Save the Albatross 
Stop Pirate Fishing 
Sign the Petition

www.forestandbird.org.nz/petition

In December this year I will join the John Ridgway Save the Albatross round-the-world voyage and sail from Melbourne to Wellington as a volunteer crew member. The aim of the voyage is to end the needless deaths of albatross by longline fishing.

The voyage is supported globally by Birdlife International (which represents over 100 groups) and other conservation organisations such as Greenpeace and the British Antarctic Survey. The voyage is also supported by the BBC, which is making two documentaries from footage taken during the journey. 

Next year John Ridgway (world famous adventurer) will present this petition to the United Nations Food and Agriculture demanding an end to pirate fishing, which is having a devastating effect on the world's albatross populations. Please help us save the albatross. Please sign the online petition. Please pass this on to your friends. 

Carol Knutson
Royal Forest and Bird Protection Society
Wellington, NZ
c.knutson@forestandbird.org.nz

Websites of Interest

Recreational Marine Forecasts / Maps www.metservice.co.nz/maps/index.asp

Recreational Fishing Regulations 
www.fish.govt.nz/recreational/regulationsindex.html

Sherman's Lagoon Online
www.slagoon.com

NZUA Members! 
Win a Dolphin Swim Voucher 
with Dolphin Seafaris 

Be the first to email us with the answer to the following 'medical' question and win a voucher for a dolphin swim adventure with Dolphin Seafaris, Mt Maunganui.

Question: What % of 'normal' humans have a PFO (patent foramen ovale)? 

Clue: Viva Aqua Issue #16. Email your answer to nzu@nzunderwater.org.nz

Click on the Dolphin Seafaris logo above for more about the exciting adventures to be had in the Bay of Plenty.

Thought for the Month

We could learn a lot from crayons...

Some are sharp
Some are pretty 
Some are dull
Some have weird names
And all are different colours...

But they all have to learn to live in the same box

Unknown

Whale Hunt Deplored

Australia has called upon Japan to stop its "lethal research" in Antarctic waters after a Japanese whaling fleet set sail for another summer of hunting. Environment Minister David Kemp said a five-vessel fleet was reported to have left port on a six-month, Government-backed trip to waters to the southwest of Australia, where they plan to kill up to 440 minke whales.

Source: NZ Herald 13.11.03

Pool Weddings

The organisers of what is believed to be the country's first underwater "indoor" wedding have been flooded with 21 entries. 

"We thought we might get six mad couples if we were lucky," National Aquarium of New Zealand customer services manager Jenny Robertson said. 

While most applications were from Napier couples seeking to tie the knot in the aquarium's main tank in February, others were received from Wellington and Auckland.

The organisers will shortlist five or six for interviews before announcing the winning couple by the end of the month. An underwater microphone system will enable the service to be broadcast to guests. 

Source: NZ Herald 13.11.03

Dive Expo, Sydney 2003 They're reading our book there!

Jeroen Jongejans (NZUA), John Lippman (DAN), Lynn Taylor (NZUA)

Jeroen Jongejans (NZUA), Jean-Michel Cousteau (Fiji Islands Resort), Brent Narbey (First Light Travel)

Jeroen Jongejans (NZUA), Barry Andrewartha  (Sportdiving Magazine)