MAYDAY MESSAGE FOR THE DEEP SEAS! Hello Ocean Defenders, I'm Richard Page, writing to you from onboard the Esperanza somewhere in the deep blue near the Azores. We are now well into the third leg of the Defending Our Oceans expedition, a collaborative venture with scientists from the University of the Azores and the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW). I'm writing to ask for your help. TIME IS RUNNING OUT. HELP US STOP THE CLOCK! The Azorean government has had the wisdom to ensure that bottom trawlers are not allowed to trawl here, meaning the coral habitats are relatively pristine. The dive we conducted yesterday was fabulous, it was so exciting seeing parts of the planet that nobody else had ever set eyes on before. The coral we found there was other-worldly, strange white whip corals and yellow corals like trees, blue sea cucumbers, orange fish and even a deep water shark. ....Elsewhere things are not so good, bottom trawlers are laying waste to fragile deep sea life. In exactly one month it will be World Oceans Day - a day when we should all consider the plight of the oceans. One immediate step that Governments could take is supporting a United Nations moratorium on high seas bottom trawling. This would give time for scientists and policy makers decide what measures ought to be put in place to ensure their protection. After two years of talk, the time is running out for the deep sea and Governments around the world need to pledge their support for a moratorium. TAKE ACTION NOW and help pressure world governments to 'Stop the Clock' and support a moratorium on high seas bottom trawling. Thank you for your help. - Richard Take a look at the Art4Oceans gallery   Check out the spectacular deep sea slideshow   "Meet Richard" on Ocean Defenders TV!   More photos and videos here