SASC - Outreach

South African Shark Conservancy

Committed to research, conservation & sustainability

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Outreach

SASC is committed to communicating science to a wide audience, including school children, fishers and policy makers.

One of our main objectives is to illustrate how marine science and conservation initiatives can make a difference to society by encouraging a better understanding of the marine environment and each of us as stakeholders and stewards of the marine realm.

We recognize there are a variety of ways to achieve our aims. Therefore we undertake a broad range of outreach activities through public awareness and education activities, training workshops, media and social events.

We also have an onsite education centre, sponsored by HIK Abalone Farm, in which all our in-house outreach and education activities take place.

We are often running exciting activities which you could take part in. Contact Us if you would like to keep up to date on all the happenings at SASC.

	Shark Camp for Kids & Marine Biology Internship Programme for Teens As future stewards of the environment our children play a vital role in conservation. At SASC we believe it is our responsibility to teach children how they can make a difference through daily actions. To fulfil our responsibilities and encourage individual and community committment to conservation, SASC offers children from the Overstrand Region and surrounds the opportunity to join us for a hands-on learning experience. SASC Shark Camp introduces kids aged 6-13 to the marine environment through experiential education, focusing on rockpool exploration, shark dissections and ecosystem functioning. Shark Camp is held every school holiday, and is offered over the course of 2-days.. SASC also offers a Marine Biology Internship Programme for teenagers, aged 14-18. This programme is a practical introduction to the study of Marine Biology and focuses on the study of sharks. Interns participate in field trips to shark landing sites where they dissect animals and collect important biological data. They are introduced to the practicalities of data management and analysis through hands-on experience, and are exposed to shark research and conservation in South Africa and abroad by attending guest lectures and seminars. This is a 3-day programme. For more information on our Marine Biology Camps, dowload the brochure. If you would like to book a spot in Shark Camp or the Marine Biology Internship Programme for Teens, Contact Us.

	Responsible Shark Angling Derby SASC and Marine and Coastal Management (MCM) are working with recreational anglers to collect biological data on several inshore shark species, including smoothhound sharks (Mustelus mustelus), sevengill cowsharks (Notorynchus cepedianus) and bronze whaler sharks (Carcharhinus brachyurus). In 2008, over 100 anglers participated in the first Responsible Shark Angling Derby held in Langebaan Lagoon. The success of this derby has seen it adopted as an annual event, and it marked the beginnings of the development of a cooperative management approach between industry, government and the non-profit sector. Recreational anglers can contribute vital information on our coastal shark species, and SASC encourages all anglers to become more involved in data collection and cooperative management by becoming one of our angling partners. To learn more about contributing to science and management, visit our Angler's Corner.

	WWF Sustainable Fisheries Programme fisher training The WWF Sustainable Fisheries Programme (WWF SFP) aims to facilitate an Ecosystem Approach to Fisheries management (EAF) through inclusive conservation approaches/activities. To achieve this the WWF SFP implements fisher training within various commercial fishing sectors in South Africa. Training focuses on encouraging sustainable fishing practices and developing skills and capacity within the fishing community. SASC has had the opportunity to assist in delivering this training over the past few years, and we continue to be involved in this programme through the WWF SFP training and other outreach initiatives.

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