04/02/2011

Shark Conservation Gap Year Volunteer Programs

Take a gap year and volunteer to help preserve sharks abroad. It has hit the news recently that shark population numbers are in rapid decline. Many countries whose fishing fleets catch lots of sharks each year have not met a 10 year old pledge on conserving this endangered species. The bottom line is, governments are not managing their fisheries well.

It is estimated that around 100 million sharks are killed each year. One third of the species are at risk of becoming extinct.

Sharks are particularly vulnerable to overfishing because they live long lives and reproduce slowly. Reduced numbers of sharks beneath the sea is actually affecting the natural balance of the ecosystem. The impact of this natural predator being wiped out has severe implications on other marine life.

In addition to intentional fishing, where sharks are fished for products such as shark fin soup, many are caught accidentally in large nets from industrial fishing boats fishing for tuna and marlin.

Charities around the world are working to campaign against overfishing and to raise awareness of the negative impacts of the reduced shark populations.

With Oyster Worldwide you yourself can get involved in this international struggle, helping to conserve the sharks off the South African coastline on a gap year.

You will be helping to monitor and observe the sharks along a beautiful area of South Africa’s coast, in order to find out more about their behaviour. This research is crucial if we are to stop the continuing decline of shark populations around the world.

On most days you will spend the rest of the morning on the water, helping with tourists and doing scientific research. You will be observing the sharks from the boat or from a cage in the water, photographing them and recording marks and injuries. After lunch you will concentrate on research, recording data, uploading photos and writing observations. You might have a lecture to attend, where you can add your own observations.

Feel free to email Anne at anne@oysterworldwide.com or call +44(0)1892 770771 or alternatively check out Oyster Worldwide's South Africa webpage.


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