PREDATORS IN PERIL IMAGE SELECTED FOR OCEANS IN FOCUS CONTEST FINAL ROUND

This provocative image of a California Bat Ray ensnared in a gillnet off the coast of Baja, Mexico, has been selected for the final round of judging in the SeaWeb Oceans In Focus Fifth Annual Conservation Photography Contest. "Images contributed from around the world tell stories of peril, passion and perseverance. The finalists are invited to share the stories behind the images they have captured to bring us all behind the lens and, in some cases, under the surface of the sea. The six finalists will now compete in the grand prize photo essay competition, which will determine the lucky winner of a trip for two aboard the National Geographic Endeavour for a 10-day expedition to the Galápagos Islands courtesy of Lindblad Expeditions".

More at MarinePhotoBank.org: OCEANS IN FOCUS CONTEST WINNERS

If the winning image (taken by Predators in Peril Photographer Andy Murch) is selected as the grand prize winner, as well as having the opportunity to document the wonders of the Galapagos, Andy will have a great opportunity to explore the fishing camps around Manta and other areas along the Ecuadorian mainland.

Despite sporadic policing of the Galapagos Archipelago, Ecuadorian fishermen continue to fish for many depleted sharks (both inshore species and pelagic species). Images and video from the fishing camps would be valuable tools in exposing the truth about the fishing taking place in this region.

AQUALUNG SPONSORS PREDATORS IN PERIL 5/2/13

In a generous gesture towards shark conservation, Aqualung has agreed to become the primary scuba equipment sponsor of Predators in Peril's founder Andy Murch.

Aqualung has equipped Andy with a comprehensive range of light weight equipment specifically designed to minimize baggage overages on international expeditions without compromising performance.

PIP is extremely grateful of Aqualung's commitment to conservation.

Upon test diving Aqualung's new range of ultra lightweight equipment which includes Aqualungs Zuma BCD, Hotshot fins, Teknika mask, Aquaflex wetsuit and Apeks Flight Regulator, Andy was extremely impressed with the quality, functionality and portability of each component. Aqualung's technology will make a big difference to the success of future Predators in Peril Expeditions.

This welcome sponsorship follows in the footsteps of Aqualung's partner company Whites Manufacturing which has been sponsoring Andy's mission for almost a decade.

BYCATCH: A film about the expedition to document the unacceptable number of sharks and rays being caught in Mexican gill nets.

9/19/12

PIP Releases 'BYCATCH' A short film about the Expedition to Baja led by PIP Founder Andy Murch to document the shark and ray bycatch in the Mexican gillnet fishery.

 PIP BAJA EXPEDITION RETURNS WITH UNIQUE FOOTAGE AND IMAGES OF SHARKS IN GILL NETS

9/1/12

PIP Expedition to Pacific Baja has returned with images and footage of many shark and ray species drowning in gill nets.

PIP Photographer Andy Murch traveled out to sea with gill-netters and shark long-liners and returned with provocative images of soupfin, brown smoothhound, swell sharks and countless bat rays and banded guitarfishes that were killed after becoming irreparably entangled in nets intended for California Halibut. More than fifty tangled rays were recorded struggling in one net alone.

After negotiating a price with the fishermen, Andy was able to release many of the most viable rays that would have been brought ashore. None of the sharks were landed alive.

The sharks and rays are unintentional bycatch that fetch such little value in local markets that they are not lucrative enough to pay for gasoline for the gill fishermen's small boats. One day at sea with the gill netters revealed that there is an extremely disproportionate amount of sharks and rays being caught as bycatch compared to targeted species. Only one California halibut was landed during one day at sea.

The most common shark landed was the soupfin shark Galeorhinus galeus. Soupfins are listed as globally vulnerable by the IUCN after intense fishing pressure drove this once abundant shark into a depleted state.

Andy also accompanied long-liners targeting pelagic sharks. Two blue sharks were recovered during an entire day of long-lining. One of the sharks was killed by the fishermen but Andy was able to purchase the other (a 1.2m male) for the paltry sum of $4.00. Shark meat only fetches around $0.50 per kg in local markets so the business of catching sharks hinges on the lucrative exportation of shark fins. Removing the demand for fins and imposing restrictions on the international trade in fins will be instrumental in shutting down the shark fishing industry in the eastern Pacific.

Andy is in the process of editing a compelling documentary about the Baja expedition.