Kategorie: News
It's not words that make heroes, but deeds!
At the InterDive diving- and travel- trade fair in Friedrichshafen, the marine conservation organisation OCEAN HEROES, under the sponsorship of SSI International, the magazine TAUCHEN and the scuba-diving portal Taucher.Net, honoured seven very special people.
OCEAN HEROES - exemplary leading figures in marine conservation - were first awarded to marine biologist, cameraman and research diver Robert Marc Lehmann and underwater photographer and animal rights activist Kurt Amsler for their uncompromising personal commitment. Gabriela and Herbert Futterknecht were also awarded two further badges of honour. The tireless commitment of the two made the new species protection ordinance in Austria for the protection of sharks possible. As a result, the import of shark products, trade and processing have been largely banned.
Three other awards for exemplary lifetime achievements in marine conservation went to Christine Gstöttner, Dr Iris Ziegler and Christine Staacks. All three are former leading members of Sharkproject International.
The OCEAN HERO badge of honour recognises their personal achievements, which have contributed significantly to the success of the international shark conservation organisation.
More information at www.ocean-heroes.net
Questions for Gerhard Wegner, founder and president of the marine conservation organisation OCEAN HEROES
TN: In 2002, almost exactly 22 years ago, you founded the shark conservation organisation Sharkproject together with friends and shaped and led it as president and frontman for over 16 years. Then you retired. And now, just a few years later, a new organisation? What are the reasons for this? Are you not enjoying retirement?
GW: (laughs) Retirement is good. After so many active years in shark conservation, you can't just stop. Sharks and marine conservation have never let go of me. I have always been present and have given many lectures in recent years and have also written several books, including ‘UPPS The Great Shark Book’, the basis for a current school lecture.
TN: Why a new organisation at all? And who else is on board with OCEAN HEROES?
GW: To say it up front. OCEAN HEROES is not an e.V. but an ‘unregistered association’. The reason: we didn't want to go through the whole circus that is associated with a registered association. Nevertheless, we are recognised as a non-profit organisation and naturally work on a voluntary basis. The members are my wife Christel Wegner and our friend Martin Trösch.
The reason for founding OCEAN HEROES is simple. In a discussion, we got very upset about organisations that only operate with alibi campaigns. Self-promotion has obviously become more important than genuine marine conservation. We got very upset in a discussion about organisations that only operate with alibi campaigns. Self-promotion has apparently become more important than genuine marine protection. In return, however, there are enough people who achieve personal bests. And it is because of these people that it is worth ‘going back to the drawing board’, as the saying goes. In other words, we want to highlight these achievements with the AWARD and also provide financial support for selected campaigns, such as Kurt Amsler's SOS SEATURTLES or Robert Marc Lehmann's MISSION GEISTERNETZE.
TN: Where do you get the money from?
GW: Part of it comes from our multimedia presentations, the other part from the profits of our charity shop and the rest from donations.
TN: Sounds good. Where can a diving club or diving shop request presentations from you?
GW: Very simple. All our lectures for adults and children are available on our website: www.ocean-heroes.net. Enquiries at gw@ocean-heroes.net.