Protecting sharks & their habitats

Years ago, an international movement made sure the last remaining places of wilderness on the African continent were protected, as the last haven for animals that used to roam in great abundance on this globe. Elephants, lions, rhino and so many other species are now fenced into game parks and reserves where some people are lucky enough to see them. Sharks were once abundant in every part of the ocean. In recent decades, many species have been decimated to near-extinction levels. Every year, more species are added to endangered species listings. There seems to be no end in sight.

While there is a multitude of problems that need to be addressed (as outlined in other sections on this website) we must also start to plan for shark reserves in our ocean. To protect the few precious locations that exist, where rare species are hanging on and are thriving, despite the all-out assault. They are few and far between. Sad as it may be, it is likely that great whites, tiger sharks, great hammerhead sharks, and many other species will soon be so rare that one has to travel to a few distant and remote locations to see one. Just like rhinos and elephants. Unfortunately, underwater parks are much more difficult to establish than those on land. “Sight unseen” is the tragedy that causes us to wait much too long before we protect a reef and before there is enough support and resolve to create Marine Protected Areas.

The solutions vary depending on the location. In some areas, a fully protected area can be set aside, in others a mixed-use approach is more practical. The key to it all is to make sure that communities are part of the decision-making and that plans are made so people and wildlife can thrive. In this section, we will outline the resources available, some of the successful Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) that have been established as well as the projects we are assisting. In all cases, it takes the cooperation of many organizations, community groups, funders, and government entities. It is a complex and monumental task to protect more of the ocean, but the urgency has finally reached global attention, as countries join in a collective goal to protect 30% of the ocean by 2030.