In continuing support of HEPCA and the marine environment, blue o two is dedicating one of its vessels to hosting HAYAH reef clean-up safaris throughout January 2009.

HAYAH is HEPCA’s most ambitious environmental project yet, aiming to involve all sections of the Red Sea community to work towards raising awareness, education and responsibility and active participation.

Amr Ali, Managing Director of HEPCA said: "There is a little chance for conservation and protection agencies to achieve anything without the support and consciousness of their stakeholders. HEPCA is amazed by the continuous support of blue o two and their considerable contribution to our efforts to help preserve the Red Sea. As the sense of responsibility grows bigger amongst divers and travellers, soon we will see the day when the main factor in choosing a diving or tour operator will be the social responsibility of that operator towards the community, nature and the globe."

blue o two run these trips at subsidised prices in an attempt to make ecotourism more accessible to the masses. "Everyone should be able to afford to help!" commented blue o two company director Jason Strickland.

HAYAH safaris visit identified 'problem reefs' in the Northern Red Sea where clean-ups will take place. There will also be evening seminars on reef conservation conducted by blue o two’s in-house marine biologist and dive guide Elke Bojanowski.

Guests will experience a week of stunning Red Sea liveaboard diving with the added value of giving something back to the marine environment that they love.Visit www.blueotwo.com for more details.

HEPCA will be joining dive centres from the region in the first Red Sea Zone exhibition at Dive 2008 on 1st and 2nd November in Birmingham, UK, organised by the Chamber of Diving and Watersports (CDWS).

Visitors to the HEPCA stand can find out more about how they can help protect the Red Sea, learn more about our mooring project, the largest mooring system in the world, and hear the latest news on our high profile campaign to Save the Red Sea Wrecks.

We hope to see you there!

Help us to save the Red Sea for tomorrow… This Autumn, HEPCA is launching our most exciting range of merchandise yet. The range includes an annual calendar, postcards, bookmarks and six sets of coasters all with a common theme – showing the magnificence and beauty of the Red Sea through a selection of superb images from local photographer Kimmo Hagman.

The products will be on sale through HEPCA Members shortly and a proportion of the sale of all merchandise will go towards continuing the valuable environmental work of HEPCA and its Members to preserve and sustain the Red Sea for the future.

Contact your local Member or keep up to date on the HEPCA web site for more details coming soon.

Amr is out and about in Europe for a few weeks fundraising, spreading the word about HEPCA and most recently attending the IUCN World Conservation Congress in Barcelona.

The Congress lasts from 5-14 October. More than 8,000 of the world’s leading decision makers in sustainable development: from governments, NGOs, business, the UN and academia come together in one place for 10 days: to debate, share, network, learn, commit, vote and decide. The objective: ideas, action and solutions for a diverse and sustainable world.

One of the highlights of the Congress is the release of the annual IUCN Red List: the world's most comprehensive inventory of the global conservation status of plant and animal species.

So what does the 2008 IUCN Red List have to say about the state of the world’s marine species?

With oceans taking up some 70% of the Earth’s surface, they are home to a large percentage of the world’s biodiversity. However, a broad range of marine species are under increased risk of extinction and marine biodiversity is experiencing potentially irreversible loss due to a number of threats that include over-fishing, bycatch, climate change, invasive species and coastal development.

The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species is the global gold standard for recording the threat of extinction for marine species, and forms the foundation for the identification of marine conservation priorities worldwide.

By 2008, approximately 3,000 marine species will have been assessed for the threat of extinction. Of these, almost 22% have been listed in threatened categories (Critically Endangered, Endangered, Vulnerable).

Sharks, Rays, and Chimaeras: Approximately 17% of sharks and their relatives are threatened, an additional 13% are considered Near Threatened, and a high proportion (47%) are Data Deficient.

Reef-building Corals: 27% of the world’s 845 species of reef-building corals have been listed as threatened, an additional 20% are considered Near Threatened, and 17% are Data Deficient.

Groupers: At least 12.4% of the world’s grouper species are now threatened, another 14% are Near Threatened, and 30% are considered to be Data Deficient.

Marine Mammals: Marine mammals include whales, dolphins, porpoises, seals, sea lions, walruses, sea otter, marine otter, manatees, dugong and the polar bear. 25% of these species are now threatened.

Seabirds: Over 27% of the world’s seabirds are threatened.

Marine Turtles: Six of the seven species of marine turtle are threatened.

You can find out more at http://www.iucn.org