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The
Save Our Seas Foundation (SOSF) recently held a meeting
for all their shark programme leaders in
Simonstown
,
South Africa
and also opened a new Shark Centre at
Kalk
Bay
to provide information and create a centre for public
awareness about sharks.
Kalk
Bay
is situated in the
False Bay
area south of Capetown and is an area renown for great
white sharks; as such, while eco-tourism to see the sharks
is booming, there are local concerns about the presence of
these large predators.
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| MCSS
programme leader David Rowat with Dame Sarah
Fowler at the SOS conference . Image MCSS. |
The
conference brought together programme leaders from all
over the world as well as international experts in shark
research, such as Dame Sarah Fowler OBE from the IUCN Shark
Specialist Group and Leonard Compagno, author of Sharks of
the World.
The
main goals of the meeting were to support SoSF projects by
providing access to experience and expertise, to enhance
research capacity by stimulating discussion and exchange
of ideas, to promote the conservation of sharks and rays,
and to assist SoSF in developing its strategy for
research, conservation and public awareness. The meeting
certainly succeeded in these goals giving participants the
opportunity to make a short presentation on their own
programme as well as to discuss general areas of common
concern with respect to research techniques and equipment.
The new Save Our Seas Shark Centre was opened on the 15th
of May with the significant attendance of leaders from
conservation organisations, tourism and the local
community. The Centre itself was an impressive project and
was resplendent for the opening thanks to the hard work of
Manager Lesley Rochat and her team. Not only does the
centre provide educational facilities and displays but
also has a working laboratory and accommodation for
interns and volunteers working on SOSF programmes in the
area. As a part of the SOSF ‘Rethink The Shark’
strategy a number of fabrics had been designed based on
the skin patterns found on some species of sharks; these
were used to create themes for each room and were an
immediate focal point for visitors, helping to break down
some of the perceptions of sharks.
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| Finishing touches
are made to the new Save Our Seas Shark Centre at
Calk Bay . Image MCSS. |
The entrance lobby
of the new Shark Centre resplendent with
furnishings in shark skin patterns. Image MCSS. |
Activities at the Centre are already in full swing
and details can be found on the SOSF web site www.saveourseas.com
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