Thanks to a generous grant from noted conservationist Louis Bacon and his Moore Bahamas Foundation, the Bahamas affiliate of The Moore Charitable Foundation, researchers from Stony Brook University School of Marine Science again spent time with local students at several schools after traveling Bahamian waters last week to study the migration and population of sharks and rays. This was the third year of the “Shark Week” education outreach program.
“I am proud to support these educational efforts that raise awareness about the importance of sharks in the Bahamas. BREEF’s myriad educational programs highlight the importance of natural resources and the interconnectedness of wildlife habitats. The researchers’ work have had significant and lasting effects on students – making this program all the more essential,” said Louis Bacon, President of The Moore Charitable Foundation and Chairman of The Moore Bahamas Foundation.
Casuarina McKinney-Lambert, Executive Director of BREEF, commented, “Once again, BREEF is grateful for the support of The Moore Bahamas Foundation, which enabled us to host our third ‘Shark Week’ with Stony Brook University. Students are always excited and curious to learn more about these majestic creatures and hear stories from the expedition. Most importantly, they get the message that healthy shark populations help to keep money in our pockets and seafood on our plates. This year more than 250 students in five schools participated in Shark Week.”
The Bahamas has been a shark sanctuary since 2011 when pioneering legislation protecting sharks from commercial capture and trade was passed. Subsequent expeditions tracking the impact of that protection on shark populations have gained international attention not only among marine scientists, but also by a public fascinated with sharks, including a high number of views of the excursions on YouTube.
An expert on sharks and rays, lead researcher Dr. Demian Chapman, who was recently featured in a BBC special on sharks, commented: “In 2015, we are so happy to again partner with The Moore Bahamas Foundation, BREEF, the Cape Eleuthera Institute and Island School to educate Bahamian school children about the Shark Sanctuary and the movements of sharks we track.”
This year’s expedition focused on the southern Bahamas, with emphasis on whitetips – a critically endangered species that is slow-growing, breeds infrequently, sought after for its fins and is especially vulnerable to long line overfishing. Findings will be shared with the Department of Fisheries and the Bahamas National Trust. According to Dr. Chapman, providing such information including breeding habits and the movements of great hammerheads and oceanic whitetips, will help determine the success of The Bahamas as a shark sanctuary.
Dr. Demian Chapman explains the importance of sharks in the Bahamas to students at Anatol Rodgers Jr. High. The Bahamas is home to over 50 species of sharks and in 2011 became the world’s first shark sanctuary. Diving with the protected sharks is reported to add $80 million to the Bahamian economy annually. (Photo by Kovah Duncombe.)
Students at Anatol Rodgers Jr. High enjoy the interactive presentation from BREEF and Dr. Chapman. (Photo by Kovah Duncombe.)
About The Moore Bahamas Foundation: The Moore Bahamas Foundation (MBF) supports environmental education to encourage protection of the fragile marine environment that constitutes 90% of the island nation. MBF supports marine education programs that prove successful in building awareness, particularly among students, about the importance of preserving precious marine and land resources. This support included a grant to BREEF for a Research and Environmental Education Coordinator, building BREEF’s capacity to take more students on field trips to experience the marine environment through hands-on learning.
