The Shark Trust On a mission to safeguard a future for sharks, skates and rays through positive change.
Who are they?
Shark Trust was established in 1997 and has a base in Plymouth, yet Shark Trust’s small team work internationally!
Their goal is to safeguard the future of sharks through science, education, influence, and action. In Shark Trust’s own words, their vision is “a future where sharks thrive within a globally healthy marine ecosystem”.
What do they do?
Protecting shark populations is at the heart of Shark Trust’s approach. Although they highlight the importance of shark conservation across the world, Shark Trust also tackles problems faced by sharks through finding real-world solutions.
All of Shark Trust’s projects and campaigns rely on three key goals:
- Species protection – they protect endangered species by placing science at the core of their conservation projects.
- Fisheries management – they prevent population decline through overfishing by managing fisheries for sustainability.
- Responsible trade – they promote responsible trade and reduced demand for non-sustainable shark products.
Alongside their global Shark Science projects, Shark Trust’s work through Saving Species helps to protect shark species threatened with extinction, like angelsharks and sawfish.
Citizen Science projects allow you to get involved in shark conservation and research, too! Here are some examples of Citizen Science projects:
- Great Eggcase Hunt – suitable for all ages, this project involves recording eggcases you find washed up on the beach.
- Shark Log – record any sightings of sharks, skates, and rays in the Shark Sightings Database.
- The Great Shark Snapshot – divers are asked to get involved by helping to build a better picture of shark populations around the world.
How we have helped Shark Trust
In 2021, we donated £25,000 to develop the Shark Trust App. The app is suitable for anyone with an interest in sharks, letting you share your findings with the wider Shark Trust community!
Available from a range of platforms, the Shark Trust App is used in Citizen Science projects to help you send data about:
- Shark sightings.
- Eggcases.
- Basking sharks.
- Angling catches.
- Entanglement incidents.
Mako shark
We’ve chosen the Shortfin Mako as part of our “Ugly” Endangered Animals campaign because they need help and deserve our protection – despite their scarily sharp teeth! Shortfin Makos are valued for their meat and fins, so they are at risk of overfishing.
The Shortfin Mako’s current conservation status is ‘endangered’.
According to Shark Trust, the Shortfin Mako is built for speed. In fact, the Shortfin Mako is the fastest shark on record, reaching an estimated speed of 30mph!
Fun facts about the Shortfin Mako:
- They can grow to a whopping four metres! (That’s around the height of an elephant!)
- Their diet is mainly fish and squid.
- They use a camouflage strategy called ‘counter shading’ (darker on top to blend with the ocean surface and lighter when looking up at them from below), which allows them to sneak up on their prey.
- Females mature at 18 years, producing 4–25 pups (baby sharks!) every 3 years.
Find out more about the Shortfin Mako, and our “Ugly” Endangered Animals campaign, by clicking here!
How you can help Shark Trust
- Taking out a policy with Animal Friends Insurance will allow us to support more partnerships with animal charities, like Shark Trust, together.
- Get involved with one of Shark Trust’s Citizen Science projects!
- Add your voice to the Big Shark Pledge.
- Become a member of Shark Trust.
- ‘Adopt’ a shark!
- Fundraise for Shark Trust.
Listen to our podcast
400-year-old living vertebrates, sharks the size of a bus, great whites in the UK, and teeth that can be controlled!
Why not take a dive into the deep blue sea with Paul Cox, Managing Director of Shark Trust and learn more about the charity and the creatures they safeguard.
