These gentle giants of the deep locally known as butanding are the largest fish in the world growing up to 40 feet in length and can weigh up to 15 tons. They thrive in tropical and warm oceans and can live up to about 70 years.

Know more about the Whale Sharks!

The scientific name of the Whale Shark locally known as butanding is Rhincodon typus.

The Whale Shark is the largest fish in the world growing up to 40 ft. in length and can weigh up to 15 tons.

They are considered the gentle giants of the deep because despite their overwhelming size, the Whale Sharks feed only on planktons present in the sea, which make them almost completely harmless to humans.

A Scottish zoologist and explorer named Sir Andrew Smith off the coast of South Africa in 1828 discovered the Whale Sharks.

The Whale Sharks thrive in tropical and warm oceans and live in the open seas and can live up to about 70 years. Whale Shark season peaks from February to May or during summer.

TOP TEN REASONS TO JOIN CONDURA RUN

1. The Route

The Condura Run is the first ever run to go through the Skyway. This is a historic event that you should not miss.

Condura ensures that the route is not only challenging but is virtually car, jeep, bus and tricycle-free. We work closely with government officials to make this vision come true so that runners can truly have a healthy and enjoyable run.

2. 4 Races: 1 Event

Whether this is your first race or your 100th, there is a race that will challenge you to be your best!

3km Fun Run
5km Discovery Run
10km Challenge
21KM Half-marathon to the Skyway

3. Fun Events

Run with dolphins, turtles, dugongs, manta rays and of course the Whale Shark. Join the marine life costume contest and be one with other runners who will run in costumes to show their support for the Philippines rich marine environment.

Pose in front of the majestic Whale Shark as photographed by international award winning underwater photographer Gutsy Tuason.

4. The Condura Expo

Bring your shopping bag as exhibitors show off their latest products and give out free samples. Enjoy the special sale only on race day including the Grand Nike Park Sale! Up to 70% off on selected items.

5. Cool Giveaways and Raffles

Get the Cool Collectible Condura Whale Shark t-shirt when you register and we guarantee you will be wearing it for years after the run. Finishers will receive a loot bag from Vitwater, Sunkist, Selecta and Swift.

Get to win lots of raffle prizes courtesy of our sponsors and donors. All registered runners can also avail of 10% discount on Nike products at participating Nike registration stores until race day.

6. Feel like an Olympian for a day!

Thousand of Spectators
Marching Bands
Cheering Zones

We at Condura understand how hard you train, and in return we shall do our best to cheer you on to be your best and feel like an Olympian on race day as you cross the finish line with hands in the air and a heart that is filled with pride and joy.

7. Run with the Stars

Bring your cameras and learn how to take pictures on the run as you catch famous celebrities running along side you as they show their support for the Whale Sharks while encouraging Filipinos to be the best they can be through running.

8. The Champions Circle

Certificates and cash prizes await the top 3 male and female finishers of each race category.

9. Finishers Medals for Half Marathon Finishers

Finishers of the 21km half-marathon to the Skyway shall receive a special Condura Run finisher’s medal that you will be proud to display for many years to come.

10. Running for the Whale Sharks

We truly are blessed as a country to be at the epicenter of the coral triangle. It is therefore our duty to protect this gift that we have been given. By joining the Condura run you are helping raise funds to protect the Whale Sharks and promoting responsible eco-tourism in Donsol.

ABOUT THE RACE

WHAT: CONDURA RUN 2009: RUN FOR THE WHALE SHARKS

4 Races: 1 Event

3km Fun Run
5km Discovery Run
10km Challenge
21km Half-marathon to the Skyway

WHEN: SUNDAY, MARCH 22, 2009

TIME:
21km Half-Marathon – 5:30 AM
10km – 6:00 AM
5km – 6:00 AM
3km – 6:00 AM

ASSEMBLY AREAS:
Green coral for 3km runners
Red coral for 5km runners
Blue coral for 10km runners
Brown coral for 21km runners

We encourage you to come 30 minutes before the race.

WHERE: 28th Street, Bonifacio Global Open Grounds, Taguig City (near NBC Tent)

Sign up for the race and get 10% discount on Nike products.

Registered runners will get the cool collectible Condura Run for the Whale Sharks T-Shirt, certificates, and giveaways from Vitwater, Sunkist, Selecta, and Swift.

Certificates and cash prizes await the top 3 male and female finishers of each race category.

Finishers of the 21km half-marathon will get the special finisher’s medal.

REGISTRATION STARTS ON FEBRUARY 16 UNTIL MARCH 16.
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