Conservation Spotlight: Shark Allies

MISSION: “Taking action, raising awareness and guiding initiatives that reduce the destructive overfishing of sharks on a global scale”
HQ: Venice, California
YEAR STARTED: 2007
CONNECT: Instagram | Facebook | Twitter
PROJECT: Started in Hawaii by a dedicated team of divers, Shark Allies has become a key player in protecting sharks in the U.S. and worldwide with campaigns centered on the shark fin trade, targeting and eliminating shark products, and how the entertainment industry shapes public perception of sharks.

“We like to focus on action-oriented campaigns that the average person can participate in,” says Stefanie Brendl, executive director and president of Shark Allies. “We’re always looking for ways to reach new demographics.”

Currently, the organization's efforts are largely concentrated on passing legislation to ban the import, export and sale of shark fins in Florida. Getting the Sunshine State on board is a major stepping stone to a nationwide fin ban.

“The shark-fin trade is the biggest problem we have in terms of shark mortality,” Brendl says. “The best way to curb the fin trade is by disallowing it, not simply through fisheries regulations, but by actually going after the product.”

As a divemaster herself, Brendl knows how that divers’ unique perspectives on life below the waves make them instrumental in conserving marine species.

“Divers have the best insight, because they’ve seen what’s been happening over the last decade,” she says. “Many people go back to the same dive sites, and most of the time, sites don’t get better over time. When you are the one enjoying that and witnessing that, you are also the one that can have a strong voice.”

GET INVOLVED

1. Participate in Campaign Actions
Each of Shark Allies’ campaigns has action items and instructions on how to get involved. The biggest impact divers can make right now is championing for the fin-ban bill in Florida. Follow Shark Allies’ action alert page and sign up for their newsletter to stay up-to-date on the status of the bill and any actions you can take to help further the process.

“You can walk all the way through this with us over the next five months,” Brendl says.

As Florida lawmakers gear up for the upcoming legislative session, which lasts from January to March, Shake Allies is asking for people from all over to write testimonials to committee chairs who will be deciding whether the bill will receive a hearing.

“It’s very important to participate,” Brendl says. “And this is not just signing a petition, it’s participating in full-on moving the bill.”

Shark Allies’ other campaigns also have ways to get involved. For example, for the Shark Products campaign, Shark Allies has provided sample letters that can be sent or used as a conversational guide to address shop owners and manufacturers of shark-related items such as oils, meat and unethical souvenirs.

2. Donate
A small organization with a huge mission, Shark Allies relies on donations through a number of channels to support their conservation efforts.

“We’re so grassroots and we’re running such a big campaign,” Brendl says, referring to the Florida bill.

Luckily, there are many ways you can support Shark Allies and help ensure the long-term survival of sharks. In addition to accepting traditional donations, they have an array of products like clothing and gear for purchase on their website. You can also donate to Shark Allies while shopping on other sites through Amazon Smile and Giving Assistant, and while selling items on eBay.

3. Spread the Word
Whether on social media or in day-to-day conversation, talking positively about sharks can have a big ripple effect on species protection.

“When you’re talking to people about sharks, the more voices that are pro-shark, the better, because there are plenty of voices out there that are still afraid or even hate sharks,” Brendl says. “Sharks are the underdogs. Any time we can promote them in a positive way, that’s good.”

Shark Allies’ Hollywood Sharks campaign aims to change how sharks are portrayed in the media and bring awareness of how much power the entertainment industry has to hinder — or help — the public’s perception of these animals.

“We’re not saying that they’re puppy dogs, and that everybody should go hug them,” Brendl says. “What we’re trying to say is that sharks are necessary, and they’re important, and we should just let them be what they are. We need to realize that the perception is distorted, and we still have a lot of work to do to change that.”

And much of that work can be helped along by divers.

“If divers can’t speak up for the ocean,” Brendl says, “I don’t know who can.”

Divers sharing their love for the ecosystem can reach new audiences, Brendl says, and this can turn into more people becoming shark advocates.

“Passion goes a long way. It’s infectious,” she says. “So when you can show people pictures, when you can maybe even introduce them to diving, the more the better, because once people have seen the underwater world, it’s very hard to ignore the fact that it should be protected.”