What is the first thing that comes to your mind when you think of sharks? Is it the image of a ruthless, bloodthirsty predator that’s preying on innocent swimmers? Or do you think of an intelligent sea dweller that is facing the risk of extinction? If you rather resonated with the first depiction, we will offer you some information that will hopefully clarify the misconception about these fascinating animals. No matter on what side of the spectrum your current conception of sharks is, after you’re done reading this article you will have enough facts presented to recognize the necessity to help conserve these majestic sea animals.

Even though there are 470 known shark species, the most common image that pops up in people’s heads is probably the one of the equally respected and feared Great White Shark. One of the reasons is the image created by the media. Due to singular fatal events, newspapers, novels and more recently Hollywood movies like “Jaws” have embedded the portrayal of a ferocious man-eating beast. It is true that most unprovoked attacks on humans have in fact occurred through the Great White, but when looking at the odds of who’s at more risk of being killed, they are clearly favoring humans, as sharks are facing more threats by humans than the other way around. In the following article, you will be presented with facts that will make you realize how minimal the chances of a shark attack are, in comparison to how severe threats for sharks actually are. Further, you will be provided with possible shark conservation destinations and a list of exciting tasks that are awaiting you upon arrival.

According to the oldest environmental organization, the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species declared that one-quarter of all sharks are threatened with extinction. This alarming fact underlines the necessity to become active and help to preserve sharks as a crucial part of the marine habitat. There are various reasons as to why many shark varieties are on the verge of extinction but most of them are man-made. The demise of sharks has been impacted by direct human interaction like fisheries and trophy hunting but also due to negligent environmental approaches, that lead to a destruction of our marine environment.

Why are sharks endangered?

Historically speaking, humans have always been fascinated by animals, especially wild beasts. And we still are to this day. The more extreme the animal’s appearance is, the bigger the craze for the specific animal. This fascination can either be positive and even have mythical dimensions, where some animals are worshipped and treated as deities. On the other hand, there can be a logical fear, carried on from our primal days, when humans were still a part of the natural food chain. With sharks, it is most likely a mixture of both. As many sharks are apex predators, meaning that they do not have any natural enemies, except the rare occurrence of orcas preying on them, humans are therefore the sole threat to them.

Due to evolution and technical advancement, humans have escaped the cycle of nature’s food chain, thus stories of humans being killed by wild animals are such a rare occurrence, that these are shocking to us. One thing that we should be aware of is that, when human-animal interactions lead to attacks on humans, it is mostly because humans step outside their natural environments and enter the wilderness. Although almost everyone enjoys being at the seaside and having fun in the water, you have to be aware that entering the ocean is setting foot in the wilderness! Looking at the statistics of the last five years, shark attacks have slightly increased, which is a normal result, due to the rapid increase in the human population. In contrast to rising numbers of people, many shark populations are drastically decreasing, and reversing population trends in sharks can be a very tough endeavor. The reason for this is that sharks reproduce fairly slowly in comparison to other fish, due to year-long pregnancies and a slow sexual maturation process.

For centuries sharks have been hunted due to various reasons. Some have hunted them out of curiousity as for their jaws and teeth, others because they are valued as local delicacies. Trophy hunting can especially be linked to the most famous specimen, who goes by many nicknames. The impressive physical appearance, paired with legends and myths that wove themselves around the Great White Shark, has lead to names as the “maneater” or even “the white death”. Even though fatal incidents have irregularly occurred, those are strong exaggerations, reinforced by media outlets. There has been a legit increase in hunting of the Great White, and other less fierce species since the 70’s when the movie “Jaws” was released in the cinemas around the world. Reasons have varied. The species is now regarded as vulnerable, due to activities like sports hunting, poaching or killings out of paranoia.

Moreover, fisheries and finning practices represent a huge threat to shark populations. In many countries, especially in Asia, shark fins are seen as true culinary delicacies. The method, by which the fins get cut-off, is very cruel as sharks are often still alive when their fins are being detached. As fins are the most valuable parts, the mutilated sharks get thrown into the water where they cannot successfully move and to the ground where they either die of suffocation or get eaten by other predators. Estimates on how many sharks get finned per year vary but are anywhere between 50 and 100 million.

Unintentional bycatch does also have a severe impact on various shark populations as well. If you also take pollution of the marine environment into consideration, future outlooks for sharks do not seem to bright. Further, the demise of shark and marine habitat has a mutual impact. As most sharks are apex predators their role for population control is crucial. They help to maintain the order of the natural food chain and help to sort out other weak and sick marine dwellers, and are thus an indicator of ocean health.

What shark species are there?

As aforementioned, there are over 400 shark species. Therefore we will only focus on the most threatened ones according to the IUCN and also protected by the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES).

Starting off with the biggest specimen, the Whale Shark is the biggest living fish and can reach a maximum length of 40 feet and weigh more than 20 tons. These magnificent animals have a very long lifespan and often reach 100 years or older. Whale Sharks are also listed as vulnerable and populations are alarmingly decreasing. In contrast to the frightening image of most sharks, the Whale shark is completely harmless to humans. Even though they are carnivorous and apex predators, these gentle giants only feed on plankton and small fish. The whale shark is often fished illegally and its fins used for shark soup. In addition, tourism is placing a lot of stress on this population. In the last years touristic excursions have increased and unfortunately, touristic practices are often times not sustainable and have a negative impact on the ecosystem.

The second species is also the second largest living fish after the Whale Shark, namely the Basking Shark. Just like their bigger cousins, these sharks are not dangerous to humans and also feed on plankton. Their most impressive feature is their mouth, which can open up to 3 feet. Although they have several hundreds of small teeth, just like the Whale Shark, they do not make use of them while feeding. The food just gets filtered through their gills while they swim with an open mouth. Over the last decades, its population has severely declined and the species is threatened due to overfishing. This is why many countries have put bans on commercial fishing of the Basking Shark, in order to revitalize their population status.

Another endangered species is the Hammerhead shark. Have you ever asked yourself why their heads are shaped that way? Well, the reason why their heads developed this way is to give them better vision. Usually, sharks only use their pair of eyes individually but hammerhead sharks use their eyes simultaneously, which puts them at an advantage while hunting and also alarms them of bigger predators. The distance between their eyes allows them to have 360 vision, meaning that they can see in all directions at all times. The head shape is not the only fascinating thing about these sharks though. Unlike the majority of sharks, hammerhead sharks do not lay eggs but give birth to their offspring, called pups. Depending on the size of the species, larger hammerheads have longer pregnancies and are also have the capability to carry more pups. Great hammerheads can carry up to 55 pups. Moreover, it is not uncommon to see social interactions between hammerhead sharks. Most sharks tend to live solitary lives but hammerheads can be seen in groups, called schools, of up to 100 sharks. Interestingly, these schools are mostly segregated by sex.

Now that you have learned a bit more about some of the most endangered shark species, here is an overview of all the types of sharks you can likely encounter during a volunteer project:

• Blacktip Reef Shark
• Great White Sharks
• Grey Reef Shark
• Hammerhead Shark
• Leopard Shark
• Mako Shark
• Pelagic Shark
• Ragged Tooth Shark
• Thresher Shark
• Whale Shark
• Whitetip Reef Shark

Due to the variety of species and the wide-range that sharks populate the oceans, your volunteering possibilities are very diverse. Sharks can be found in warm and cold waters, and sometimes even in rivers, like the Ganges Shark. However, your volunteering journey will likely take place at a sun-flooded destination. It is definitely more comfortable to work at the beach while wearing light clothing than to be covered in layers while the wind is almost blowing you away. You will get to experience beautiful destinations and see marine wildlife at first sight, while doing good deeds - basically, killing two birds with one stone. Well of course not literally! After all, you’re doing voluntary work to preserve nature, and not destroy it further.

You will have the choice to volunteer in Africa, South America, or Southeast Asia. Countries like South Africa and Costa Rica will not only let you experience sharks within close proximity, but are also amongst the most biodiverse countries in the world. If you choose a destination in Africa like Tanzania, Mozambique or South Africa to volunteer with sharks, you might also be able to go on a Safari as these countries are home to some of the most spectacular Wildlife. On your off days, you could go to a National Park and see the Big Five Lions, Rhinos, Giraffes, Cheetahs and Elephants from up close.

If you would prefer a trip to Latin America, Belize and Costa Rica will be able to offer you some of the biggest ranges of habitat apart from the sharks and other marine life. Next to exotic animals like sloths, capuchin monkeys and toucans, you will able to spoil yourself and indulge in Latin America’s delicious cuisine. If you would like to take it somewhere more secluded and peaceful, without giving up on good food, two of the most beautiful Islands that our planet has to offer could be your choice. The Gili Islands and the Seychelles will offer you magnificent beaches, spectacular sea life and very hospitable people, that will make your shark conservation work even more memorable.

The kind of work that you will be doing as a shark conservation volunteer depends on the project that you decide to sign up for. You can find detailed information about the tasks in each program on the program pages and contact the program coordinator for additional questions. In the following we will give you an overview of all the different tasks you can expect to be doing when you join a shark conservation project.

Your tasks at a shark conservation project

Let’s get one thing out of the way: you should keep in mind that conservation work is not a walk in the park! Volunteering with sharks will require you to have a decent level of physical fitness and although not involving park walks, you will be walking a lot on the beaches, conducting fieldwork like observations and clean up the beaches. Remember that even if it sounds fun, it can be quite challenging, due to very warm temperatures and strong sunlight. Although the work can be hard, it will not be monotonous. You will pursue a variety of interesting activities and be able to fully emerge in the fascinating marine life. A lot of your daily activities will consist of qualitative as well as quantitative research. Here are some of the tasks that will await you at your shark conservation project:

• Shark Cage Diving - you will be properly instructed on how to enter and exit the cages, as well as how to behave. Even though sharks are rather shy animals, it is vital to not provoke the animals and cause danger to yourself and others.
• Photography and Video - you will learn how to take pictures and videos above and below water to collect valuable data about shark populations.
• Quality of the Oceans - you will observe and clean coral reefs and the beaches in order to maintain the ocean's health, which is vital for all living organisms.

Next to direct interaction with marine life you will also give workshops, educate children and collaborate with local communities in order to establish a better mutual understanding. In the long run, this will help to create a sustainable synergy between humans and nature.

Your benefits of volunteering with sharks

Seeing sharks in their natural habitat is a once-in-a-lifetime experience that you will never forget. That alone is reason enough for many people to pack their bags and volunteer with sharks. But apart from that, there are plenty of other reasons why this kind of volunteer work could be the right choice for you. If you are interested in studying marine biology, a volunteer program working with sharks will be a great fit. You will gain hands-on experience and get a first insight into the daily work of trained marine preservationists and biologists, which will certainly come in handy at a later point in your career. Being able to list this kind of work experience on your CV is another bonus, even if you are not planning on pursuing a career in this field. It shows that you are capable of physically hard and hands-on work and that you are motivated to volunteer your free-time to a meaningful cause.

Furthermore, you will improve your language skills while working on site as the main language spoken is English. Further, you will have the chance to use your Spanish skills if you decide to volunteer in Latin America. Immersing yourself in a foreign culture and living abroad will definitely make you grow as a person and give you a different perspective. And let’s not forget that the time you spend as a shark conservation volunteer will also be incredibly fun! You will get to enjoy all the perks of living in the pure nature, like seeing wild animals from up close, getting back to your roots and facing new challenges. The best part is that you will be surrounded by like-minded individuals that share your passion for sharks and marine conservation. After working and living together for a while, these people might even become your close friends! If you think that joining a shark conservation project as a volunteer is just what you were looking for, then go ahead and get started right now! We would love to help you find the right project for you!