SASC is a small non-profit shark research group found in the harbor of Hermanus, Western Cape. Founded in 2007 they now conduct a variety of lab- and field-based research projects, ranging from elasmobranch biology & ecology to reef monitoring.
Dedicated to promoting a holistic approach to conservation and management of marine resources in South Africa their research projects focus not only on elasmobranchs (sharks, skates, rays), but also on marine ecology and the socio-economics of fisheries.
They have two really interesting programs namely the Marine Ecology Research Programme and the RECfishSA program (to understand the impacts and importance of recreational elasmobranch fishing in South Africa)
They also work tirelessly to develop a multi-faceted approach to improving understanding, conservation and management of an iconic, near-threatened shark species in southern Africa, with their work in the Breede River having been featured in numerous media including television, Internet and newsprint.
http://www.sharkconservancy.org/index.html
Twitter @SASC3
The Shark Spotters is a pioneering shark safety program that uses a community initiative committed to finding a balance between the safety of recreational water users and the conservation of a threatened species, the white shark. Started in Cape Town the program has developed a novel way to find solutions to the conflict between sharks and people.
Initially it was started when community members who were originally working as car guards were asked to keep watch from the mountain overlooking the beach in Muizenburg for any signs of shark activity.
With the help a program was formulized and the first flagpole signal system and siren alarm was introduced, along with a mountain watch team prepped with binoculars, two-way radios and siren remote control. After 18 months the program is now all over the coastlines of the City of Cape Town, so watch out for the flags as you head to the sun and surf this December!
The project now also contributes to research on shark ecology and behavior and provides employment opportunities and skills development for their shark spotters.
“We believe that if we can reduce the already small risk of a shark bite then we can make a meaningful contribution to white sharks conservation, contribute to the community’s well being and set a precedent for how people and sharks can co-exist.” Shark Spotters Program
http://sharkspotters.org.za/about/shark-spotters
You can also follow them on twitter for updates and information on shark activity : @SharkSpotters
Norway is a rich country though oil exploration, however unlike many other nations, Norway did not sell off their oil rights to external companies, therefore profits remain in Norway for Norway. This has allowed the government to effectively finance scientists and fisheries managers through the Institute of Marine Research, which receives approximately 49% of its budget, 400 million kroner (approximately US$70 million) per annum from the government.
This has allowed Norway to acquire 5 state of the art research vessels, develop a world respected fisheries research and education programs and allow objective science to be conducted in a variety of environments that exist in Norway.
Duaneis the Executive Director of Seacology, and has worked in island and marine conservation for 30 years.
In the last 400 years the majority of the world's plant and animal extinctions have taken place on islands, leading biologist Dr. Peter J. Bryant to call this unprecedented rate of species extinctions "one of the swiftest and most profound biological catastrophes in the history of the earth."
Dr Suprajah Darhini and her team of student volunteers have single handedly been saving turtles along the coast of Chennai. They have been combining the conservation of a species with local community empowerment.
Their aim is to develop independent and right thinking individuals in the local community who will in turn help nurture a progressive and environment conscious movement among the people. Their target group includes the five fishing communities residing along the East Coast, in Periya Neelangarai Kuppum (Neelangari), Injambakkam, Panaiyur, Nainar Kuppum (Utthandi) and Reddy Kuppum (Kanattur) which cover about 13 km.
Local communities have developed daily night patrols to scour the beaches for nesting turtles, recored the data of each turtle that arrives on their beach and relocate any eggs from nesting turtle into safe hatcheries located along certain points on the beach. To date Tree Foundation's education program has influenced over 32,00 students and collages.Each year they host a flipper festival and a marine biodiversity awareness festival, an eco revolution youth leadership summit, have released over 44,654 turtle hatchlings and a costal clean up that collects on average 45 tons of garbage.
Dr Dahrini's passion for the environment and her ability to empower her people are clearly achieving results.
WTW is a non-profit organization committed to the protection of the Kenyan marine environment through community development, practical conservation, education, research and campaigning.
This is a local NGO that has all the right moves when it comes to working in conservation.
They have managed to move mountains where others have given up and moved on. Their ethos is empowerment through education by instilling a sense of worth and responsibility for community’s actions when they make use of the oceans resources. They have a rehabilitation center, an education program, a alternative income-generating program for local fishermen to make money planting mangroves and making honey.
In 2008 they begun a exchange program with local fishermen, whereby the fishermen exchange turtles caught in their nets for a small amount of money, much less than they would receive if they sold the turtle. Since their by-catch programme they have managed to save over 8000 sea turtles.