Malapascua island diving
Shark Conservation
Links to all important shark conservation projects
Every day the world’s shark population shrinks.
Some estimates suggest that over 100 million sharks are slaughtered every year, most of these for their fins alone. ‘Finning’ or the killing of sharks and dumping of their carcass after the dorsal fin is removed is the primary culprit for the massive numbers of sharks killed annually.
At this rate, the risk of extinction draws ever closer for certain species.
If you want to do something about it, we have gathered some resources below to help you get started. There are many like minded people who also want to help and anything you can do will help.
Check back regularly for updates and be sure to email us with any suggestions for additions to this page.
Shark conservation on Malapascua
Since opening in 2004, TSD has been at the forefront of conservation efforts on Malapascua, and of course thresher sharks are a big part of that. One fo the first things TSD’s owner, Andrea, did after opening was propose a list of rules for diving with the thresher sharks. This was both to aid in responsible diving, as well as ensuring they sharks were not bothered or harassed by divers. We are pleased to say that these rules were accepted by the other dive centers, are still in place today and generally very well followed.
For several years now, there has been a marine patrol in place, that regularly patrols Monad Shoal for fishermen. Even during Covid, the closed dive shops put together a schedule and rotated their dive boats to go out every day.
We are please and proud to say that shark numbers on Malapascua have never been better. If you came to Malapascua in the “early days,” you were lucky to get a single good sighting of one shark. Now it’s not unusual to see 10 or more on one dive! Such a great thing for any shark lover to hear in this world of declining shark numbers worldwide!
Petitions
Web Sites
- Sharks & Rays: Vulnerable Species Protection
- Conservation- Education-Research-Expeditions
- Conservation, Research, Education, Legislation
- Adopt your own shark for only $2 a month, and other programs.
- To contribute to the protection and preservation of sharks.
- Shark Conservation program.
- Ways to get involved.
- The UK charity for shark conservation. The Trust works to advance the worldwide conservation of sharks through science, education, influence and action.
- Conservation group.
- Our Mission is to save sharks: Awareness, Education, Action
- A coalition of non-governmental organizations dedicated to the conservation of sharks.
- News and info about sharks to promote awareness.
- Sharks and Rays of the world.
Facebook Communities
If you are on facebook there are an endless amount of groups and fan pages devoted to the plight of sharks. Some of our favorites are:
Banquet Goers Say No to Shark Finning
Movies
If you haven’t already seen it or know someone who needs some convincing, Sharkwater is a must see.
Public Service Announcements from Wildaid.
Products
Use your purchasing power to buy sharky products whose profits go to shark conservation!
Designer kitchen knives: a stainless steel shark-tooth-sharp blade with a shark face design and an ergonomic and non-slip rubber coated handle shaped like a shark’s body.