SAVE our SEAS SAVE our SEAS About Save Our Seas In less than 10 years, the Save Our Seas Foundation (SOSF) has become a key player in the battle to save the world’s oceans and the wealth of marine life they contain. From being a small non-profit organisation funding only five projects, the SOSF has evolved into what it is today, a strong force providing financial and, equally important, practical assistance to over 180 marine research and conservation projects all over the world. There can be no balance in the oceans without sharks. The SOSF aims to understand and protect larger shark species and increase public awareness. It also supports projects involving education, marine mammals, turtles and marine parks.

”As long as there are people who care and take action, we can and will make a difference.” The Founder, Save Our Seas Foundation

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2 About Save Our Seas 6 A word of Introducti on 8 Status of the Ocean: Balancing Acts... 14 Media 18 Save Our Seas Shark Centre USA 22 Save Our Seas Shark Centre South Africa

Projects in Focus: 26 Aceh-Weh Seascape 30 Killer Whale Habitat 34 BRUV Monitoring in South Africa 38 Marine Megafauna, Australia 42 Turtle Diaries, India CONTENTS 46 Whale Sharks in Djibouti 52 Global Sawfi sh Conservati on Plan 56 Greenland Shark Project 60 Recreati onal Shark Angling, South Africa

64 Educati on is Key! 68 Citi zen Science: Join us! 72 Past and Present Projects 78 Core Team 80 Credits

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A WORD OF INTRODUCTION 2012: TURBULENT TIMES FOR THE OCEANS

During the (nearly) ten years of its existence, the 2012, the Foundati on acquired the management of Save Our Seas Foundati on has supported over 180 the D’Arros Island Group in the Seychelles, where it projects worldwide. Many of those projects have fo- had already supported several projects on ocean cused on gaining new knowledge about marine conservati on and educati on. This project builds upon life through observati on, shark tagging and labora- the Foundati on’s strengths and will off er new tory work. Others have been examining our relati on- research potenti al. ships with responsibiliti es to the ocean through ed- ucati on, with a focus on the younger generati ons The Foundati on also saw a transiti on at the end of and government policies. In 2012, the Foundati on 2012 with CEOs Peter Verhoog and Georgina Wiersma extended its eff orts in both areas, to change public moving on to new challenges and projects. They are views on the oceans and its inhabitants, as well as to succeeded by biologist Michael Scholl, who has intensify the eff orts of project leaders who work in been working on shark conservati on for more than a the fi eld of environmental policy and fi sheries man- decade in South Africa and around the globe. agement. In this review, the Foundati on presents its projects, The demand for fi sh, shark fi ns and other marine which inspire hope in marine conservati on. Nine products remains high. Marine polluti on is sti ll in- project leaders present their personal stories and creasing. The Foundati on will conti nue its work to their work. They are supported by Save Our Seas - to Save Our Seas by promoti ng innovati ve research save our seas. to address these pressing and long term issues. In

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BALANCING ACTS

Ocean wildlife supports local and Sharks are a delicate delicacy three largest species of hammerhead sharks, shark fin soup is likely to continue to grow and Perhaps as many as 100 million sharks are killed which make up almost 6% of the global fin most purchasers of this delicacy are unaware of international economies and attracts every year, many of them mainly for their fins. trade, have also declined to a similar extent. the impact of their consumption. This high- the tourism industry dollars of The fins of an estimated 26 to 73 million sharks The findings suggest that bans on finning (the lights the dire need to educate the public and entered the international fin trade in 2000 practice of slicing the fins off a shark and dump- decision-makers better about the importance snorkelers, divers and recreational alone – and the demand for shark fin soup has ing its body back into the sea) and some recent of sharks and the threats that they face – it will anglers. However, human risen sharply since then. Meanwhile, concerns prohibitions on landing the most threatened take more than some national and regional about the unsustainability of global fisheries species are not yet helping to reduce the num- demands are growing, and growing. and declining shark stocks has also been rising. bers being killed. Meanwhile, the demand for Slaughtered sharks Overfishing not only harms ocean Sharks are slow-growing animals. They mature late and produce relatively few young, making wildlife, but also damages fisheries, them particularly vulnerable to overfishing. coastal and national economies, and Sharks are, therefore, excellent indicators of overfishing; the worse the status of shark popu- ecosystems. The overfishing of lations becomes, the more likely other fish stocks sharks makes matters even worse as will also be in deep trouble. Global stocks of the oceanic whitetip shark they play a crucial ecological role. have decreased alarmingly since the interna- Sharks are at the top of the food tional market demand for shark fin began to boom in the late 1980s (although this large spe- chain in virtually every part of every cies contributes less than 2% to the total shark ocean- they keep other fish fin trade). Most estimates of stock declines in- dicate that populations have fallen to under populations healthy 10% of their original levels in the North Atlan- and the marine tic, Central and Eastern Pacific and Indian Oceans, and that the average size of sharks has ecosystem in balance. halved – a key indicator of overfishing. The

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10 11 fisheries regulations to slow these trends; ulti- ence of Parties in 2010 – unfortunately their Foundation has been funding the IUCN Shark Stop milking marine mammals mately, reducing the demand for shark prod- status has not improved during the past few Specialist Group’s work to develop a Global It is estimated that fewer than 10,000 West Af- ucts is the only measure that will reduce catch- years. Freshwater stingrays are threatened, at Strategy for Sawfish Conservation for this most rican manatees survive in the wild. They are es to safe levels. The Save Our Seas Foundation least in part, as they are being harvested for the threatened family of sharks. distributed across 21 countries, where they has been supporting a variety of education and poorly regulated international ornamental fish face threats from hunting (often driven by hu- advocacy projects working on mitigating the trade. Despite this subject being discussed by The turtle race man poverty), accidental catch in fishing gear, impacts of both supply and demand: aiming to CITES Parties for several years, this is the first Turtles will always be vulnerable – females have and habitat destruction. Save Our Seas is fund- improve conservation policies and the efficacy time a ray species has been proposed for listing. to come ashore to lay their eggs, where they ing a long-term project to address these threats of fisheries management measures for sharks, can be easily killed for their meat or shells, their and improve understanding of this poorly and to reduce the consumption of shark fin soup. The Save Our Seas Foundation has been sup- eggs collected, or their nesting habitats dam- known, threatened species. The aim is to build porting manta ray research for many years, but aged. Population recovery, even after strict le- a network of trained African researchers who Managing international trade these huge filter-feeding animals have only re- gal protection, takes a very long time for ani- will collect critically needed scientific informa- As we go to press, countries and non-govern- cently received international conservation - at mals that take 20–40 years to reach maturity, tion and promote grassroots conservation ac- mental organizations are preparing for the 16th tention as they come under threat from an un- and which continue to be killed at sea as an ac- tions in every country where the manatee oc- meeting of the Conference of Parties to the expected angle. While traditional small-scale cidental fisheries bycatch. Hawksbill turtle pop- curs. Projects like this, focused upon building Convention on International Trade in Endan- fisheries have occasionally taken small num- ulations were very seriously depleted because the capacity of locals, in their own countries, gered Species (CITES), which is being held in bers of manta rays for their meat, there is now of the high ornamental value of their shells and are the best way to make sure that such iconic Bangkok in March 2013. An unprecedented 38 significant demand for their gill-plates (the are still Critically Endangered, despite some re- species are saved. countries (including the 27 Member States of structures used to filter their planktonic diet), covery since the 1990s. Leatherback turtle pop- the European Union) have made proposals for as they are a novel remedy in Traditional Chi- ulations are slowly recovering in the Atlantic A new SOSF marine mammal project on the improvements of shark and ray protection poli- nese Medicine. In 2011 both species of manta Ocean, but the remaining populations in the other side of the world demonstrates research- cies through CITES. Oceanic whitetip sharks, were uplisted to Vulnerable on the IUCN Red Pacific may become extinct. Some threatened ers working in cooperation with a local indige- the three largest hammerheads, porbeagle List, and the giant manta was included in the populations of loggerhead and ridley turtles nous community, the Gitga’at First Nations, to sharks, the manta rays and three species of Appendices of the Convention on Migratory have turned the corner in USA, Mexican and secure the future of the critical habitat for orcas South American freshwater stingray will be Species of Wild Animals (CMS). Several Save Australian waters, thanks to strict protection – and for the First Nations tribe that share considered for listing in Appendix II, while the Our Seas supported scientists were instrumen- and the introduction of mandatory Turtle- Ex these waters (see page 12). freshwater sawfish is being proposed for uplist- tal in achieving these results, and have since cluding Devices (TEDs). TEDs are grids that al- ing from Appendix II to Appendix I, which bans been advising the proponent countries on their low turtles to escape unharmed from the trawl The evil twin of climate change all commercial international trade. proposal to regulate the gillraker trade through nets that formerly drowned so many of them. Surely everyone has heard about rising carbon

The four shark species proposed for listing are CITES. They have been so successful that their use is dioxide (CO2) levels and global warming: the primarily threatened as a result of the past few being considered by additional countries. For melting ice sheets and glaciers that threaten decades of booming international fin demand. Although freshwater sawfish fins are valuable, example, Save Our Seas supported scientist coral atolls, turtle nesting beaches, entire small The fifth, the porbeagle, is slightly different – it is its tooth-studded rostrum that makes this Nicolas Pilcher is working in close cooperation island states and some of the world’s largest not only its fins but also its highly valuable meat animal desirable, both as a crowd-pulling live with Malaysian authorities, training their- ex coastal populations; and the rising sea temper- have been traded since at least the 1960s. exhibit in public aquaria and as a curio. The six perts, in order to support Malaysia’s own sea atures that cause coral bleaching? Fewer, how- These listing proposals are being resubmitted other Critically Endangered sawfish species are turtle conservation initiatives. ever, have heard about the other, even scarier, to CITES after being rejected at the last Confer- already listed in Appendix I. The Save Our Seas side of climate change: ocean acidification. Global warming would be far more severe to- ranean, in order to form a bett er under- management. The Save Our Seas Shark Centre and rays when att ending conventi ons and con- day if it were not for the world’s oceans, which standing of the consequences of allowing in Kalk Bay, South Africa, reaches thousands of ferences and by supporti ng new regulati ons for

have already absorbed about a third of the CO2 the oceans to become more acidic, and to schoolchildren each year and plays an impor- fi shing and conservati on. produced since the start of the industrial revo- spread the word about the importance of tant outreach role in the local community. In luti on. However, this important functi on comes tackling climate change. the Seychelles, educati onal programmes have In this review, we present an overview of the

with its own alarming cost. CO2 increases the been established at both primary and second- year 2012: our work, our media successes and acidity of seawater, and acid water dissolves So what do we do?? ary school level, with opportuniti es now being inspiring chapters about the involvement of di- calcium carbonate – the material used by so Save Our Seas is committ ed to ocean con- developed for training marine rangers. vers and the public. We also present nine per- many marine animals, from microscopic to servati on, with a strong focus on sharks sonal stories, writt en by Save Our Seas Project enormous, to build their shells. These animals and rays. In 2012, Save Our Seas supported the travel Leaders. Nine diff erent stories, but with com- underpin most of the food chain, and the threat The Foundati on believes it is crucial to costs and registrati on fees of 16 scienti sts, ena- mon factors: passion and dedicati on. All mak-

posed by rising CO2 levels has frightening impli- work with local communiti es and that edu- bling them to present their work at important ing a diff erence now and in the future! cati ons not just for ocean wildlife, but also for cati on plays an important role in this. Save conferences in Australia, Canada and the United mankind as marine capture fi sheries provide Our Seas is therefore setti ng up a variety of States. the world with almost 80 million tons of food. educati on programmes around the world Some Save Our Seas supported scienti sts have Small scale fi sheries employ more than 90% of and developing educati onal materials in dedicated their life and work to research, some the world’s fi shers and provide a vital source of collaborati on with local partners. to educati ng a wide audience through the de- protein to billions of people living along the velopment of media materials. Many of them coastal fringe. We cannot aff ord to lose them. The geneti c work conducted by the Save work with local fi shing communiti es, looking Our Seas Shark Centre in Fort Lauderdale for ways to protect the oceans and its inhabit- The project funded by SOSF is studying sites (USA) plays an important role in assessing ants, while simultaneously preserving local cul-

with naturally high levels of CO2, such as those the structure of global shark stocks and tures and livelihoods. Several Save Our Seas near underwater volcanic vents in the Mediter- supporti ng fi shery and internati onal trade Supported Scienti sts act as advocates for sharks

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MEDIA 2012 was a successful media year for Save Our Seas. News about projects supported by Save Our Seas was published in countless media, both online and offline.

Professor Mahmood Shivji (Director of the received an award for Best Children’s Program Save Our Seas Shark Center at Nova South- at the 35th Annual International Wildlife Film eastern University, Florida) and his scientific Festival, and won Best Children’s Program team built upon their remarkable discovery in Worldwide at the BLUE Ocean Festival. 2005 of a ‘cryptic’ species of hammerhead shark in the western North Atlantic Ocean. It SOSF’s webmaster and filmmaker Stefan Ku- looks very similar to the scalloped hammer- bicki made an impressive PSA called “90% Per- head (Sphyrna lewini), but is evolutionarily cent”, highlighting that 90% of the big fish are completely distinct. This year, they used nucle- already gone. It was released on World Oceans ar and mitochondrial DNA sequencing to prove Day on June 8th, 2012, went viral on the that this cryptic lineage also occurs in the west- internet, and was even shown 144 times during ern South Atlantic Ocean, extending its distri- the famous GEICO 400/Nascar races, reaching bution more than 7,000 km to the south of its 400,000 people in four days! only previously reported location. This breaking news was published in over 300 different One of the major events co-funded by Save Our newspapers and websites! Seas was the TEDx Seapoint Event in Cape Town, South Africa, with the title“Who Moved The documentary “Surfing and Sharks”, direct- My Sushi”. Twenty-seven speakers from all ed by Julian Watson and Chris Mason, and sup- walks of life spoke about their passion for the ported by Save Our Seas, was shown at a whop- ocean, and their efforts to protect our seas and ping twenty-five film festivals. It received three its inhabitants. Famous South Africans, like prestigious awards: 1)Best Emerging Film Mak- celebrity chef Justin Bonello, Paralympics me- er at the BLUE Ocean Festival, 2)Best Cinema- dalist Achmat Hassiem and television presenter by the Australian Nine Network. Save Our Seas ed the production of all educational material, tography at the 35th Annual International Wild- Dr Ellanor Yeld-Hutchings, gave inspiring speech- high-definition footage was used in produc- shark apps for iPhones and tablets, family life Film Festival, and 3)the Best Film at the Surf es. The crowd was wowed by every speaker! tions by ZDF, ARD and the BBC. guides, booklets and visitor brochures. High- Film Festival in Hamburg, Germany. definition footage of swimming sharks was A documentary about Save Our Seas Supported Another highlight this year was the SHARK! Ex- shown on giant screens to give each visitor that The film “Shark Riddle”, made by Laura and Scientist Guy Stevens and ‘his’ manta rays in hibition at the Museum of Modern Art in Fort special ‘underwater feeling’. SOSF Chief Pho- Robert Sams with funding from Save Our Seas, the Maldives was aired on November 11, 2012, Lauderdale, United States. Save Our Seas fund- tographer Peter Verhoog’s shark pictures were

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16 17 shown continuously. The Exhibition was- ex who works from the Shark Centre in Kalk Bay tremely well received, and visited by dozens of (see also the Project in Focus chapter regarding school classes from all over the state of Florida. this project). One of Lauren’s videos went viral and was shown on CNN, NBC, in the National The number of followers on Facebook and Geographic Kids Magazine, African Geographic, Twitter increased dramatically, to over 13,000. the New York Daily News, Discovery Channel’s This is the result of all project blog entries and website, Good Morning America, Discovery news stories being posted to the Foundation’s Channel Canada, and was watched over social media accounts as well as on the SOSF 437,000 times online! web pages. In 2012, a special media campaign was launched The new Save Our Seas Supported Film Project about the new BRUV project in South Africa’s “Turtle Diaries” and “Whalesharks in Mozam- False Bay and about scientist Lauren DeVos bique” will be ready in 2013. SAVE OUR SEAS SHARK CENTER USA CUTTING EDGE GENETICS RESEARCH IN A NEW FACILITY TO ADVANCE GLOBAL SHARK AND RAY CONSERVATION

Genetic techniques are well established in wildlife conservation and have also become indispensable tools for advancing the conservation and management of sharks and rays. Specifi c examples of genetic techniques applied to elasmobranch conservation can be found in the work conducted by the Save Our Seas Shark Center USA (SOSSC) in partnership with the Guy Harvey Research Institute. Both of these organizations are based at Nova Southeastern University in Florida and housed in a beautiful, new state-of-the-art research building.

Previous research discoveries by the SOSSC This geneti cs research was also a key element The current SOSSC geneti cs research program Shark Populati on Research and which have had a global impact on conserva- in a collaborati ve study led by Dr. Shelley Clarke (2011-2013) is focused on achieving three main Monitoring Internati onal Shark Trade ti on include the development of rapid DNA fo- of Imperial College, UK, which made the fi rst goals: The high demand for shark fi ns and other prod- rensic methods to identi fy the origins of shark quanti tati ve assessments of the species of 1. Determining how many geneti c populati ons ucts conti nues to drive the overfi shing of al- body parts found in internati onal trade. This sharks traded in the global fi n trade. DNA re- of the main large shark species are exploited ready depleted shark populati ons and species ground-breaking work has found immediate search conducted by the SOSSC has also led to by global shark fi sheries. worldwide. Although well-meaning manage- applicati on in shark conservati on and manage- the discovery of new species of large sharks 2. Expanding the scope of DNA forensic tech- ment and legal measures have been imple- ment policies. These methods are being ap- and rays, including a hammerhead species that niques to identi fy the species and populati on mented by some countries in an att empt to plied internati onally and have enabled the US looks very similar to the scalloped hammer- origin of shark body parts in global markets. conserve specifi c shark species, many of those Nati onal Oceanic and Atmospheric Administra- head (Sphyrna lewini) but is actually a geneti - 3. Obtaining an understanding of the white eff orts have been in vain. There are two rea- ti on’s Offi ce for Law Enforcement to success- cally disti nct lineage! The SOSSC’s discoveries shark at its most fundamental level, by deter- sons for this. Firstly, inadequate monitoring of fully identi fy and prosecute many perpetrators have been widely covered in the internati onal mining its geneti c makeup and comparing it shark catch means that it is oft en impossible to of illegal shark fi shing and trading practi ces. media. to that of other vertebrates, including humans. determine which species are being fi shed and

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the extent of their exploitation. Secondly, even Deciphering and Understanding the rapid healing, efficient tissue regeneration and when DNA forensic techniques are able to de- White Shark at its Genome Level low incidence of tumors in sharks. These are all termine the species of sharks from their traded Understanding how sharks work at the level of topics of major relevance to human medicine. body parts, the population structure of most their genomes (i.e., their entire set of DNA) has sharks at a global level is so poorly known that the potential to lead to benefits for human Exploring the potential connections that exist it is virtually impossible to determine the health, in addition to contributing to a better between sharks and human biology will also source of the population, and therefore the understanding of shark biology in general. As provide additional tools that can be used to geographic area that the shark was caught in. the earliest-evolved jawed vertebrates, sharks raise public awareness of the importance of This means that some shark species and/or can serve as important biomedical research sharks and the urgent need to conserve them. populations may unknowingly be subjected to models to further our understanding of the Towards this goal, the SOSSC scientific team is disproportionate and unsustainable levels of evolution and function of vertebrate (including conducting a focused effort to research the exploitation. human) biology and disease, such as immune white shark genome. Results to date showing systems, neurobiology, stem cells, aging and white sharks have novel aspects to their genet- This situation needs to be addressed by provid- cancer biology. ic makeup compared to humans and other ver- ing all of the required information and tools for tebrates, have led the SOSSC team to expand identifying both the species and the population For example, sharks have renal tissue regenera- their genome studies to other shark species, origin of traded shark body parts, before cer- tion processes that are more advanced than including hammerheads, tigers and silkys. tain species or populations are overfished to those in mammals. The remarkable ability of such an extent that their recovery becomes im- sharks to heal from significant dermal injuries is possible. SOSSC research is showing that shark anecdotally well known by field researchers, species with global distributions are typically and elasmobranchs are thought to have a nota- made up of smaller genetic stocks than antici- bly low frequency of tumors, compared to pated, each of which must therefore receive mammals. The mechanisms underlying the re- targeted management and, in some cases, even generative and healing properties of sharks, al- urgent protection by national laws to prevent though not yet understood, are likely based on further depletion. The discovery of discrete their genetic makeup and function. This points shark genetic stocks is also providing a firm ba- towards the possible presence of novel genes sis for tracking the geographic origin of sharks in sharks, or differences in the way specific already in international markets far removed genes (some of which are shared with humans) from their capture locations. The information function. Thus, understanding the content of being provided is essential for developing shark genomes and how their genes function, tougher national legislation and international in a comparative context to human and other treaties to help the recovery of sharks on a vertebrate genomes, will illuminate our under- global scale. standing of genetic mechanisms that enable

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SAVE OUR SEAS SHARK CENTRE KALK BAY, SOUTH AFRICA

The primary objective of the Save Our Seas Shark Centre is to encourage the conservation and awareness of sharks and marine life in the False Bay area of South Africa. The Shark Centre achieves this aim through dedicated educational programs and by supporting research projects and awareness raising initiatives with a particular focus on sharks as apex predators.

Research Education dren’s holiday clubs in collaboration with other The Save Our Seas Shark Centre is advocating A primary focus of the Save Our Seas Shark organizations. several researchers in the development, run- Centre is delivering educational and awareness ning and expansion of new research projects on raising programs to schools, social outreach ini- Their engagement with the public at relevant sharks and other endangered marine species tiatives and other interested groups in and environmental events is strong - providing edu- and habitats, including projects funded by Save around Cape Town. cational talks on sharks, marine ecology and Our Seas. conservation. The Shark Centre staff go beyond providing Lauren De Vos is using Baited Remote Under- knowledge and new skills; they facilitate mem- Communication and Awareness water Video Stations (BRUVS) in her research orable and hands-on interactions with the ma- The Save Our Seas Shark Centre opens its doors project to survey fish and sharks across all hab- rine environment. This is particularly important to the public 7 days a week, offering visitors the itats in False Bay; Tamzyn Zweig’s research aims in the coastal city of Cape Town, where the vast opportunity to see small sharks and marine life to provide an up-to-date quantification of- or majority of potential learners are often not in the aquarium, view marine documentaries ganized recreational elasmobranch fishing for given the opportunity to interact with marine and to get further general information on better co-management of recreational and environments or to explore their beauty. sharks and research. commercial fisheries in South Africa; and Mea- ghen McCord is investigating habitat usage by The Centre offers lectures and interactive rock- The center staff and Save Our Seas Sponsored the Zambezi (bull) shark which was recently pool outings to school groups and social- out Scientists researchers regularly participate in discovered living in the Southern Cape region reach initiatives throughout the year. It also -or environmental events including scientific lec- of South Africa. ganizes an annual Marine Awareness Holiday tures, exhibitions as well as beach and wetland Camp and hosts popular and activity-filled chil- cleanups.

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Furthermore, the Shark Centre hosts the Marine Conservation Speaker Series where in- fluential local and international speakers and researchers share their knowledge and passion for sharks and marine conservation with the public.

By partnering up with other environmental and conservation organizations, festivals and events, the Shark Centre aims to raise shark and ma- rine ecosystem awareness and to engage the public in shark myths and misconceptions, by highlighting their importance to the health of our oceans.

Using social media channels and a new elec- tronic monthly newsletter, the Shark Centre actively connects with people and organiza- tions, sharing information and news on upcom- ing events, research activities and educational initiatives.

By the end of 2012 The Centre has reached ap- proximately 5,000 kids with its educational pro- gramme, kids holiday club, marine awareness camp and several expos.

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PROJECT IN FOCUS ACEH-WEH SEASCAPE Project Leader: Stuart Campbell, PhD

Stuart has worked in the field of marine science and conservation since 1986, for a range of government and non-government organizations, spanning temperate, tropical and Antarctic environments. He has been Director of the Wildlife Conservation Society’s (WCS) Indonesian Marine Program for the past eight years, making use of his experience in marine park management, community monitoring programs, and research into tropical marine ecosystems. He manages about 18 members of staff throughout Indonesia.

Stuart grew up away from the marine environ- More recently, whilst living and working on the ment in the mountains outside Melbourne, in coast of Bali, Indonesia, Stuart witnessed the southern Australia. As a teenager, he travelled destruction of many marine habitats as a result every year with his family down the Great of invasions of crown of thorn starfish, coral Ocean Road in Victoria to spend a six week hol- bleaching, pollution and destructive fishing. iday living and camping in the sand dunes. Such These have been coupled with depletions of areas nowadays are off limits to campers, as marine fauna, including, unfortunately, sharks they are fully protected, but those times em- and rays. bedded a deep love for the sea and its marine “We became interested in whale sharks off life. As a PhD student, Stuart studied the im- Aceh after we heard many accounts of visits by pacts of sewage outfalls on marine life. “I al- whale sharks to Pulau Weh, a small island 40km ways had an interest in the conservation of ma- long off the western tip of Sumatra. For reasons rine habitats, as I believe these impacts are unknown to local fishers and tourism opera- great and often difficult to reverse, and they tors, whale shark visitation rates reduced sig- impact whole communities, not just single species.” nificantly after about the year 2000. While we

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were working on a range of activities in Aceh ened by unsustainable and destructive fishing the Aceh-Weh Seascape of northern Sumatra”. Stuart says: “Our project has evolved from rais- after the 2004 tsunami, including education practices as well as global climate change. In addition, he explains, “We have engaged ing awareness and the development of local programs, coral reef conservation and marine governments at the national, provincial and lo- fishing regulations to now developing the first protected area management, we also wit- “Our team, together with local communities cal levels on the shark fishing issue, and our pilot site for the implementation of Indonesia’s nessed a return to fishing at unsustainable lev- and government bodies, has been leading the outreach program has targeted schools, com- Shark Plan”. In collaboration with MMAF, WCS els. With new boats and fishing gear, fishers efforts to protect critically threatened species munities, businesses, and governments. In will facilitate meetings and workshops among who had previously taken reef species were and habitats by developing a network of ma- 2011, we produced a video concerning shark national, regional, and local stakeholders to de- now targeting sharks and rays in areas where rine protected areas (MPAs) throughout the fishing in Aceh and some footage was quite velop an action plan for the Aceh-Weh Sea- sharks had not been fished for years. Many had Aceh-Weh Seascape. In order for MPAs to suc- confronting. It has been shown to over 200 scape that addresses the key strategies of the learnt how to fish sharks from fishers who had cessfully protect threatened fish and shark spe- people and generated lots of interest and will- Indonesian NPOA. relocated from areas where the tsunami had cies, they must be a part of a larger strategy to ingness by the government to start building a “SOS funding has been instrumental in allowing devastated their homes. In 2008 we invited Ra- manage unsustainable fishing practices. This roadmap for management”. the collection of the first scientific information chel Graham - WCS shark specialist - to help us project is complementing the ongoing MPA on shark and ray fisheries in Aceh, and combin- investigate both whale sharks and this new establishment in the Aceh-Weh Seascape by re- In 1999, the International Plan of Action for the ing this with traditional ecological knowledge management issue, and what she found was ducing the impacts of unsustainable fishing Conservation and Management of Sharks- (IP to come up with practical controls on shark and pretty disturbing. Many species of shark and practices on coral reef fishes, sharks, and rays, OA-Sharks) was adopted by the Food and Agri- ray fishing. We have identified important habi- manta ray were being landed at the Banda and therefore increasing the resilience of ma- culture Organization (FAO). It is voluntary, but tats for sharks, where bans on their fishing are Aceh fish market. Many pregnant females, rine habitats. Fishing activities target mostly all shark and ray fishing countries are encour- being developed through marine spatial plan- small sharks and many with their fins cut off sharks and rays during west monsoon season, aged to implement the IPOA by developing a ning with support from communities and gov- were commonly seen at the market for sale. with 53 per cent of the catches on the Aceh Is- Shark Assessment Report (SAR) and a National ernments. SOSF has also enabled awareness of We realized we could not ignore such a sensi- lands dominated by sharks and rays.” Plan of Action (NPOA, or Shark Plan) to improve shark fishing to become forefront in the marine tive issue and had to act. Given the poor atten- the monitoring and management of shark and management programs in Aceh, and allowed us tion to shark management not only in Aceh, but WCS is combining scientific information with ray fisheries. In 2010, Indonesia’s Ministry of to work on a science-based shark and ray fish- also across Indonesia, we believed it important traditional ecological knowledge to reduce the Marine Affairs (MMAF) released an NPOA for eries monitoring framework for the Aceh-Weh to achieve improved models of management level of unsustainable fishing practices. It does sharks and rays. The Indonesian Shark Plan de- Seascape, to be adopted by district and provin- that could be applied not just to Aceh, but to so through targeted education and awareness scribes six key actions for shark and ray man- cial governments as part of their fisheries stra- the whole Indonesian archipelago.” campaigns, training of local people in fisheries agement: reviewing the status of shark and ray tegic plans. This will allow local stakeholders to The islands and coral reefs of the 250 square and marine protected area management, de- fisheries in Indonesia; compiling methods and review the status of shark and ray fisheries in kilometer Aceh-Weh Seascape, situated at the velopment of appropriate local fisheries man- data collection; developing shark and ray re- Aceh-Weh and strengthen shark and ray fisher- northern coast of Sumatra, Indonesia, are bio- agement measures, and the identification of search; improving management measures; in- ies management. Possibly the most important geographically and globally important. They alternative livelihood options for local resi- creasing awareness on shark and ray fisheries; outcome of additional SOSF funding has been contain a diverse assemblage of coral reef spe- dents. Stuart says, “We are particularly keen to and institutional strengthening. To date, there our ability to evolve the project, making Aceh a cies found in both the Pacific and Indian incorporate traditional ecological knowledge has been little implementation of this plan; no prime pilot site for further implementation of Oceans. The area boasts critical habitats and and scientific information of the ecology of tangible actions, specific policies, or regulations the National Shark Plan throughout Indonesia.” populations of large coral reef fishes, sharks, sharks and rays into plans and regulations that have been made for shark and ray conservation and rays, many of which are increasingly threat- will halt shark finning and blast fishing within in Indonesia.

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PROJECT IN FOCUS IDENTIFYING CRITICAL HABITAT FOR KILLER WHALES CAAMANO SOUND, BRITISH COLUMBIA Project Leader: Janie Wray

At the age of nine, Janie Wray heard her first recording of an orca, or killer whale, and was instantly captivated and curious. This first emotional response to sound, as a young child, was the inspiration that led to a life-long commitment to understanding the vast communication skills and dialects of whales.

After graduating Janie continued her studies at bled Janie to collect an acoustic library of indi- Orcalab. Here she met her research partner, vidual orca and humpback call types. When she Hermann Meuter. They soon realized that they is not in the lab recording whale calls, she is on shared a similar dream: to build a research sta- the water collecting vital photographs of each tion in an area where whales thrive and the individual orca, humpback and fin whale, with presence and impact of people was minimal. By the aim to better understand the social bonds 2001 they had discovered such a place, Gil Is- between whales and their use of this precious land. With permission from the Gitga’at band, area, which she hopes to have designated as the local First Nations community, they subse- ‘Critical Habitat’. quently built the first and only marine facility (Cetacea Lab) along the remonorth coast of Project British Columbia. From this location, Janie and In 2008, Janie and Hermann installed a hydro- Hermann have established a network of hydro- phone station at Ulric Point, on Aristazabal Is- phone stations that transmit back to their labo- land. The purpose was to listen into the vast ratory, every minute of the day, the underwater waters of Caamano Sound; a candidate for world of whales. This unique structure has ena- Critical Habitat for orcas. At that time insuffi-

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32 33 ument all marine vessel traffi c. When whales The living conditi ons at the remote camp were were sighted the focus moved to taking as extremely basic and the equipment being used many pictures as possible, to record which whales to collect the data was parti ally owned by third were present, and their social and foraging ac- parti es. But it was imperati ve to bring in a num- ti vity. The fi rst season was a huge success, and ber of interns to parti cipate as safety was a con- the high number of orca sighti ngs made every cern and the hours were long for just one per- moment of hard work worthwhile. son. All of that changed in the 2012 season when the Save Our Seas Foundati on decided to cient data was available for this designati on; The problem was that even though Cetacea The main reason the resident orcas frequent fund this important research project. Every- Janie was determined to change this. With this Lab is remote, uninhabited Aristazabal Island is the waters of Caamano Sound is the availability thing, from bett er camera equipment, to view- new stati on, a unique acousti c window into an even more so. The weather was also a huge fac- of their favorite food source: the Chinook ing scopes and alternati ve energy sources, ena- unexplored marine corridor was now broad- tor, with constant gale force winds. However, salmon. Caamano Sound is an essenti al migra- bled us to conti nue on our path to understanding casti ng back to the lab. Janie has the unique there had to be a way. So, in 2009, with ex- ti on route for Pacifi c salmon, and the orcas in- the movements and the sacred bond that orcas ability to identi fy diff erent orca pods just by lis- tremely limited funding, Janie and Hermann tercept the fi sh en route to their spawning have with each other and their habitat. tening to their family-specifi c call types. Within built a very basic shelter at Ulric Point. Janie grounds. Knowing this, and proving this, are two Janie hopes that, with conti nued funding, she the fi rst month, she knew they had discovered spent most of that season sleeping in a tent, go- enti rely diff erent things. Janie had to fi nd a way and her research partner Hermann will have a marine gateway for orcas. By the end of the ing weeks without seeing another person. She to collect fi sh scale samples to determine the gathered suffi cient data in the next few years to fi rst season of listening to the constant orca powered her radio with a small solar panel, and exact orca prey source when foraging. In 2010, convince the Canadian Federal government to communicati on, both she and Hermann real- protected her food from the coastal wolves and a major step towards this goal was achieved declare Caamano Sound a Criti cal Habitat for ized how vital the Caamano Sound region was bears using barrels suspended from the trees when the Gitga’at First Nati ons decided to help orcas. for orcas. She also recognized that, with only by a system of ropes. Her main companions the Cetacea Lab in their eff orts and teamed up acousti c informati on available, it was very diffi - were two eagles that were nesti ng close by, a with Janie to conduct boat surveys whenever cult to identi fy the exact travel patt erns, behav- curious family of mink, and her precious scope orcas were sighted from Ulric Point. This col- ior and prey selecti on of the orcas within the used to search for the orca. They were eventu- laborati on has become a key component in suc- hydrophone range. They needed to fi nd a way ally fortunate to fi nd an extremely dedicated cessfully gathering the necessary data to pro- to observe what they were listening to. intern to assist with the daily scans and to doc- tect orca habitat. PROJECT IN FOCUS BAITED REMOTE UNDERWATER VIDEO (BRUV) ASSESSMENT OF FALSE BAY ICHTHYOFAUNA Project Leader: Colin Attwood

Colin Attwood grew up during a time of rapid resource diminishment. In 2011 Colin supervised a MSc project by Lau- decline. A good understanding of the conserva- ren de Vos, with the help of Dr Albrecht Götz of tion status of these species is essential if man- He loved fishing, but at the same time experienced an enormous the South African Environmental Observation agers are to address this situation. For example, sense of loss. Wherever he went, the old-timers spoke of the better Network. The aim of the project was to survey South Africa’s marine protected area (MPA) the newly proclaimed Stilbaai MPA using the network relies on fish surveys as a means to un- fish they used to see, and the inexplicable changes in the environ- baited remote underwater video (BRUV) meth- derstand how effective protected areas are in ment. Coastal resources in South Africa in the 1960’s were still od. BRUV surveys were developed in Australia, achieving biodiversity conservation goals. How- and are now used worldwide for a variety of ever, very few species have been adequately highly abundant, but by the 1980’s, the impacts of overfishing were projects. It is a non-extractive technique and monitored because of the high costs and the clear. Fishing became gradually less rewarding, and the stories that BRUVs have a low environmental impact. By at- difficult logistics. South Africa’s marine protect- tracting fish into the field of view of a remotely- ed area (MPA) network relies on fish surveys as he read in fishing books seemed unrealistic. Trying to understand controlled camera, they record the diversity, a means to understand how effective protected this loss became his life’s work. After graduating with a PhD in fish- abundance and behaviour of species, and can areas are in achieving biodiversity conservation be used to monitor changes in fish numbers goals. Developing a more cost-effective, time- eries science, he worked for the South African government and was and diversity over time. and labour-efficient method of surveying fish species is integral to ensuring that long-term instrumental in establishing several marine protected areas (MPAs), In South Africa, the practicality of BRUVs- ex monitoring is sustainable along the South Afri- which now form the backbone of South Africa’s marine conserva- tends beyond pure scientific interest: they can coastline. meet the need for affordable and efficient tion strategy. Colin currently works at the University of Cape Town monitoring of fish populations. With an inshore After their initial experience in Stilbaai, Colin, as an Associate Professor, where he conducts research into fish fishery that has been exploited for over 200 Lauren and Albrecht designed a streamlined years, many species in South African waters, version of the method to obtain a greater quan- monitoring methods and fisheries management. from sharks and rays to bony fish, are in serious tity of data, cheaply and efficiently. To achieve

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their objectives, they focused on the iconic wa- False Bay’s fishes, including its rays, skates and fishers, divers and paddlers, False Bay is located The Save our Seas Foundation has allowed Col- ters of False Bay, South Africa’s largest true bay. sharks is gathering information on the region’s on the fringe of a growing urban population. in, Lauren, Albrecht and their team not only to Thanks to SOSF funding, the False Bay BRUV species. These are being archived and can be The BRUV project represents a unique opportu- document fish life across False Bay, but to de- project has introduced simple steel rigs with used in long-term ecosystem comparisons. nity to bridge the gap between researchers and velop a methodology that will directly influence GoPro HD cameras attached to them. They are With a long history (over 400 years) of fishing the public, using video footage to communicate the future of sustainable coastal fish monitor- buoyed off at the surface and left to film the activity, False Bay presents an important and the beauty of the underwater realm and the ing in South Africa. More poignantly, the pro- sea floor for one hour, independent of boat interesting site for the development of a BRUV challenges it faces. The footage makes data a ject has allowed South Africans to “dive in” and cover. This reduces the manpower required for monitoring system that is a practical, realistic visual reality and can reinforce awareness out- accompany the researchers in their exploration fieldwork, the cost and complexity of the equip- option for fishery and MPA managers’ budgets. side the scientific community. Progressive and of False Bay’s magical underwater world, lifting ment, and maximises the amount of data col- practical research is a basis for management that shimmering blue expanse of sea and pro- lected on any given day. The methodology can False Bay also represents an important oppor- and decision-making, and conservation efforts viding an “underwater eye” to capture this ocean’s be replicated by conservationists along the tunity to achieve awareness of marine conser- in our marine realm can, and will, be realised. remarkable inhabitants. coastline and utilised in standardised monitor- vation issues. Utilized by a host of ocean-lovers, ing. The first underwater camera survey of from surfers and the boating community to

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PROJECT IN FOCUS MARINE MEGA-FAUNA AUSTRALIA Project Leader: Mariana Fuentes

Mariana Fuentes is a marine biologist who is eager to make a difference. Her passion for marine mega-fauna and her concerns about their future has prompted her to develop a research program that addresses real-world issues and focuses on connecting people to science, to make effective changes. Most of her research to date has focused on the development of science-based solutions for the conservation and management of marine turtles in a changing world. In addition to Australia, Mariana’s work has taken her to Madagascar, Vanuatu, Kenya, the United States and Barbados.

Mariana’s passion for marine turtles began dur- was the development of a systematic and com- ing her internship at Projeto Tamar (a sea turtle prehensive framework to assess how multiple group in Brazil). Since then, she has been com- climatic processes will affect marine turtle nest- mitted to the conservation of marine turtles by ing grounds at a population scale. working across the globe with various interna- Results from this research are being consulted tional organizations; they seek the conserva- for the (future) management of marine turtles tion of marine turtles, conduct applied research and for resource prioritization in the region, to to provide key information for the prioritization strategically protect turtle populations from cli- of marine turtle management, and instigate mate change. environmental education programs to bring awareness of issues related to marine turtle Currently, Mariana is undertaking a postdoc- conservation. Mariana’s PhD investigated the toral fellowship at the ARC Center of Excellence vulnerability of the largest green turtle popula- for Coral Reef Studies, where she is developing tion in the world, the northern Great Barrier a systematic framework to help identify priori- Reef (nGBR) green turtle population, to climate ties for the management of marine mega- change. One of the outcomes of this research fauna, to increase their resilience to climate

38 39 MARINE MEGA-FAUNA AUSTRALIA Project Leader: Mariana Fuentes change. Financial support for the management A key aspect of her project is not only to engage of marine mega-fauna is often limited; thus with regional stakeholders who are involved in managers need to prioritize the allocation of the management of turtles and dugongs in the their limited funds cost-efficiently, to achieve region, but also to educate and build the capac- the best conservation return. However, there is ity of local communities to better manage their a lack of explicit methods to aid the prioritiza- own resources and make informed decisions in tion of resources, taking costs, probability of the future. To achieve this, a series of activities success, uncertainties and benefits of various are being undertaken, from engagements with management strategies jnto consideration. This managers and local rangers to visiting local is the case with the management of sea turtles schools and educating the general public. and dugongs in the northern Great Barrier Reef (nGBR) and Torres Strait region. The globally Funding from Save Our Seas Foundation has as- significant populations of sea turtles and du- sisted Mariana to liaise with regional managers. gongs in this region face several threats from They discuss the effectiveness and opportune anthropogenic activities and future climate moments of various management strategies for change. marine turtles and dugongs in the region. Ad- ditionally, funding received from Save Our Sea For logistical, financial and political reasons, -nat Foundation was used to develop an education- ural resource agencies cannot address all of al book on dugongs. “Dhyum the Dugong” was these drivers or “threats” simultaneously; pri- written to educate children about the -impor orities must be established. Consequently, tance of conserving dugongs. The main charac- there is an urgent need for a systematic deci- ter of the book, Dhyum, is based on a real ani- sion-theory framework that accounts for the mal that was satellite tagged at Mabuiag Island benefits and costs of actions while incorporat- in 2010 and named by the local children. The ing the complex effects of climate change. book aims to educate Torres Strait children Therefore, Mariana’s current research is de- about the perils faced by dugongs and what signed to provide key information to agencies these challenges mean to the Torres Strait com- to help them prioritize the allocation of limited munities. The book has been distributed in conservation funds, to achieve their manage- North Queensland and is being used as part of ment goals cost-effectively. the school’s main curriculum in Torres Strait.

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PROJECT IN FOCUS THE TURTLE DIARIES PROJECT Project Leaders: Rita Banerji and Maya Khosla

Filming olive ridleys first drew Rita Banerji into the The penultimate scene in “The Right to- Sur them are on the IUCN Red List of Threatened vive” inspired Maya Khosla to work on the Tur- Species: leatherbacks (Endangered), olive rid- world of sea turtles in 2006. She and her team at tle Diaries Project. A biologist and writer based ley turtles (Vulnerable), green turtles (Endan- Dusty Foot Productions (New Delhi, India) created in California, she was riveted by the sight of gered) and hawksbills (Endangered). women and children from a remote village rac- “The Right to Survive”, a film balanced between sea ing across a beach, their arms loaded with The Turtle Diaries Project team picked four far- turtle natural history, fisheries livelihood issues and bucketfuls of disoriented sea turtle hatchlings. flung regions for their work, two in the west The hatchlings were then carefully released in (the west coast state of Gujarat and the Lak- conservation challenges. The film served as a the sand, along a line parallel to the oncoming shadweep Islands) and two in the east (the east discussion platform for scientists, local non-profit waves. coast state of Orissa and the Andaman and Nicobar Islands), to represent a cross-section of organizations, fishermen and Forest Department The Turtle Diaries Project team aims to educate the marine and coastal habitats frequented by officials based in India’s east coast state of Orissa. coastal communities and the greater public India’s turtle populations. about the sea turtles of India, using media tools October 2011 marked the beginning of the Rita believes films have the potential to foster including film and writing. A powerful knowl- green sea turtle nesting season in Gujarat. The dialogue and transform perceptions. edge base can galvanize further action —that is team travelled there with Ema Fatima, a re- the main aspiration. searcher from the Indian Institute of Science, who trained community members in monitor- The Project ing and standard operating protocols for sea Putting the Indian coast on the world’s map of turtle hatcheries. The Turtle Diaries Project long-term research and community-based con- team accompanied the Prakruti Nature Club servation is an integral part of the Turtle Diaries field crews and the Forest Department staff Project. Starting in September 2011, the team who were monitoring green sea turtle nests. embarked on a series of journeys documenting They documented the night-walks across miles sea turtle natural history, research and conser- of beach. Later in the season, the team re- vation work across India’s beaches and waters, turned to record the emergence and release of which support four sea turtle species. All of hatchlings from the Madhavpur hatchery. Dur-

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ing that time, the Prakruti Nature Club found- Committee were also active, surveying the ers, Dinesh Goswami and Jignesh Gohil, jumped mass nesting of olive ridleys in Podampeta Vil- at the opportunity to save two whale sharks, lage. The hatchlings emerged in April 2012. Re- which was also documented. searchers returned to test batches of hatchlings for disorientation by means of lights and for the In December 2011 and January 2012, the Turtle potential impacts of climate change. Diaries team joined the Andaman Nicobar Envi- ronmental Team in South Andaman Island. Reports from the Turtle Diaries project are in- They were ferried across the Andaman Sea to creasing local and global awareness about sea Little Andaman Island to document work at the turtle natural history, and monitoring and con- leatherback camp, run by members of the local servation practices in India. Work on the Lak- Karen community. The Karen were trained in shadweep Islands is planned for the winter of tagging and monitoring leatherbacks by Kartik 2012. On Lakshadweep, Rohan Arthur and Shanker and Naveen Namboothri of the Indian Aparna Lal are among the researchers who are Institute of Science and by Adhith Swamina- documenting the recovery of coral reefs after than. Many of the night beach walks were the 1998 El Nino event, and the conflicts be- graced by the sight of these soft-shelled giants, tween fishing communities and green sea turtles. the leatherbacks, rising from the Indian Ocean and clambering ashore. The Turtle Diaries Project could not have come into being and could not continue without the Fortunately, the sea turtle nesting season var- maintained support from the Save Our Seas ies from one geographical area to another. Foundation. Not too long after the team was done with their Andaman Islands work, there was a shift in the offshore winds blowing towards the east coast state of Orissa, and thus a signal: the arribada (mass nesting) was about to begin. On the last days of February 2012, the team travelled to a sandbar island on the mouth of the Rushikulya River to join researchers Sajan John, Murali Dharan, Ema Fatima and Amrit Kumar Mishra (all affiliated to the Indian Institute of Science), who were working with the Forest Department staff, to monitor and establish a count of nest- ing olive ridley females. Some 80,000 olive rid- leys crawled ashore to nest and lay eggs. Mem- bers of the Rushikulya Sea Turtle Protection

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Red and yellow plankton, collected during this project PROJECT IN FOCUS MONITORING JUVENILE WHALE SHARKS IN THE GULF OF TADJOURA, DJIBOUTI Project Leader: David Rowat

David has long been associated with whale sharks and the Seychelles, his home for over 29 years - so why the attraction to the little North African state of Djibouti? Ever since being invited there to help document the annual aggregation of juvenile whale sharks, David has realized that this aggregation is very special and may hold the key to some of the long-standing mysteries about this species, the largest of all sharks.

Michel Vely, a vet and marine mammal special- The initial research trip recorded 127 encoun- was found to be just under 4 m long, with the ton analyses showed a very patchy distribution; ist, had communicated with David for some ters in just five days, with photo-identifications largest individual seen being 6.5 m and the some areas yielded almost 13 grams per cubic time about humpback whales in the Indian indicating that there were at least 23 individual smallest 2.5 m. meter – a massive density, four times greater Ocean. When Michel moved to Djibouti, he dis- sharks. A satellite tag deployed during the trip than the maximum on other days. Satellite tag- covered that large numbers of whale sharks detached after only a few days, but showed What was happening here? Why were all these ging studies during this expedition also showed were regularly found there each year and, that the shark had traversed the Gulf of Tad- very small whale sharks in such a confined that as the sharks left the Gulf, much deeper knowing that the species was David’s passion, joura three times during that period, making area? The answers probably lie in the geo- dives were made, to depths in excess of 800 m. he asked what investigations should be under- dives to depths of 200 m. There was obviously graphical make-up and topography of the area. taken. The pair quickly initiated marker tagging potential for a great deal of research to be done The Gulf of Tadjoura is a small dead-end inlet The Save Our Seas Foundation has supported studies and, with considerable help from on this aggregation! into the north east corner of Africa, formed by David and his team’s work on this fascinating Michel and colleagues in Djibouti, David and the rift between the African and Arabian conti- aggregation for the last three years, enabling several others were able to visit the country to In 2010, with support from the Save Our Seas nental plates (the rift continues inland as the them to build a very solid data set. The Founda- see the aggregation first-hand in January 2006. Foundation, David was able to return with a East African Rift Valley). Inside the Gulf, the tion’s support has enabled over 3,160 encoun- Like almost all known whale shark aggrega- team from his Seychelles program and spent wind funnels over a steeply upward-shelving ters to be recorded, identifying over 330 indi- tions, this was comprised of juveniles, but two five day periods undertaking dedicated seabed, creating currents that concentrate vidual sharks, many of which were seen over whereas in most places these juveniles have an surveys. As before, the number of sharks was plankton in the closed end of the inlet and multiple years. These data form the basis of a average size of 5-7 meters, here they were not just impressive, but overwhelming! A total make it an ideal area for young whale sharks to major paper, currently in preparation, which smaller – much, much smaller… in fact the aver- of 826 encounters were recorded over the ten feed. Environmental studies during the 2009 will unravel some of the mysteries of this ag- age size was only 4.5 m, with the largest being days and 186 sharks were photo-identified; expedition showed that sea temperatures were gregation and further the understanding of, the 6 m and the smallest only 2.5 m. This was a very nothing like this had ever been recorded be- almost constant from the surface down to world’s largest but still poorly understood, different type of aggregation! fore. Similar to the initial visit, the average size depths of 76 meters, a balmy 26.5°C, but plank- shark.

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Tagging a whale shark 48 49 A plankton net 50 51

PROJECT IN FOCUS SAWFISH CONSERVATION PLAN Project Leader: Lucy Harrison

Lucy first ventured under the water at the age of 12, when her father needed a scuba diving partner. The ocean realm grabbed her attention during that first dive and hasn’t let go! From the cold waters of the UK and Canada, to the warm waters of the Central Pacific and the Caribbean, Lucy has asked questions about the effectiveness of chemical defenses in sponges, the size structure of abalone populations, the optimum size of marine protected areas and the effects of human-derived estrogens on sex-changing fish. Although many people grow up consumed by the thought of sharks, Lucy only recently took the plunge into this world, but her diversity of experiences in the field of marine biology has allowed her to apply this knowledge effectively to shark conservation and management. Over the past three years, working for the IUCN Shark Specialist Group, Lucy has been involved in many aspects of sharks, from the foundation of taxonomy, the creation of Red List Assessments of sharks, the science behind shark fishing, attending high-level policy meetings on the management of sharks, to, finally, communicating all of this information to the various stakeholders interested in sharks.

52 53 SAWFISH CONSERVATION PLAN Project Leader: Lucy Harrison Nick Dulvy (IUCN Shark Specialsit Group) and Lucy Harrison

Sawfishes are magnificent, weird and wonder- But how do we prioritize the actions required undertaken so as to inspire others to develop Communicating the Problem | We have created ful creatures of myths and legends. They can to protect sawfishes, and how do we determine this type of action-oriented project, to protect a brochure that summarizes the biology of saw- reach a staggering 7 m in length, have a large where to carry out these actions? species that are in the most perilous situation. fishes, the threats they face, where they are toothed ‘saw’ that makes up nearly a quarter of found, and it highlights a number of our conser- their body length and they flap their relatively Creating Red List Assessments for all sharks and Harnessing the Enthusiasm | We have devel- vation and management recommendations. small ‘wings’ to glide around rivers, estuaries their relatives seemed a daunting task, but the oped a Sawfish Network, consisting of over 130 This has been circulated widely during our and mangroves looking for food. When they lo- IUCN Shark Specialist Group (SSG) recently members, representing more than half of the awareness-raising events. We have also initiat- cate their food, they stun it from the water col- completed this after over ten years of hard 80 countries where sawfishes were and are ed a Sawfish Virtual Issue in Aquatic Conserva- umn with the full force of their massive saw. work. The efforts involved in this project are present. We have compiled and synthesized tion: Marine and Freshwater Ecosystems and the key to illustrating how threatened sharks, new knowledge from over 100 web question- have received interest in the submitted manu- It seems that sawfishes were once dominant skates, rays and chimaeras are, and which spe- naires and 100s of documents, and have sent script from 17 research teams. Coverage in a members of coastal ecosystems of 80 tropical cies are at greatest risk. Because of this, the out seven editions of the Sawfish Network variety of conservation and scientific blogs has and sub-tropical countries. Because of this, IUCN SSG is now in the unique position of being Newsletter, to maintain the interest and to de- ensured that we have communicated the plight sawfishes pervade folklore and traditional sto- able to provide global leadership and expertise velop collaborations between the network of sawfishes to a large and varied audience. ries, even in places where they no longer exist. in policy development and awareness-raising members. These products have been very well needed to develop Global Species Conservation received. Raising the Profile | As a direct result of the Sadly, sawfishes are now only present in- per Strategies and to facilitate directed conserva- high profile generated by this SOSF-funded pro- haps 40 of these countries, probably less. But tion action for the most threatened taxa. All Developing the Strategy | We have written a ject, the Global Sawfish Conservation Strategy why? How could animals that had been revered seven species of sawfish are Critically Endan- report that summarizes all of the available in- was featured as a flagship case study by the for centuries now be locally and regionally ex- gered, thus they are ideal candidates for this formation on the status of sawfishes around IUCN SSC Sub-Committee for Species Conserva- tinct from large parts of their former range? type of work! the world, as well as detailing the threats faced tion Planning at an IUCN SSC meeting (Abu Perhaps a hint is the fact that sawfish saws had by sawfishes and their cultural and economic Dhabi, February 2012) and at the IUCN World once been used as fences in parts of Pakistan! A Global Conservation Strategy for Sawfishes value. However, most importantly, we have pri- Conservation Congress (WCC; Korea, Septem- Fisheries targeting sawfishes once existed in The various facets of this project have been in- oritized actions and policy recommendations to ber 2012). Further awareness-raising activities Lake Nicaragua, West Africa and Pakistan, but credibly successful because of the interest and improve the conservation status of sawfishes. have occurred through side events and presen- the two major present-day reasons for their de- enthusiasm for sawfishes that we have encoun- These were developed at a workshop held in tations at the WCC, the United Nations Food mise are a combination of sawfishes being tered and generated over the past year and a May 2012, involving 29 participants: regional and Agriculture Organization Committee on caught accidentally in nets (now occurring in half! This type of project differs from those nor- representatives, policy advisors, aquarists, sci- Fisheries, and the American Elasmobranch So- the huge majority of coastal environments) and mally supported by SOSF, hence we feel it is entists, and planners. ciety annual meeting. the value of their fins and saws. important to highlight the activities we have

54 55 Nick Dulvy (IUCN Shark Specialsit Group) and Lucy Harrison

Implementing the Strategy | We have already begun work on implementing parts of the strat- egy, in collaboration with members of the Saw- fish Network, including the creation of an iden- tification guide for sawfishes and a sawfish sightings network in West Africa.

Although action on the ground is key to con- serving species such as the Sawfish, this action is often carried out by conservation groups working individually. Joining forces can often leverage greater support for a cause, with con- sequently greater attention and impact on the ground. This is what we hope to achieve through the development and implementation of the Global Sawfish Conservation Strategy.

The Save Our Seas Foundation was the first -or ganization to support the Global Sawfish Con- servation Strategy and it was absolutely critical. Without this backbone of funding, we would not have had the time to undertake the kind of relationship-building required to leverage the full budget. Additionally, core funding from such a prominent donor lends substantial cred- ibility when we seek funds from other partners. PROJECT IN FOCUS GREENLAND SHARK PROJECT Project Leader: Peter Bushnell, PhD Indiana University South Bend

When asked about his shark repellent research, Peter is very clear about one thing; “My purpose in doing this is not to save people from sharks, but exactly the oppo- site; save sharks from people”. Although he is a professor of biology at a university (Indiana University South Bend) 700 miles from the nearest ocean, Peter’s research focuses on sharks, an interest that was sparked in 1979 when he began his Master’s degree on lemon sharks at the University of Miami. Peter continues to explore the ecophysiology of sharks, with research on sandbar sharks in Virginia and Greenland sharks in Greenland.

Peter and his colleague, Dr. Rich Brill, have been Arctic and Antarctic fishes with Dr. John- Stef interested in exploring ways to reduce the ac- fensen (University of Copenhagen, Denmark). cidental death (bycatch) of over 10 million Peter went to Greenland a number of times, to sharks per year in commercial fisheries’ opera- teach polar biology classes and conduct re- tions. Several years ago, Peter and Rich demon- search and he and John became aware that strated that certain blends of electropositive Greenland sharks were a bycatch issue in the (EP) metals were capable of interacting with Greenland halibut fishery. It seemed only natu- the shark’s electroreceptive sense and reduced ral, then, that Peter, John and Rich combine the catch rates of sandbar sharks by as much as their expertise and investigate whether EP met- two thirds. While these studies were ongoing, als could reduce the Greenland shark bycatch Peter was also exploring the physiology of problem.

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Greenland sharks (Somniosus microcephalus) munity governments conti nue to off er a bounty popup satellite archival tags (PSATs) to record eastern Greenland. In an eff ort to gain are one of the few elasmobranch species in- equivalent to $50 per shark heart, while the the Greenland shark’s short term movements, some informati on on the shark’s long habiti ng polar waters. These massive sharks are Norwegian government subsidizes a fi shery to with the goals of developing bett er ways to set term movements, these tags have typically found in very deep water; they reach a reduce Greenland shark numbers. fi shing gear to reduce shark bycatch and to in- been programmed to release them- length in excess of 7 meters, and a body mass crease our understanding of the shark’s basic selves aft er 6-9 months. of over 1000 kg. Greenland sharks are thought With the support of SOSF and the Nati onal Ge- biology. PSATs are sophisti cated loggers which to be extremely slow growing (<1 cm per year ographic Foundati on, Peter, Rich and John went are att ached to the shark and programmed to Chartering boats, purchasing PSATs, for mid-sized animals) and, therefore, extreme- to western Greenland in May 2011 to test the record depth and temperature data for periods replacing longline gear destroyed by ly long-lived (>150 years old). Females appear effi cacy of electropositi ve (EP) metals as a way ranging from one month to one year. At the end sharks, shipping people and equip- to reach sexual maturity at ~450 cm length, and to reduce Greenland shark bycatch. A number of the ti me period, the tags release themselves ment to Greenland is expensive (es- thus could be up to 100 years old before giving of bott om longlines were set with small, trian- from the shark, fl oat to the surface, and trans- pecially in Greenland!) and none of it birth to litt ers of only 7-10 shark pups. gular pieces of electropositi ve metal att ached mit their data to satellites overhead, which would have been possible without While the size and age structure of the Green- just above the baited hooks. An equal number then relay it to shore-side computers. All four SOSF support. Due largely to the land shark populati on(s) are unknown, it is well of hooks were also deployed with similar sized PSATs reported in, as programmed, three months Foundati on’s generosity, we are be- known that species with low growth and repro- pieces of plasti c att ached above the hook, to later. During those three months, all of the ginning to assemble a bett er picture ducti ve rates are easily overfi shed and driven act as a control. Over a two week period Peter sharks had moved 1,000 km north to waters of “the life and ti mes” of these large into exti ncti on. Although commercial fi shing for and his team set over 410 hooks and caught 24 near Thule, Greenland, spending most of the and mysterious animals about which sharks has ceased, signifi cant numbers conti nue sharks, most of which were released unharmed. ti me at a depth of 300-400 meters (probably we know very litt le. We hope our work to be taken as bycatch in the Greenland Unfortunately, the EP metal was ineff ecti ve at near the bott om) and occasionally exploring will contribute to the development of longlines and trawl fi sheries targeti ng halibut. reducing shark catch rates, as equal numbers of trenches deeper than 1,200 meters. In Sep- management plans to protect the Unfortunately, because Greenland sharks de- sharks were caught on hooks with plasti c pieces tember 2012, Peter and his colleagues used ad- Greenland sharks, while sti ll allowing stroy signifi cant amounts of longline gear due as with EP metal. diti onal SOSF funding to deploy four more nati ve fi shers to earn a living and feed to their large size and voracious appeti te, com- Peter and his colleagues also deployed four PSATs on sharks caught in a remote fj ord in their families.

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PROJECT IN FOCUS THE IMPORTANCE AND IMPACTS OF RECREATIONAL SHARK FISHING IN SOUTH AFRICA Project Leader: Tamzyn Zweig

Tamzyn Zweig is the Programs Officer at the South In 2010, the South African Shore Angling Asso- ciation (SASAA) contacted the South African African Shark Conservancy (SASC) a non-profit Shark Conservancy (SASC) because their mem- organization based in the coastal town of Hermanus bers were alarmed that the numbers and sizes of the sharks, skates and rays they were catch- (Western Cape, South Africa). Founded in 2007 by ing and releasing appeared to be declining. Managing Director Meaghen McCord, SASC is South Africa’s recreational fishery is comprised of organised (club members) and informal an- committed to ensuring the long-term sustainability glers who either target or accidentally catch a similar range of species (see box) as that taken of marine resources through research, education and by commercial shark fisheries on the same awareness. SASC believes that to achieve realistic coast: the demersal shark longliners, commer- cial handliners and the inshore trawlers. SASC conservation management goals, solid partnerships therefore began attending SASAA tournaments between stakeholders, scientists and decision to tag caught and released elasmobranchs, and the project began to take shape. makers ensure a holistic science-based approach to marine resource management. Shark species taken by recreational and commercial fishers include: bronze whaler (Carcharhinus brachyurus), sevengill cowshark (Notor hyncus cepedianus), gully (Triakis meg- alopterus), ragged-tooth (Carcharius taurus), soupfin (Galeorhinus galeus) and smooth- hound (Mustelus mustelus) sharks.

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Batoid species include: eagle ray (Myliobati s during recreati onal catch and release angling. handling techniques and tagging method- aquila), bull ray (Pteromylaeus bovines) dia- Post-release mortality rates are thought to be ology. A series of “confusing species” iden- mond ray (Gymnura natalensis), spott ed species-specifi c, but litt le is known about the ti fi cati on cards was developed for the eagleray (Aetobatus narinari), honeycomb cumulati ve eff ects associated with exposure to Clinic. SASC also formed a partnership with sti ngray (Himantura uarnak), biscuit skate (Raja stressors such as fi ght ti me, air exposure, gear the Ocean Research Insti tute (ORI), thus straeleni) and various species of guitarfi sh. type, hook locati on and handling techniques. providing RAC parti cipants with the oppor- SASC therefore began att ending club tourna- tunity to become part of the nati onal tag- A successful marine resource management ments in 2010 in order to discover more about ging programme, and therefore important plan has many facets. The informati on required the impacts of recreati onal shark fi shing. To contributors to scienti fi c studies around for a holisti c and integrated approach to marine date, a total of nearly 400 individuals from 12 the country. The RAC will now be delivered resource management includes not only a species of sharks, skates and rays have been to all interested clubs around South Africa sound understanding of the animals and their tagged with conventi onal spaghetti tags. Future and during youth development pro- habitats, but also of the human nature of the recapture informati on will assist SASC in deter- grammes administered by the South Afri- fi sheries that take them. mining post-release survival rates, identi fying can Shore Angling Associati on. important habitats and achieving a bett er un- A recreati onal fi shing survey conducted in 2007 derstanding of populati on dynamics and struc- The support from the Save Our Seas Foun- esti mated that roughly 850,000 recreati onal ture. The possibility of using blood lactate level dati on has made it possible for this project rock and surf anglers contribute approximately testi ng of caught and released sharks (to meas- to spread awareness about best catch and 2.5 billion ZAR annually to the South African ure an indicator of capture stress) is now being release fi shing practi ces to a growing num- economy. The proporti on of the above contrib- investi gated. Once SASC had started att ending ber of anglers in South Africa. With the uted by recreati onal shark angling is not yet angling competi ti ons, they began to under- help of the Foundati on, SASC has had the known, although a socio-economic survey de- stand more about the behaviour and atti tudes opportunity not only to gather valuable signed and delivered by SASC will soon shed of the club anglers. SASC learnt that not only do scienti fi c data on a number of shark, skate light on the economic importance of shark fi sh- these fi shers love their sport, but they are also and ray species, but also to develop a sus- ing in South Africa. passionately interested in and knowledgeable tainable research program whereby stake- about the species that they target. Because an- holders are able to contribute to scienti fi c Recreati onal rock and surf club anglers accu- glers are so eager to contribute to scienti fi c un- and conservati on eff orts. The resulti ng in- mulate points from their catches, which con- derstanding and conservati on eff orts, the idea formati on is then imparted back to these tribute towards their personal records and for the Responsible Angling Clinic (RAC) was anglers and will no doubt be passed on to those of their club. Nearly 3,000 of these club born. generati ons to come. anglers take part in over 30 catch and release competi ti ons throughout the year, targeti ng In September 2012, SASC piloted the fi rst RAC several species of sharks, skates and rays. Al- in Cape Town and received positi ve feedback though most club anglers practi ce catch and from the parti cipants. Topics covered by the release fi shing when targeti ng these species, RAC included elasmobranch biology and ecolo- growing evidence suggests that sharks and rays gy, the identi fi cati on of similar species, good suff er various lethal and sub-lethal stresses fi shing tackle choices, hooking, landing and

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EDUCATION IS THE KEY! The importance of marine education can be summarized by the well-known quote by Baba Dioum: “In the end we will conserve only what we love, we will love only what we understand and we will understand only what we are taught”.

The Foundati on has a prerequisite for all grant school children and 1,600 teachers have at- holders: to undertake public awareness and en- tended sessions coordinated in collaborati on vironmental educati onal acti viti es (such as giv- with the Ministry of Educati on. In additi on to ing talks and issuing press releases) as part of the school element of the project, guest talks their project. The Save Our Seas Shark Centre in with snorkelers and staff training are provided Kalk Bay, South Africa, is an educati onal facility regularly at resorts, and there is ongoing in- that reaches around 5,000 kids each year, while volvement in community environmental events. 2012 brought new educati on projects to the The purpose of the project is to use marine ed- Seychelles and Micronesia. ucati on as a tool to create awareness of the marine environment, its plight, and the con- Save Our Seas Project Leader Abbie Hine has cept of conservati on, both globally and more been running a Marine Educati on and Aware- specifi cally within the Seychelles. ness project, funded by SOSF, within the Sey- chelles for over two years, primarily focusing on The project has vastly improved the level of ba- school visits. To date over 12,500 primary sic marine awareness amongst teachers and

64 65 Education is the key! students, providing both a benchmark for the to fi nd out more about the marine world and It is hoped that both of these courses will be SOSF shark educati on is also kicking off in Eu- existi ng level of knowledge in primary schools, become involved in local marine conservati on implemented during the 2013 school year. rope, in Portugal, which is one of the major and also indicati ng the degree to which further projects. Approximately 36 students att ended shark fi shing nati ons in the world. The WE LIKE educati on should be delivered. This is hugely two ten-day programs this summer; the fi rst In Palau, Micronesia, Save Our Seas Project SHARKS project aims to study the potenti al of benefi cial not only for the development of the program was for students aged between 12-14, Leader Tova Bornovski-Harel has been running shark watching and shark diving in this region, program but also as a means of informing and while the second group was aged 15-16. the very successful Sharks in Schools educati on as well as raising shark conservati on awareness leading schools into the newly funded Integra- program for the last two years. The idea of ex- among the Portuguese society. Its mission is to ted Marine Science Educati on Project, run by The valuable marine educati on work of both panding this program to other islands of the make the Algarve a shark friendly zone through David Rowat of the Seychelles Marine Conser- these projects in Seychelles conti nues to grow Micronesian Region became a reality in early several acti ons - research, educati on and social vati on Society and their Marine Educator, Abi and develop. It is enabling the country to move December 2011. The fi rst island chosen was promoti on. To accomplish this, numerous March. towards becoming an example of how marine Yap, a state of the Federated States of Microne- meeti ngs have been held involving nati onal and educati on can be integrated successfully into sia. Even though Yap is less than 300 miles from regional stakeholders in shark conservati on, in- The Integrated Marine Science Educati on pro- the school system, through collaborati on with Palau, there is a vast diff erence between the cluding the Portuguese Insti tute for Nature ject is starti ng at secondary school level with the Ministry of Educati on. It will also become a two islands; economically, traditi onally and in Conservati on and Biodiversity, Port Authoriti es the overall aim to develop a marine science and valuable part of the tourist industry and con- educati onal structure. The children of Yap do and marinas, environmental NGOs, diving cent- awareness component in the educati onal sys- tribute to the Seychelles community as a whole. not get many visiti ng school programs, so the ers, numerous companies and the media. Sev- tem in Seychelles. It will carry on through to the Sharks in Schools program was a great novelty. eral reports have been broadcasted on prime Polytechnic level, with the development of a Another valuable component of the Save Our Yap was followed by Pohnpei, where the pro- ti me news on one of the foremost TV networks vocati onal diploma course for marine rangers, Seas eff orts in the Seychelles is the Vocati onal gram was also a big success! in Portugal (SIC), providing informati on about and an opti onal terti ary educati on module in Marine Rangers Course, which will be imple- threats to sharks, like fi nning, and communicat- Marine Science at University level. mented through the Polytechnic annex of the In collaborati on with local conservati on socie- ing the Project’s messages and goals. Mariti me Training Centre. The structure of the ti es, the Sharks in Schools program has now The Integrated Marine Science Educati on pro- course is being guided by input from the Na- reached more than 3,000 fi ft h-grade students ject kicked off very successfully this year with ti onal Parks Authority and environmental across Micronesia. It has been responsible for “The Academy by the Sea” program in Sey- NGOs, who employ the Marine Rangers, and by the development and distributi on of two shark chelles. This ‘Summer Camp’ is set to be an an- the educators and Ministry administrators. educati on books for children and currently sup- nual event and designed to encourage students ports two Palauan interns.

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CITIZEN SCIENCE: JOIN US! Engaging a wide audience is important in ocean conservation. In 2012, the Save Our Seas Foundation supported many projects in which members of the public played an important role.

In Palau, divers deliver valuable data for shark are an easily accessible source of informati on conservati on by fi lling out surveys about shark on the whereabouts of skate and ray nursery sighti ngs aft er every dive: numbers and sex (of grounds, and divers are also being encouraged the sharks, not the divers!), water temperature to look out for eggcases on the seabed. The and depth. The project, executed by the Micro- Shark Trust is combining underwater eggcase nesian Shark Foundati on, has now been run- sighti ngs with results from shore-based “Great ning for a whole decade! Eggcase Hunts” and data from research trawls to identi fy nursery areas. Protecti ng these cru- In the United Kingdom, the Great Eggcase cial areas from practi ces such as bott om trawl- Hunt, executed by the Shark Trust, is totally ing, dredging and spoil dumping is vital for the dependent upon public parti cipati on. In recent conservati on of many shark, skate and ray spe- decades, several species of skates and rays cies. The identi fi cati on of these criti cal areas have declined dramati cally in numbers around will enable the Shark Trust to propose conser- the Briti sh coast. The empty eggcases that are vati on measures to help reverse the decline of washed up onto Briti sh beaches all year round these charismati c elasmobranchs.

68 69 Engaging a wide audience is important in ocean conservation. In 2012, the Save Our Seas Foundation supported many projects in which members of the public played an important role. Funding received from SOSF assures the contin- Facebook page. A fact-sheet and a poster on illustrate the positive outcome that participa- ment. However, it is very hard to collect popu- ued expansion of this exciting, flagship project. mermaid’s purses, S. stellaris and S. canicula, in tion in The Great Fiji Shark Count has had on lation trend data – because sharks normally With this support, the Shark Trust will build on Italian and English, will be provided to diving protecting Fiji’s marine ecosystems for genera- spread out along the reefs in deep offshore wa- the existing project and engage a wider audi- centers and made available online. This will in- tions ahead to enjoy. ters; only a few are seen at any time, and nor- ence using higher profile material and activi- crease knowledge on the species among the Results are posted on the project website and mal fish counting techniques (which count ties. dive staff and can be used as an educational spread via FijiSharkCount on Facebook, Twitter, numbers of fish in a measured area) cannot tool for their clients. and GPlus. sight enough sharks to make realistic assess- In the Mediterranean, the Mermaid’s Purse The count is an initiative of the Fiji tourism in- ments of populations. project, executed by MedSharks, aims to gather A new initiative in 2012 was theGreat Fiji Shark dustry which led and provided event design information on the presence and breeding Count. Fiji is currently considering the introduc- and administration, poster, slate and log book This is where “Citizen Science” comes into its grounds of a poorly-known shark species and to tion of shark protection measures in its nation- printing, and data analysis. It was supported by own; by having many eyes on many reefs. The increase awareness of sharks within the Italian al waters. To celebrate this, and also to gather several organizations including Save Our Seas. introduction of the Great Fiji Shark Count diving community. much-needed data on shark populations, div- More than 75% of all dive operators in Fiji took means we can collect data from hundreds of ing and game fishing operations across the part in the inaugural event in April 2012, and observers all across Fiji to create the first real The project asks recreational scuba divers to country are participating in the annual Great staff and guests alike declared it a great suc- picture of which sharks live where, and to get report sightings of “mermaid’s purses”, the Fiji Shark Count. cess. The activity is fun as well as informative, an idea of shark numbers. These data are im- eggs of the nursehound shark (Scyliorhinus During the months of April and November, eve- and will be used as a promotion for internation- portant not just for Fiji, but can also supply in- stellaris). Presently there are no accurate data ry year, divers, snorkelers and fishers are asked al tourism to Fiji, to draw more attention to the formation to global surveys. from the Mediterranean on the population size to record all shark, ray and turtle sightings in a existing pristine reef eco-systems in the coun- of this species, which is classified as Near special logbook and to pass their observations try. Once Fiji has created a Shark Sanctuary, future Threatened in the IUCN Red List of Threatened back to be analyzed by volunteer scientists. The It is estimated that globally as many as 73 mil- shark counts will be used to record how suc- Species. An online questionnaire was produced results will be made available to all interested lion sharks are killed every year, and that some cessful it has been in restoring shark stocks. and distributed to dive centers during the main parties. shark populations have dropped by 70- 80% Italian dive show and by email. The form was A major country report will be compiled and over the past few years. Getting real data on also put online and its website address is rou- released, to increase general awareness and to shark populations is vital for proper manage- tinely advertised on the project website and

70 71

Save Our Seas Foundation Projects Worldwide – Past & Present

Global Projects – 22, 117, 133

100, 102, 103 8, 11, 14 37 104, 105, 106 118, 123, 126 120 35 56 41 62, 63 26 97 95 33 60 96 42 69, 71, 107, 108, 109, 110, 111, 112, 113 114, 115, 116, 119, 122, 127, 129 25

2, 3, 6, 19, 29, 37, 39, 44 98, 99 50, 51, 52, 53 5 80, 81, 82 57, 58, 130 69, 70, 71 78 72, 73, 74 10 4 17 20 61, 79 61, 79 125 15 59 66, 67, 68 18 9 75 12 7

64, 65 55 83, 84, 85, 86 1, 30 61 23, 24, 28

40 124

76, 77, 131 43 38 54, 79

87, 88, 89, 90, 91, 92 93, 94, 119, 121, 128 13, 31, 32, 34

27 47

48, 49, 119, 132 16, 21, 36

72 73 Save Our Seas Foundation Projects Worldwide – Past & Present PAST PROJECTS

47 Sevengill Sharks 75 Conservati on of sharks in Micronesia 105 The Great Eggcase Hunt 120 European Shark Week Global Projects – 22, 117, 133 48 Protecti ng large ray species 76 Indo-Pacifi c humpback dolphins 106 Wonderful World of Water 121 Sodwana Bay Diving Industry 49 Sharks Internati onal 2010 77 Whale sharks of Mozambique 107 Sea Angels Conservati on Initi ati ve 122 Elasmobranch Reproducti on 50 Impacts of catch and release angling 78 Protecti ng sharks and turtles 108 Dive into your imaginati on 123 Cool Seas Roadshow 51 New techniques for shark surveying 79 Global study of giant manta migrati on 109 Preserving the Polynesian way of life 124 Bull Sharks (Fiji) 52 Sharks Up Close 80 Restoring Red Sea reefs 110 Producing OCEAN for USA audiences 125 Manta Rays (Ecuador)

100, 102, 103 8, 11, 14 53 Spotlight on Caribbean reef sharks 81 Creati ng a marine protected area 111 Reducing sea turtle bycatch 126 Naked Oceans 37 104, 105, 106 54 Profi ling whale sharks in the St Peter and 82 Silky shark in Saudi Arabia 112 Siren Song – Manatees in Peril 127 The Shark Riddle 118, 123, 126 120 St Paul Archipelago 83 Key role of Hawksbill turtles 113 The Wild Classroom 128 White Sharks (South Africa) 56 41 35 55 Managing environmental threats 84 The lost world of Aldabra 114 Turtle: The Incredible Journey 129 Shark Fin Pollutants 62, 63 26 97 56 Happy hearts love sharks 85 Whale sharks in the Seychelles 115 Internati onal White Shark Symposium 130 Anti -Shark Finning Campaign (China) 95 33 60 96 57 High profi le anti -fi nning campaign 86 Restorati on and public awareness of coral 116 Partnering with the Smithsonian 131 Ray of Hope 42 69, 71, 107, 108, 109, 110, 111, 112, 113 58 Methylmercury poison in shark fi ns communiti es 117 Care for Corals campaign 132 White Sharks (Australia) 114, 115, 116, 119, 122, 127, 129 25 59 Protecti ng hammerhead sharks in Costa 87 Beach clean-up collaborati on 118 EDGE Sharks 133 Securing the Conservati on of Rica 88 EnviroKids 119 Shark Bites and Public Policies Sharks & Rays 2, 3, 6, 19, 29, 37, 39, 44 98, 99 50, 51, 52, 53 5 60 Improving water quality in Europe 89 Releasing Maxine 80, 81, 82 57, 58, 130 61 Documenti ng manta ray fi sheries 90 Sharkworld at the South African Museum 69, 70, 71 78 72, 73, 74 10 4 17 62 Grey seals in Ireland of Natural History 20 61, 79 63 Basking Shark Conference 91 Wavescape Surfi ng Film Festi val CURRENT PROJECTS 61, 79 64 Kenya Sea Turtle Conservati on Committ ee 92 Tiger sharks in Kwazulu-Natal 125 15 59 66, 67, 68 18 9 75 (KESCOM) 93 Nicole in The Surf is My Turf 2012-01 (P182) Marine Educati on in the 2012-02 (P183) White Shark Genome 12 7 65 Wetamu Turtle Watch 94 Photo-identi fi cati on of sevengill sharks Seychelles Project leader: Mahmood Shivji 64, 65 55 66 Arti fi cial reefs success 95 Shortf in mako sharks in the Atlanti c Project leader: David Rowat Locati on: Florida, USA 83, 84, 85, 86 1, 30 61 23, 24, 28 67 Populati on links of Indian Ocean whale 96 Blue sharks in the north-east Atlanti c Locati on: Seychelles 40 124 sharks 97 IUCN Specialist Shark Group This project is aimed at establishing sharks as a 68 Indian Ocean Cetacean Symposium 98 First Arabian Seas Whale Shark This project will develop a marine science and comparati ve biomedical model at the genom- 76, 77, 131 43 38 54, 79 69 Fishery management in US-Mexican Symposium awareness component in the educati onal sys- ics level to aid in the understanding of human waters 99 The Dugongs of Abu Dhabi tem in Seychelles, starti ng at the secondary biology and disease, including discovery of 87, 88, 89, 90, 91, 92 70 Giant manta ray migrati on in Mexico 100 Basking shark community project school level and carrying on through to the genes that may underlie the potenti ally unique 93, 94, 119, 121, 128 13, 31, 32, 34 71 Turtle Dance 101 Be WiSe at sea polytechnic level with the development of a adapti ve properti es of sharks that have made 72 Whale sharks of Holbox 102 Lobsters in Cornwall vocati onal diploma course for marine rangers. them one of the oldest and most successful 27 47 73 Whale sharks in the Sea of Cortez 103 Partnership with the London Aquarium vertebrate lineages. 48, 49, 119, 132 16, 21, 36 74 The biggest creature on earth 104 Small Talk Reef 2012-03 (P184) Integrative Approaches to Although the occurrence of white sharks is well and ecotourism groups throughout the region, who will collect critically needed baseline data Shark Conservation documented in the North Atlantic, little is raising awareness of the value and plight of and enable grassroots conservation actions for Project leader: Mahmood Shivji known about its distribution and movements grey reef sharks to promote their conservation the species and disseminate results. Location: Florida, USA there. Through the use of passive acoustic and ensuring that they retain their place as a telemetry, this project will shed light on fine- keystone species within reef systems. 2012-13 (P195) Shark Spotters SOSF continues to fund this research, which scale movements, habitat use, and site fidelity Project leader: Sarah Titley aims to answer the fundamental question of of this species. 2012-10 (P192) Cayman Islands Shark Project Location: South Africa how many genetic populations of key shark Project leader: Mauvis Gore species of fisheries or conservation concern 2012-07 (P188) Monitoring of Juvenile Whale Location: Cayman Islands Together with the City of Cape Town, SOSF there are on a global scale. This information is Sharks in Djibouti funds a pioneering shark safety program that is needed to substantially improve shark conser- Project leader: David Rowat Through the investigation of reef shark move- proving successful and attracting local and in- vation efforts. Location: Djibouti ments, the effects of shark tourism, and feasi- ternational attention as it seeks to find a solu- bility of tracking large sharks to provide real tion to potential conflicts between people and 2012-04 (P185) Sudan Shark & Reef Study The continuation of high intensity monitoring time alerting at sensitive tourist areas, this pro- sharks. Project leader: Ameer Abdullah of this aggregation of very small juvenile whale ject will assist the Cayman Islands in protecting Location: Sudan sharks found in the Gulf of Tadjoura off Djibou- these key components of their marine bio- 2012-14 (P196) Joint Basking Shark Project ti is providing key data needed to better pro- diversity. Project leader: Rupert Ormond This continuing project forms part of the IUCN tect this important species. Location: Scotland regional marine program for the Red Sea, and 2012-11 (P193) Assessing the Ecosystem is aimed at determining the abundance of larg- 2012-08 (P189) The Great Eggcase Hunt Effects of Ocean Acidification This SOSF funded project aims to build a com- er shark and ray species as well as the health Project leader: Ali Hood Project leader: Jason Hall-Spencer prehensive photographic database of UK ob- and resilience of local coral reefs to climate Location: United Kingdom Location: UK served basking sharks, while simultaneously change. using satellite tracking to observe and investi- Since 2003 The Great Eggcase Hunt, a Shark SOSF continues to support ocean acidification gate their migratory movements into interna- 2012-05 (P186) Cognitive Abilities and Social Trust initiative, has been engaging the public in research which studies the effects of increas- tional waters. Behavior of Giant Manta Rays hunting for spent shark, skate and ray eggcases ingly acidic seawater by looking at sites with

Project leader: Csilla Ari which wash up along the UK coastline through- naturally high levels of CO2, such as those near 2012-15 (P197) Sea Turtle Conservation Location: Bahamas out the year. The project was borne from con- underwater volcanic vents. Imperatives in Malaysia cern regarding the population status of egglay- Project leader: Nicolas Pilcher This project continues its focus on finding out ing skates and rays. 2012-12 (P194) Conservation of the West Location: Malaysia more about the visual abilities, social behavior, African Manatee learning and memory capabilities of giant man- 2012-09 (P191) Grey Reef Sharks and Shark Project leader: Lucy Keith The purpose of this ongoing project is to con- ta rays, which have the largest brains of all fish. Education in Palau Location: West Africa serve endangered sea turtles in Sabah, Malay- Project leader: Tova Bornovski sia by reducing their bycatch in shrimp trawl 2012-06 (P187) White Sharks (North Atlantic) Location: Palau SOSF continues to fund this initiative to build a nets and by developing a better understanding Project leader: Greg Skomal network of trained African researchers in all 21 of sex ratios and development rates of foraging Location: Massachusetts, USA This project will create links among community range countries of the West African Manatee populations in the wild.

74 75 2012-16 (P198) White Shark Site Fidelity 2012-19 (P201) Satellite Tracking Neonate This SOSF-funded initiative is developing a To understand how white sharks use the Medi- Project leader: Rachel Robbins Green Sea Turtles (Atlantic) Sawfish Conservation Strategy, summarizing all terranean as well as determine how isolated Location: Australia Project leader: Jeanette Wyneken of the available information on sawfish around these populations are, this project aims to as- Location: Florida, USA the world as well as providing specific recom- sess what, if any, mating or migratory connec- Research on the movements of white sharks mendations for research, education, and con- tions they have with the Atlantic, and how en- shows that while they travel extensively across This SOSF-funded project is testing small solar- servation activities relating to this species. vironmental pollutants may be compromising their range in Australian waters, they have pre- powered satellite tracking tags on post-hatch- their reproduction. ferred habitat sites that they may temporarily ling sea turtles to increase our understanding 2012-23 (P205) Indonesian Manta Research reside in and revisit. This project aims to iden- of their habitat selection and offshore move- Project leader: Sarah Lewis 2012-26 (P208) Porbeagle Sharks tify more of these key habitats in South Aus- ments. Location: Indonesia Project leader: Ryan Saunders tralian waters. Location: Ireland 2012-20 (P202) Turtle Diaries The objective of this project is to learn more 2012-17 (P199) Whale Shark Ecology Project leader: Rita Banerji & Maya Khosla about Indonesia’s manta fishery and the manta The porbeagle shark is particularly vulnerable Project leader: David Robinson Location: India populations impacted by it, and to use this in- to population depletion because of its compli- Location: Arabian Gulf & Gulf of Oman formation to raise awareness about the impor- cated lifecycle and unsustainable fishing activi- Four species of sea turtles breed in India’s tance of conserving mantas as well as develop- ties. Despite this, there are presently no robust With a significant increase in whale shark sight- coastal habitats, and the vision for the Turtle ing a management plan for local manta management or conservation strategies for the ings in the Gulf of Oman and Arabian Gulf, it is Diaries project is to provide media tools to as- populations. porbeagle in this region, an issue this project believed that this area may be of greater im- sist in conservation education and to empower will address. portance to the species than previously local communities to share their knowledge 2012-24 (P206) Sharks for the Future: thought. This project investigates the ecology and resources bases. Raja Ampat 2012-27 (P209) Conservation of Coastal of local whale sharks through fieldwork and Project leader: Naneng Setiasih Sharks satellite tagging. 2012-21 (P203) Marine Megafauna Location: Indonesia Project leader: Jayson Semmens Project leader: Mariana Fuentes Location: SE Australia 2012-18 (P200) Maldivian Manta Lifecycle Location: Australia This continuing project focuses on developing Project leader: Guy Stevens anti-shark finning campaigns to build commu- With a strong emphasis on the conservation of Location: Maldives The goal of this ongoing SOSF-funded project is nity awareness of the issue and deepen gov- chondrichthyans, this SOSF-funded project to conserve populations of dugongs and sea ernment engagement, as well as increasing aims to provide optimal management strate- SOSF’s five year funding of detailed research turtles in Australia by providing adequate tools conservation knowledge of local teachers and gies for a number of top order shark species has contributed to the understanding of the to prioritize the management of these species guiding the implementation of locally-driven present in Tasmanian coastal waters. manta ray in this region and determining sea- in the face of climate change, as well as build- projects to reduce immediate threats to sharks sonal patterns and identifying critical habitats. ing monitoring capacity in the local communi- through innovative microgrants. 2012-28 (P210) Aceh-Weh Seascape The work has been key to the recreational div- ties that rely on these populations. Project leader: Stuart Campbell ing and tourist industry in the Maldives and as 2012-25 (P207) White Sharks Location: Indonesia a direct result, the Maldivian government has 2012-22 (P204) Sawfish Conservation (Mediterranean) announced three new marine protected areas Project leader: Nick Dulvy Project leader: Leslie Noble SOSF funding for this project complements the for mantas and whale sharks. Location: Global Location: Mediterranean ongoing MPA work in the Aceh-Weh Seascape to reduce the impacts of unsustainable fishing Zambezi (bull) sharks discovered in the tem- This project is quantifying organized recrea- Fishing pressure and a lack of knowledge of ba- practices on coral reef fishes, sharks, and rays. perate Breede river estuary on the southwest tional elasmobranch fishing in South Africa. sic natural history are threats to the future of The area boasts critical habitats for many spe- coast of South Africa – more than 300 km out- Through scientific quantification of the effects the Greenland shark, thought by some to be cies which are increasingly threatened by un- side of their known range – prompted SOSF to of stressors species-specific post-release -sur the longest-lived vertebrate on earth. This pro- sustainable fishing practices and climate establish a funded project to identify reasons vival rates there is the potential of altering ject deploys satellite tags and collects tissue change. for this shift in distribution and determine the rules and regulations in the club angling fishery. samples for age determination in order to bet- population structure in this new location. ter understand their movements and the age 2012-29 (P211) Building Shark Advocates 2012-35 (P217) Identifying Critical Habitat for structure of the population. International 2012-32 (P214) BRUVs in False Bay Killer Whales Project leader: Sonja Fordham Project leader: Colin Attwood Project leader: Janie Wray 2012-38 (P220) Divers for Sharks Location: USA Location: South Africa Location: British Columbia, Canada Project leader: José Palazzo Location: Brazil The IUCN classifies nearly one-third of the This project deploys Baited Remote Underwa- Caamaño Sound, BC, is an important habitat world’s 1,044 assessed shark species as Near ter Video Stations (BRUVS) in False Bay, provid- for several species of whales. This project is en- Divers for Sharks, a campaign initiated in Brazil Threatened or Threatened. Shark Advocates ing the first comprehensive survey of fish and hancing our understanding of the area’s impor- in late 2009, is mobilizing the general public International addresses this by providing lead- sharks across all habitats. The survey will di- tance to killer whales in a broader ecological and the diving community to support shark ership in advancing sound shark conservation rectly impact the future of affordable, sustain- context and adding data to the abundance es- conservation in Brazil and worldwide through policies through collaboration with a variety of able underwater monitoring in South Africa. timate and spatial mapping analytical products its web network. Coordinated by Brazilian organizations and decision makers. currently being developed. divers, D4S also mobilizes divers to volunteer 2012-33 (P215) Shark Conservation in in educational projects in schools and public 2012-30 (P212) Marine Education (Seychelles) Southern Portugal 2012-36 (P218) Thresher Shark Conservation events. Project leader: Abbie Hine Project leader: João Correia & Catarina Ferreira Project leader: Charlie Huveneers Location: Seychelles Location: Portugal Location: Australia 2012-39 (P221) Shark Angling and Release Project leader: Betty Bauman Marine education can be an ideal way in which This newly-funded project is evaluating the so- A recent study using demographic analysis has Location: Florida, United States to turn the tide towards improved environ- cio-economic value of shark ecotourism in Al- shown that thresher sharks are extremely vul- mental stewardship and renewing the public’s garve (Portugal). Algarve shows a great poten- nerable to overexploitation. This project as- The purpose of this project is to increase feeling of ownership. This project is promoting tial for shark-diving and there is substantial sesses thresher shark vulnerability to the Aus- awareness among anglers of why and how to marine education in the Seychelles, with par- public interest in this activity, which can be tralian commercial and recreational fisheries release sharks, rays and other fish, and to pro- ticular focus on local coral reefs which have used for public education and raising aware- through a combination of literature review, vide educational materials documenting easy suffered from mass bleaching events and in- ness on shark conservation. database searches, survey techniques, and release techniques for these species. creasingly destructive human impacts over the tracking technology. years. 2012-34 (P216) South Africa’s Recreational 2012-40 (P222) Shark Conservation and Shark Fishery 2012-37 (P219) Activity Patterns and Age of Awareness (Fiji) 2012-31 (P213) Zambezi Sharks Project leader: Tamzyn Zweig Greenland Sharks Project leader: Alifereti Koroilavesau Project leader: Meaghen McCord Location: South Africa Project leader: Peter Bushnell Location: Fiji Location: South Africa Location: United States

76 77 Due to a lack of shark literature in Fiji, this Mozambique is one of the world’s poorest SOSF-funded project will be made up of short- countries with a coastline of almost 3,000 km. term research projects (3-4 months) focusing Most people however are wary of the sea and on shark fi eld work, the results of which will be its inhabitants and are unaware that its re- made available to the University community, sources are under threat. This fi lm and the internati onal researchers, Fiji policy makers, awareness campaign that will follow its launch students and the general public. aims to educate and empower communiti es so that they can make informed decisions. 2012-41 (P223) A Free Tool For Identi fying Individual Sea Animals 2012-44 (P226) Tracking Oceanic Whiteti p Project leader: Renate Reijns Sharks Locati on: Netherlands Project leader: Demian Chapman Locati on: United States This project is developing a free, open source soft ware tool to allow researchers to compare Once considered one of the most abundant photos of individuals against a large photo da- apex predators in all of the world’s tropical tabase. The tool will be suitable for identi fying oceans, the oceanic whiteti p is now listed as animals without isolated spots but with spe- “criti cally endangered” in the western Atlanti c. cifi c patt erns, e.g. sea turtles, goliath groupers, This project has deployed 40 satellite tags on or the markings on whale tails. oceanic whiteti ps with the aim to shed light on their migratory behavior. 2012-42 (P224) Mermaid’s Purse Project leader: Eleonora de Sabata Locati on: Italy

This new SOSF-funded project involves recrea- ti onal scuba divers to report sighti ngs of ”mer- maid’s purses”, the eggs of the nursehound shark, and aims to provide scienti sts with data on the presence and distributi on of breeding grounds of this species.

2012-43 (P225) Manta & Whale Shark Educati onal Video Project leader: Christopher Scarff e Locati on: Mozambique CORE TEAM SAVE OUR SEAS SHARK SAVE OUR SEAS FOUNDATION Executi ve Director Peter Verhoog and CENTRE, SOUTH AFRICA (USA) SHARK RESEARCH Georgina Wiersma (unti l end of 2012) Manager Heidi Thormählen CENTER, FORT LAUDERDALE Michael Scholl (appointed as of October 1, 2012) Communicati ons Offi cer Kim von Brandis Director Richard E. Dodge Scienti fi c Team Sarah Fowler (principal scienti st), and Kate Berrisford Director Mahmood S. Shivji Dr. Mark Meekan Educati on Team Paul Millar Web Offi cer Stefan Kubicki and Ntombizanele Mayiya Media team Christopher Neff and Stefan Kubicki Film Producer Caroline Brett

78 79 SENIOR ADVISORS SCIENCE AND CONSERVATION MAIN CENTRES Professor Eugenie Clark Director Emerita, Mote Marine ADVISORY PANEL SOSF is an internati onal organisati on with projects around Laboratory, Florida, USA | Professor Emerita, Department of Dr Barry Bruce CSIRO Division of Marine Research, the world. We have a few small administrati on offi ces in Biology, University of Maryland, USA Tasmania, Australia key places but the real work happens in the fi eld with the Dr Richard E Dodge Dean, Oceanographic Center, Nova Dr Juerg Brunnschweiler ETH Zurich (Swiss Federal Insti tute project leaders we support. Southeastern University, Florida, USA of Technology), Zurich, Switzerland Headquarters in Switzerland: Dr Sylvia Earle Founder, Mission Blue | Former Chief Dr Robert E Hueter Director, Center for Shark Research, Rue Philippe Plantamour 20, CH-1201 Geneva, Switzerland Mote Marine Laboratory (MML), Sarasota, Florida, USA Scienti st, Nati onal Oceanic and Atmospheric Administrati on (Offi ce) Professor Rupert Ormond Co-Director, Marine Conservati on (USA) | Nati onal Geographic Explorer-in-Residence, Rue François-Bellot 6, CH-1206 Geneva, Switzerland Internati onal (MCI) | Corresponding Secretary, Internati onal Washington, DC, USA Save Our Seas Shark Centre - South Africa: Society for Reef Studies (ISRS), Heriot-Watt University, Fil. Lic. Carl Gustaf Lundin Director, IUCN Global Marine and Edinburgh, Scotland 28 Main Rd, Kalk Bay, Cape Town Polar Programme, IUCN Headquarters, Gland, Switzerland Dr Nicolas J Pilcher Co-Chair, IUCN SSC Marine Turtle Save Our Seas Shark Centre - USA: Martha Holmes Producer and writer Specialist Group | Technical Advisor, CMS-UNEP Dugong Oceanographic Center, Nova Southeastern University, MoU | Founder and Executi ve Director, Marine Research Dania Beach, Florida, USA Foundati on (MRF), Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia Save Our Seas D’Arros Research Centre - Seychelles: Professor Callum M Roberts Professor of Marine Conserva- D’Arros Island, Amirante Island Group. Outer Islands, ti on, Environment Department, University of York, UK Seychelles Dr David Rowat Chairman, Marine Conservati on Society Seychelles (MCSS), Victoria, Mahe, Seychelles Dr Robert Rubin Director, Pacifi c Manta Research Group, Department of Biology, Santa Rosa Jr. College, California, USA Professor Mahmood S. Shivji Director, Save Our Seas Shark Center USA (SOS SC) | Director, Guy Harvey Research Insti tute (GHRI) | Professor, Oceanographic Center, Nova Southeastern University, Dania Beach, Florida, USA Professor David Sims Deputy Director, Marine Biological Associati on of the UK, Plymouth, UK | The Nati onal Oceanography Centre, University of Southampton, UK Credits Front and back cover, pages 3, 5, 7, 9, 10, 13, 14, 15, 16, 20, 23, 24, 25, 39, 41, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 61, 69, 71 top left , 71 bott om left , Peter Verhoog / 8 Wildlife Conservati on Society / 17 bott om right Kate Berrisford / 19, 21 top right, 21 bott om left Nova Southeastern University / 26, 27, 29 Wildlife Conservati on Society / 30, 31,32, 33 ForWhales.org / 35, 36, 37 Steve Benjamin / 38, 40 Mariana Fuentes / 43 Sumer Verma / 44 above Maya Khosla / 44 bott om Murali Dharan / 45 top left , 45 bott om left , 45 bott om right Maya Khosla / 45 top left Rita Banerji / 53 David Wachenfeld, Triggerfi sh Images / 55 bott om Dana Bethea, NOAA Fisheries / 55 top IUCN Shark Specialist Group / 57, 58 H. Schurmann / 63 South African Shark Conservancy / 65 left , 67 top left Abbie Hine, Wise Oceans / 65 right, 67 top right, bott om left Tova Bornovski, Micronesian Shark Foundati on / 67 bott om left Marine Conservati on of the Seychelles / 71 top right, bott om left Shark Trust

Texts All texts: Georgina Wiersma / Sarah Fowler Educati on: Georgina Wiersma / Abbie Hine Texts Project in Focus: Project leaders Past and present projects: Stefan Kubicki Proofreader: Jadzia Siemienski-Kleyn

Design: Maarten Radstake, Utrecht, The Netherlands Printi ng: Drukwerkconsultancy, Utrecht, The Netherlands www.drukwerkconsultancy.nl

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