Our partner PangeaSeed, the Japan-based shark conservation nonprofit, is hosting a Philippine shark study tour this March! The goal of this tour is to gather conservation information and ideas through community outreach and to generate awareness that will educate society on the global need to protect our sharks and oceans.

Nearly 100 million sharks are slaughtered each year to make shark fin soup, an Asian delicacy. The United Nations recently released a report stating that if shark harvesting continues at this rate, global shark populations will vanish in the next ten years. Sharks play an important role in balancing the ocean’s ecosystem and their disappearance could be detrimental to our oceans.This study tour comes at the perfect time due to the dire need to focus on shark preservation and conservation.

During the first part of the study tour, attendees will assist PangeaSeed and WWF  marine biologists with whale shark research and data collection that will be used by researchers world wide. Participants will also be able to host cultural exchange events at the Donsol schools, a small municipality in the province of Sorsogon, Philippines, to educate students on how they can help with whale shark and ocean conservation.

The second part of the study tour will take place in Malapascua, a small Philippine island. Participants will assist the Thresher Shark Research Project with data collection and shark monitoring as well as host more cultural events to educate local students about the importance of shark conservation.

This study tour will take place thanks to the many supporters of shark conservation. Purchasing the No Finning tee from EcoJoia helps to support PangeaSeed and their many shark conservation efforts and future study tours!

To find out more about this study tour, please click here.