In honor of Shark Week, we've compiled a list of five top shark conservation groups. Financially accountable and transparent, these charities direct the large majority of their monies straight into programs instead of into marketing fluff or the salaries of their executive board. We've also highlighted all of the ways you can help these groups, from signing a quick petition to donating as little as a $1.
Spread the word by sharing this article (or your favorite group below) on social media and let's help save sharks.
Shark Stewards
Since 2006, Shark Stewards has been supporting sharks around the globe. They restore ocean health by saving sharks from overfishing and the fin trade while working to preserve critical marine habitat via creation of marine-protected areas and shark sanctuaries.
By performing needed research, they compile valuable data to aid in better decision-making while advocating for pro-shark legislation and policies. In addition, they educate the public on sharks and marine ecosystems.
How to help:
- Sign their petition to support the Federal Shark Fin Trade Elimination Act
- Sign up for their newsletter
- Volunteer
- Buy and sport their swag
- Make a donation as small as $1
- Adopt a shark. Your donation will 'purchase' a shark that would have been killed for its fins, transporting and releasing it at Pom Pom Island, the site of the Tropical Research and Conservation Center.
CharityWatch rated them with an A- grade.
WildAid
Begun in 2000, WildAid works to reduce the global consumption of wildlife products and to increase local support for conservation efforts. You may already know them from their anti-shark-finning videos. The one included here features professional basketball player Yao Ming urging people to stop buying shark-fin soup.
WildAid has been conducting a successful program to reduce fin consumption in China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, and Thailand, and to secure further restrictions to the global fin trade. They have also convinced many airlines, shipping companies, restaurants, and hotel chains to stop transporting fins and offering shark-fin soup. They also defend marine reserves against illegal fishing and shark finning.
How to help:
- Sign up for their Marine Program newsletter
- Make a donation as small as $1. (Select "sharks" under the program section in the donation form).
Charity Navigator rated them 4 stars.
Wildlife Conservation Society
Originally established in 1895 by such esteemed founders as Theodore Roosevelt, the organization rebranded itself as the Wildlife Conservation Society in 1993. Its goal is to "conserve the world's largest wild places in 16 priority regions, home to more than 50% of the planet's biodiversity."
The Wildlife Conservation Society supports global shark-conservation efforts and inspires the public. They are also reducing global demand for shark products while supporting government-wide efforts to protect sharks around the world.
How to help:
- Use their form to tell your congress members to pass the Sustainable Shark Fisheries and Trade Act
- Visit their New York Aquarium and the new "Ocean Wonders: Sharks!" exhibit
- Sign up for their newsletter
- Make a donation as small as $5
CharityWatch rated them with an A grade.
Coral Reef Alliance
Coral Reef Alliance was founded in 1994 to inspire the dive community to focus on conservation. It's since grown into a world-renowned organization that restores and protects coral reefs in partnership with the communities living nearest the reefs. This, in turn, safeguards the sharks swimming in those local waters.
The Coral Reef Alliance identifies key ecosystems where it can reduce local-level threats, thus building large networks of healthy reefs to defend against global climate change.
How to help:
- Send a free ecard
- Subscribe to their newsletter
- Create a Facebook fundraiser with the tools they provide
- Volunteer
- Make a small donation to the Coral Reef Alliance during check out when you shop at LeisurePro
- Make a donation as small as $1
Charity Navigator rated them 4 stars.
Conservation International
Since 1987, Conservation International has been employing "cutting-edge science, innovative policy, and global reach to empower people to protect nature."
You may know them from their famous video of Harrison Ford speaking as the ocean to give nature a voice. Conservation International has created 573 million acres (232 million hectares) of marine-protected areas which, in turn, aids the sharks patrolling those waters. The group also supplies evidence-based tools such as the Ocean Health Index to provide decision-makers around the world with the data needed for better ocean-management policies and practices.
How to help:
- Inspire ocean conservation in those around you by sharing a virtual reality experience of Raja Ampat
- Sign up for their newsletter
- Receive mobile updates by texting "JOIN" to 21333
- Create a fundraising page with a few clicks
- Purchase a unique item from their gift shop
- Make a donation as small as $1
CharityWatch rated them with an A grade.
Two bonus groups
We also believe in the unique online products fashioned by two other groups aimed to save our toothy friends. Though we cannot readily verify the financials of these groups, you may be interested in supporting them because of their tangible aid to sharks.
The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species functions as the world's most extensively used system for gauging the extinction risk for specific plants and animals. It thereby promotes conservation of critically endangered, endangered, and vulnerable species.
The International Shark Attack File is a scientifically documented, comprehensive database of shark attacks, which also dispels shark attack myths while providing educational materials on sharks including how to reduce your risk of an attack.
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