Check Out this Fin-tastic Organization: The American Shark Conservancy

 The American Shark Conservancy (ASC) is a nonprofit organization located in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida. Their goal is to use research and education to increase awareness and understanding of our oceans and support the conservation of sharks and rays. 

Founded in 2014 by conservation scientist Hannah Medd, the diverse "Shark Squad" now consists of scientists, entrepreneurs, business owners, dive instructors, and educators, all with a similar passion for conservation. They all envision a world with healthy marine ecosystems in which people understand and want to protect our oceans. They believe that the way to achieve this is through both research and public outreach. 

Although they have done several projects over the years they are currently focusing on three major projects, all of which are highlighted on their website. One of their current projects is the Sharksmarts project, which focuses on education through professional development and public outreach. They created an education program called the SharkSmarts program with a vision of using it to train educators and professionals in industries such as scuba diving, fishing charters, and zoo/aquarium staff. This training would arm these professionals with the greatest knowledge available so they could educate people about the importance of sharks each day during their jobs and everyday lives. People with an interest in sharks can also use this program to learn more informally, allowing them to spread the information as well. The program comes in various forms such as seminars, online courses, and research experiences. 

Another project ASC is currently working on is the Shark Survey, a collection of in-water data, capturing images with an underwater camera and using lasers to determine measurements. The goal is to monitor the biodiversity of shark populations along the Florida coast and use this information for management decisions and education programs. 

Finally, the third major project they are working on focuses on the impacts of recreational shark fishing. Working with a group of volunteer anglers, they are collecting data about the survival rates of released sharks, the number of sharks caught, the frequency that shark fishing occurs, and the amount of money being spent on it. They hope to gather data about shark fishing and use it in future management decisions regarding regulations on recreational fishing. 

In addition to these projects, ASC has a newsletter and a blog that teach the public valuable information about sharks, conservation news, and how they can get involved. 

Click here if you would like to donate to ASC or check out their website to learn more!

Check out this article from the Fish and Wildlife Foundation of Florida to learn more general information about the critical role that sharks play in the Florida ocean ecosystem. 

#sharks #rays #NGO #AmericanSharkConservancy #ASC #education #conservation #research