This has been another amazing year for shark protection. We would like to share some highlights of our work, and look ahead to save endangered sharks in 2024.
First, of all non-profits evaluated, the site Impactful Ninja voted Shark Stewards as one of the top- two best charities for protecting sharks!
Over the winter break we are back in Kona for the final filming of our new documentary Kahu Manō: a film on Hawaii sharks, culture and protection to be used to advocate for increased protection of critically endangered Oceanic Whitetip sharks. The goal is to premiere at the International Ocean Film Festival in April 2024, screen at other festivals, to regional fisheries management organizations and then screen at the United Nations on World Oceans Day before going to broadcast. We are already in final edit mode and doing end of year fundraising through our charity auction and final appeal to support post-production.
Our student Vivian Guido’s film Turning Tides is completed as part of her masters in environmental communication at the University of York, The film, featuring Shark Stewards work supporting the Sustainable Development Goals SDG 14 (Life Underwater) screened at the CoP28 climate conference in Dubai. It will also screen in festivals and venues in 2024 to advocate for shark protection by reducing bycatch and Illegal shark fishing.
We also conducted an exciting exploratory expedition in the Sea of Cortez last month as part of a stakeholder development and media campaign to support a protected swim-way for critically endangered scalloped hammerhead sharks in 2024. With our Mexican partners Pelagios Kakunja we will be back in Baja in February and we intend to create a large protected area for sharks in 2024. Check out the slide show here.
We have also received funding for our Indonesia shark and marine protection project, supporting our partners SORCE to collect data to expand a marine protected area and increase shark protection in the region. These diver supported- ecotourism supported efforts are a model we are developing to ensure locally driven support of long term shark and habitat protection. This, and the Baja – Marine Protecetd Swimway are supported by a grant from the Ignite Foundation.
The 6th annual Run 4 Sharks and Ocean Health Fair was even bigger in 2023 with 115 runners and walkers, 10 community science and health education partner booths, and a simulated shark attack victim rescue and recovery hosted by Newport Beach Life Guards. This event benefits our underserved youth ocean education effort, reaching 350 kids this year. We also hosted 12 beach cleanups, with 4 in Kona, 4 in San Francisco and 4 in Newport Beach/Long Beach.
With our student Katya Korbiane we published a paper in the journal Headwaters Science Institute won the leopard shark die off in the San Francisco Bay, and are leading a movement with UC Berkeley, City and State agencies and other non profits to address toxic die offs in the San Francisco Bay. We will continue to build on our work bringing the ocean to underserved youth in the classroom and at events.
We currently have a charitable art auction opportunity to help support our efforts in 2024 on Betterworld. Please check out the original art and share this success to your network as we go into our end of year fundraising with a goal of raising $25,000 to support the Hammerhead Highway.
This year Shark Stewards was ranked among the top two most effective shark conservation groups by the charity evaluator Impactful Ninja! Will you help us save sharks with your donation?
If you have a moment, please celebrate our achievements, read this letter from our Board Chair, Gautam Barua, and share our mission to protect endangered sharks and the ocean we love.  Sincerely, David McGuire Founder and Director, Shark Stewards |
| Act Today to Save Sharks To keep sharks swimming, it is urgent we protect them, including the ecosystems they inhabit. Join the team and help keep sharks and marine ecosystems alive and thriving from California to China! DonateWith your support, we keep sharks swimming and the ocean healthy. We value your time, your passion, and any size donation. Shark Stewards is rated highest by Charity Navigator, Platinum-ranked by GuideStar, a member of 1% for the Planet, and a proud project of the Earth Island Institute, a federally registered 501(c)3 non profit.      |