Operation Requiem

Shark Angels partnered with Sea Shepherd Shepherd Conservation Society this summer in a innovative campaign to protect sharks. This summer marked their first mission in the South Pacific together to defend sharks and other animals in the sea.  We visited five nations – Tonga, Vanuatu, Fiji, Solomon Islands and Kiribati and achieved results far beyond our hopes. Thanks to our partnership, we combined awareness/education with enforcement – educating kids about the need to protect the oceans and sharks throughout the nations, rallying support for shark sanctuaries, building collaborative relationships with governments, and patrolling the waters of one of the South Pacific’s largest marine reserves.

The team was composed 10 different nations: Germany, Spain, Australia, India, South Africa, US, Canada, UK, Fiji and Brazil. We even had three Shark Angels at one point – two from Fiji, one from Vanuatu in a cultural exchange with the Pacific Voyager Vakas. With two vessels and thousands of miles to cover, the team had their work cut out for them.

 Highlights include:

• Visited schools and villages throughout the South Pacific in five countries - often remote where they get few visitors. Reached thousands with a message of preservation and conservation. Distributed hundreds of workbooks. Took dozens of kids into the water to meet sharks.
• Enforcement – protected one of the world’s largest marine reserves, stopped illegal fishing, boarded vessels capable of carrying 7000 tons of fish.
• Laid foundation for a long term future in South Pacific
• Established the groundwork for establishment of locally protected marine areas in 3 countries.
• Developed several partnerships with local governments and NGO’s
• Received accolades from Kiribati government for our support and collaboration (fully funded enforcement efforts.)
• Received warm welcome from governments of Tonga, Kiribati and Vanuatu

From our campaign leader, Julie Andersen: "We are so grateful for the support of our donors to make this campaign a reality. Together with Sea Shepherd, we have the resources, the know how and the proven ability to help sharks and other marine wildlife and ecosystems. We are thrilled to be able to offer our expertise — and funding — to governments that desperately need to protect their oceans and their economies for their very citizens’ survival. And to help curate the next generation of conservationists through awareness and education."

Video: See them in action