Conservation

The Marine Living Resources Act (Act 18 of 1998)

This act controls the exploitation of marine plants and animals in South African waters. There are a small number of regulations that pertain to sharks, most but not all of which are summarised below. The great white shark is totally protected; in 1991 South Africa being the first country in the world to do so. If caught or killed unintentionally, a white shark must be kept in a whole state and handed over to a fisheries officer. No white shark, part or product thereof may be sold. In 2005, the whale shark and the basking shark were added to the prohibited species list .

At White Shark Projects we believe in conservation through creating an awareness of sharks. We encourage our clients to spread the message, and make a difference.

Ways you can help:

• Dive and snorkel with sharks. The more money goes into shark tourism the more people realize the value of living sharks.
• Refuse to eat shark fin soup and don't eat at restaurants that serve it; encourage others to do the same. Seventeen countries have already banned shark finning. Find our if your country is one of them. If not, write to your local government official asking to ban shark finning.
• Demand that your country stop the importation of shark fins.

Ways some of our clients have helped:

Morgan Flowerday  is a normal 12 year old girl from Hout Bay in South Africa, she likes the stuff most teenagers do, swimming, music, dragons, Greek Gods, collects crystals, loves hanging out with her friends etc.  But then she also has an immense empathy for wildlife and conservation, and the great white shark is particularly close to her heart.

Keep informed of the issue online at: www.seashepherd.org; www.savingsharks.com; www.sharkwater.com

Watch the movie Shark Water.