Since 2013 Shark Stewards has worked in the Coral Triangle to combat the shark fin trade, stop fishing endangered sharks and rays and support permanent marine protection. Malaysia is number two globally in shark fin imports and is overfishing sharks and rays at an alarming rate. It is also a country much loved for diving including Sipadan Island, famed for the healthy corals, big fish and sharks and one of the few marine protected areas. With the Sabah Shark Protection Association have performed over 150 fish market surveys, documented bycatch and dried shark fin and published a report recommending immediate regulations and controls to stop the shark fin trade and increase shark and marine protection.
Saving Sabah Sharks
Since 2015 Shark Stewards has worked in Malaysian Borneo collecting shark catch data, filming and diving with local partners to create increased shark and ray protection in sabah and in malaysia. In 2017 we helped found the Sabah Shark Protection Association with WWF, Leap, Scuba Junkie, Malaysian Conservation Society and TRACC to address the urgent need to save shark and habitat in the region. With support by the Shark and Ray Fund, we produced a comprehensive report on shark and ray catch and the shark fin trade with recommendations for shark and ray protection. With Sabak partners BluHope, our team will return in 2021 to survey sharks and protect critical marine habitat and sharks and rays from fishing.
In 2019 we expanded our efforts to Indonesia to protect living sharks and rays and habitat through marine protected areas. Working with a network of divers and volunteers, we help collect fish and habitat surveys including shark surveys and support marine protection in the Coral Triangle with our local partners. If you are a certified diver (or want to learn how to SCUBA) we are training citizen scientists to help with hands-on shark and reef protection through Reef Check surveys and species monitoring.
Help save sharks and rays and protect their habitat through a permanent marine protected area at the “Secret Gillies” on Lombok Island in Indonesia. Divers can join scientists diving, snorkeling and collecting data to lead to their permanent protection.
With support from the Ignite Foundation, local research and conservation partners at the Sustainable Oceans Research, Conservation and Education and Conservation Center located at Sekotong Bay, Lombok Island diving, collecting data on fish populations, coral and mangrove restoration and help establish permanent shark and reef protection.
Dive ecotourism is a major component of this program, teaching guests fish and reef surveys and collecting observation of sea turtles, sharks and rays. Snorkelers are also welcome and new divers can earn Basic and Advanced Open Water PADI SCUBA certifications in a tropical setting.
These trips include hands-on conservation, learning Reef Check and fish survey methodologies, gathering data at the field station and diving with sea turtles and other wildlife.
The Indonesia field station lodging includes traditional cabins just 10 meters from the beach. Fresh local food is provided and prepared by our local staff with vegetarian and non-vegetarian options. Contact us for more information on these exclusive trips that benefit our conservation work: Adopt a Reef System and Restore a Coral Reef for Sea Turtles and Sharks.
Support Shark Stewards evaluating the market and trade of endangered sharks and rays like hammerhead sharks and manta rays.