Purpose

After more than 40 years of combined marine research experience, the directors of Oceans determined that there was an urgent need to introduce and facilitate a better understanding of the marine environment to future generations. Science, in particular marine science, is very rarely or effectively taught in schools within Southern Africa and a vast majority of schools are financially unable to develop enrichment programs to properly educate students about this amazing marine environment. This void in marine science education has deprived the nation’s future political, economic and academic voices from obtaining a vital understanding regarding a very essential component of their country. Thus, Oceans Aware based in Mossel Bay, South Africa was created to fill that void and ensure the future ambassadors of our oceans are informed about the ocean’s integral role in our society.

The great white shark | Oceans Aware Ambassador

The problems facing sharks and the world's oceans are of paramount importance. Sharks have been on this planet for over 400 million years, which makes them a critical part of the marine ecosystem and an excellent indicator of the health of our oceans. Sharks continued presence in the marine ecosystem is essential to not only marine life, but to our own ability to thrive in the terrestrial ecosystem. Unfortunately, human interference with the natural balance of the ocean has resulted in the global elimination of up to 100 million sharks annually. With many shark species being killed at a faster rate than they are able to reproduce and sustain their population, sharks are likely to be among the first marine mass extinctions attributable to human interference.

In 1991, South Africa became the first nation in the world to protect the Great White Shark. In granting this species protected status, South Africa sent a message to the world that it was time to stop viewing sharks falsely as killing machines and start respecting them as essential components of the marine ecosystem. By appointing the Great White Shark as the ambassador for our program, we hope advance South Africa’s commitment to shark conservation and set an example for other nations to follow in its dedication to providing knowledge and understanding essential to the preservation of marine species.