Think about it – 100 million sharks . If you started counting now - a shark per second - it would take you more than 1100 days to get to this amount. One, two, three, four…

The shark’s habitat, the ocean, has become a graveyard, and man its most lethal enemy... As a result only 10% of our planet’s entire shark population remains. Yes, that’s correct – only 10%.

Friend, we urge you to think beyond the stereotype and all the Hollywood hype. Why? Because to think of sharks as large, fierce, man-eating creatures is a misconception – there are more than 400 different species of shark worldwide, and believe it or not, 200 of these species never get any bigger than a metre in length. These species all play a vital role in maintaining the ecological integrity of ocean ecosystems – ecosystems which we are also dependent on. What’s more – you are 30 times more likely to be struck by lightning than to be attacked by a shark.

Yet sharks have every reason to fear us.

Every year, at least 8000 tons of shark fins are shipped to restaurants around the world. Often the fins are sliced off while the shark is still alive. The bleeding shark is then thrown back into the ocean to die an excruciating death.

Furthermore, shark nets are not harmless barriers as most people think. These nets are set to trap and kill sharks to reduce the number of sharks living in an area.
And to make matters worse many other non-targeted species such as dolphins and turtles are also inadvertently killed in these ‘death traps.’

It is for reasons such as these that the Endangered Wildlife Trust was formed in 1973, and after 32 years we are proud to say that we are still just as committed to do everything in our power to conserve threatened species and ecosystems in southern Africa and truly make a difference.

And what a difference it’s been so far. The EWT’s dedicated Working Groups collectively coordinate over 100 projects throughout southern Africa. These groups focus on a range of critical environmental issues. Environmental issues such as researching non-lethal alternatives to shark nets, educating farm workers on conserving the biodiversity of their land, shaping environmental legislation, and addressing the irresponsible use of poisons and agro-chemicals.

As one of the EWT’s 18 Working Groups, the Marine and Coastal Working Group is continuously promoting conservation and education in the marine environment.

But we cannot do it alone. As a non-profit, non-governmental organisation, we are reliant on your support to continue in our quest to prevent the destruction of our rich, natural heritage.

Please join us in our efforts to protect our marine life and provide a future for one of the oldest families on earth – the shark. They have been in existence for more than 6 million years. They are vital for ecological balance. They are the crown jewels of the oceans. And just like us, they have a right to be here - today, tomorrow, and for generations to come.