E.U.A.C. CONSERVATION INITIATIVES
Aquatic Conservation.
The morewe learn about the marine and freshwater environment, the more we realise that it is under considerable and increasing pressure from the effects of human activities. There are demonstrable threats to the continued existence of certain aquatic habitats and species, as well as to the extent and range of others. Threats include over-fishing; the impact of changes in water quality from run-off, discharges or dumping; and rising pressures throughout coastal zones from increased development. Aquatic habitats and species are also under considerable pressure from climate change.
It is vital that these pressures and threats are matched by an appropriate response. On land, where the effects of human pressures are more often visible and obvious, and hence have more readily captured the support of the public, action has been taken to strengthen nature conservation legislation and management. Necessary and proportionate action needs to be taken to secure the conservation of nature in the oceans and freshwater ecosystems. The awareness, engagement and support of people are required to achieve these conservation actions. European aquariums, as major visitor attractions, can play a significant role through active engagement in field conservation activities and in communicating conservation issues to their visitors.
EUAC, through its Conservation Fund, has already contributed towards projects that have advanced the conservation of freshwater and marine species and their habitats from Greece to Benin. With your support we can increase our activities and achieve greater conservation impact.
HISTORY of the E.U.A.C
The European Union of Aquarium Curators membership groups 135 Public Aquarium Curators, Directors and Researchers as well as colleagues from both the US and Japan In Basle, in 1972, 10 colleagues initiated this Union with a view to developing a forum for the exchange of knowledge and experience in the public aquarium and aquariology field.
Since its creation the Union has grown into a unique instrument allowing colleagues to meet every year to learn about new technical developments, new forms of presentation, new and updated husbandry practices as well as techniques for maintenance of aquatic animals in a confined environment. The E.U.A.C. has since developed programmes related to education, conservation, management and breeding.
· The E.U.A.C. mission statement
TO ACTIVELY PROMOTE PROFESSIONAL IMPROVEMENT BETWEEN SPECIALISTS IN THE PUBLIC AQUARIUM FIELD.
Our fields of action are to:
provide the best possible environment for our living creatures.
establish aquatic animals sustainable populations through managed breeding programmes.
increase public awareness.
provide education and educational tools.
stimulate applied research.
establish research collaboration.
care for the conservation of biodiversity.
Conservation Projects supported in 2004.
Turtle Point: - a project managed by the Anton Dohrn Aquarium In Naples.
Aims :
To create a Sea Turtle Rescue Center in Bagnoli to re-habilitate injured sea turtles for an appropriate convalescence
period before their release back to the sea.
In 17 months 12,000 children and over 2,000 adults visited the center.
Conservation Projects supported in 2005.
Rapid Assessment of the Corfu killifish “Valencia letourneuxi, an endangered Greek Killifish: - project supervised by the Aquarium of the
Royal Zoological Society of London.
Achieved :
Partnership with the Helenic Centre of Marine Resources, Inst.of Inland Waters
Most comprehensive survey throughout most of its range
An assessment of the conserevation threats to the species and recommendations how to best conserve this threatened species
The conservation of Marine Turtles at the Benin Coast - managed by Nature Tropicale Bénin.
Aims :
Preservation of the last existing populations of sea turtles along the coast by sensitizing local people.
Training of local “ ecoguards” who will propagate.
Development of biological information and conservation techniques.
Education of local communities
to rescue turtles.
to protect nesting sites.
in techniques of artificial incubation and release of baby turtles.
Conservation Projects supported in 2006.
Sust ainabilit y of seahorses in aquarium trade - managed by the Aquarium of the Zoological S ociety of London.
Aims:
Analysis of live trade data on seahorses
Global review of seahorse aquaculture .
Focussed study of live trade in seahorses in Los Angelesy
Inventory of seahorses in public aquariums.
The development of settlement tiles for coral breeding as part of Secore Project by
the Rotterdam Zoo.
Aims :
To improve design of existing tiles in order to increase settlement survival of juveniles.
To improve production process in order to reduce costs.
To enable sustainable management of live coral stocks in the long term by use of tiles for in situ colonisation.
Three approaches to enforce Nature Conservation Measures in the Phang Nha-Ke Bang National Park.
Aim :
Learn about the ecology and habitat requirements of some recently discovered lizard species.
Focus on tadpole-frog relations and tadpole communities.
Create educational tools to communicate the project goals to local people rangers and the public.
Commercial membership
As a result of mutually beneficial interest from the commercial sector a membership category has been created specifically for commercial supporting members.
E.U.A.C. supporting members can be:
Any body or commercial enterprise involved directly or peripherally in the aquarium world that is able to support the activities of E.U.A.C., commercially or otherwise.
The benefits available to full supporting members are:
Free access to the E.U.A.C. member’s list
Entitlement to present a poster and publicity information during E.U.A.C. conferences
The right to make use of the E.U.A.C. logo (registered) in publicity in association with a statement that you are supporting member of the E.U.A.C.
The possibility to install a publicity booth at E.U.A.C. conferences on condition that the hosting aquarium/institute is providing a commercial /technical exhibition
The right to present a paper during the E.U.A.C. conference upon request or on invitation
on condition that the conference programme permits
upon payment of an appropriate additional fee as proposed by the executive committee
In addition the E.U.A.C. website gives the opportunity for supporting members to provide links to their own website as well as privileged access to technical articles, co-operative programme reports and professional press.
A sub category for smaller companies qualifying as ‘consultant’ supporting members will have access to a reduced range of benefits which will include items 1, 2, and 5 only from the previous list. They will also have the right to state that they are a ‘consultant’ supporting member of the E.U.A.C. but will have no rights to use of the E.U.A.C. logo.
Fees
The current (2007) fee for supporting members is 2,350 Euros per annum.
The current (2007) fee for consultant supporting members is 500 Euros per annum.
The E.U.A.C. conservation commitment
The money E.U.A.C. receives from sponsors will be used to support in-situ and/or ex-situ conservation programs as proposed by member institutions and after screening by the E.U.A.C. Executive Committee.
We sincerely thank those companies that support us in our conservation activities as the boundaries of our aquatic environment are constantly increasing. Our conservation activities, together with the activities of other organisations can contribute to safeguard biodiversity and planet Earth.
Further information is available from :
euac@oceano.org or ocearium@ocearium-croisic.fe
EUAC commercial sponsors—2006/7
Aquarium La Rochelle
Aquarium Technology Ltd
Rohm GmBH