Conservation

Over 100 million sharks are killed annually, putting enormous pressure on shark populations worldwide. Sharks have traditionally been considered a detriment to coastal tourism, but since the early 1990s, shifts in attitudes amongst divers have led to growth in the popularity of shark watching as a tourist activity. An estimated 500,000 divers a year find, photograph, feed, and swim with sharks, contributing millions of dollars to local and regional economies. Can the economic value attached to shark watching provide enough incentive to reduce consumptive exploitation levels. Although the economic value attached to shark watching has led to greater protection of sharks in some locations, analysis of available data suggests that incentives do not appear large enough to encourage a significant reduction in fishing pressure appropriate to the scale of threat facing sharks.

Our Shark Conservation Efforts

Creating awareness of shark conservation issues and campaigning for change to protect South Africa’s shark populations www.sharkfreechips.com

Shark Research

In partnership with The University of Miami, Apex has been instrumental in ground breaking scientific research of Great white sharks at Seal Island as well as changes to the eco system.
In partnership with The University of Miami, Apex is facilitating, funding and participating in ongoing shark research projects within South Africa’s Flagship Marine Protected area, the De Hoop Marine Reserve. The projects aim to show the vulnerability of shark species and the importance of Marine Protected areas.
September 2020 Press Release
Due to COVID-19 travel restrictions, The University of Miami hasn’t been able to get to South Africa to conduct research, including ecological surveys of fish and sharks in False Bay. For the same reasons, the once booming ecotourism industry of False Bay has come to a halt, leaving many locals without jobs. Fortunately, The University of Miami have been collaborating for years with the eco-tour operation, Apex Shark Expeditions. To continue the research in their absence, The University of Miami have hired Apex Shark Expeditions crew and boats to conduct their collaborative research surveys. This includes deploying baited remote underwater video surveys (BRUVS) as seen in this video. This collaboration has allowed The University of Miami to continue research while providing a source of needed income to the local community.
Special thanks to Lunga Makunga, Ryan Miller, Talishia Langenhoven and Bongani Makati of Apex Shark Expeditions for their help!
Ongoing scientific data collection and monthly submissions to marine research institutions
Photographic works depicting the natural world and with movements such as global warming, protection of biodiversity and sustainability gaining momentum, our work serves to add visual credence to these causes.

Apex Shark Expeditions supports the following conservation organisations

https://sharkresearch.rsmas.miami.edu/

Shark Research and Conservation Program at The University of Miami

Directed by Dr Neil Hammerschlag, the Shark Research & Conservation Program (SRC) at the University of Miami conducts cutting-edge shark research while also inspiring scientific literacy and environmental ethic in youth through unique hands-on field research experiences.

https://www.oceana.org

Oceana

Oceana is the largest international organization focused solely on ocean conservation. Their offices in the Americas and Europe work together on a limited number of strategic campaigns to achieve measurable outcomes that will help return our oceans to former levels of abundance.

https://www.asso-ailerons.fr/

Ailerons

AILERONS, the Association Ichtyologique pour L’Etude la Recherche et l’Observation dans la Nature des Sélaciens, is a French non-governmental organization founded in May 2006 by the marine biologist and French member of the Mediterranean Shark Research Group, Nicolas ZIANI. The organisation is located in Montpellier (Hérault), Southern France. AILERONS aim is to study sharks and rays for their conservation and the education of the people about sharks’ ecological importance and the urgent need for global shark conservation. The primary goal is to study shark and ray populations in the French Mediterranean in order to participate in their conservation.

https://www.oceanartistssociety.org/

Oceans Artists Society

Using Ocean Art to Inspire People Around the World to a Greater Awareness of our Need to Preserve our Natural World.

https://whitesharkconservationtrust.org.nz/

White Shark Conservation Trust

To contribute to the worldwide conservation of the Great White Shark Carcharodon carcharias. To increase public awareness, dispel the myths about the great white shark and provide some hope for the species survival.

Marine conservation is of utmost importance to us. We believe that it can be collectively achieved through education and a shift in mind set

SEAFOOD WATCH

Many people think that as an individual one cannot make a difference in terms of contributing to the conservation of our Oceans. Quite a few years ago Monterey Bay Aquarium came up with the idea of producing a Seafood Watch Card. The primary idea behind this is that this wallet size info card carries information on all choices of seafood that we as consumers can purchase in stores, markets as well as in restaurants. What is really fantastic about this initiative is that it does not tell you not to eat seafood, but rather it gives advice on how to proceed with the most environmentally safe items of choice. Different species of fish and seafood are available in different parts of the world. We have managed to find links to seafood watch cards that are available for use in different parts of the USA, Canada, The United Kingdom and South Africa.

It also gives information on what is not environmentally friendly to eat. So, the choice is yours! this is one way that we as individuals can make a difference, and you can pass this information onto your friends and family too. Follow the links on the map.