Information about shark bite incident on Shear Water

From Eric Cheng, WetPixel.com

By now, I'm sure you've been inundated with emails and calls about the shark bite yesterday on the Shear Water (Jim Abernethy's operation) that led to the death of a 49-year old Austrian man. It was a terrible, tragic incident, and I wish the best for the man's family and loved ones.

I've been trying to support Jimmy as much as I can, and have been working with members from Sea Shepherd, Shark Savers, Save Our Seas Foundation, and C.O.A.R.E. to get positive media out about sharks.

I wanted to share some links with you that you are free to quote from or link to:

1. Wetpixel front page article, which tracks news about the event. This one has already been heavily quoted by other sources, and by television news.

http://wetpixel.com/i.php/full/bahamas-shark-bite-aboard-shear-water-off...

2. Shark Angels statement about the incident -- the first press releases responding to emerging media reports.

http://wetpixel.com/i.php/full/bahamas-shark-bite-statement-from-shark-a...

Quick blurb about the Shark Angels link:

The Shark Angels, a team of engaging, young conservationists, were recently out on a shark expedition with Jim Abernethy aboard the Shear Water, and have issued a statement about yesterday’s tragic shark bite in the Bahamas.

The Angels include Kim McCoy, Executive Director of Sea Shepherd Conservation Society, Julie Andersen, Director of Shark Savers, and Alison Kock, Marine Biologist with Save Our Seas Foundation. Also on the Shear Water was Rob Stewart, director of the award-winning documentary, Sharkwater. Continue reading to see their full statement.

It seems that there has already been some infighting among conservation orgs (not surprising), and I want to avoid all of that and simply support Jimmy, both personally and professionally.

Neal Watson and the Bahamas Diving Association are gearing up to ban all non-cage diving in the Bahamas. They have already served Jim with a cease-and-desist. We will have a petition soon stating that we will boycott travel to the Bahamas for shark diving if that happens.

Best,
Eric Cheng
Wetpixel LLC