I came to the South African Shark Conservancy having little idea what I was getting myself into. I knew obviously it would involve sharks, some research, and some outreach but that is pretty small part of what I actually did. First week I was here, we headed to the Breede River to catch some Bull sharks. After days on the boat trying to track previously tagged sharks and waking up at 5am trying to catch fish, (I caught 3 fish by the way), we came up with no bull shark. And though it was very frustrating, no one could do anything about it, which to me is the beauty of science especially when working with wild animals. They don’t necessarily do what we want them to do. On the river, I met many very interesting people, all asking me about America, what I thought about South Africa and then giving me places I should go when I’m here. Once and awhile someone would sing me California Girls by the Beach Boys.

Heading back to Hermanus, I was finally able to settle into a routine and actually unpack my suitcase. Heading to the office everyday, I saw the intensive planning and work that went into working in a non-profit. We basically hit the ground running, where I worked on the research for a WWF contract about sustainable fishing. posters for the education room, aquarium layout plans, ideas for the Shark Camp, catching sharks for the tanks, cleaning tanks, research for the new Walker Bay Coffee book and many other things. Lets just say I was a Jack-of-all-trades this month.

After five weeks working with the South African Shark Conservancy, my internship has come to an end. Not that I want it to end, I can truly say that this trip has taught me so much about working with a non profit organization that is affiliated with marine science, and the research that tags along with it. When I came here I had no direct idea about what I wanted to do with my future, only a couple random thoughts. Now, coming out of the program, I can say that I would like to go into some sort of Biological Conservation path. I don’t know if that means non-profit work, conservation or research, but now at I can see some sort of clearing in this crazy world.

I want to give a big THANK YOU to Tamzyn and Meag. They were always there making sure I was comfortable, and having fun. They taught me so much about science in both research and non profit. This trip/program would truly be nothing without them.

Hello everyone, I'm Maxime,

I hold a masters degree in aquatic resources of the University of Montpellier 2 in France. I heard about the SASC by Katie Gledhill who diffused, by “coral-list”, opportunities of internships in shark conservancy. I have already had the chance to give a hand occasionally to a PhD student who works on black-tip sharks (Carcharhinus melanopterus) and lemon sharks (Negaprion acutidens) in French Polynesia during I was working on another project to finalize my master degree.

And I loved that, so when I saw that I could learn more about shark research, participate in tracking and tagging Zambezi sharks (Carcharhinus leucas), try to know more about those fantastic animals, talk about them to children, all that things with the aim of protect them more efficiently, I applied!!! And thanks to Meaghen and Tamzyn, they accepted, and now I’m here for three months.

Hello, my name is Lindy McMorran and I am the newest intern working at SASC. I hail from Los Angeles, California, United States and graduated from the University of Oregon (U.S.) in June 2010 with Batchelor of Science in Marine Biology. As a student, I took classes in Invertebrate Zoology, Marine Birds and Mammals, Estuary Biology, Animal Behavior, Oceanography, Invertebrate Embryology, and Environmental Issues, so a very wide range of classes for such a huge field. In school, I worked at a plethora of different jobs ranging from being a camp counselor to a lab technician in a Neurobiology lab. I currently have a seasonal job working on Catalina Island, a small island off the coast of California, where I am an outdoor education instructor for CELP (Catalina Environmental Leadership Program).

Due to my 3-month break off work, I decided to apply for an internship in another country, obviously in the marine science field. I knew I wanted to go to somewhere I had never been, and I had a couple ideas of what organisms I wanted to work with. I have always thought that sharks were beautiful animals, and knew a lot about the affect humans are currently having on the shark population, leading some sharks to extinction. With this in mind, I literally googled “internship, South Africa, sharks,” and SASC ‘s website popped up. I instantly fell in love with this group and everything they represented. I applied on a whim, crossing my fingers that I would get a chance of a lifetime.

Now after a 24 hour flight, and a couple of hours drive, here I am currently sitting looking over the Breede River in gorgeous Witsand, South Africa, helping with research that is currently being done on bull sharks (Carcharhinus leucas) that are known to swim up the river from the open ocean. Watch this space for more information about the outcomes of the trip, it’s pretty awesome!

SASC Schedule of Events Calendar for 2011

Below is a detailed calendar of events occurring 2011 with SASC. Please contact SASC if you would like more information.

March 22^nd: World Water Day: Salty Water Science at SASC

Celebrating World Water Day with fun activities and experiments illustrating the properties of the water found in our world’s oceans.

April 4^th-5^th: Shark Camp 1 (6- 10 yrs)

08h30-13h00

Two half days of fun/educational activities educating the students about our friend the shark and the food web with fun outdoor games, exploring and art projects.

April 6^th: Shark Camp 2 (11-13 yrs)

08h30-15h00

A new camp developed specifically for tweens to learn more about sharks and the ocean around us.

April 7^th-8^th: Marine Biology Camp (14-17yrs)

08h30-16h00

The high school camp is more in depth teaching about sharks and their physiology, ecological role, behavior and their conservation. The program includes a field trip and group experiments.

May 18^th: Celebrate Marine Biodiversity at SASC (For International day of Biodiversity 22/5)

Biodiversity is a huge part of the marine ecosystem. Come learn more about it with the SASC team.

June 8^th: SASC World Oceans Day Parade

(Theme to be confirmed)

11h00 at Swallow Park

July 4^th-5^th: Shark Camp 1 (6- 10 yrs)

08h30-13h00

Two half days of fun/educational activities educating the students about our friend the shark and the food web with fun outdoor games, exploring and art projects.

July 6^th: Shark Camp 2 (11-13 yrs)

08h30-15h00

A new camp developed specifically for tweens to learn more about sharks and the ocean around us.

July 7^th- 8^th: Marine Biology Camp (14-17yrs)

08h30-16h00

The high school camp is more in depth teaching about sharks and their physiology, ecological role, behavior and their conservation. The program includes a field trip and group experiments.

July 18^th: World Marine Day

International Whale Shark Day Art Competition opens.

Contact SASC for details

August 30^th: International Whale Shark day

Whale Shark art Competition closes

Sept 17^th: International Costal Clean-up week: Coastal and Underwater Cleanup at SASC

A fun day to clean up our beautiful coastline

Sept 23^rd?: Whale Festival Events at SASC

Schedule to come when Whale Festival dates are confirmed

Oct 14^th: Sustainable Seafood Cook-Off at SASC

Local Business and Community members are welcome to come and create their best SASSI (Southern Africa Sustainable Seafood Initiative) Green listed dishes. The community will vote on the food and winners will win exciting prizes. Benefits go to SASC.

Oct 15^th: SASC Fin Run

5km Costumed fundraiser, all benefits go to SASC

Dec 12^th -13^th: Shark Camp 1 (6- 10 yrs)

08h30-13h00

Two half days of fun/educational activities educating the students about our friend the shark and the food web with fun outdoor games, exploring and art projects.

Dec 14^th: Shark Camp 2 (11-13 yrs)

08h30-15h00

A new camp developed specifically for tweens to learn more about sharks and the ocean around us.

Dec 19^th-20^th: Marine Biology Camp (14- 17 yrs)

08h30-16h00

The high school camp is more in depth teaching about sharks and their physiology, ecological role, behavior and their conservation. The program includes a field trip and group experiments.

SASC/SOSSC public statement on Bronzie Festival

The Two Oceans Angling Club (TOAC) will be hosting its first annual Bronzie Festival on December 11th. TOAC invited SASC and the Save Our Seas Shark Centre (SOSSC) to participate in this festival, which marks the first time many of us local scientists, conservationists, public volunteers and anglers will apply a co-management approach to recreational fisheries in the False Bay area.

In light of concerns expressed by several members of the public SASC and SOSSC deemed it necessary to issue a public statement on our participation in this angling competition.

Please read the statement below if you would like further information in this regard. Comments and queries are welcome, so feel free to contact us.

Statement from the South African Shark Conservancy (SASC) and the Save Our Seas Shark Centre (SOSSC) regarding participation in the first annual Two Oceans Angling Club Bronze Whaler Festival, to be held on December 11^th, 2010

Issued on December 7, 2010

SASC and SOSSC were invited to participate in a bronze whaler shark (Carcharhinus brachyurus) angling competition by the Two Oceans Angling Club (TOAC) – organisers of the event – on Saturday, December 11, 2010. The purpose of participating in said event is threefold:

1) to collect biological, genetic and population dynamics data on bronze whaler sharks to inform species-specific conservation and management measures in South Africa and internationally;

2) to engage in a public forum with recreational shark anglers and promote cooperation and collaboration between primary resource users and the research and conservation communities;

3) to monitor shark angling ethics (e.g., handling, fishing methods) to better inform primary resource users and the scientific community at large on best-industry practices to mitigate and eliminate harmful (or perceived harmful) angling practices.

SASC and SOSSC recognise the growing value of collaborating with resource users to promote the sustainable co-management of fisheries as tabled in the United Nations Food and Agriculture Association Technical Guidelines on the Ecosystem Approach to Fisheries (EAF) (FAO Technical Guidelines 2003) and South Africa’s Marine Living Resources Act (MLRA 1998).

The FAO Technical Guidelines on the ecosystem approach to fisheries (FAO 2003) define the EAF as follows: An ecosystem approach to fisheries strives to balance diverse societal objectives, by taking into account the knowledge and uncertainties about biotic, abiotic and human components of ecosystems and their interactions and applying an integrated approach to fisheries within ecologically meaningful boundaries.

However, SASC and SOSSC recognise that many elasmobranchs (sharks, skates and rays) are inherently susceptible to overexploitation, which includes potential mortalities resulting from recreational angling activities. Although post-capture mortality rates of elasmobranchs have not been quantified in South Africa, it is likely that improper treatment and handling of animals result in unnecessary mortalities and undue harm – causing long-term suffering and potentially death - to captured sharks.

It is a guiding principle of both organisations to promote the sustainable use and conservation of marine resources, but both organisations are in agreement that unsustainable and unethical fishing practices cannot be condoned if viable alternatives exist.

In light of the aforementioned, SASC and SOSSC publicly state that, if any perceived deliberate unethical and unsustainable fishing practices are witnessed as being employed by participants during the Bronzie Festival, we will be hesitant to contribute to, or take part in, future events of this nature. This includes support by way of use of organisational logos, scientific services and/or promotion of the annual event as a conservation-conscious undertaking.

SASC Interns go on an adventure

Late September: Cage-diving Interns!

Thanks to Marine Dynamics in Gansbaai (http://www.sharkwatchsa.com/index.php),

SASC’s first-ever interns Nic and I, and visiting scientist Kat, were able to go cage-diving with great white sharks on Tuesday 21^st September. Although Kat and I had both cage-dived with white sharks before, it was still sure to be amazing, and for first-timer Nic, mind-boggingly so!

Meag dropped us off just before 8am for our yummy breakfast spread provided for all cage-diving customers by the company, including hash browns. Nic and I studiously cleaned our cameras, lenses and underwater housings with dust blowers and microfibre pens, filled up on coffee and tea, then headed upstairs for the intro briefing by Marine Dynamics intern Zach. Life-jackets on - we headed excitedly onto the boat and enjoyed the gorgeous views on the top deck heading out. A mere (what felt like) 20 minutes we were already at a good site for the day and the cage was dropped down, and the chumming began with fish oil and fish heads, the air and sea heavy with anticipation...

And then there they were! Or at least there one 3.5 metre great white shark was, to start with, approaching the boat, bait-line and coming back round repeatedly for more investigations of the source of the tasty smells in the water... The first group geared up in very new (or extremely well-maintained) and stylish wetsuits, booties and hoods, pulled on masks diligently washed and cleaned by the Marine Dynamics interns and volunteers, and given a 4-6 kg weight belt to minimise buoyancy in the water, and climbed down into the cage for the show!

We were determined to go in the same group together, so we took our last pre-cage photos from top-deck, geared up quickly and awaited our turn. It seems the wait allowed the shark to warm up a bit and get a bit more inquisitive, and then another, and another one again, joined the first one, and finally it was our turn to jump in! The staff up top keeping watch and throwing the bait line shout, “Down, down, down! Divers, the shark, down left, down left!”...

And so we draw our breaths quickly, and jump ourselves down below water-level, hooking our toes under the provided bar near the bottom of the cage, as instructed, and grabbing the lower hand bar inside the cage, away from potential sharky teeth... And see one the world’s most amazing creatures enter our view outside the lower left corner of the cage where I am, and then swim past the front of our cages and our stunned eyes, and head for the fish on the end of the bait line, never catching it before it gets pulled up out of the water.

It’s hard to describe the surreal experience of watching an apex predator less than a metre away from us ‘hunt’ for food... And the stunningly beautiful eyes of the great white as they watch you, watching them. I have cage-dived a few times now but each time is no less beautiful or surreal than the last. Especially knowing that these special creatures are listed as vulnerable on the International Union for the Conservation of Nature’s Red List (http://www.iucnredlist.org/apps/redlist/details/3855/0), and the increasing threats they are under from commercial long-lining as by-catch, the mostly illegal shark-finning industry, and many other factors, not the least global warming impacts on the ocean’s environment. And imagine the disastrous trophic effects that the removal of species at the top of the food chain would have on the ocean’s ecosystem!

We stayed in for at least 20 minutes, though it felt like much longer in the 16 degree water, but never tired of the sharks making passes in front of our cage over and over again. On the way back we were lucky to witness two beautiful southern right whales playing and rolling repeatedly in front of our boat, and then watch the hundreds of seals chilling and playing on smelly Seal Island. Life’s pretty good! And if I’m not mistaken by Nic and Kat’s repeated squeals of happiness going into and coming out of the cage, the other girls agree too!

It’s important to note the unfounded fear of many people of these beautiful creatures, perhaps partly perpetrated by fictional media like the Jaws films, and maybe again by the upcoming Halle Berry film Dark Tide. Save Our Seas produced an interesting article on why white sharks have every bitten people, and explains the extremely rare times this has ever occurred in history, they were investigative, mostly non-fatal, nibbles to determine that humans, in fact, are not their food of choice at all, in terms of calories, fat content, etc (http://saveourseas.com/articles/why_do_white_sharks_bite_people). And with less than 60 attacks of any species of sharks on people each year, with only a handful being fatal, it seems pretty obvious that jumping into a car and getting on the road is a much more dangerous place to be than around white sharks! But perhaps I’m preaching to the converted here...

There are sometimes suggestions by the public that cage-diving might encourage numbers of white shark attacks around the Western Cape, and condition the creatures to see the cage-diving boats as a regular food source, but as the bait-lines are pulled out before the shark has a chance to eat it (except for a tiny amount of times when the staff member is not quite quick enough), and there is no real scientific evidence to support the theories. Obviously research continues to be conducted to find out more of this great fish’s habits and lifestyle, but the public awareness on shark biology and conservation that cage-diving operators provide through this tourism instrument aids the creatures’ protection by showing the average person that the creature is indeed graceful, beautiful, and not aggressive towards humans. And by protecting the apex predators in our oceans we are helping ensure a healthy marine ecosystem and food web, which helps maintain an overall earth ecosystem and food web, which we are very much a part of, so is good for us in the end!

But back to the blog; white shark cage-diving is an amazing experience I’d encourage anyone to have, especially those who car for our earth and its environment. More often than not you will end up a shark lover if you weren’t to begin with... and that’s the coolest club to be in ;)

Many thanks again to Marine Dynamics for fantastic life experience, and keep your eyes peeled for a post on our first ever White Shark Training Program where we at SASC conducted shark biology and conservation modules with staff from various operators in the white shark cage-diving industry, with much positive feedback from our participants!

Cheers,

Christine W. Chan

SASC Intern

Melinda McLeod: I am a graduate student of the University of Johannesburg (UJ), where I received my Bachelors in Zoology and Human Physiology. I am currently involved in the educating of the first year nursing students at UJ in Human Physiology for the second consecutive year. I have always had Sharks as my passion and find it a great blessing and privilege to be able to work so closely with them as well as such a world-class scientific team. My goal is to be able to work intensely on researching the Great White Shark (Carcharodon carcharius) in and around South African waters. I am specifically interested in the Genetics and life history of these magnificent animals. I am excited about my internship with SASC as it forms a great platform for the conservation and research of Elasmobranches in the Cape area. I hope I can become a positive contribution to the Conservancy.

M. McLeod