How we Work

Advocacy:

  • Introduce and advocates for shark fin legislation banning the sale and trade of shark fin in US States now 13 strong.
  • Develop fishing policy to reduce shark catch and limit shark and ray bycatch in longline and drift gillnet fisheries.
  • Creation of marine protected areas and shark sanctuaries, supporting ecotourism based economic models.
  • Ocean health e.g. plastic bag bans and cigarette butt abatement programs including legal suit against plastic manufacturers..
  • Reaching consumers in China to reduce shark fin trade and consumption.

Research:

  • Determining the size, range and biology of local populations through mark and recapture and genetic analysis.
  • Market research and collecting catch data on shark and rays.
  • Trade analysis of shark catch and the shark fin trade in Malaysia, Indonesia, Singapore and China.
  • Practicing shark and reef assessments in Malaysia, Indonesia and Timor Leste and monitoring for increased protection.

Ecosystem Protection:

  • Evaluating existing research and impacts on ecosystems of critical habitat in the San Francisco Bay known to host shark populations and other species of interest.
  • Leading the Bay Area Coastal MPA Collaborative Network, educating the public and communicating to fishermen.
  • Protecting areas of ideal habitat that will benefit sharks and other fish and marine invertebrates.
  • Developing partners and establish stakeholder support including fishermen to support protected areas.
  • Garnering support from California and Malaysian fisheries management to establish seasonal, size and regional protection for sharks.
  • Working with local communities, providing alternative livelihoods in ecotourism that supports shark conservation in Indonesia.

Education:

  • Raising awareness on the importance of sharks locally and globally through media and policy,
  • Citizen science observing and recording observations of sharks through iNaturalist eg Shark Watch and MPA Watch.
  • School and public programs and Sharktober events to celebrate the importance of sharks and a healthy San Francisco Bay.
  • Public and school lectures on sharks, marine ecosystems and marine protected areas- and building school Ocean and Shark clubs.
  • Promoting the practice of catch and release of sharks.
  • Conducting community outreach events with partners including the California Academy of Sciences and the Greater Farallones National Marine Sanctuary.
  • Leading Farallon Island Expeditions educating the public on sharks, marine ecosystems and marine protection policy.
  • Leading education and dive eco-adventures to Baja and SE Asia.