Reef sharks determined “Functionally Extinct” on 20% of World’s Reefs. In Hawai’i these sharks are protected, but their habitat is being threatened in the Marine National Monuments under the Trump Administration.
In August, I will be swimming for sharks and maintaining protection in the Pacific Marine National Monuments, including the Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument and National Marine Sanctuary. I will also be searching for our local oceanic blacktip shark Bruno.
Shark Depredation Act Introduced in Senate
This week, Senators Rick Scott (R-FL) and Brian Schatz (D-HI) introduced the Supporting the Health of Aquatic Systems through Research, Knowledge, and Enhanced Dialogue (SHARKED) Act. Sharks have declined by 71% worlwide since 1970, primarily due to overfishing. Shark Stewards is submitting comments and urging lawmakers to rely on scientists and fisheries managers, supporting stock assessment work and better, transparent data, and caution any shark management or culling decsions
Read MoreSave Our Seas, Save Ourselves
On July 12, Shark Stewards hosted a screening of David Attenboroughʻs Ocean and other short films at our annual ocean education event in Kailua-Kona Hawaii. This impactful film premiered at the UN Ocean Conference June 8, 2025. In Ocean, Sir David so eloquently highlights the numerous threats to the ocean and marine life, particularly bottom trawling. A major source of hope at the UN conference and in the film, is the establishment of no-take marine protected areas (MPAs), including the Channel Islands MPAs in California, and the Papahānaumokuākea in Hawaiian waters.
Read MoreDefending US Marine Protected Areas
The islands and reefs of the USA Pacific Marine National Monuments are some of the most remote and healthiest protected coral-reef marine ecosystems in USA waters, even the world. These large, rich, biodiverse marine ecosystems have been protected for nearly two decades under 4 presidents of both parties. These marine protected areras are now at risk to being opened to commercial fishing interests under executive orders by the Trump Administration.
Read MoreStop the Ocean Steal
Today, Shark Stewards launched a new youth oriented social media campaign to stop IUU fishing, Overfishing sharks and generating a youth movement to defend marine protected areas in the USA.
The campaign is directed at young and first time voters in the US to focus on changing the congress in 2026 to support maintaining legal protection of US marine protecetd areas, and support funding for Climate science, USFWS and NOAA so that agencies can effectively fulfill their mission.
Read MoreShark Week: A Deep Dive or a Light Touch for Sharks
As July 20, 2025 marks the start of Discovery Channel’s 37th annual Shark Week, millions of viewers around the world are gearing up for a another week of shark-centric programming.
Read MoreOcean Film Event Kona, Swim for Sharks-Newsletter
“After almost 100 years on the planet, I now understand the most important place on Earth is not on land, but at sea… If we save the sea, we save […]
Read MoreSay No to Deep Sea Mining in American Samoa Waters
Please take 2 minutes to submit comments to the Dept. of Interior to STOP deep sea mining in American Samoan waters.
Read MoreStrengthening Global Protection for Critically Endangered Sharks at CITES
Sharks are facing an unprecedented crisis. According to recent studies, more than 37% of shark and ray species are threatened with extinction, with this figure rising to a staggering 70% for species involved in international trade. These statistics underscore the critical importance of strengthening global protections for these vulnerable marine predators.
Read MoreSwim For Sharks
This year I will be swimming for sharks starting July 2nd in the Triplecrown Kona swim in Kailua Bay along the course I last swam in the Hawaii Ironmant Triathlon Championships as a starter swim to a GoFundMe towards a point to point 10K swim in Bruno’s backyard from Magic sands to Kahalu’u Beach Park August 9, 2025.
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