A New Perspective on Shark Conservation

When you think of people who assist in shark conservation and research, who comes to mind? You’re probably thinking about scientists going out on boats and conducting research on sharks first hand. You aren’t wrong, but that’s only one piece of the puzzle.

This month, I had an opportunity to share my project and assist in shark education. I set up a booth at Jacksonville University and shared my knowledge about sharks to other kids. This event was so special because the OCEARCH boat and Mr. Chris Fischer were there!

Mr. Fischer, as some of you may know, is the founder of OCEARCH. OCEARCH is an organization that brings together many types of people and backgrounds for a common cause: to research, preserve, and protect our oceans. (You can visit the OCEARCH website here.)

Mr. Fischer spoke to a group of us at this event about the work he does to keep sharks healthy for the future. It was so fascinating to hear him speak about sharks, because he had a whole new perspective. Mr. Fischer isn’t a scientist; he is a passionate businessman. He helps contribute to conservation through speaking to others, marketing, and more. He is a living example of how you don’t have to be a scientist to be help sharks.

Some easy ways you can help with shark conservation and research include…

• Learn as much as you can! Learning more about sharks not only increases your knowledge about them, but also allows you to know why they need our help.
• Spread the word! Tell someone a shark joke or fact. Not only can you make someone laugh, but you can also allow them to help sharks, too.
• Do the 3 R’s! Reuse, reduce, and recycle whenever you can to decrease harmful waste from getting into our oceans.
• Support my 2020 Trash for Turtles (Plus) project! This year, all the shark money goes to Jacksonville University to support a lemon shark research study taking place near Little St. Simons Island, Georgia! (To learn more about this year’s project, click here.)

Have a great day everyone! Peace out!