Marine Research and Conservation non-profit, Fins Attached, is excited to announce the recent acquisition of a research expedition vessel. Founder of Fins Attached, Alex Antoniou, Ph.D., wants to honor the late filmmaker and friend, Rob Stewart, who recently passed away while on a dive, with naming the vessel after his award winning documentary: Sharkwater. Antoniou also plans on partnering with the Sharkwater Team to finish the filming of Sharkwater Extinction
Fins Attached was able to acquire the research vessel after a group of individuals, passionate about saving sharks and the oceans, invested in the organization. Gaining its own research expedition vessel will allow the nonprofit to expand it mission. Fins Attached works toward saving marine animal life, sharks in particular, as the apex predators are stripped of their fins to satisfy the demand for shark-fin soup, a delicacy around the world. The shark is typically alive when their fins are cut off, and they are then tossed back into the ocean to die. The investors support the research, conversation, and education of the king of the sea, and look forward to what this new vessel will be able to do for the organization.
This World Ocean Day, there will be a special christening ceremony taking place in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida on June 8 at Nova Southeastern University, Bahia Mar marina. The Sharkwater will then depart on her maiden voyage to further Fins Attached research and Sharkwater’s filming. Stewart’s family and friends will be in attendance to watch their loved one’s life work continued through the partnership of Fins Attached.
“The Sharkwater team is proud to be a part of the Sharkwater research vessel and we know Rob Stewart was thrilled to have been involved in this significant initiative. It’s imperative we support the oceans and all its creatures and this boat will provide an excellent resource for researchers, scientists, and conservation groups for years to come,” began Brian and Sandy Stewart. “A giant thank you to Alex…and his organization Fins Attached for making this happen. As Rob said, ‘Conservation is the preservation of human life on earth and that above all else is worth fighting for,’ concluded Brian.
Originally the the vessel was built to be used by Japanese fisheries, but now she has been converted for her marine research and conservation mission. Sharkwater will be a host to many different professions within the field. Scientists, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), marine science students, and documentary crews will have the opportunity to conduct fieldwork and to achieve the objectives of Fins Attached with marine research and conservation.
“Having an expedition vessel to further the mission of conducting research and promoting conservation is a giant leap forward for Fins Attached. We are so excited at the possibilities and the amount of work that will be done,” says Alex Antoniou, Ph.D. “Fins Attached was created to do just that, to work towards protecting sharks and the marine environment, which ultimately benefits all living things.”
If the public would like to learn more about marine conservation, visit finsattached.org, if you’d like to donate towards the maiden voyage and the production of Sharkwater Extinction please visit http://www.gofundme.com/Sharkwater.
About Fins Attached
Fins Attached conducts research, promotes conservation and provides education for the protection of marine ecosystems. Fins Attached believes in the preservation of our world’s precious resources and that through the protection of the ocean’s apex predators marine ecosystem balance can be maintained for the benefit of all living things on earth. Fins Attached is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. Visit http://www.finsattached.org, or email info(at)finsattached(dot)org. http://www.studysharks.org.
