Gandhi once said that a nation’s greatness is measured by the way it treats its animals. 175 Nations will attend the 15^th conference of the Convention on the International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) from the 13^th to 25^th March in Doha, Qatar, and have a chance to prove their greatness, or lack thereof. This they will do when voting for or against over 40 proposals, many of which reflect growing international concern about the accelerating destruction of the world’s marine and forest ecosystems through overfishing and excessive logging, and the potential impacts of climate change on the biological resources of the planet.

Other issues on the agenda include: the adoption of urgent measures to tackle illegal trade in the tigers, rhinos and other species, including pink and red corals, plant species, reptiles, and insects, all of which are edging toward extinction; address the potential impacts of CITES measures on the livelihoods of the rural poor directly dependent upon wildlife; and allocate sufficient financial resources to ensure that CITES goals are fully achieved.

UN General Assembly has declared 2010 the international year of biodiversity and the Conference will be one of the key occasions governments will have this year to take action to protect biodiversity. Already the world had missed the 2010 target to stem biodiversity, a goal which was agreed upon at the 6^th Conference of Parties to the UN Convention on Biological Diversity in April 2003. But species extinction rates are at least 100 times those in pre-human times and expected to continue to accelerate into the future.

I will be attending the Conference and wearing the hats of The Shark Research Institute (SRI) USA and AfriOceans Conservation Alliance (AOCA) South Africa, and though I will be covering all issues, of particular interest to us is the strong marine theme and an unprecedented six proposals for commercially exploited marine species being proposed with blue fin tuna high on the list. This iconic and majestic species can reach 3 metres in length and over 650 kg in weight. It swims at nearly 40 km per hour and dives to 1,000 metres. Unfortunately it is a highly sought after delicacy and a single fish can fetch more than USD $120,000. Overfishing has caused populations to plummet throughout the species' range to alarmingly low numbers. As such Monaco has proposed that blue fin tuna be listed under Appendix I, which would ban any international trade. The European Commission has proposed a fishing ban on the species by its members and urged support of the CITES proposal by all 27 EU members. So far, France has signaled it would support it, while Greece, Spain and Italy, where fishing interests take precedence, have opposed it. The United States have also supported the ban, but Japan, which eats an estimated three-quarters of the world's annual bluefin catch, announced that it would not comply. Tense times are expected ahead since a 2/3 rd majority is required to be successful. Failing which the blue fin tuna demise is sealed.

In addition, eight species of sharks, oceanic whitetip, spiny dogfish, porbeagle, scalloped hammerhead, smooth hammerhead, great hammerhead, sandbar and dusky sharks, are proposed for inclusion under Appendix II. Such listings will complement and reinforce fisheries management measures, provide much needed data and monitoring of trade, and also contribute to implementation of the FAO International Plan of Action for the Conservation and Management of Sharks. (South Africa drafted the National Plan of Action in 2000 but has still not implemented it - the plan has since been coined the National Plan of InAction. AOCA has been lobbying for the implementation of the plan since 2007) Mismanagement, inadequate compliance, illegal and unregulated fishing has resulted in many sharks species declining by over 90%. The spiny dogfish and porbeagle are caught extensively for their meat (often sold in 'fish and chips' shops in the British Isles), while the oceanic whitetip and scalloped hammerhead are caught primarily for their fins, as well as incidentally. Of the 591 species of sharks and rays listed with the IUCN, 21% are threatened with extinction, 18% have a near-threatened status and 35% lack data in order to affirm their populations.

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), states that the world’s capture (non-aquaculture) fisheries produced 92 million tonnes of fish in 2006, of which 81.9 million came from the sea. The value of the total marine and freshwater catch at the first point of sale was around USD 91.2 billion. It is therefore estimated that some 52% of marine fish stocks or species groups are fully exploited, 19% overexploited and 9% depleted or recovering from depletion. Scientists have warned that should the current rate of exploitation continue there will be no fish left in our oceans by 2050. This may very well be the last century of wild fish.

To date the CITES success for marine species is very limited: the basking and whale sharks were included in Appendix II in 2002, the great white shark and the humphead wrasse in 2004, and the European eel and sawfishes in 2007. There is a long way to go if marine species have any chance of surviving and a lot weighs on the success of CITES 2010 for the proposed marine species.

CITES is one of the world's most powerful tools for biodiversity conservation through the regulation of trade in wild fauna and flora but the survival verdict for proposed species remains to be seen, balancing precariously between politics, petty bureaucracy, insatiable greed and the decision of great nations.

Watch my space, I will keep you updated for the duration of the conference.

Me in the pink t-shirt with the CPUT design students - presented 'how to approach public signage'. Renovations took weeks and still busy but have moved in - update photos to come...In the last 5 weeks a lot has happened: I suddenly left the Shark Centre (details about this soon but for now read this article that was published in the Weekend Argus) and chucked nine years of conservation work into boxes...

I fervidly begun renovations and decorating of the AOCA office and setting up again, still unpacking millions of boxes...

I passionately gave talks to learners and adults (assisting City in new shark safety signage), and taught delightful little ones...

Giving a talk to senior learners about shark and ocean conservation and what it takes to be a Warrior and win life's battles. Photo Deen HillI worked with a film crew and the AfriOceans Warriors (more about this later too)...

I secured and signed the contract with a world top literary agent and begun the book (sorry, but more about this later too)...

I dealt with the disappointment of certain colleagues I thought were my friends but not. Then someone reminded me you can tell the leaders by the daggers in the backs...

Chief AfriOceans Warrior Lesley addresses the little tribe of warriors during the shoot which is a secret till later... Photo Deen HillI took on a Marine Resource Management student, Deen Hill, whom I will supervise for the year...

I prepared for departure of the CITES Conference for which I leave on the 12th March and secured a top magazine to take my content.

It was such fun with the children, they loved the morning - here little Daniel on the chair is making the sound of a sea creature and making us all laugh. Photo Deen HiAnd amidst it all I secured wonderful, talented, creative people with integrity, who are going to help me make a difference when we work together to launch new and exciting projects during 2010 (and yes, more about this later too :-) )...

Never a dull moment in the shark/marine conservation world and as my dear friend Dave Japp warned me way back then: "Lesley, do you know what you are letting yourself in for, sharky people have the biggest egos of all, including the scientists!" and the NPO world just as much...

Watch my space as I continue to align myself with those that recognise that action is what it will take if we hope to have any impact on saving our oceans.

Today was indeed a very significant one in the conservation efforts of AfriOceans. Our unique AfriOceans Warriors Awareness Hike last December launched a new movement in environmental education, in youth empowerment and in conservation awareness. This year, no matter limited funding, and together with our key partners and the Muizenberg High School, we are going full steam ahead in developing the concept into a broader environmental education initiative, which aims for world expansion. This is not just another educational initiative, this is something truly special, and today a significant moment in what will go down in the conservation history of South Africa, if not the world, took place when 60 young learners from Muizenberg High School took the AfriOceans Warrior pledge to establishing the first AfriOceans Warriors Tribe.

Learners shared their feelings today about being part of the launching event, the awareness hike in December 2009: Farouz: "On behalf of the school we want to thank you for allowing us to be part of such a significant event." Mark:"We realise that by not caring for our environment we are destroying our future. We take everything for granted and we need to change the way we do things." Miche': "It (the AfriOceans Warriors hike) made me feel part of something much bigger than myself.", Yohari: "I did something for the world!" Mathew: "I was grateful to be part of the hike, and glad there are people out there that care for the world, and I am one of them." Clare:"I'm more aware now, when my friends litter I explain why they need to care and take action to save our planet." And below is a letter written by one of the learners who missed the hike, and who desperately wants to be part of the Tribe:

Watch the AfriOceans Warriors video.

Thank you to each young Warrior who signed up today, to David and Leonie, Head and Deputy Head of Muizenberg High, two of our Chief Warriors, and to the other special people helping to drive this initiative. The youth are our future, they hold the power to make the changes desperately needed to save our planet. Empowered, these young warriors will fight for what is rightfully theirs, healthy oceans, healthy environments, upon which all of humankind depend. Watch the AfriOceans Warriors, they will make a difference!

This is a copy of the scroll which the AfriOceans Warriors gave to each of the dignitaries who were waiting for them at the end of their 8km awareness hike.

AfriOceans is an ACTION organisation and we aim to win an army of Ocean Warriors, millions of young people all over the world, who will help us to make a difference. The proof is not in what we say but in what we do - this might be a humble beginning, but so too is the tiny acorn.

To achieve our goals we need help - if you can help us with funding, time or skills, email me on lrochat@iafrica.com Two certainties: there is no moment like now, in fact that is all that is real, and each one of us can make a difference, no matter how small.

During my recent photographic expedition aboard the Sea Horse around the stunning Radja Ampat, which was a prize for one of the awards Sharks in Deep Trouble won last year, I had the privilege to meet the wobbegong shark. Though my fellow divers saw a wobbegong on almost every dive and John Bantin of Diver magazine, UK, who was on the trip began to refer to the area as ‘The land of the wobbegong’, they illuded me as I buried my face in my camera and solo dived, avoiding the rest of the group. But you can’t go to Radja Ampat and not see wobbegongs and fortunately I did, albeit it on my last couple of dives, and I have the photos to share. What an amazing animal, whose name is believed to come from an Australian Aboriginal language, meaning "shaggy beard", referring to the growths around the mouth of the shark, which it uses to entice and catch fish.

They are another of Nature’s masters of camouflaged and their beautiful patterns, which resemble a carpet, blend into the surrounds making them nearly invisible as they lie in wait to ambush passing prey. There are 11 species of wobbegong sharks, also known as carpet sharks, in the family Orectolobidae, and they are also under threat from fishers. They are found in shallow temperate and tropical waters of the western Pacific Ocean and eastern Indian Ocean, chiefly around Australia and Indonesia and one species occurs as far north as Japan. Most species reach up to 1.25 metres (4.1 ft) or less, but the largest, the spotted wobbegong, Orectolobus maculatus, grows up to 3.2 metres (10 ft).

And by the way don't provoke or step on a wobbegong, he/she doesn't like it and there are cases of divers being bitten. Hmmm, must remember to do my research before I position my dome port an inch from a docile sharks nose again... But remember, the chances of being bitten by a shark are 1 in 264 million, as reported in data from the International Shark Attack File.

On my knees in the shallows patiently waiting for a blacktip to pass while Andy chats to me about the shark fishing problems of the area and his efforts to save them.

In general there are very few sharks left in Radja Ampat and though I saw some wobbegongs, the odd black tip and white tip, local shark conservationist Andy Miners of the Misool Eco Resort, told me that most have been killed by local longliners who continue to catch the remaining few. Andy’s efforts in helping to save sharks has resulted in 425 sq km No-Take Zone since 2006, and at least for this area there is hope of sharks and other marine life having a chance to survive. With funding from WildAid, The Coral Reef Alliance, Precious Planet, and others, the resort has a dedicated patrol vessel and their efforts are showing signs of reward as more little blacktips take shelter in the bay.

“When I first came here there were so few blacktips in our bay, but since we have secured the no take zone they have increased. Yesterday we had 17 pups in the bay.” He explained with a mild tone of satisfaction – the fight to save them is ongoing. And that is what brought me to visit the island that day, hearing about the pups, which I hoped to photograph, only to find a handful while the others were elsewhere, hopefully safe. While visiting the island I discovered that I had just missed seeing my good friend Shawn Heinrich by a few hours, who had just left the island and who has been helping Andy realize his conservation vision for this area of Radja Ampat. The world is small and for now there are only a handful of us fighting the fight but the good news is, we are growing in numbers, strength and impact. Well done to Andy and the paradise I would love to return to, the Misool Eco Resort.